Recently I overheard a conversation between two Christians about their church involvement since COVID. One mentioned how they hadn’t physically been to a church building since COVID but had been watching online. Another was talking about how they had changed churches. Evidently, at one time they really enjoyed being in the services of their previous … Continue reading Just What Is a Church Anyway?
Author: Jacob Riggs
I'm a Pastor in Royal Oak, MI.
Why Did Jesus Tell People Not to Tell About His Miracles?
Jesus often told people not to tell about His miracles. If you’d like an example, consider Mark 7:31-37, my text for Sunday. Sometimes people apparently obeyed him, and other times they obviously did not. The question is why? Today I offer a suggestion and an encouragement. A Suggestion I suspect the answer is multi-layered, but … Continue reading Why Did Jesus Tell People Not to Tell About His Miracles?
“The Reason They Did That Was . . .”
I want to encourage us to remove the words in the title of this blog post from our vocabulary. Instead, let’s replace it with, “I’m sure they meant the best from this.” We say things like the title of this post when we’ve been assuming the motives of others. For me, my flesh draws me … Continue reading “The Reason They Did That Was . . .”
What Does the Bible Say About Pride?
June is Pride Month in the United States. Here’s what the Library of Congress says about Pride Month. President Biden, not surprisingly, has issued a presidential declaration about Pride month. In case you’re not aware, Pride Month is a month in which our culture says we are to celebrate everything about the LGBTQ+ movement. My … Continue reading What Does the Bible Say About Pride?
What Is Justification?
Welcome to a post about something I know you all are super giddy about—theology! 🙂 I write today about justification. We’re familiar with the word in a secular context. We say, “What was her justification for that decision?” In that sense, what we mean is “What was her reasoning as to why she thought that … Continue reading What Is Justification?
Anniversary Sunday 2021
Our church was founded in 1938 by my grandfather, Raymond Riggs. Back then they met in various places until they were able to purchase an old mosque on Victor Avenue in Detroit. Eighty-three years later and here we are. A lot has happened in those 83 years. Many have been saved, baptized, and sent out. … Continue reading Anniversary Sunday 2021
How to Be a Good Church Member
There are other things to do as a Christian as it relates to your biological family and as it relates to those who don’t know Christ, but here are my suggestions for how to be a good church member at Central Oaks. 1. Regularly gather on Sundays with your fellow members to worship the Lord. … Continue reading How to Be a Good Church Member
Church, We Must Gather In Person (Part 3)
My goal in this series of posts is to show why gathering together in person is one of the most important things a Christian could ever do in life. In each post, I am giving one reason. Here are links to the various parts: part 1, part 2. The third reason gathering together with other … Continue reading Church, We Must Gather In Person (Part 3)
Dear Central Oaks (Part 8)
We are walking for Jesus in bodies of clay. But in the war we’re fighting, our weapons are much more powerful and much more deadly than our clay bodies suggest. The weapons we use in this war “have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). The 85-year old whose body doesn’t function like it … Continue reading Dear Central Oaks (Part 8)
Church, We Must Gather In Person (Part 2)
I stated in part one that my goal in this series of posts is to show why gathering together in person is one of the most important things a Christian could ever do in life. In each post, I will give one reason. The second reason gathering together with other Christians is one of the … Continue reading Church, We Must Gather In Person (Part 2)
