Building a Biblical Church: The Institution Is Not the Goal
Editor’s note: What is the church? How can a church be governed by the Bible? These are questions Christians have struggled with for more than two millennia. As the Chinese church continues to mature, Chinese believers are also facing these difficult and important questions. Pastor Wu Jing continues this series, fleshing out why and how […]
Reflections from Jail
Editor’s note: Elder Hu Guang was detained a few years ago on charges of fraud. While in jail, he wrote this devotional. His wife later shared it on Weibo, along with a request for prayer that Hu will remain healthy and his faith will stay strong. This translated devotional has been lightly edited, and some […]
Building a Biblical Church: Our Challenges
Editor’s note: What is the church? How can a church be governed by the Bible? These are questions that Christians have struggled with for more than two millennia, and as the Chinese church continues to mature, Chinese believers are also facing these difficult and important questions. Wu Jing shares how he and his young church […]
Out of Blows, Knowledge Grows
Editor’s note: There is a Chinese proverb which says you cannot come to know another person without fighting with them; “out of blows, knowledge grows.” (In Chinese, this is “不打不相识,” or “Bu da, bu xiang shi.”) Tan Jian is a Chinese preacher who is well-accustomed to “blows” for the sake of Christ. In this short […]
Misconceptions About Discipleship: Part Two
Editor’s note: In 2022, a Chinese pastor wrote this letter to his congregation, encouraging them to take discipleship seriously, both in their own lives and in the life of the church. The article was first published in Chinese on the Grace to City website. Today, we are publishing the second half of this letter, after […]
Christ’s Incomparable Power: Thy Kingdom Come
Only the truth of God’s word can produce heart change and soul revolution. Threats of the sword cannot produce permanent, fundamental change. The early Christian church did not have courage because they possessed the sword’s power. They were courageous because they saw God’s promise to Israel fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus.
The Word Over the Sword: Thy Kingdom Come
Paul was bound for the sake of Christ, not because of the trickery of the Jewish people or the religious policies of Rome. In the face of the sword’s power, Paul focused on the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the one on whom Israel was counting. When the church faces the power of the sword, she must also focus only on the Savior.
A Clash of Swords and Words: Thy Kingdom Come
What is the secret to church victory? An important secret lies in whether you and I dare connect our church and personal life goals to the end of life, and the purpose God has designed for us. Do we trust the reality that Jesus, who is risen from the dead, reigns in heaven?
Death and Resurrection: The Church Must Walk the Way of the Cross
In China, in the Cultural Revolution, people thought all churches were eradicated, but they did not know the Cultural Revolution eradicated superstition and faith in Communism. In the 1980s, our hearts were empty, and the church was revived — from 800,000 believers, to tens of millions. Over and over again, the church has risen.
Prophet, Priest, and King: The Church Must Walk the Way of the Cross
The two witnesses represent prophet, priest, and king. The prophet teaches, worships, and trains disciples in the truth. The priest guards the holiness, love, and beauty of this living community. And the king fulfills the mission God has entrusted to us, to serve and love this world.
