Adam L. Feldman's Blog, page 12

Metaphors of the Church: Branches

“What is a church?” A simple question, but the answers we get are not always helpful.

This article is part ofa series exploring metaphors used in Scripture to describe the church.The beautiful thing about there being so many metaphors describing the church is that we get a multifaceted, heavily nuanced picture of what it means to be in covenant community with each other and with Trinity.This week we explore the metaphor of the church as branches on a vine.

Branches on a vine

In John 15, Jesus de...

Metaphors of the Church: The Bride of Christ

This article is part of a series exploring metaphors used in Scripture to describe the church. The beautiful thing about there being so many metaphors describing the church is that we get a multifaceted, heavily nuanced picture of what it means to be in covenant community with each other and with Trinity.

It protects us from the dangers of narrow views within the church of what a church is and does. And, it protects us from the ever changing demands of culture to make the church a tool of poli...

Metaphors of the Church: A Harvest

“What is a church?” A simple question, but the answers we get are not always helpful.

For instance, our culture has its own ideas of what a church is and what a church should do. Culturally speaking, a church could be a building or a group of people that behave a certain way or believe certain things. To further complicate things, you and Ihave our own understandings and expectations of church based on our current and previous experiences with a church or churches.

God in his loving providence...

The Rhythm (or Routine?) of Prayer

I am interested in exploring the spiritual discipline of prayer a bit more deeply this year, and would like to share my journey with you. So, you will probably notice a slight uptick on articles about prayer on my website this year.

Here is a prayer resource that I ran across recently. It challenged me to consider “how” I pray, and I hope it challenges you, too.

Prayer muscles

I have written about Anthony de Mello’s Contact With Godin the past (regardinghis comments on restlessness), and found m...

VOV: New Beginning

Its New Year’s Day! New Year’s is a great time to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. In many ways, its a time for beginnings.

Some questions you should consider asking yourself may be:

Where was I (physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally) last year?
What needs closure from last year?
What am I beginning this year?

I wrote an article that contained 10 prompts to help you reflect on last year (and prepare for next year). And, below is a prayer that I hope will encourage you as yo...

10 Prompts To Help You Reflect On the Year

Its the end of the year, and this is a great time to reflect. What do you do to reflect on the year gone by and to prepare for the year to come?I don’t have to do anything too formal or lengthy to have a beneficial time of reflection. Generally, I take about 45-60 minutes during the last week of December to reflect on this year and prepare for next year.

It helps to have some place to start, so I’ve given you a handful of reflection prompts below. Also below are a few things that may stimulate...

The Value of Authenticity

A few years ago, theMetanoia ChurchPartners (our “membership”) went through a four-month process discerning our church’s values.The core values of a church(or any ministry)provide the guiding principles and philosophical assumptions for “how” the church goes about what they do.

In this series, I explore Metanoia’s six core values.(Theintroductory postexplores the “value of values” in general.)

We value authenticity

Here is Metanoia’s definition for our value of “authenticity”:

“We live transparen...

Advent: A New King

Over the past couple of weeks I have asked you:“How are you preparing space in your soul to receive the Christ child anew this Advent season?”If you and I aren’t careful, the days leading up to Christmas will be like every other day in the year. We’ll miss the opportunity to reflect on the amazing miracle of Jesus’ incarnation.

I want to help you prepare your heart, mind, soul, and body to worship Jesus this Christmas, so I have crafted a handful of weekly devotionals for you:

The Last Prophet
A...

The Value of Passion

A few years ago, theMetanoia ChurchPartners (our “membership”) went through a four-month process discerning our church’s values.The core values of a church(or any ministry)provide the guiding principles and philosophical assumptions for “how” the church goes about what they do.

In this series, I explore Metanoia’s six core values.(Theintroductory postexplores the “value of values” in general.)

We value passion

Here is Metanoia’s definition for our value of “passion”:

“We live vigorously, abandoni...

Advent: A Brave Little Girl

Last week, I posed this question:“How are you preparing space in your soul to receive the Christ child anew this Advent season?”If you and I aren’t careful, the days leading up to Christmas will be like every other day in the year. (Except, perhaps, that they may be a bit more busy and stressful.)

Advent is that wonderful time of the year when Christians reflect on the incarnation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.I want to help you prepare your heart, mind, soul, and body to worship Jesus...