Pastoral care (04): first me, then my neighbour

Strength lies in calm—this is something mankind has always known. Every now and then, even ministers need a deliberate rest and an open ear.

July 23, 2020

doctrine  ministry

+1

• Pastoral care

Listen to it

Grace leads into the kingdom of God

God grants grace to those who believe in Jesus Christ, trust Him, and love Him. It was with this statement that the Chief Apostle summarised his sermon. And he made it clear what faith and trust really mean.

July 22, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• doctrine 
• ministry
• sacraments

Listen to it

The sacraments (14): Somewhere between immersion and sprinkling

Water is life. And baptism is new life. But how much water does baptism require? And how is one supposed to perform the act anyway? Theologians have arrived at three answers—and archaeologists are offering a fourth. Is there a single right answer?

July 21, 2020

Buildings

+7

• confessions
• congregation
• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Communion
• Organisation
• sacraments

Listen to it

Staying up to date with nac.today

News from around the New Apostolic world is released on nac.today every day except Sunday. How do you find out when the articles go online without constantly having to manually check the website for new content?

July 20, 2020

Media

Listen to it

God’s word within our own four walls

Divine services with Holy Communion. This is beginning to be possible in more and more congregations. But because this is still not possible everywhere and not for everyone, online services continue to be streamed. Here are the links for the coming Sunday.

July 17, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

Listen to it

Spotlight 13/2020: The place of freedom

This place has a name: home. Because there you can be yourself. Thoughts on this year’s motto by District Apostle Michael Deppner from the Democratic Republic of the Congo-West.

July 16, 2020

annual motto apostolate

+3

• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 

Listen to it

The same help, here as well as there

Whether here on earth or in the beyond, the sufferings are the same. And the solutions are the same too. Here are seven examples of how Jesus Christ alleviates our spiritual needs.

July 15, 2020

apostolate

+4

• Chief Apostle
• concept of salvation for the departed
• divine service
• doctrine 

Listen to it

House services in Las Palmas

It is only a step from the kitchen into the church. For more than 20 years, services of the Las Tricias Congregation on the island of Las Palmas have been taking place in the house of the Huber family. Here is the story of a small and very lively congregation.

July 14, 2020

congregation

+5

• District Apostle
• divine service
• Europe
• Local news
• Pastoral care

Listen to it

The victory dance of a prominent woman

She was much more than an anonymous secondary character in the Bible—to this day, Judaic tradition regards Miriam, the dancing prophetess, as a positive and important woman. And this despite the fact that she lived in a time when the world was ruled by men.

July 13, 2020

history 

+1

• society

Listen to it

Divine services continue to be aired live

On its new website, the New Apostolic Church Western Pacific offers direct links to its online services from four locations in the district to accommodate the various time zones. Other District Churches across the globe also continue to broadcast divine services. Here is an overview for Sunday, 12 July 2020. (update: Southern Africa)

July 10, 2020

Australia / Pacific

+2

• Chief Apostle
• divine service

Listen to it

The sacraments (13): “Let the little children come to Me”?

Some assigned the death penalty to baptism. And others established their very own “thousand-year kingdom of peace”. And it all began with an issue that still divides the denominations today.

July 9, 2020

confessions

+3

• doctrine 
• history 
• sacraments

Listen to it

Changes in the circle of the Apostles (1/2020)

Chief Apostle Schneider ordained three Apostles in the first half of the year. Two Apostles went into retirement and one died while still active.

July 8, 2020

Africa

+14

• America
• apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• retirement

Listen to it

Eye-opening, uplifting, and liberating

On account of distance rules there were “only” 180 people in the church—a rather unusual picture in the large church in Karlsruhe. The Chief Apostle found the perfect tone to strengthen and comfort the congregation in these difficult times.

July 7, 2020

Chief Apostle

+3

• congregation
• divine service
• society

Listen to it

From the “new light” to the “message”

It is not all that uncommon for a pendulum to swing to the other side. This too is part of the story of Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff, who died on 6 July sixty years ago—to the dismay of many brothers and sisters.

July 6, 2020

Chief Apostle

+9

• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• history 
• Holy Sealing
• investiture
• ministry
• sacraments

Listen to it

The word of God remains audible

Preaching comes through the word of God. Believers know this experience and appreciate it. Here is an overview of where the word of God can be heard and seen this coming Sunday.

July 3, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

Listen to it

Adhering to the Bible, but in the right way

Sermons, pastoral care, leadership functions—all of these follow the standard of the Bible. But its precepts are not always clear. What Scripture says and what it does not say: a guide intended not just for ministers…

July 2, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• Organisation
• Pastoral care

Listen to it

community 3/2020: Receiving good things and doing good

An edition filled with trust and good things. The new edition of community gives courage and showcases successful aid projects. It shows how faith can be explained and how it can practised.

July 1, 2020

charity work Chief Apostle

+3

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 

Listen to it

Experiencing God in difficult times

A thirst for God? It certainly sounds a little unusual, almost like an abstract poem. In fact, it is a poem, a psalm, that describes the longing for God’s nearness, His protection, and support. Good thoughts in dreadful days.

June 30, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

Listen to it

Spotlight 12/2020: Freedom, the greatest gift of God

Freedom is a free gift of God. But He does not impose this freedom upon us. He only liberates those who want it. This is the experience of District Apostle Edy Isnugroho (Indonesia).

June 29, 2020

annual motto

+7

• apostolate
• Asia
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Youth

Listen to it

Online services in 17 languages

This coming Sunday the New Apostolic Church will again broadcast divine services on YouTube. Following is an updated overview, including two new countries and a new language.

June 26, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Music

Listen to it

Ranging from the familiar to the controversial

The divine service themes in the month of July are filled with contrast: they range from God’s loving grace to His strict law, from the hallowed Sabbath to the prohibition against killing.

June 25, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• concept of salvation for the departed
• divine service
• doctrine 
• history 
• society

Listen to it

Capable of doing what others think is impossible

Why did Jesus have such a strong faith? He had inner strength, which we humans would like to have as well. The Chief Apostle mentioned five of these in a divine service he conducted for the congregations in southern Africa.

June 24, 2020

Africa Chief Apostle

+2

• congregation
• doctrine 

Listen to it

The sacraments (12): The durability and resistance of baptism

Acceptance, cleansing, total renewal: Scripture knows many interpretations of baptism. What the sacrament meant to people in concrete terms has changed in the course of history. Often it was a matter of politics and society.

June 23, 2020

acts of blessing

+7

• Confirmation
• congregation
• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments
• society

Listen to it

Changing the form of divine services

Incense, candles, ornate robes? Without Apostle Menkhoff, divine services in the New Apostolic Church would perhaps still look like this today. Here is a tribute on the 125th anniversary of his death.

June 22, 2020

anniversary

+12

• apostolate
• Baptism 
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Communion
• ministry
• Profile
• sacraments

Listen to it

Giving a voice to the voiceless

What refugees urgently need, besides food and water, medical care, and a roof over their heads, is hope! And prospects of a homeland, friends, and a sense of security. Unfortunately, reality presents to a completely different picture many of them is. Here is a call for reflection.

June 20, 2020

Africa

+6

• America
• charity work
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• Europe
• society

Listen to it

Welcome to the virtual church

Part of our congregational and church life has moved online because of COVID-19. Here is a look at some of the means used and what online offers are available this coming Sunday in terms of divine services.

June 19, 2020

acts of blessing

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Good Friday
• Palm Sunday
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

Listen to it