Top Posts RSSFri, 22 May 2026 06:32:53 GMTSUMMARYThe Moravian movement emerged from the persecuted followers of Jan Hus, whose call for biblical Christianity and spiritual integrity survived generations of suffering, exile, and underground worship in Bohemia and Moravia. In the early 1700s, these scattered believers found refuge on the estate of Nicolaus Zinzendorf in Herrnhut, Germany, where a divided refugee community was transformed through repentance, unity, prayer, and revival during the famous 1727 awakening. Out of this revival emerged one of the most influential Christian movements in history, marked by continuous prayer, deep community life, holiness, and radical missionary zeal that helped ignite modern Protestant missions and profoundly influenced figures like John Wesley and the later Methodist movement.The Moravian Movement: The Fire That Helped Ignite Modern Missions (Section 1)Part 1: The Forgotten Revival — Who Were the Moravians?The Fire That Helped Ignite Modern MissionsThere are movements in church history that become widely celebrated, institutionalized, and remembered through buildings, denominations, and famous personalities. Then there are movements whose influence quietly reshapes the world while their names slowly fade from popular memory.The Moravian movement belongs to the second category.Many Christians today know the names of great reformers, evangelists, and denominations. They know of Methodism, Baptist history, Pentecostal revival, and global missions’ movements. Yet few realize that behind many of these developments stood a small community of believers whose prayer life, missionary passion, discipline, and devotion helped ignite modern evangelical Christianity.The story of the Moravian Church is not merely denominational history.It is the story of a people who carried fire.A Small Movement with Global ImpactNumerically, the Moravians were never among the largest Christian groups in history. They did not possess political power like state churches. They did not dominate natio... Read more

]]>Fri, 22 May 2026 06:32:53 GMTSummary: In studying the history of Israel, we use the Trilogy principle, in which Israel’s history is divided into three parts: the Deuteronomistic History, the history of Israel recorded in the Books of Chronicles, and the Remnant History. By studying this history, we can understand salvation more accurately.Call to Action: By His grace, we are able to work out our salvation according to the more accurate meaning of salvation.Through this brief writing, we will discuss the ‘history of salvation’ in order to provide a more accurate understanding of the work of salvation. Many Christians understand salvation merely as the work of the Lord Jesus to bring us to heaven. In general, the focus of God’s people—even some preachers—is entering heaven. We often hear the expression “believe in Jesus and go to heaven,” as if this earth is a place that should be abandoned. Why is this so? Certainly, one of the main reasons is that the saving work of the Lord Jesus is understood superficially, without considering the history of salvation itself.Jesus is not merely the ‘Logos’ (the Word) who became incarnate as a human being. Rather, the man Jesus is a “contextual man.” That is, His human context is the Jewish nation. Understanding the saving work of Jesus without regard to its context will result in an incomplete, even incorrect, understanding of salvation. In John 4:22, Jesus affirms that “…salvation comes from the Jews.” Therefore, since salvation comes from the Jewish people, anyone who wants to understand the history of salvation must study the ‘history of the Jewish people’.Of course, we will study the history of the Jewish people from what we call the Old Testament. To help us understand this history, we will use a ‘trilogy principle’. This principle means analyzing or dividing the history of the Jewish people into three consecutive narrative sections, each complete in itself and sharing the same main theme. The central theme of these three narratives is ‘the saving work o... Read more

]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 03:42:44 GMTSummaryThis series draws from the writings, journals, and sermons of John and Charles Wesley, alongside historical and theological works by leading scholars of Methodism. It seeks to faithfully present the spirit, structure, and transformation that shaped the early Methodist movement.Part 9: The Spread of Methodism — How a Disciplined Faith Became a Global ForceWhen the Methodist movement began to take shape under John Wesley, it did not carry the marks of something designed for one place or one people. From the beginning, it possessed a certain kind of mobility—a capacity to move beyond its point of origin without losing its essence.This was not accidental.It was the result of how the movement was built.A Movement Designed to MultiplyMany spiritual awakenings in history have burned brightly in one location and then faded, unable to sustain momentum beyond the initial wave. What made Methodism different was not simply the power of its message, but the clarity of its structure.Wesley did not build a movement that depended on his presence.He built a movement that could function without him.Through class meetings, bands, and the intentional development of lay leaders, Methodism created a framework where believers were not only recipients—they became carriers. Discipleship was not centralized; it was distributed.This meant that wherever people went, the movement could go with them.Crossing Boundaries Others AvoidedThe early spread of Methodism was marked by its willingness to move into spaces that were often neglected by established religious systems.It reached:Industrial workers in emerging urban centersRural populations far from structured church lifeIndividuals who felt disconnected from formal religious institutionsAt a time when social class often determined access to religious influence, Methodism disrupted the pattern by bringing the message directly to people, rather than waiting for people to come.This gave the movement both reach and depth.It was not selective... Read more

]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 06:07:22 GMTAnyone read this book? I found it inspirational.https://www.amazon.com/Going-Church-First-Century-Robert/dp/0940232375/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ACD8FQG3AQ2Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b0KUvl8WhAC0TA8gG1uwbCdJgzWHWhkP3O0LHVDP8mXbDc2Jn-QhZKpmSvvYIE3O.dRfbnl7JNW4ocuWEaQyIb_9EqfCGck9gva3eOmJoMxA&dib_tag=se&keywords=going+to+church+in+the+first+century+robert+banks&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1778456864&sprefix=going+to+church+in+th%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1

]]>Mon, 11 May 2026 01:07:22 GMTSummaryThis series draws from the writings, journals, and sermons of John and Charles Wesley, alongside historical and theological works by leading scholars of Methodism. It seeks to faithfully present the spirit, structure, and transformation that shaped the early Methodist movement.Part 5: The Genius of Structure — Building Disciples, Not CrowdsAs the movement around John Wesley continued to grow, a new challenge began to emerge.People were responding.Crowds were gathering.Lives were being stirred.But a critical question remained: What happens after the moment of response?Revival can gather people—but without intentional structure, it cannot sustain transformation.Wesley understood this with unusual clarity.The Danger of Shallow AwakeningMany movements rise quickly and fade just as fast. The initial fire creates excitement, but without depth, that fire slowly diminishes. People return to old patterns, and what once seemed powerful becomes a memory.Wesley refused to allow this.He was not interested in creating moments—he was committed to forming lives.He saw clearly that preaching alone, no matter how powerful, was not enough. A sermon could awaken a person, but it could not walk with them afterward. It could inspire, but it could not sustain.If the movement was to endure, it needed more than proclamation. It needed formation.The Birth of Class MeetingsIn response, Wesley introduced one of the most revolutionary structures in church history—the class meeting.These were small groups, typically made up of about twelve people, who met regularly—not for passive listening, but for active participation. Each person was known. Each life was visible. Each member was accountable.The focus was not teaching alone. It was transformation.In these gatherings, individuals were asked direct and searching questions about their lives, their struggles, their growth, and their obedience to God. This was not superficial conversation—it was intentional discipleship.Faith was not treated... Read more

]]>Tue, 05 May 2026 08:13:25 GMT SummaryThis series draws from the writings, journals, and sermons of John and Charles Wesley, alongside historical and theological works by leading scholars of Methodism. It seeks to faithfully present the spirit, structure, and transformation that shaped the early Methodist movement.Sussana Wesley(Mother of Methodism) — Parenting as the First School of DiscipleshipBefore we step into the hidden life of a mother, it is important to understand the scale of what her life helped shape.John Wesley was not simply a preacher among many. He became one of the most influential figures in Christian history, a central catalyst in the 18th-century revival that transformed spiritual life across England and spread powerfully into United States and beyond. At a time when the Church had, in many places, grown cold and formal, Wesley carried a message that called people back to living faith—faith that could be experienced, disciplined, and expressed in daily life.His impact was not limited to preaching. He traveled thousands of miles, often on horseback, proclaiming the gospel in fields, towns, and places where traditional clergy would not go. He organized believers into small groups for accountability and growth, creating systems that ensured converts did not remain shallow but matured in their walk with God. He emphasized holiness—not as an abstract idea, but as a lived reality touching every area of life. Through his leadership, what began as a small, ridiculed group became a widespread movement that reshaped how discipleship was understood and practiced.Even beyond the pulpit, Wesley wrote extensively—on theology, Christian living, and even practical health. His vision of the Christian life was holistic, embracing the spiritual, physical, and social dimensions of a person. He stood as both a revivalist and a reformer, bridging deep personal faith with structured, communal discipleship.And yet, for all his discipline, influence, and accomplishments, the roots of his life and min... Read more

]]>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:45:33 GMTSummary:  If we examine every occurrence of the phrase referring to the coming of the Lord, we will find that there is never an additional phrase “second time” attached to it. In other words, the expression THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD does not appear in the Bible, for the Lord has come, is coming, and will continue to come into our inner being—whether through joyful or difficult circumstances—to transform us into His image and likeness. Certainly, at the culmination of His coming, the Lord Jesus will return to judge His church, and as His chosen people, we will be revealed before all creation to set it free from the bondage of decay and bring it into the glorious freedom of the children of Elohim (Romans 8:19–21).Call to action: As we wait for and hasten the coming of the Day of the Lord, by His grace, let us take part in building His church according to the pattern He established in the Book of Acts—namely, “the church from house to house.”The theme of the coming of the Lord is a very important theme declared in the Bible. However, the question is whether our understanding of the coming of the Lord is truly in accordance with what the Bible means. In general, the understanding among Christians about the coming of the Lord refers to the second physical coming of the Lord Jesus, accompanied by preceding events such as the great tribulation, the coming of the Antichrist with the mark of the number 666, the rapture of believers, and so on.But let us examine these understandings one by one to see whether this is truly what the Bible teaches. The first thing we must examine is the term ‘the second coming of the Lord’. Does the Bible actually teach that Jesus Christ will come a second time? If we examine every occurrence of the phrase referring to the coming of the Lord, we will find that there is never an additional phrase “second time” attached to it. In other words, the expression THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD does not appear in the Bible. This is something important... Read more

]]>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:38:18 GMTSummary: God’s arrangement speaks of His sovereignty in determining all things. Although human beings possess will, thoughts, and feelings as persons, they cannot determine the course of their own lives; everything has already been arranged by God for them.Call to Action: We must use our thoughts, feelings, and will to learn to cooperate with God so that His will may be fulfilled in us.Our title this time is the ordinance of God. What is meant by ‘ordinance’ is that everything has been arranged beforehand. There is no event that can be called ‘coincidental’. Whether great or important events, or small events that even escape human attention—such as a bird falling to the ground—all of these have been arranged beforehand. The ordinance of God means that everything that happens is arranged by God. Both great and small matters, both important and trivial matters in this universe, are all arranged by God. The Bible says that not a single bird falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. The Bible even says that the hairs on our heads are all numbered by Him. This proves that God’s ordinance is extraordinary and extremely detailed.Why is the matter of God’s ordinance important for us to discuss? This is because there is a concept that has generally prevailed in the Christian world, namely the view that bad events do not come from God; bad events come from the Devil. For example, the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or other bad events that befall the children of God, such as accidents, disasters, being fired from work, and so on. Through this understanding, it is as if there are two forces governing events in the universe. If something evil happens, it comes from the power of the Devil. If something good happens, it comes from the power of God.This concept or understanding is known as ‘dualism’. According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (second edition), page 357, dualism means an interpretation or understanding of certain events as a strugg... Read more

]]>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:10:00 GMTWhy Do We Do What We Do?Temple ≠ Synagogue ≠ ChurchFrom Temple… to Synagogue… to Church — Where Did We Shift?To understand how we got here, we must clearly separate three things that are often confused:The Temple, the Synagogue, and the Church are not the same.Yet much of what we call “church” today borrows heavily from the first two—instead of the model given byJesus Christ and the early believers.1. The Temple — A Place God ReplacedThe Temple in Jerusalem was:A sacred buildingA place of sacrifice and priesthoodA centralized location where people came to meet GodBut when Jesus Christ died and rose again:The veil was tornAccess to God was openedThe sacrificial system was fulfilledThis means:God no longer dwells in a physical temple—His people became the temple.So the Christian faith was never meant to return to a building-centered system.2. The Synagogue — A Tool, Not a TemplateThe synagogue was:A gathering place for teachingA place where Scripture was read and discussedA structured environment led by a fewNow here is where many misunderstand:Yes—Jesus Christ went into synagogues.Yes—Paul the Apostle preached in synagogues.But why?Because that is where the people were.Jesus’ Real Ministry PatternWhile He occasionally entered synagogues, Jesus primarily ministered:In homesAround tablesIn fields and marketplacesAlong roads and villagesHe did not establish a synagogue-style system.He did not say:“Build a place and gather people weekly.”He said:“Follow Me.”Paul’s Strategy — Not His ModelWhen Paul the Apostle entered a city:He went to the synagogue firstHe reasoned with the JewsHe used it as an evangelism entry pointBut after people believed:The Church did not continue as a synagogueBelievers formed new communitiesWhere?In homesIn daily lifeIn relational gatherings3. The Church — A Living Body, Not a LocationIn Acts of the Apostles, the Church is revealed as:A people, not a placeA body, not a buildingA movement, not a meetingThey met:House to houseDailyEverywhereEveryone... Read more

]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:57:02 GMThttps://livingtruth.com/movie-review-a-great-awakening/We recently saw this movie in the theatre and would highly recommend it to everyone. It is a dramatization of an important part of our American history that is not very well-known.  I fully appreciate the fact that there is just too much history to cover in this period. Instead, the creators chose to skillfully weave stories and events together to capture the energy, the impact and the essence of the characters and their times.The story begins with the meetings of the original Continental Congress in the early formation the United States. The tension in the air and the difficult issues the young country was facing are clearly seen. Then the scene changes to a weary Benjamin Franklin with his grandson, recalling the previous decades in the 13 colonies.As he begins recalling his relationship with his old friend and preacher, George Whitefield, those early days are shown to us on the screen. Whitefield’s story begins in England, and his desire to enter the profession of stage acting. Ultimately his goals change as he later experiences the true grace of God in Christ. Now, most of all his passion is to share the Gospel to others. His transformation alone is worth the price of admission.After that we quickly get a glimpse of the great crowds of people who gathered to hear the preaching of the wonderful grace of God, calling all people unto Himself. I like that they included John and Charles Wesley in the story as they were important in the revivals of that day. Jonathan Edwards was briefly mentioned. I would point out that his part and others in previous revivals leading up to this were also very important. Finally, my hope is that this movie will expose more people to the wonderful things that God was doing in the days before and after the American Revolution, and that this would lead to further research into that rich history.Go see it. You might even get a revival fire in your heart as well!... Read more

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