It’s time to read our Practical Commitments again

The Church of God has always sought to faithfully proclaim and live the Gospel of God’s kingdom. These dual commitments express a holistic spirituality that is demonstrated in personal holiness and social holiness. The first “teaching that is made prominent” of the Church of God were published in The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel (15 August 1910), adopted by the General Assembly in 1911, and published in the Minutes of the General Assembly in 1912. The “teachings” were reaffirmed and amended by the General Assembly periodically. The 68th General Assembly revised the practical commitments in 1988.

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In Memory of Dr. George D. Voorhis

In the Fall of 1978, I traveled through snow and ice in the Carolinas on my way to college – East Coast Bible College in Charlotte, NC. After graduating from high school, I had applied to, and been accepted, at Lee College, Oral Roberts University, and East Coast Bible College. I chose the small, relatively new school in Charlotte. I’ve never regretted that decision.

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An Ancient Christmas Sermon – Augustine

St. Augustine was the Bishop of Hippo (in Northern Africa) from AD 395 – 430. Some of his Christmas sermons have been published in the Ancient Christian Writers series – St. Augustine: Sermons for Christmas and Epiphany (The Newman Press, 1952). Following are selected excerpts that summarize his Trinitarian Christology.


Listen, dearly beloved, and see what sound advice the Apostle has for us when he says: As therefore you have received Christ Jesus our Lord, walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and confirmed in the faith. With this simple and solid faith we ought to persevere in Him, that He may Himself make known to the faithful what is hidden in Him; for, as the same Apostle says, in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.[1]

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A Christmas Sermon: The Pathos of Advent

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind (John 1:4).

The Incarnation of the eternal Son is situated within human experience. In other words, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) means that God experienced the fulness of human experience, and humans might experience the fulness of God. Pathos is an expression of emotion, or passion. So, to speak of the pathos of Advent is to reflect on how the coming of Christ moves us towards faith in God. The pathos of Advent is illustrated in the candles of the Advent wreath. As we moved towards the celebration of Christmas, we light a candle and reflect.

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