Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Renewal of the Church
I Pet. 1: 13-25
 
Mr. Alex Thomas & Dr. Susan Alex,
Jackson, Tennessee
16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
 
The word Church is derived from the Greek word, “ek klesia”, which means “an assembly” or “called-out ones”. It is not the building where the believers worship that matters, but the individuals who worship in it. When Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 16:5, “greet also the Church that meets at their house”, Paul talked about the people who worshipped there, not about a Church building.
 
Church Renewal is a term theologians and Church leaders have often used to express their hope for reform and revival of the Church and Christianity in general. The Church is a human structure created in the image and holiness for the purpose of inhabiting the Church of Jesus Christ. Hence it is the temple of the living God. In 1 Peter 1:15, we read, “just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do”. We are expected to be holy, by imitating God, in all the days of our lives, not just when we go to Church on Sundays. In 1 Cor. 3: 16, it is stated that, “do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you”? Hence for the renewal of the Church to take place, it has to begin with the renewal of the individual members of the Church; one by one. Renewal of the individual believers will result in the renewal of the Church.  Mahatma Gandhi stated, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”. The motto of our Church is, “lighted to lighten”. In Mathew 5:14, Jesus stated, “you are the light of the world… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven”. “In his book, “Turn Around and Beyond”, the author, Ron Crandall gave the following principles for the renewal of the Church.
1.      Personal renewal: Renewal of the church begins with the renewal of the members of the Church. It may be a conversion moment, answering an alter call, responding an invitation to receive Christ, deepening faith etc.
2.      Corporate Renewal: It usually takes the form of a new cooperation and revival among the believers to fulfill God’s vision.
3.      Conceptual Renewal: In this stage, the people of a congregation receive a new vision of what God wants to do with them.
4.      Structural Renewal: In this case, the church begins to replace the old programs with the new direction that God leads them to.
5.      Musicological Renewal: In this stage the focus of the Church will be more on mission work and also service to the world.
Rick Warren, in his book, Purpose Driven Church, stated that, “if you will concentrate on building people, God will build the Church”. Rick Warren gave a five-part strategy that will enable the growth of the Church:
1) Warmer though fellowship
2) Deeper through discipleship
3) Stronger through worship
4) Broader through ministry and
5) Larger through evangelism.
 
The spiritual renewal of the Church is meant to spread the Gospel. It is by loving, caring and sharing that we will be able to spread the Gospel. In acts 1:8, we read, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit in us is required to bring renewal and revival.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, May we be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. Please bring a renewal in our lives so that our Church community as a whole will be blessed and renewed. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Lord, make us instruments of Thy peace. 

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more