Tag Archives: Christians

Bible

What motivates the church service

Leave a comment

The understanding of church has changed. Alternative models are currently being proposed. But church is more than just a meeting place for generations. In our church, we have discussed what motivates us to attend church services.

First and foremost is the presence of God. Jesus promised in Matthew 18:20 that he is among us. Something in the church service speaks to us. We are encouraged by conversations, singing together, prayers and friendly encounters.

For us, the focus is the Bible. Looking at the contexts and backgrounds opens up a new perspective on God, the world and ourselves.

The third point is the exchange after the service. Seeing each other regularly, asking questions or praying for challenging situations is a help for everyday life. Sometimes you get a advice on who you can turn to. Continue reading What motivates the church service →

Bible, Jesus

The wise men from the East

Leave a comment

January 6th is Epiphany. The day is also known as Theophany. This day is the second oldest Christian holiday after Easter. Before the calendar reform, it marked the beginning of the year.

Today, the revelation of Jesus’ divinity is celebrated on this day. Depending on the region and church, this day commemorates the birth of Jesus with the worship of the Jewish shepherds, the adoration of the wise men, the baptism of Jesus or the first miracle at the wedding in Cana.

We remember the story from Matthew 2:1-12.

There it is not written that the men were kings. The number is also unclear.

It is striking that only the astrologers knew about this star, but not the people in Jerusalem. Therefore, it cannot have been a comet.

If Jesus was born in 7 BC according to the meeting of the planet Jupiter and Saturn, Herod had the opportunity to meet the wise men and try to kill the child before his death in 4 BC.

The three gifts ensure the family’s survival as they flee to the Jewish diaspora in Egypt.

God knows what we need and when. Help came out of nowhere at just the right time.

God’s timetable is not always comprehensible to us. He does not protect us from difficulties, but he helps us through them. God’s timing and his help are what make up the Christian faith.

Bible

Christmas begins with an angel

Leave a comment

Who are these mysterious beings?

Angels are messengers from heaven. They are often invisible. In 2 Kings 6:17, Elisha asks God to open his servant’s eyes so that he can see the heavenly hosts around them. 

In the spiritual world, there is a battle between the angels and the angels who have fallen away from God. This is what we read in Revelation 12:7 and in the book of Daniel chapter 10.

Angels always open a new chapter in the history of God’s salvation.  God sends the Saviour to earth.

Even today, God speaks through the Bible, through people and through angels. Angels are fellow servants. This means that we do not focus on the angels, but on God. We talk to God and he commissions the angels. An angel will only do what God says.

It is exciting to think that God also wants to use us as his messengers (angels) by encouraging others, building them up and pointing them to God.

Perhaps sometimes an angel has to step in because there is no human messenger available at the crucial moment.

Bible

Lead us not into temptation

Leave a comment

Jesus teaches us to pray: ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’?

The original temptation to mistrust God and to impute negative motives to him comes from the tempter. ‘Did God really say …’.

The real break between man and God lies in the fact that man questions whether God means well with his instructions.

You often have to look behind a story in order not to impute negative motives to God.

God wants to save us from our self-imposed downfall and prevent abuse.

‘Lead us not into temptation’. This means: ‘God help us to trust you in all situations’.

With the prayer ‘Lead us not into temptation’, we acknowledge our weakness (need for help) and distance ourselves from false self-confidence. We are aware that we need the Holy Spirit because he helps us to trust in God.

Bible

The great theme of Jesus is the kingdom of God.

Leave a comment

The kingdom of God does not begin by creating a perfect world, but by bringing salvation into this world.

The kingdom of God is not about presenting something, but about admitting that we all need change.

In this kingdom, it is not the sword that rules, but the word. People are invited in a promotional way, but not forced to do anything. Continue reading The great theme of Jesus is the kingdom of God. →

Bible

Jesus’ surprising statement about the way

Leave a comment

Jesus says in John 14:6: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.

This is the answer to Thomas’ question as to how we can come to the same place that Jesus is going preparing a living place for us by the heavenly Father.

That’s a strong statement from Jesus in an interpretation-orientated culture. Judaism is characterised precisely by the fact that every rabbi finds his own explanations and thus defines his own path.

Jesus says: I am the correct interpretation. Truth is defined by God. And true life is created in connection with him.

But most people fight tooth and nail against the idea that they need divine help.

sculpture Peter Kuhn, Wermatswil

.

Bible

The impacts of the Holy Spirit

Leave a comment

In addition to a genuine interest in God, the Holy Spirit brings knowledge about God and our wrongdoings. We realise that we cannot save ourselves and grasp the hand of God that he extends to us in Jesus.

When we hold on to Jesus, the Holy Spirit causes us to love the heavenly Father, Jesus and the Bible, the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit causes us to accept God as a trustworthy Father. An inner knowledge arises in us that we are children of God. The Holy Spirit also works divine peace in us.

The Holy Spirit also creates the fruits of the Holy Spirit in us and gives us the gifts we need for our tasks. Our lives change slowly. Why slowly? No fruit suddenly pops up. It grows and matures over time.

Bible

The synod

Leave a comment

The shock must first be dealt with (Acts 1:12-26), that someone who had even been entrusted with money was a traitor. The first Christians withdrew, reconciled themselves with history and had to find a new way of working together.

The name Judas Iscariot could indicate that he was associated with the particularly radical movement of the Sicarii (Dagger Men). This was a subgroup of the Zealots. They Continue reading The synod →

Bible, Jesus

You will be my martyrs

Leave a comment

The disciples want to know whether Jesus will now make Israel into a great and mighty kingdom (Acts 1:6).

Jesus replies that there is a time for everything. He does not deny an earthly kingdom, but first comes a time of waiting, then of witnessing in all the world and then the visible return of Jesus to this earth.

His reign begins in the place where people have decided against him (Jerusalem), then continues into the surrounding area (Judea), to the despised Samaritans and to the end of the world. Continue reading You will be my martyrs →

Bible

The key to eternal life

Leave a comment

The story of the Good Samaritan is not about caring for the sick, but about stopping my busy life for someone I meet who needs my help.

Jesus is asked what the key to eternal life is. The answer is: love of God and love of neighbour. This simple sentence sums up the Old Testament.

But the questioner immediately tries to talk his way out of it by asking who his neighbour is. Jesus responds with a story (Luke 10:25-37).

My neighbour is not a person of my choice. I do not have to seek and fulfil a specific task.

I become a neighbour by changing my behaviour towards the people I meet.