the church

The Problem of Evil

June 1, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

My heart broke this past week when the lead singer of a popular Christian band renounced his faith in Jesus in a very public way. What broke my heart was not the damage this might do to the faith of those over whom he has influence, although that is troublesome. It didn’t break my heart the way the media latched onto the story and the damage something like this inflicts on the Church, although this too is cause for prayer.

problem of evil,sin,free will,love,faithchurch,1 John 1:5-7,God is light,Matthew 16:18,gates of hell will not prevail,Romans 8:22,earth is groaning

The Church will survive. The gates of Hell will not prevail against us, no matter how unexpected the attack (Matthew 16:18). What broke my heart were the reasons this individual gave for no longer believing. There are straightforward answers to his questions, and yet somehow, no one in this man’s life could counsel him with the truth.

[Read more…] about The Problem of Evil

Marching Orders

April 6, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

We live in fascinating times. Watching the panic, surfing the ever-changing waves of information, and dealing with the very real fall-out from the situation at hand can rattle even the most stable. Nothing would be easier than to allow ourselves to get off our mission for God. There’s a rule in the military: until they receive a new order, the last order given stands. And so our marching orders have not changed.

marching orders,Matthew 28:19-20,great commission,Matthew 22:36-40,greatest commandment,Mark 12:30-31,love god heart strength mind soul,commitment,faith,discipline,love,humility,mission, Church,God's will,will of God

Jesus told us to go into all the world telling others about Him (Matthew 28:19-20). He said to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). And He said to love and serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30-31). These are our marching orders, and the insanity of the times we live in do not overrule them.

[Read more…] about Marching Orders

Times Like These

March 23, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

In times like these, it’s easy to lose our way. The needle on our internal compass seems a bit jumpy. The culture of a 24/7 news cycle can overwhelm with information and confuse us about what to believe. Stress and anxiety threaten to overcome our best intentions and defenses. Times like these bring out the best, and too often, the worst in humanity.

times like these,peace,grace,love,mercy,Church,God's Kingdom,fear,Matthew 6:31-33,don't worry,anxiety,Kingdom of God,God's peace,Philippians 4:6-7,peace of God,2 Timothy 1:7,spirit of fear

For followers of Jesus, we can have peace. Our Lord is the Prince of Peace, and His grace and mercy are not in short supply. And yet, we seem to forget these truths when we need them most. Instead of relying on the peace and power of our Creator, we give in to the siren song of the crowd. There is no comfort there. We find comfort only in the arms of Jesus.

[Read more…] about Times Like These

Can You Be a Christian Without Being a Disciple?

February 13, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

I heard a caller on a radio show ask, “Can you be a Christian without being a disciple?” I have been wrestling with this same thought of late. Before diving in, we should define the terms, so we are all on the same page. The term “Christian” now means many things in our world, but for this discussion, I mean someone who has trusted Jesus is who He says He was and has surrendered their lives to His Lordship.

can you be a Christian without being a disciple,discipleship,commitment,salvation,eternal salvation,Church,James 2:15-20,faith without works,Ephesians 2:10,created for work,Matthew 25:31-46,sheep and goats,Revelation 3:16,lukewarm vomit you out,Matthew 7:22-23,many will come saying Lord,Ephesians 2:8-9,saved by grace,John 10:28-29,no one can snatch from my hand

A disciple, again for our discussion, is someone who is constantly and consistently pursuing Jesus, desperate to live their lives as He lived His. My inclination is to say you cannot be a Christian if you are not a disciple. I could be wrong but let me give you some reasons for my belief, and then I’ll say a few words about why I might be wrong.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ

February 3, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

On Christmas day, two pastors in the Central African Republic (CAR) were gunned down as they walked home from holding services. Then, on January 3^rd, the terrorist organization Boko Haram, kidnapped Pastor Lawan Andimi, a senior member of the Christian Association of Nigeria. On January 19^th, they called his wife and told her they would behead her husband, which they did. So, how was your day? I in no way mean to be flippant but to point out the fact while most Western Christians fret about getting to church while there are still donuts available, our Christian brothers and sisters around the globe are facing real trials and real persecution.

brothers and sisters in Christ,persecution,commitment,church,Africa,Nigeria,Central African Republic,CAR,prayer,fear

As another mega-church goes into millions of dollars of debt to build bigger and more comfortable buildings, Christians in nations where Christianity is illegal risk beatings, imprisonment, and death to gather under a tree in the middle of a field just so they can fellowship with one another. Something has gone terribly wrong with the Church in the Western world.