As we have covered before, a basic statement of what we’re called to as the body of Christ is found in I Corinthians 1:4-7: “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift….”

         First, “in everything” we are being enriched in Him in “all speech and all knowledge.” The normal Christian life...

         A map will not help us unless we know where we are on the map and where we want to go. Before we can get to where we’re going in fulfilling our purpose, we must first know where we are and where we are going. Then we can easily see the next step.

         Let us briefly consider how future leaders of the church are now being prepared compared to those in the early church. Most seminaries do a good job of laying a foundation of sound doctrine. However, ministry today is built mostly on knowledge...

        Once we have been reconciled to God and our fellowship with Him is restored, our basic purpose is to see the city that He is building and to find our part in it. This begins with our part in His church. The angel told John to, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God” (Revelation 21:9-11).

         The...

         Every worldview has an ideal society as its goal. What is the Christian worldview of the ideal society?

         First, the ideal society must begin with God. Because we were created to have a relationship with God, there is deep yearning for Him in all people, regardless of how hard they may try to cover it up or deny it. Without this relationship, we will always have a deep hole in our hearts, a deep yearning, lacking fulfillment and peace in our lives. Nothing else can fill this void. Therefore, making this the top priority in...

         When we start to see that God’s basic purpose until the end of the millennium is restoration, and we take on His mind and heart for restoration, everything that is happening in the world and in our own lives begins to take on great clarity. In this way, we can see the ultimate goal of our maturity, and we can also see the next step. We can also see the next step for those around us, and we can help them along the way.

         To do a bit more review on how we grow toward...