Tune and Prepare!

Simon Elliot — Everyday Church Wimbledon Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians Paul here refers to specific people who represent a specific ministry with a specific purpose. Paul is not talking about titles or professional positions; he is speaking about people with purpose, and that purpose is to equip and enable the believing community in intentional discipleship. Why can I say this? Because, as we shall see, the fruit of intentional discipleship is mature and fruitful believers. These ministries equip the saints, all the believers, for works of service – for activity which will bring maturity through intentionality. John Stott puts it like this: Paul sets out two purposes – one immediate and the other ultimate – for which Christ gave gifts to his church. His immediate purpose was to equip his people for w...

(acidic text) Intro Proper self-assessment is a delicate matter. It requires an orderly system of personal relationships and a great deal of grace. When we calmly and lovingly endure our conflicts and learn from them, when the unknown and invisible areas become smaller and smaller and our weaknesses, which are understandable to others from the outside, become more and more obvious, then our self-esteem problems also decrease significantly. They do not disappear—we live in a sinful world—but they are not the main problem and, above all, they do not provide a basis for false identity and compensatory behavior. {At the same time, I admit and confess that I am familiar with the following from personal failures or temptations.} Restless souls However, there are restless souls. Those who always have a ready explanation and justification for the correctness of their actions. These are mostly extroverted individuals whose satisfaction factor only reaches around 98% whe...

(The Roaming Spirit-Trader - acidic text) Intro A helyes önértékelés kényes jószág. Rendezett személyes kapcsolat rendszer és sok sok kegyelem szükségeltetik hozzá. Amikor nyugodtan és szeretetben elviseljuk konfliktusainkat és tanulunk azokból, amikor a számunkra ismeretlen láthatatlan terület egyre kisebb lesz és a mások számára kívülről érthető gyengeségünk egyre nyilvánvalóbbá válik, akkor önértékelési problémáink is jelentősen csökkennek. Nem szűnnek ugyan meg - bűnös világban élünk - de nem a fő problémát képezik és főleg nem adnak alapot hamis identitásnak és pótcselekvésnek. {Ugyanakkor itt azt is beismerem és megvallom, hogy a következőket személyes bukásokból vagy kísértésekből is ismerem.} Nyughatatlan lelkek Vannak azonban nyughatatlan lelkek. Olyanok akiknek mindig van kész magyarázatuk és igazolásuk tettek helyességére. Ezek többnyire extrovertált személyek akiknek elégedettségi faktora csak akkor jut el 98% körüli értékre, ha az általuk képviselt {vag...

This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack Reuben A. Torrey: "How to Obtain Fulness of Power For Christian life?" Chapter 3 — The Power of the Holy Spirit sample part I "Power belongeth unto God." Ps 62 Intro The Holy Spirit is the person who imparts to the individual believer the power that belongs to God. This is the Holy Spirit's work in the believer, to take what belongs to God and make it ours. All the manifold power of God belongs to the children of God as their birthright in Christ, "All things are yours." (1 Cor. 3:21) But all that belongs to us as our birthright in Christ becomes ours in actual and experimental possession through the Holy Spirit's work in us as individuals. To the extent that we understand and claim for ourselves the Holy Spirit's work, to that extent do we obtain for ourselves the fulness of power in Christian life and service that God has provided for us in Christ. A v...

This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack Reuben A. Torrey: "How to Obtain Fulness of Power For Christian life?" Chapter 3 — The Power of the Holy Spirit sample part II "Power belongeth unto God." Ps 62 8. Further down in the chapter there is a new thought. Rom. 8:16: "The Spirit [himself] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God." The Holy Spirit bears witness with the spirit of the believer that he is a child of God. Note that Paul does not say that the Spirit bears witness to our spirit, but with it— "together with our spirit," is the exact force of the words used. That is, there are two who bear witness to our sonship: First, our spirit bears witness that we are children of God; second, the Holy Spirit bears witness together with our spirit that we are children of God. How does the Holy Spirit bear His testimony to this fact? Gal. 4:6 answers this question: ...

Moses said: “Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.” Then HE replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exo 33:13 As a truly dedicated leader, Moses did not simply focus on his duties, but the well-being of his flock was the center of his attention. · What is Moses' reaction to this answer? · Which specific branch of Christianity should be concerned with this view / perspective? · Moses' mindset has been changed by the Lord's answer. How has his perspective broadened? {v.15-18. ↓} “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” And the LORD said to...

July 7, 2026 — edited version This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack , also part of the "Our Living Word" collection. Teaching and learning is not a lecture. Is there a way back to the informal? In the tapestry of a believer's life, teaching and learning are threads woven closely together, yet profoundly distinct from mere lectures and rote memorization. In the teaching of Jesus Christ, the process of imparting knowledge transcends the mundane and becomes a sacred endeavor — or, more accurately, a sacred challenge. One Way, or Peer to Peer? Our postmodern life often emphasizes one-way communication: entertainers perform, audiences consume. This "lecture culture" — TED talks and the like — keeps us in passive, unilateral exchanges rather than the mutual, peer-to-peer dialogue that is essential to genuine teaching and to relationship. Unfortunately, this pulls our hearts toward a unilateral communication that is far fro...