When income tax was first introduced here in Canada in 1917, the new Income Tax Act ran just shy of 4000 words. It was a simple document outlining a simple law. Since then, the rules and regulations have ballooned to just over 1 million words.

How significant is the message of Jesus Christ? How far-reaching is the impact of his work? How wide and how deep is his salvation? Our answer to those questions will have a profound effect for each one of us on how we respond to Jesus – on what we make of him.

It is a very unsettling thing when you become aware that someone can see right through you. There are some people who seem to have an uncanny knack for doing that.

Have you ever considered how those who represent Jesus Christ should speak in every interaction, day by day? Paul provides the answer in Colossians 4: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (v. 6).

Far too often we hear reports of dysfunctional churches – of unhealthy Christian communities. Perhaps you have had an unhappy experience at some point of a dysfunctional Christian community. Many of us have had experiences that we would sooner put behind us. Presumably we would all want to pursue wholesome, flourishing and life-giving Christian community.