Interior of the Santa Maria Goretti Church, Mormanno, southern Italy, completed in 2021. The New Testament consistently teaches that the church, the “body of Christ,” exists because of the gracious initiative of God. The Father sent the Son into the world to announce the coming of God’s kingdom and to accomplish redemption; the Son sent …
Sharing the good news of Jesus with others
In his book, What is Happening to Religion in Australia? Understanding the Trends, social researcher Philip Hughes observes a fundamental change in Australian values in the past century. He charts a shift from duty to family life to personal fulfilment. Perhaps the most notable example of this is changing attitude towards same sex marriage, with two-thirds of all …
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The ministry of witness
We sometimes think of the Book of Revelation as a mysterious puzzle or a terrifying forecast of the end of the world. But if we read it thoughtfully, this last book of the Bible is a spiritual treasure and a source of deep joy. It’s not the easiest book to read, but it also has …
What is the church? Part 2: Its purpose
Pastor Rick Warren preaching at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest,California. A sermon by Rod Benson What is the purpose of the church? What is its reason for being? Paul says in Ephesians 3:10-11, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities …
Praying when church is boring
A sermon by Rod Benson Matthew 6:9-13 What do you do when church is boring? What do you do when participating in worship with others no longer satisfies? There are times when each of us grows bored or dissatisfied with the way things are. We may yearn for the good old days, and those old …
All Told 