Church
The Lord’s Table is a leveling reality in a world of increasing inequalities, an enacted vision of “a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine” (Isa. 25:6).
from You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith
Lael Johnson added 5d ago
Regular attendance at a house of worship is the most accurate predictor of altruism,
from Studies in Spirituality (Covenant & Conversation Book 9) by Jonathan Sacks
Lael Johnson added 16d ago
- A considerable body of research has suggested that religious service attendance powerfully affects health and also affects other aspects of flourishing such as meaning in life, character, and close social relationships (Koenig, King, and Carson, 2012; Li et al., 2016ab; VanderWeele et al., 2016, 2017; VanderWeele, 2017abc).
from How to Flourish: Practical Activities Supported by Scientific Research by Harvard University
Lael Johnson added 16d ago
Is Christianity about going to heaven or bringing heaven to Earth?
Lael Johnson added 25d ago
Sure, people need Jesus, but most of the time, what they really need is for someone to be Jesus to them.
— Reuben Welch in The Body Broken by Robert Benson
Lael Johnson added 1mo ago
The body of Christ is made of all kinds of people, some of whom I find obnoxious, arrogant, self-righteous, or misguided (charges, I’m sure, others have rightly applied to me).
from Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren
Lael Johnson added 1mo ago
- If there's any kind of lesson in all this, it's mostly some advice I want to give myself.
The lesson is simply: speak up .
It's OK to slip into advocacy now and then, so long as you do it tastefully. If it sounds high- or heavy-handed — or anything like nagging — you're doing it wrong. Just explain why you care about a particular value. The goal isn'... See morefrom Here Be Sermons | Melting Asphalt by Kevin Simler
Lael Johnson added 1mo ago
- As I will use the term, then, a sermon is any message designed to change or reinforce what a group of people value. It might take the form of explicit exhortation, full of shoulds and shouldn'ts , oughts and mustn'ts . Or it may be entirely implicit, like the story of a selfless act that saves the day, huzzah! Commencement speeches, TED talks, pres... See more
from Here Be Sermons | Melting Asphalt by Kevin Simler
Lael Johnson added 1mo ago
Sabbath reminds us that God invites us to stop. In fact, it’s more than an invitation—it’s a command.
from God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God by Ken Shigematsu
Lael Johnson added 1mo ago