Pastor Steve's Blog

Pastor Steve's Blog

Some Thoughts on Pastoral Visitation

The Value and Necessity of Visitation Pastoral visitation is a time-honored tradition in the life of the church. The concept has biblical roots and in some form is an expected part of community life in most church fellowships. The practice provides opportunity to express care, discover needs, encourage spiritual growth, and strengthen the bonds of fellowship in the…

The Congregational Meeting

And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question . . . The apostles and elders were gathered together to consider this matter . . . And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related…

Us and Them – A Christmas Meditation

This Christmas meditation was composed by David Mikesell, Elder at Staunton Grace, and presented at the home group that he facilitates on 13 December 2016. It was inspired by several things – the recent election, the book “Christmas Playlist” by Alistair Begg, and the two Prayer for Unity meetings held this month at the Augusta County Courthouse. As we…

Writing Another Chapter

Ever feel like your story is over – nowhere to turn, out of options, no vision for the future? Did you ever want to just quit or run away because the pressure was so intense? So did an unusual man named Elijah. His story takes place in a time of apostasy. It was about the year 875 B.C. The Northern Kingdom of Israel is spiritually bankrupt. Their king, Ahab, presided over…

From Tears to Triumph

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,     we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter,     and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations,     “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us;     we are…

The Joy of Genuine Community

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to…

When the Wine Runs Out

A Wedding Meditation When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”…

Shame’s Antidote

Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. I Peter 2:6 A number of different words are used in scripture to express the concept of shame. They include the idea of falling into disgrace through failure of one’s self or one who had been an object of trust. The various Hebrew and Greek words…