[…]Those subordinate leaders should never get the fierce loyalty and following that belongs only to Jesus Christ. Therefore, their adherents should always see unity in the church as a primary goal over their own distinctiveness. Jesus prayed that we would all be one (John 17:21). One critical way believers live in unity is to pray for our leaders. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2 the apostle Paul exhorts us to pray for those in authority over us. Through intercessory prayer for our leaders, believers unify with God and with each other against both military and spiritual forces. Here’s one last example to […]
[…]stoned as the Church’s first martyr, he “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Jesus’ promise to His distressed disciples the night before He was crucified is rock solid to us as well 2,000 years later, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you […]
[…]The Samaritan woman received salvation, a regenerated life, and a chance to point others to Jesus. There is much we can learn from this encounter! The leader keeps in the forefront why he is doing what he is called to do. Jesus responded to the woman’s initial rejection with a persistent offer. Not offended, nor hardened by rejection, the leader keeps to the task. The leader removes barriers for the good of the one in need. Jesus gave the woman the opportunity to confess her past mistakes. He did so without assigning condemnation or judgment. The leader’s satisfaction comes in […]
[…]without an OCF study, I’ll definitely start one. Why OCF? Kit Vaughn: Gwynn received Jesus while reading the Bible, but most of his growth in Jesus came through OCF. We have found OCF as a good conduit to bring others to Jesus and encourage Christians in their faith. Jeff Silliman: With our military moves and varied church experiences, OCF was, for many years, our ‘home church’ whether we were worshipping in a community church, base chapel, or sharing with a local home group. Those OCF men and women who nurtured us in biblical truths and held us up in […]
