The Official Swiss L'Abri Fellowship Blog

Christian truth is far from maintaining the status quo. It challenges the arrogant powers and despotic tyrants that seek to possess and control the world. Status quo is death. Christ came to bring life, to o-pen possibilities, to affirm change and inaugurate transformation.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

 

Posted by L'Abri Admin at 09:15 AM | Permalink

The Living Church – Conclusion

This is the last post on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.

Stott titles this chapter: Looking for Timothys in the Twenty-First Century.

Timothy was young, frail, and far from a saint as is the case for most of us. As he we need Christ’s strength and power to move ahead in our faith. Timothy was to take care not to be swept away by the current cultural attitudes and this pertinent warning should speak to our hearts as well.

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:11-12:

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

From these verses Stott highlights three appeals:

First, Timothy is to follow the path of goodness. There is an ethical appeal. Run from evil and into good. God does not intend to do it all and he gives us a responsibility to work this out.

Continue reading "The Living Church- Conclusion" »

Posted by L'Abri Admin at 09:54 AM | Permalink

Become a glocal Christian. Those who follow in the footsteps of Christ are called to a local and a global community and are to have an intense passion and concern for both spheres of life in the body of Christ. Keep the fires of love, trust, and compassion burning for brothers and sisters wherever they are found.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

 

Posted by L'Abri Admin at 09:13 AM | Permalink

Improvising is not about doing something entirely new. Think of it this way. To improvise is to join in, to recognize that we are part of a work in progress - something that precedes us. Faithful improvisation is listening to and speaking for others. To participate in God’s story in following the crucified and risen One, is to respond to an invitation to improvise.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

Posted by L'Abri Admin at 07:50 PM | Permalink

The Living Church – Chapter 8

This is the last chapter of John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading. Next week I’ll post his Conclusion.

What impact will Christianity have in today’s pluralistic culture and how will it fare? The terms salt and light are prominent in Matthew 5:13-16:

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.


14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Stott builds off this passage and highlights the relevance of the metaphors salt and light for the living church.

First, Christians are and should be ‘radically’ different from non-Christians. Be holy, as God is holy.

Continue reading "The Living Church- Chapter Eight" »

Posted by L'Abri Admin at 09:52 AM | Permalink