Chapter 6: Emptying “Hypocrisy” `In the preceding chapters, we examined how we must empty ourselves of pride, which seeks to exalt itself above God, and greed, which is not satisfied with God but continually desires to possess more. Now we turn to another deeply rooted sin: hypocrisy . Hypocrisy is the desire to present to others an image of ourselves that is different from who we really are. It is harboring one thing in our hearts while outwardly behaving as though we think otherwise. It is becoming more conscious of people’s evaluation than of God and decorating our faith accordingly. Therefore, emptying hypocrisy does not begin with trying to appear to others as a better Christian. Rather, it begins with looking honestly at who we really are before God, without hiding anything. We can deceive people. To some extent, we can manage the image that others see. But no mask is of any use before God, because God knows not...
Community of love [Romans 12:9-13] What do you think of when you think of a community called church? When I think of “community,” I think of the early church community in the Book of Acts. And I think of the community of the Early Church as a community of love. At the same time, I often ask myself, 'How can our church be established as a community of love like the Early Church?' In doing so, I can't forget the 5 steps I get through studying the Book of Acts on how the Lord establishes the church, which is the body of the Lord: (1) About 120 people also gathered together and prayed holding onto the word of promise (Acts 1:14), (2) When they prayed in unison, they received the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Ch. 2), (3) When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they boldly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ (4:31), (4) The Lord added people who are being saved daily...