Click on each category to read more about it
WHY DO WE…?
Attending a service at a vibrant Church for the first time can be a bit daunting and even confusing, so this article seeks to explain the way we hold our church services and why and how we worship God, and some things we typically say.
FOUNDATIONS
Laying a Foundation. Teaching the Bible is one of the essential 5-fold ministries. (Ephesians 4:11-13). What would the Lord say to us if we fail in this? Would it be ‘well done good and faithful servant’ or a reprimand along the lines of 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 & Hebrews 5:I1-12?
What does salvation mean to each of us – our state before and after salvation? The only way to God is by faith. Our relationship with Him, spiritual position and growth, and what God wants us to do now.
Why should we study the Bible?
We could just say that the Bible is God’s ‘instruction manual’ to us on how to live our lives, so, of course, we should study it! But here are several more reasons – and all for our benefit. God really loves us and the Bible has many promises, and some warnings, all motivated by this love.
The Bible is God’s instruction manual for our lives, so we really need to be able to correctly understand what we are reading, and how to apply it to our lives. We might like to think we do and base our views and actions on this, but maybe we need to look deeper into various factors that will lead to a far more clear and accurate understanding of the different books in the Bible, and everything in them.
The church (ecclesia) refers to the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. What does, or should, the church consist of? Let’s take a look, using the picture of a dove.
FOUNDATIONS (Hebrews 6:1-2)
‘Repenting from evil deeds’ is listed as the first ‘basic teaching about Christ’. Salvation from the judgement and the consequence of spending eternity in hell is by repentance for our sins and by accepting and committing our lives to follow Jesus as both our Lord and our Saviour.
Our faith is our belief in God, and our confidence in His loving character. We are all called to live by this faith, which involves believing what the Bible says and all the promises that have been given to us, and to live accordingly.
God wants us all, as Christians (followers of Jesus) to be baptised into the body of Christ, to be baptised in water, and to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.
The laying on of hands (typically by touching a person’s shoulder while praying for such person) is a symbolic act that has several applications, including for healing, to confer a blessing, or for ordination to a church office.
When we die, as believers in Christ, our spirits go straight to Jesus, but our bodies will only be resurrected (brought back to life) at a later date. This is called the ‘resurrection’. The Bible tells us that we will all be ‘raptures’ or caught up to join Him in heaven. There will also be a great tribulation (period of suffering) brought on all those on earth at such time.
We will all face judgment after we die, with Jesus as our Judge. For believers, it will be a judgment to determine rewards – since Jesus suffered the punishment we deserved for us, but for the lost, it will be to determine their punishment.
MOVING ON
Our spiritual life as Christians is not meant to be static – spiritual growth is a life-long process. Having completed the ‘Foundations’ Bible Study to learn the essential of our faith, we now need to ‘move on’. As we are told in Hebrews 6:3 we should not be content to remain where we are, but realise that we all need to ‘move forward to further understanding – so that we can be strong and unmovable in our faith, and not swayed by any false teachings or doctrines.
To be able to effectively minister to people with different beliefs, an understanding of what they believe and how this differs from our beliefs can only be highly beneficial.
We talk about covenants, and often being a ‘covenant church’, so let’s see what a biblical ‘covenant’ is, and what the 5 main covenants in the Bible are.
What is the difference between the New Testament and the New Covenant? When did they each start and what does it matter? Actually, there is a big difference, and it is important for us all to understand the differences.
False beliefs that deviate from accepted Christian beliefs arose in the early church and had to be countered, and are mentioned in both Acts and Revelation. Many more heresies have arisen since then, and several are discussed. Cults – religious groups that may claim to be Christian but are deemed theologically deviant, and are often dangerous. See the examples, and the warning signs.
What do we really believe, and on what are our beliefs based, and how did they evolve? What the Bible says about the importance of teaching sound doctrine, and why leaders and members stray. The meaning of Pentecostal, Charismatic and New Covenant Theology are discussed. The importance of knowing what we believe, and what NCMI believes follows.
The Reformation led to the founding of the Protestant movement, and from this to the proliferation of many denominations, each with their own different theologies. This article looks at some of the major denominations, their key beliefs, and and what they stand for.
There are a vast number of theological beliefs and systems, some which are more philosophical and aim at promoting ethical lifestyles – especially the earlier ones, while the majority are based on the worship of one or more deity. Religions like Hinduism have evolved over centurions, while many of the later religions are based on the Bible, to a greater of lesser extent, and are based on a different and unorthodox interpretation of the Bible, or even on a heavenly revelation
What are the differences between what the Catholics and Protestants believe? There are several fundamental differences, and an understanding of what they are, and on what each theology is based and how it arose, will greatly assist in ministering to anyone from the Catholic faith. As will be seen, the their faith is founded on the belief that the popes and the Catholic church leadership are the successors of the apostles and exercise divine authority, which is of equal or greater authority than the Bible, while the Protestants accept the divine inspiration and authority of the Bible, and hold the doctrines of the church as subservient and fallible.
Islam is the fastest growing religion worldwide, and its effects on the countries and areas in which it is practised is profound. Hence this article looks at what it is, how it arose, what its fundamental doctrines are, their beliefs concerning Jesus, other Christian figures and the Bible, and finally is it really a religion of peace.
Who they are, their religious affiliation and their relationship with the Catholic Church. Who is really their ‘god’ and can a Christian in all good conscience be a Freemason. Various beliefs and practices of Freemasonry that are contrary to the Christian faith. A prayer to break Freemasonry curses.
MINISTRY TEAM EQUIPPING
Introduction to Ministry Team Equipping
God speaks to us in several ways, and He wants us all to be able to hear from Him. Let’s look at the different ways and how each of us can begin to hear from God, and at the typical obstacles that may be preventing us from hearing the voice of God and how to overcome them.
The Bible says in Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Let’s look at who the Holy Spirit is, what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit, and how we can all be led by the Holy Spirit.
This article is intended to assist both all who prophesy and church leaders in understanding the IF, the HOW and the WHEN prophetic words can best be given, particularly in formal meetings, such as in Sunday services. The if, the when, and the how we say things can be as important as the what is prophesied.
ARTICLES
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a free gift and is meant to be received by all, and the church needs to teach about it to everyone. Isn’t it time we all accepted the reality that the gospel is not merely a matter of words, but of power – and that we still need it? So if you or your church needs some help in teaching about the baptism in the Holy Spirit and on speaking in tongues, then please read this article.
We serve a generous God who has done so much for us – what can we do for Him? What does the Lord ask of us under the New Covenant, and who should we be giving to? In each case, giving must be from the heart, and not under any legalistic compulsion.
God has made us perfect in His sight through the forgiveness of our sins, but what we do will never be ‘perfect’ – stop expecting perfection from yourself or anyone else.
Who has never felt lonely and abandoned, or never been through a period of intense loneliness? If we have Jesus, we will never need to feel all alone again. We may be alone, for a time, but we will never have to feel lonely again.
8 signs that you, or your church, may be lukewarm
Are we ‘on fire’ for the Lord, as we read about the believers in Acts 5:12-16, or lukewarm, as we read of the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14, or somewhere in between?
(This article was published in Charisma, USA).
TRACTS
God wants us all to have a personal relationship with Him – how does God see us, and how can we draw near to him and receive our salvation?
Salvation is just the start of a completely new life. God wants us to have, to know, and to do certain things, as we grow in faith, in Him. Let’s take a look at the first steps.
MAINLY FOR CHURCH LEADERS
The Church – Vision and Mission
What type of church would you as a leader like to build, and what type of church does the Bible say that we should be building? (This article was published in Charisma, USA).
In some churches, the leaders like to be called by a special title, such as ‘Pastor Someone’, but is this biblically correct, in terms of both what the scriptures say and the examples set by leaders in the Bible?
What are your primary duties as the captain of your ship? Here is a hint: David took a group of misfits and mal-contents (1 Samuel 22:2) and turned them into a mighty army that never lost a battle, and was victorious wherever he went (2 Samuel 8:14). Let’s see if there is a lesson to be learned here, for all of us today. I once attended a church that applied these principles, and I have never since seen a church of such strong members.
The Israelites ate manna for 40 years, and got very tired of it, and complained. Was the problem with the manna, or human nature? A note to pastors and leaders; we all need a change in diet, which no single person can supply.
What if this parable From Matthew 25 not only applies individually to those who fail to make use of the ‘talents’ God has given them, but also to leaders who fail to make use of the ‘talents’ – the people – whom they have been given to also serve in their ministries, and each of whom have their own talents and gifts?
Christian Articles
Here is a link to my Facebook page Voice of One | Facebook which I use to notify all about new articles posted to my website. I try to post one or two new articles per week. Please follow to get the notifications.