Patience and persistence

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The church at Nagercoil witnessed the baptism of Sis.Kalavathi, the mother of a disciple after five years of persistence. Five years ago when her daughter had become a disciple, Kalavathi strongly opposed her daughter’s decision. But now, she has a renewed heart bent on serving the Lord.

Inspiring...

If you want to be unified - pray with other believers - Malcolm Cox

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I have been contemplating the connection between praying together and unity for a couple of weeks.  It cannot be a coincidence that, right after instructing his disciples how they should resolve a dispute between church people, he tells them this: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:19–20) Why is the most explicit passage on Jesus’ desire for unity part of his prayer in John 17? The disciples were there. I imagine they are praying with him, not just hanging out nearby. We do not have a record of what their prayer-response was, if any, but that incident coupled with the text in Matthew 18, as well as the many examples in Acts leads me to surmise that praying together is an essential part of maintaining true Christian unity. What are your thoughts? Two teaching classes and two devotionals are on the YouTube chann
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Greater Chennai Church Welcomes First Elders in Historic Ceremony

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  On the evening of December 24th 2023, the Greater Chennai Church gathered for a memorable occasion – the appointment of its first-ever Elders followed by the Christmas Eve celebration. This historic event marked a significant milestone in the church's journey, solidifying its foundation and ushering in a new era of leadership. Chennai church celebrated the Christmas eve with a God's message from Bro.Jesu Felix and was eagerly waiting with an excitement to witness the momentous occasion. The ceremony commenced with an introduction by Senior couple Bro. Jerry Uttangi and Sister. Rosa Uttangi, w ith warmth and clarity, sharing insightful words about the role and  responsibilities of Elders within the church.  They touched upon the responsibilities, values, and dedication that guide these individuals in their service. Their message went deeply, leaving the audience with a renewed understanding and appreciation for this important role.  They emphasised the importance of these indi
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Why Don’t Churches Read the Bible? - By Douglas Jacoby

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Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13). Reading this passage, I used to assume that Paul encouraged the oral  reading  of Scripture,  teaching , and  preaching —three separate activities. In recent years I’ve come to view the passage quite differently. Timothy is first to  read  the text,  then  preach or teach from it. Biblical integrity  requires that any message claiming to be biblical actually come from the text—and not be imposed on it by the speaker. A “pep talk, with scriptures added” may be motivational, but I suspect the apostle is asking for a message squarely based on the passage read aloud to the congregation. There are obvious advantages to this approach.  Specifying the text keeps the preacher or teacher honest.  The congregation may reasonably expect the message to stick to the passage—and not wander.  It’s also easier to follow the message  and remember what has been taught. In a recently study of
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