A Solid Foundation

Ezra 3:11b (NRSVue) - And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord had been laid.In Ezra 3, the builders laid the foundation of the temple.The priests made music.They then sang songs of praise and thanksgiving.Then all the people gave a great shout as they praised the Lord.In Paul’s first letter to Corinth, he addresses division within the church.He even addresses the confusion concerning his role.He likens himself to a master builder who laid the foundation.Yet others will build on that foundation.He reminds these...

Return to the Fold

Joshua 24:16 (NRSVue) - Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,In Joshua 24, the tribes renewed the covenant.Making promises is easy.Keeping them is another matter,In Judges (after Joshua’s death), the people fail to follow God’s instructions completely.It did not take them long to forsake the promise they made.In John 6, we are told that many disciples heard the teaching of Jesus.Many of them found His teaching difficult, so they turned away,Jesus then asked the twelve who remained if they wished to leave.They stayed.Their reasoning was...