September 10, 2023__
Since we are sinners by nature with worldly desires, the church “we want” according to our weak flesh is one in which “never is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.”
That day will come! …in heaven. But as long as we are in this sin-filled, troubled world, we will need to both hear and at times speak the hard truths of God which confront our all too human sins of selfishness, foolishness, wrong-headedness and rebellion against God’s truth.
Lest we think we are above the need to be corrected, even the Apostle Peter fell into an error that needed correction. By the Holy Spirit’s power, he accepted correction! It was equally tough for the Apostle Paul to confront him, but—again—by the Holy Spirit’s power he did his duty and offered correction.
In God’s church, we need to be willing to both accept and offer correction. That’s the kind of Church God Wants.
The Church God Wants:
- A Church for All People
- A Church That Really Knows Jesus
- A Church That Takes Up Its Crosses
- A Church Willing to Say Hard Things
- A Church That’s Quick to Forgive