Our Blog | Christianity
4 Differences Between a Friendly Church and a Hospitable Church
Every church thinks of itself as friendly. And, for the most part, they are friendly. When you visit a few, though, you’ll quickly learn that not many of these friendly churches are truly hospitable. When it comes to modern church-shoppers, friendly just doesn’t cut...
6 Things to Know About Being a Church for All People
“I pray they will be one...so that the world will believe that you sent me.” John 17: 21 “I pray they will be one.” In the 17th Chapter of the Gospel of John, we have Jesus’ last prayer. This prayer was prayed in the upper room after a final meal with his best...
3 Ways Jesus’ Life and Ministry Support LGBTQ+ Inclusion
by Rev. Paul Perez, Michigan Conference UMC Associate Director for Mission and Ministry My assignment was to write about “3 ways Jesus life and ministry support LBGTQIA inclusion.” As a Mexican-American, straight, cisgender man, I can’t really deliver on that...
5 Things to Remember when the Bible Is Used Against the LGBTQ+ Community
“The Bible says it!I believe it!That settles it!” This is often the mantra of those who use scripture to claim LGBTQ+ persons and their relationships, marriages, and leadership within the church are incompatible with Christian teaching. They will point to a handful of...
7 Ways to be a Christian Ally to LGBTQ+ People
by Rev. Jeff Nelson, Lead Pastor & Rev. Caleb Williams, Minister of Worship & ArtsThe first in our four-week series for Pride Month. At Royal Oak First, we are committed to the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the community of faith. We lament and we seek...
Walk Humbly with my God
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength Deuteronomy 6:4 -5 It is called the Shema. It is the ancient prayer of Judaism and it is the prayer our spiritual...