Reflections

Gentile Pentecost: Opening a new vista for mission Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (34) Someone has said, “Wise are those who look at others with the same generosity they offer themselves, and at themselves with the same critical eye they have for others.” Such advice is difficult to disagree with because it amounts to treating others the way we’d want to be treated. The ‘golden rule’ is hard to deny, but that doesn’t make it easy to do. For instance, how can followers of Christ practice generosity of spirit in a culture that has a reputation for tolerating everything but intolerance? Daily news reports make it clear that our society is not as tolerant as its reputation. However, tolerance has become disproportionately important to our generation. Why? The reason is that democratic freedoms have allowed for the growth of religious, spiritual, and moral diversity. Over time, world news have multiplied wi

Universality of the Gospel John 4: 21 - 26 God is spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth (V. 24)          Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the Jacob’s well is a unique event in the Gospel of John. This is the story of transformation of a woman and her community. Here Jesus answers her question about worship. During that time the Jews and the Samaritans were in a “worship war” in which Samaritans believed that they should worship on Mount Gerazim and Jews understood that it should be in Jerusalem. Jesus Breaks the Boundaries:- Universality starts with breaking boundaries. In this text Jesus openly challenges two boundaries:  the boundary between “chosen people” and “rejected people” and between male and female. Through the answer to her question regarding worship Jesus also transcended the worship boundaries. Jesus directed her attention away from the present to the future and said that the time was coming for a different kind of worsh

Apostle’s Focal Point 2 Chron. 20:1-12 We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. – vs. 12b If we were to list adjectives used to describe an Apostle it might go something like this: brave, bold, confident, faithful, determined, disciplined, diligent, sincere… Words like afraid or dependant would rarely be listed. If we turn to the previous chapter we can see that Jehoshaphat had put into place many reforms. After this one would expect peace and tranquility. Instead he was faced with the prospects of war. In this passage Jehoshaphat is faced with a dilemma that he does not know how to handle. Verse 4 says that he was afraid. In the midst of his fear he knew where to turn to but his questions to God are neither poised nor assuring. He was grappling to comprehend the situation in which his sovereign God would allow a possible calamity to befall them. The questions all presuppose a positive answer. “O Lord , God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven?” Yes. “Do y

Paul’s self – Defense as an apostle of Jesus Christ Galatians 1:1-24 “I want you to know, brothers that the Gospel I preached is that something that man made up. I did not receive it from nay man or was I taught, rather I received it by the revelation from Jesus Christ“(11-12)            Paul launches his letter to Galatians by identifies himself as an apostle, one commissioned and sent out by the risen Christ to proclaim the gospel, the message of Christ person, word and work. The question of Paul’s authority and truth of his gospel is central to the issue with which the Galatians churches are struggling as a result of his opponents teaching of ‘another gospel.                                          The church throughout the ages has been tempted to dilute or prevent the message of the gospel, which resulted in formation of multitude of ‘churches’ many with another gospel teaching and preaching. The message of Galatians is that there is only one gospel that we as God

Apostleship of Church Exodus 3:1-15 God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” In Exodus 3:1-15, we see God calling Moses to lead HIS people, the Israelites, out of oppression and slavery in Egypt.  In this particular passage we see Moses doubting his ability if not God’s choice in choosing Moses for this particular job. Like Moses, we doubt our All Knowing Father when he puts a task or responsibility before us to complete.  Let’s break it down to the very essence of what is being asked of us.  The word apostle is derived from the Greek apostolos , meaning "one who is sent." A modern-day apostle would typically function as a church planter—one who is sent out by Christ to spread the gospel and establish new communities of believers. Though the definition of apostolos is “one who is sent”, it does not necessarily mean that you must be sent away to be effective.  In our own homes, work places and even our own Churches, we can be apostles of the Church of

Prophetic Ministry of the Apostolic Church 2 Sam. 12. 1- 7 “ Nathan then said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel”          Prophetic ministry in the ancient Israel was one of the significant ministries. Many of the prophets engaged themselves for the sake of justice without any fear and forgetting the consequences. They did not consider whom they are addressing or confronting. In telling a story about the crime of another, Nathan pre-pared David for dealing with his own sins, and it's possible that David thought Nathan was presenting him with an actual case from the local court. Since David had been a shepherd himself, he would pay close attention to a story about the theft of an innocent lamb; and as king, he was obligated to see that poor families were given justice. God directed Nathan to choose his words carefully so that they would remind David of what he had said and done. David passed judgment on the rich man without realizing he was

Apostleship of Church Acts 2:37-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Vs 42) God’s original design for the church is found in the book Acts. If there was ever a church growth plan that worked, it was the one used by the first-century church. As I look at the First centaury church and I look at our church, I can’t help but notice that we have a long way to go. Every time I read this passage I see not only what we are not, but what we will soon be. Acts 2:42-47 shows us four foundational qualities. They were a Worshipping Church, an Evangelizing Church, a Learning Church and a Loving Church. The first church was W.E.L.L; I believe that this is God’s Word to us and it is time to get W.E.L.L. A Worshipping Church The early church was built on prayer and worship. "The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and

The Great Privileges, but warning 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 But God was not pleased with most of them, so they died in the desert (1Cori:10:5) St. Paul quotes the past experience of the Jewish people here, and wants to instruct the believers of Corinth how alert they should be in the growth of faith and life. Past experiences are the learning experiences in the spiritual journey.  If we do not learn from the past experiences we will also end up in dangers. The apostle sets before them the example of the Jewish people. They were by a miracle, led through the Red Sea, where the pursuing Egyptians drowned. It was to them a typical baptism. The Manna on which they fed was a type of crucified Christ, the Bread that came down from heaven, which whoever eats shall live forever. Christ is the Rock on which the Christian Church is built; and ‘of the streams that issue there from, all believers drink, and are refreshed’. Christ is central to all of redemptive history. The Birth of Jesus wa

Apostleship of Church. Matthew 16:13-20 ..He asked  “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Mt:16:16 Every day most of the Christians repeatedly pray: “Our father in Heaven ...Your Kingdom come”. How it will it be possible? Jesus Christ inaugurated the Kingdom of God in this world. Church is the body of Christ to fulfill His task. In today’s passage we see the disciples who are on the verge of a new level of revelation. It is interesting that the Revelation of the Gospel Occurs in a Pagan Territory (16:13).The place Caesarea Philippi with its temple to Pan-god and Caesar provided the perfect backdrop for the revelation to come. It is here Jesus authorized the Church to do his will in this universe and to become proto type of the Kingdom of God. Church witnesses the identity of Christ As we go through today’s passage we can see Jesus asking to the disciples: “Who do men say that I am?” Though this question seems to be a

Call and commission 1Cor. 12. 27-31 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (27) In the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Paul tried to answer a number of questions that the Corinthian believers asked. In our passage, he illustrates the importance of the unity of the church. To prove this he says “you are the body of Christ. “. The phrase ‘the body of Christ’ is peculiar to Apostle Paul. The church is the body of Christ. Paul very clearly says that the church as regarded by God is not just a community, or it is not just a congregation but it is a community of Christian people. Church is the assembly of faithful believers of Jesus and a community of people with mutual relationship with each other and with Christ. For the smooth functioning of the Church, the body of Christ, He called and appointed believers as Apostles, Prophets, Teachers etc. God bestowed His blessings upon them to execute their responsibilities for the betterment of