Church Life

Jesus makes it clear that giving to the kingdom of God is one of the best investments we can make in our lives. See Matthew 6:19-21 where He says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

No economic downturn can affect such an investment - because it is kept in heaven for us! (see 1 Peter 1:4)

The word ‘sabbath’ simply means ‘stop’. It is God’s instruction that we should stop our usual activity for one day in every seven. The Jews kept this day on the Saturday.

Men and women are of equal value

Genesis 1v27 tells us that:

There are many groups who call themselves Christian, but which appear to be different. Some of those differences are simply about the style of worship or church government.

In certain circumstances, it seems justifiable to explore every avenue of possible healing.

To answer that question we need to understand what those words mean when understood in their original context.

The Bible is clear that any divorce is a tragedy. God intended marriage to be a life-long commitment between Man & Woman.

Marriage in the beginning

When God created marriage at the beginning of history he explained that when a man and woman are married, they become joined together as ‘one flesh’ (see Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). This union is designed to be a permanent bond until death separates it (see also Matthew 19:6). It is worth noting that God created marriage long before he gave the Law to Moses. The strong bond of marriage goes beyond a legal contract.

The Apostle Paul writes about head-coverings in 1 Corinthians 11. As we try to apply his teaching to our own time it is very important for us to understand the culture that the apostle Paul was writing into.

In Greece during the 1st century the clothes men and women wore were very similar in style apart from the head-covering which was only worn by women. The uncovered hair of a woman was considered sexually arousing and was believed to provoke lust in men. So it was normal, dignified and socially appropriate for women (especially married women) to wear the head-covering.

Baptism (from the Greek word baptizo means to dip, immerse or fill. Traditionally baptism involves being submersed for a short period of time before coming up out of the water. This is symbolic of dying to the past life of sin and being raised to new life in Jesus.

Baptism is commanded by Jesus for all believers. When a believer repents of their sins and chooses to trust in Christ it is an inward and invisible work of the Holy Spirit. But baptism is an outward and visible act by a believer expressing full cooperation with God's work of grace.