by Ray Viola | Mar 12, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity
The body of Christ, the church, is likened in Scripture to the human body; and just as every part of our physical body (seen and unseen) has to be working together to insure good health and optimum function, such holds true in the church. The church is not as healthy...
by Ray Viola | May 15, 2020 | Devotionals
Ephesians 4.11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith,...
by Ray Viola | Apr 10, 2016 | Corinthians
On the Day of Pentecost, (Acts 2:4, 6, 8) speaking in tongues (glossa) refers to individuals who spoke in dialects or languages other than their native tongue or language. That would be like me starting to speak in French or Arabic right now. The people who heard them...
by Ray Viola | Feb 14, 2016 | Corinthians
This chapter is not an exhaustive list of spiritual gifts (see Romans 12.3-8; Ephesians 4.7-12; 1 Peter 4.10,11 for more examples). There are many gifts; people have different gifts; some people have more than one gift, and one gift is not superior to another. The...
by Ray Viola | Jun 1, 2014 | Ephesians
Why does Jesus give gifts to the His Church? Is it for our own personal enjoyment? Paul say NO! The gifts Jesus gives are for God’s glory, for the building up of the Church, to unite us, to mature us, and to be rooted in love. Be encouraged by this truth as we...