In fact, God chose fools “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor. 1:29). They were a bunch of foolish sinners saved by Jesus, so boasting in Jesus is the only boasting that makes sense.

Unity is difficult when all we do is talk. The early church produced the book of Acts; the modern church produced a book of Talks. Their leaders died living out the gospel; we make a living by talking about it. The more we bear fruit, the easier unity will be.

Why do words come out of your mouth that sound unkind, ungentle, unloving? Jesus says the problem is not your mouth but your heart (Matt. 12:34). If love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not flowing out of our hearts, it’s not because we aren’t trying hard enough. It’s because we’re not

Living in love is what actual maturity looks like. Because love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6), mature love will include zeal for doctrinal truth. But that love will find ways to not just speak about but actually be kind, patient, not envious, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, and all the other traits of love.

There are those who are interested in “going to church” for a one-hour service but have no desire to enter into deep relationships. This makes no sense biblically! The church IS a united Body. The more mature a church becomes, the deeper their love will be. Our misunderstanding of maturity has left the church immature.

Seriously consider what would happen if we could have a reset and start over. This time around, all of us who called ourselves Christian promised to boast in no one except Jesus. Every time we got together we would spend time boasting about Him, sharing stories of His goodness toward us.

have said many times that I believe one of the most important passages for this generation is Isaiah 55:8–9 where God says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. —Titus 3:9–11

My fear is that, perhaps without even realizing it, we’ve fallen into the very dangerous habit of neglecting God’s commands in favor of our logic.