Many churches feel pulled in two directions at once. On one hand, the churches want to speak to people in ways they can understand and connect with. They sense that talking about the gospel and "doing" church in the old, familiar patterns may no longer reach their world, effectively. On the other hand, they worry the effort to become "relevant" might give away too much of their core identity and dilute biblical truth.

The writings of the apostle Peter might have first been penned nearly 2,000 years ago, but as time passes, they become more and more relevant to believers seeking to serve Christ. For in many ways, our society is beginning to mirror the culture in which early believers lived.

The holy and majestic purpose of our redemption is perhaps nowhere in Scripture so clearly expressed as in Titus 2:14: “[Christ] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (KJV). The purpose of God was to make a people of His very own. A unique people, yes, even strange! But strange in what way? Those redeemed are created in Christ to be zealous of good works!

The holy and majestic purpose of our redemption is perhaps nowhere in Scripture so clearly expressed as in Titus 2:14: “[Christ] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (KJV). The purpose of God was to make a people of His very own. A unique people, yes, even strange! But strange in what way? Those redeemed are created in Christ to be zealous of good works!

Some have wondered why it appears that many new converts are not following after the life of holiness. The question is reasonable in light of the fact that we proclaim entire sanctification as our distinctive doctrine.

Every year we receive new Nazarenes into membership, the majority by profession of faith. Our active membership provides a thrilling opportunity to lead these new Christians, including those not raised with holiness preaching and teaching, into the "fullness of faith."

Some have wondered why it appears that many new converts are not following after the life of holiness. The question is reasonable in light of the fact that we proclaim entire sanctification as our distinctive doctrine.

Every year we receive new Nazarenes into membership, the majority by profession of faith. Our active membership provides a thrilling opportunity to lead these new Christians, including those not raised with holiness preaching and teaching, into the "fullness of faith."

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
(Luke 22:42, NLT)

Sacredly, I knocked on the front door of the Free Grace Church parsonage. Sister Christine opened the door and said, "Brother Kerry, Danny will be so glad to see you." To her, his name was Danny, because he was her husband. But to me his name was Pastor LeRoy.

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
(Luke 22:42, NLT)

Sacredly, I knocked on the front door of the Free Grace Church parsonage. Sister Christine opened the door and said, "Brother Kerry, Danny will be so glad to see you." To her, his name was Danny, because he was her husband. But to me his name was Pastor LeRoy.

Following in Jesus' footsteps, a church in the U.S. gathered at a river for the baptism of a Mexican-American family. As in some cases in the New Testament, the entire family, all dressed in white, was invited into the water by the pastor and then baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. After coming up out of the water they were handed their baptismal certificates and returned to the church for a fiesta.

Here is a Bertha Munro classic that first appeared in the Herald of Holiness, now Holiness Today. She wrote in her autobiography that it summarized her philosophy of personal relations (Bertha Munro, The Years Teach, p. 266):

I owe you respect for your personality. You too are that climax of God's creation, made in His likeness.

I owe you a right to your own opinion. You may differ with me without fear that I shall raise a barrier between us if we do not see eye to eye. We can disagree and still be friends.