The Official Swiss L'Abri Fellowship Blog

The Living Church- Chapter Four

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:36:41 -0500

The Living Church – Chapter 4

In the next few weeks I’ll be posting on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.

Stott’s next chapter is on ministry. He looks to Luke’s narrative in Acts and highlights the Holy Spirit and the work of Satan (see Acts 5). The latter he says is out to persecute, corrupt, and distract. Stott draws our attention to Acts 6:1-7 to focus on the tactic of distraction:

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch , a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The point Stott wants to make here is that there are different ministries for different people in the church. No one should or can do everything, and this is crucial, because all Christians are called to a variety of ministries.

After having made this important point, Stott turns to explore the pastoral ministry. We have either elevated or regulated pastors, and both these orientations create problems. Pastors are to have oversight in teaching and participate in shared leadership. Those who pastor are to value people, deeply care for them, and show them increasing love as they are part of God’s church, not the pastor’s.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

Reflection for the Week- July 14th 2008

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:34:52 -0500

There are two vast expressions that seem more prevalent than ever in the culture: first, a sense of aimlessness, rampant consumerism, a lack of stable relationships and families, and sound bite superficiality. Second, the virtual spirituality interwoven with anything and everything is resulting in a dearth of true spirituality and a growing loss of contact with the real world. May God give wisdom as to how to address this spiraling impoverishment.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

Reflection for the Week- July 8th 2008

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:45:36 -0500

Counterfeit forms of spirituality are often characterized by a hyper subjectivity or hyper objectivity, which have little or nothing to do with Christian truth or with the whole of life in God's world. It is essential to be aware of the proliferation of these popularized cultural manifestations that are anti-spirituality, and by contrast, to speak and live the truth in love, as we battle against the clutches of death. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

The Living Church- Chapter Three

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:29:52 -0500

The Living Church – Chapter 3

In the next few weeks I’ll be posting on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.

This chapter is on Evangelism. Stott points out three types of evangelism: personal, mass, and local church, which he sees as the most ‘normal, natural, and productive.’ In order for the local church to follow through on its task it has to meet four conditions:

Reflection for the Week- June 22nd 2008

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:26:56 -0500

When it comes to the Christian faith, don’t be afraid to improvise. That does not mean to make it up as we go along, but to join in with the symphony of Scripture and to find your place in interpreting and becoming part of the composition.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

The Living Church- Chapter Two

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:18:21 -0500

In the next few weeks I’ll be posting on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.

Stott now takes up worship. This, he says, is the church’s primary obligation. But what is worship? Four points:

First, true worship is a ‘response to revelation.’ Public Scripture reading and study therefore are central to worship.

Second, true worship is in community. Granted, there is a place for individual worship, but the biblical focus is most often on the corporate.

Third, true worship is ‘spiritual worship’ and spiritual worship is connected to Scripture, the Eucharist, and praise and prayer.

Fourth, true worship is moral. Living Christ like lives both in our hearts and relations is to practice holiness.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

Reflection for the Week- June 16th 2008

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:11:29 -0500

Despite the many obstacles and false paths we take, Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. Follow him and find community with God.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

Reflection of the Week- June 8th 2008

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:07:38 -0500

Might we be living in times where what we have known as church and culture are falling apart and beginning to disintegrate? And if so, where are we going to turn to find renewal and hope? If Western culture and church are to be revived, fervent prayer and the power of the Spirit will be essential. Further, I believe that one of the crucial elements of recovery will have to be a deep commitment to the reading, study, and appropriation of Scripture. Living the practices embedded in the biblical text is central to Christian existence and having an impact on church and culture for the sake of Christ.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

The Living Church- Chapter One

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:42:32 -0500

The Living Church – Chapter 1 In the next few weeks I’ll be posting on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.

This chapter sets out what Stott calls God’s vision for the church. Question: What would you see as necessary marks or traits of God’s church? Stott is a person who is about church through and through. His vocabulary for the church is ‘God’s new community.’ Stott argues that all believers should be committed to church, its mission, and its renewal because God is committed to these. Each of the three are essential.

But what is a living church and God’s vision of church? Stott offers us a picture from Acts 2:42-47:

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

‘The early church,’ Stott states, ‘was radically stirred by the Holy Spirit.’ In following Luke’s recounting we notice four marks of this Pentecost event, which will help us in shaping the church today.

First, a living church is a learning church. ‘Devoted to the apostolic teaching,’ according to Stott, didn’t mean that people left their intellects behind in exchange for a mystical experience or that because the Holy Spirit had arrived they no longer needed a teacher. True, says Stott, the New Testament apostles are no longer with us, but we do have in the New Testament their teaching and witness.

Second, a living church is a caring church. ‘Fellowship’ is to be taken seriously and we’re to make a difference in extending generosity wherever possible.

Third, a living church is a worshipping church. Joy and reverence are to be combined in a mixture of both formal and informal structures.

Fourth, a living church is an evangelistic church. Mission and outreach are to identify the people of God.

The Living Church – Introduction

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:10:08 -0500

The Living Church – Introduction

In the next few weeks I’ll be posting on John Stott’s excellent new book: The Living Church. Stott is a writer, pastor, and teacher who is well worth reading.

Stott begins his account with a Preface entitled ‘Emerging Churches.’ In spite of all the books today about church, Stott thinks we are in a time of crisis and that the church may be way out of step with the culture in unhelpful ways. He finely balances the need for Christians to be attuned to culture and to also be counter-cultural. ‘Scripture is unchangeable,’ Stott writes, ‘culture is not.’ We are to conserve Scriptural teaching, yet be radicals. Traditional and emerging churches need to be open to dialogue and learning from each other. Persitent practices of both types of churches are to identify with Jesus, avoid the sacred-secular divide, and be authentic communities.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

Reflection of the Week- June 1st 2008

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:06:39 -0500

Lamentably, the founding stories of our faith are so often entombed in church buildings that lack the presence of God, or in electronic boxes that perpetrate a mindless faith in consumerism. By contrast, the subversive and radical power of the mission, ministry, and person of Jesus illumines the path towards authenticity. Cherish the Gospels, read them diligently, appreciate their relation and distinction, and above all, live their truth in love.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

# 10: For the next few weeks I'll be posting on Revelation 2:1-3:22

Sun, 25 May 2008 16:02:47 -0500

(Notice- Copyright Dr. Gregory J. Laughery - 2008)

For the next few weeks I'll be posting on Revelation 2:1-3:22 - the Seven Letters to the Churches - out of my new book Living Apocalypse: A Revelation Reader and A Guide for the Perplexed.

The Letter to Laodicea ( 3:14 -22)

Introduction

Laodicea was one of the wealthiest cities of its day. An example of the city’s immense wealth was the city’s refusal, after almost complete destruction by earthquake, of imperial aid to rebuild; they could afford to do it themselves. This city was known for its banks, its wool and textile industry which produced a special black wool, and for its medical school which developed an ear ointment and an eye salve.

Despite all its wealth, Laodicea was not completely self-sufficient. It seems that because of its location, the city was dependent on others for its water. The water was piped in through an aqueduct system that was fairly efficient for its day, but the quality of some of the water was less than desirable. As we study the letter it is important to keep these details in mind.

Reflection of the Week- May 25th 2008

Sun, 25 May 2008 15:59:42 -0500

The times are mystifying. Everyone is searching for a spiritual life. One person goes this way, another that. So many trends and options are available today. In the midst of the driving enthusiasm and obsessive quest for a spiritual life, spirituality has come to mean everything, yet nothing. Christians have to help lead the way out of the maze by embracing and living the truths of the faith. We should embody and demonstrate the existence of God, the redemption of Christ, and the power of the Spirit.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery

# 9: For the next few weeks I'll be posting on Revelation 2:1-3:22

Sun, 18 May 2008 21:07:11 -0500

The Letter to Philadelphia (3:7-13)

Introduction

Philadelphia was a smaller and more recently developed city than any of the other seven cities addressed in these letters. Because of its location it is often called the ‘gateway to the East.’ It was a fairly rich city with much productive agricultural land and some industry. Although destroyed by an earthquake, as was much of the region surrounding it in 17 CE, it was quickly rebuilt through imperial aid and its people remained loyal to the emperor. Temples dedicated to the imperial cult as well as many pagan gods were in prominence and Christians in this city were in a similar situation to the others John has already addressed.

Text

(7) The words of this letter are from “he who is holy and true.” The risen Christ, as in the previous letters, addresses the church. Christ himself is called the Holy One. This was a common title used for God in the Old Testament and here it affirms Christ’s deity. He is also the True One, an affirmation of his complete reliability. The One who is holy and true holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open. This is a loose reference to Isaiah 22:22-25 and is likely to refer to the fact that Christ, who is holy and true, exercises authority over whoever enters the new Jerusalem, the proverbial dwelling place of God. We may also have a polemic against the Jews who were persecuting Christians in Philadelphia and seemingly attempting to exclude them from the household of God.

Reflection for the Week- May 18th 2008

Sun, 18 May 2008 21:05:06 -0500

There is nothing more spiritual, no other way of having the fullness of life, than following the crucified and risen One, which is both a joy and a task.

Dr. Gregory J. Laughery