Searching for the Right Way Once a Hasidic teacher told this parable: A man had been wandering about in a forest for several days, unable to find the way out. Finally, he saw a man approaching him in the distance. His heart was filled with joy. “Now I shall surely find out which is the…
Author: Alan Holden
Grief
Creating Something New Out of Ashes Some years ago, Alexander Woolcott described a scene in a New York hospital where a grief-stricken mother sat in the hospital lounge in stunned silence, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had just lost her only child, and she was gazing blindly into space while the head nurse talked…
Grace
The Way Grace Works Grace does not make everything right. Grace’s trick is to show us that it is right for us to live; that it is truly good, wonderful even, for us to be breathing and feeling at the same time that everything clustering around us is wholly wretched. Grace is not a ticket…
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Louisa Stead stood on the beach with her four-year-old daughter and watched her husband drown as he tried to rescue a child in the waters off Long Island, New York. The loss of her husband and persistent health problems brought a testing time in her life. Out of these experiences came the writing of “‘Tis…
The Lord’s Supper:
Its Meaning in the Present, Past, and Future 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 & 11:23-29 The Present Meaning of the Lord’s Supper A. Eucharistia = thankfulness, gratitude, thanksgiving B. Koinonia = communion, fellowship, close relationship The Past Meaning of the Lord’s Supper A. Covenant In the Ancient Near East, covenants regulated the relationship between a great king…
Christ Is Our Passover
Exodus 12:3-13 and 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Introduction Thesis: The Passover prefigures Christ’s saving sacrifice. The Lord Was Without Fault. A. The lamb was tested by separation, Exodus 12:5-6. B. The Lamb was tested by Pilate, who declared Him innocent, John 18:38. The Lord Was Slain, Exodus 12:7, 13. A. The blood propitiates sin. B. The…
What Does Revival Look Like?
Jonathan Edwards urged believers to “take the Scriptures as their guide.” Pointing them to the First Epistle of John, he outlined five essential principles of genuine revival. Esteem for Christ rather than esteem for self. “No man, speaking by the Spirit of God will show an ill or mean esteem of Christ.” –Jonathan Edwards Eternal…
What Is the Church?
Acts 2:41-47 and Ephesians 5:22-33 The Church is a Covenant Relationship between Baptized Believers. A. Promise to walk together in Christian love, John 13:34-35. B. Promise to be faithful in church attendance, Hebrews 10:25. C. Promise to be faithful in tithing, 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 8:6-7. D. Promise to transfer one’s membership when…
Deacons and Church Members
Hebrews 10:23-25 Thesis: Deacons and church members are responsible to build church fellowship. Introduction A new pastor had just come to a new church. He was talking to one of the deacons and the deacon said, “Pastor, we have been talking among ourselves about what to call you.” The pastor asked, “What did you call…
Picture of the Church
Ephesians 4:1-16 Thesis: God unifies diverse people for the mission of Christ. Introduction It was the first day back on the job after his vacation. “How did you enjoy your trip?” asked the fellow worker. “Well,” sighed the weary traveler, “have you ever spent a week in a station wagon with those you thought you…