The Church Archives » Sondra Kraak https://sondrakraak.com/category/the-church/ Trails of Love and Grace Tue, 16 Jun 2015 17:03:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 102065200 The Work of Jesus: Making Oaks of Righteousness https://sondrakraak.com/the-work-of-jesus-making-oaks-of-righteousness/ https://sondrakraak.com/the-work-of-jesus-making-oaks-of-righteousness/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2015 17:03:06 +0000 https://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=1448 “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of […]

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]]> https://sondrakraak.com/the-work-of-jesus-making-oaks-of-righteousness/feed/ 2 1448 Spiritual Gifts: Instrumental in Church Life, Not an Afterthought https://sondrakraak.com/spiritual-gifts-instrumental-in-church-life-not-an-afterthought/ Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:17:32 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=758 A few thoughts on spiritual gifts: Given by God’s Spirit “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Hebrews 2:4). “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There […]

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]]> 758 No Room for Selfishness https://sondrakraak.com/no-room-for-selfishness/ Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:11:50 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=756 The spiritual life is first of all about Jesus Christ, and because it’s about him, it’s also about his body, the Church, of which He is the head. “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5). Here’s a sobering thought: within the church, […]

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]]> 756 Church Language: Don’t Tarnish the Bride https://sondrakraak.com/church-language-dont-tarnish-the-bride/ https://sondrakraak.com/church-language-dont-tarnish-the-bride/#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:24:15 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=753 I’ve never felt more beautiful in my life than when I walked down the aisle at my wedding. My husband’s eyes shone so much I could see them from the end of the aisle—in candlelight. But honestly, more than the love-struck eyes, I loved my dress, a simple streamlined design. Rouching gathered behind the waist, […]

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]]> https://sondrakraak.com/church-language-dont-tarnish-the-bride/feed/ 4 753 Church Language: “I” am not the Church, “we” are https://sondrakraak.com/church-language-i-am-not-the-church-we-are/ Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:55:03 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=751 A man can climb Everest alone. A strong man can lift a car alone. A woman can give birth alone. And in 2003 we learned that a trapped man can saw off his arm with a pocket knife—alone. Some cultures have a rite of passage ritual where a young boy goes out into the wilderness, […]

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]]> 751 Playground of Grace https://sondrakraak.com/playground-of-grace/ https://sondrakraak.com/playground-of-grace/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 13:36:39 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=748 The church is full of . . . (do you know what comes next?) hypocrites. Have you heard this complaint? Maybe you’ve uttered it after being discouraged by a church members sin. It’s true, in one sense. People sin. Unsaved people, and saved people. We can’t get away from sin, even in the Church. None […]

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]]> https://sondrakraak.com/playground-of-grace/feed/ 1 748 When the Church Sins https://sondrakraak.com/when-the-church-sins/ Tue, 28 May 2013 21:53:26 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=746 Sometimes sin is corporate. It’s not hypocrites in the Church; it’s a hypocritical Church. We present ourselves in one way—we tout a religion of love, joy, and peace—but act in another. First, let’s clarify: God has always had a remnant, a group of people, no matter how small, who remain true to him. Even when […]

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]]> 746 Unity in the Church: Hard, but Not Optional https://sondrakraak.com/unity-in-the-church-hard-but-not-optional/ Thu, 23 May 2013 18:39:38 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=743 Ever heard the phrase, “No pain, no gain”? It’s easily applied to unity. We’re all one body, joined in Christ, and unity is beyond essential. It’s commanded. It’s part of the defition of Church. But what makes it so hard? Pride. Unforgiveness. Theological differences. Prejudices. Selfishness. Laziness. You can add your own stumbling block to […]

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]]> 743 One Body https://sondrakraak.com/one-body/ Wed, 15 May 2013 14:48:36 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=741 Church is a singular noun. Despite the schisms, fractions, and multiple expressions of the institutional church, the driving image for the Church in the New Testament is one body.  “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it […]

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]]> 741 A Quick Distinction: The Visible and Invisible Church https://sondrakraak.com/a-quick-distinction-the-visible-and-invisible-church/ Sat, 11 May 2013 14:12:08 +0000 http://sondrakraak.wordpress.com/?p=738 The Church is the people of God, the body of Christ. All who trust in Christ for salvation automatically become part of the Church, whether they like it or not. However, not all who go to church services, who become members of a church, are part of the Church. This is an important distinction. John […]

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