THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:11-19 “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18) Children raised in a rich family can often become spoiled, ungrateful. The poor can’t take anything for granted, and tend to be more thankful. Often those on the ‘inside’ take their blessings for granted. Jesus experiences this…
Author: Norm
Seeing Jesus! (1)
“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They…
Just doing what we were made for!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:7-10 “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.” (Luke 17:10) Do we see our religious duty as something extra for God? Do we see doing good as something that we should get credit for? In our sinful world, doing good is indeed something beyond normal. But it shouldn’t be;…
Pastoral Care in the Church (4)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care BUILDING SOMETHING GOOD WILL TAKE TIME Developing effective pastoral care in the church is somewhat like the challenge Jesus faced when He came to earth and needed…
A tiny step of faith
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 17:3-6 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…” (Luke 17:6) Jesus talks about forgiving a loved one that keeps on hurting you. This disciples don’t have the will or strength to do this. In their view, it takes bigger or more faith to forgive like this. But according to…
Lord of the stormy seas!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 93 “The Lord reigns… indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.” (Psalm 93:1) In Jewish thinking, the earth was established on the waters (Genesis 1:2,6-10). The waters were beneath and above the earth (Genesis 7:11-12, Psalm 148:4). When the seas lifted up (v.3), the earth ought to be in peril. But the Lord is…
Pastoral Care in the Church (3)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care INTRODUCING THE HOME VISIT Our church tradition has long encouraged the ‘home visit’ as a model of pastoral care. According to the original church order (it is…
The Jesus Way!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 51-53 “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life.” (Isaiah 53:11) These words in ch.53 are a very clear prophecy of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They are in the context of God’s promise of rescue and restoration. How would the people who heard these words understand them? God’s servant…
Pastoral Care in the Church (2)
ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES 1) The Meaning of Pastoral Care 2) The Methods of Pastoral Care 3) The Purpose of of ‘Home Visiting’ 4) Developing Effective Pastoral Care EARLY CHURCH METHODS OF PASTORAL CARE We do not know all of the ways that the early church cared for God’s sheep (Acts 20:28). But we do catch…
God so loved all people!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Isaiah 48-50 “That my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) Within these chapters we sense the tension between God’s frustration and compassion. God hates the sin in the world, yet He loves the people of the world. God cannot ignore or tolerate sin, nor can He forget His…