'Church' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
Daily Devotions
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’” vs. 1 Mark 13:1-4 The disciple wasn’t wrong–the temple buildings were impressive. Herod the Great had wanted the structure to rival the temples seen in Rome and he had spared no expense. And even though the buildings have been destroyed, the foundation stones are still visible, and they are massive. For Galilean fishermen this would have been…
Thank You, ALC!
Our heartfelt thanks extends today to the good people of American Lutheran Church, Sun City for their generous support of Spirit in the Desert. We are so grateful for our congregational partners in ministry ~ the team at your favorite retreat center looks forward to serving you someday soon! @AmericanLutheranChurchofSunCity
Daily Devotions
Ephesians 1:18-23 “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…” vs. 20 Some people point to verses like this to show that the Risen Christ has been elevated to a position in the universe that is beyond our reach or understanding. If that’s what we believe, we’re really on our own in the world now, left to work things out as best…
Daily Devotions: May 31, 2020
May 31, 2020 John 20:21-23 … “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” When John wrote his Gospel he evidently didn’t have access to the stories used by Luke some years before. So he doesn’t include anything about a Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit with tongues as of fire and…
Daily Devotions: May 7, 2020
May 7, 2020 1 Peter 2:1-5 … “like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” vs. 5 There have been some who have railed against the closing of churches in this time of quarantine, claiming that it is an aggressive act by an oppressive government. Others have laughed at the notion that any agency could have the power to close the church,…
Daily Devotions: January 16, 2020
January 16, 2020 For full passage click: 1 Corinthians 1:1-5 … “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him…” vs. 4 Paul stayed in Corinth for about a year and a half on his second missionary journey, and was likely quite familiar with those who were a part of the little congregation that he started…
Daily Devotions: September 19, 2019
September 19, 2020 For full passage click: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 … “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” vss. 1-2 It only took about 3 centuries for the Roman Emperor to discover that the Church could be a powerful ally in maintaining control throughout the Empire. When…
Daily Devotions: April1, 2019
April 1, 2019 For full passage click: Isaiah 43:16-21 …“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” vs. 19 Pessimists abound in the mainline denominations. They point to declining worship numbers, pastoral shortages and closing congregations as signs that the end of Christianity is at hand. They’re caught up in nostalgia and yearn for a return to the…
Daily Devotions: January 24, 2019
January 24, 2019 To read full passage click: 1 Corinthians 12:12-19 …“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” vs. 12 Paul uses the human body as a metaphor to help the Corinthians understand the nature of the church, which is, in turn, the Body of Christ. It’s a simple illustration, one easily understood by most readers. We know that…
Daily Devotions: July 27 , 2018
July 27, 2018 Ephesians 3:19-21…“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” vs. 20-21 Early believers were amazed at the growth and the vitality of the movement that had started with only a few disciples in the days following the resurrection. It just didn’t seem…
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