The Role of the Holy Spirit in Personal Guidance The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the spiritual journey of individuals, often acting as a guide and mentor in their daily lives. For many believers, the Holy Spirit's presence brings comfort and direction, offering insights that might not be obvious through our own reasoning. This divine guidance isn't just a passive experience; it's an active, lively interaction between you and the Spirit.

The Vision of the River: Understanding the Symbolism The imagery of the River of God, as described in Ezekiel 47, paints a beautiful picture of spiritual growth and renewal. This vision isn't just a lovely scene; it's a divine message encouraging believers to dive deeper into their faith.

The Role of Expectation in Strengthening Faith Expectation is a wonderful force in the world of faith, acting like a spark that encourages believers to dive into deeper spiritual experiences. In the story of Luke 3, expectation is more than just waiting with excitement; it's about being truly ready to see God's promises come to life.

Reflecting on Jesus' Example of Commitment As we embark on a new year, the notion of resolutions often surfaces in our minds. But let's be honest, how many of us stick with them for long? This thought encourages us to think about a more meaningful and lasting resolution—one inspired by the commitment Jesus showed.

Worship is a fundamental aspect of Christian life, connecting with God, expressing faith, and fostering a sense of community. This article delves into the elements that make worship effective, drawing from the teachings of the Gospel of John and the principles of worship in the church. It emphasizes the need to believe in Jesus Christ, the importance of communal and simple worship, and the transformation of individuals through scripture, spirit, and sacraments.

Advent draws us closer and closer into the greatest story ever. It’s a story told and retold in thousands of ways, for literally thousands of years. And with all the ways of telling the tale, it’s critical we get it right. Bishop Ivan Sikha has built a large ministry in India, and elsewhere, using storytelling. He uses 20 plus stories from the Bible. When he trains his storytellers in telling the stories, he shares them orally and then asks the listeners to repeat them. When they add or delete part of the story, Ivan has them do it again, and again, until it is correct. Thousands have come to know Jesus Christ through these stories. And his ministry in India continues to flourish.

Israel is a unique country in many ways, not the least of which is its small but varied geography, a veritable land bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe. If placed on a map of Florida, it would only stretch from Jacksonville in the north to below Melbourne in the south, the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the St. John’s River on the west. It is only 150 miles north to south, and 50 miles wide near Jerusalem. But while this part of Florida is mainly flat and sandy, Israel has all of the variety of California: snow covered mountains, desert regions below sea level, ocean beaches, fertile valleys, and wilderness areas. In fact, the geography of Israel is sometimes called the “fifth Gospel”.

“Unless I see the SCARS?” Over the years I have wondered about Jesus’ scars. It is one way he is known, isn’t it? It’s not the only way.

“Who said it?” I asked. My cousin and friend Claire responded to my text: I have no idea who said it. I saw it somewhere and thought, ‘I don’t know about this, let me think.' The opposite of fear isn't hope. Both fear and hope are stories we tell ourselves about the future. The opposite of fear is staying in the now.

From the time I was a small child, I went to church with my family each week. I participated in Sunday School, VBS, and plenty of other church activities. I learned about God the Father and Jesus His Son. I dutifully memorized scripture, knew the books of the Bible, and I watched my mother spill tears every Easter as the choir sang the stately old hymn, “He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose…” Even with all that Christian formation, I never really “got it.”