10 Questions to Ask of New Year’s Resolutions

10 Questions to Ask of New Year’s Resolutions – “Here are 10 questions to ask of resolutions (whatever time of year they’re made) to ensure we’re being gospel-centered in our approach to change.”

God Ranks High in New Year’s Resolutions

God Ranks High in New Year’s Resolutions - When Americans make New Year’s resolutions, a better
relationship with God ranks almost as high as better health, Nashville-based
LifeWay Research finds.

Atheism Preys on Fear and Prejudice

Atheism Preys on Fear and Prejudice – “People are afraid of religion. After all, as is pointed out ad nauseum by all the atheist writers, atheists don’t fly planes into buildings. Granted, but then neither do they build hospitals or establish schools because of their atheism.”

The One Must-Read This Year

The One Must-Read This Year – I’ve read several books from the “bestsellers” lists this year but this is the only one that made a real difference in my life.

A Deeper Devotional Life

A Deeper Devotional Life – This is a great roundup of 12 resources that can help spark a deeper devotional life in 2016. I am always blessed by reading Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions which are included in the resources.

5 Things You Can Give to God Every Day

5 Things You Can Give to God Every Day – The heart of productivity is glorifying God by serving others.

Don’t Just Make a Resolution—Make a Habit

Don’t Just Make a Resolution—Make a Habit – “Instead of just making new resolutions, I intend to make new habits.”

5 Reasons to Read the Entire Bible in 2016

5 Reasons to Read the Entire Bible in 2016 – “I’ve become convinced that every student of Scripture, particularly those of us who are or might be charged with teaching it as a vocation, ought to consider this practice. Here are five benefits I’ve discovered from reading through God’s Word each year.”

What NOT to Say When Friends Are Suffering

What NOT to Say When Friends Are Suffering – “There are three popular verses that many believers misinterpret, and as a result, falsely counsel others and misguide their own hearts.”

Spiritual Pride and Reading the Gospels Well

Spiritual Pride and Reading the Gospels Well – “What I mean by “sloppy reading” is that often I come to a text of Scripture thinking I’m reading in order to be informed about how I might believe and live, but actually I’m coming to Scripture for affirmation of what I already believe and how I already live.”

Christian Conflict

Christian Conflict – “Colossians 3:12 specifically helps us to get a bit of a roadmap for what it looks like for Christians to struggle alongside and with one another.”

Lordship Is Not Legalism

Lordship Is Not Legalism – “What does countercultural Christianity look like in America today?”

Parenting in the Age of Awfulness

Parenting in the Age of Awfulness – “Children are immersed in a culture that stokes disrespect. Here’s how to instill some civility.”

A Signaling Savior

A Signaling Savior – “Despite how we feel, how we act, how we think, and despite how victorious the enemy appears, how much he consumes, how far he invades, the beacon of God’s promise is not diminished in the least.”

O, Come Let Us Ignore Him

O, Come Let Us Ignore Him – It happens.

Jesus and The Image of Man

Jesus and The Image of Man – Do you follow an “imaginary Jesus?”

Who Would Have Dreamed?

Who Would Have Dreamed? – “Christmas is a feast of song. Why? Because some truths are simply too wild for the heart to ride with prose, they require the harness of verse.”

Drained? Receive His Fullness

Drained? Receive His Fullness – “Christmas can leave a good number of people feeling more empty than full.”

The Fullness of God Dwells Embryonically

The Fullness of God Dwells Embryonically – “If God came as a vulnerable, needful, weak baby, we have no need to fear for our own vulnerability, needfulness, and weakness.” 

A Prayer for Christmas Eve

A Prayer for Christmas Eve – Here are thoughts worth considering. 

We Need a Real King

We Need a Real King – “We’re always either wanting to be king, or we’re looking to imperfect people to lead us perfectly. Our kings never fulfill us. And like Israel, we never look to the King we already have.”

The First Noël

The First Noël – “Give us a poor child with modest accommodations and little fanfare. Just give us Jesus. We need our King.”

Why I Disagree with John Piper

Why I Disagree with John Piper – “There’s certainly room for freedom of conscience on this issue. Christians will have differing convictions on the use of lethal force.” This article addresses a discussion this week regarding whether or not Christians should arm themselves. I tend to agree with this author.

Christmas Morning Without Competitors

Christmas Morning Without Competitors – Here’s an interesting discussion of the contrast between the messages presented by Santa and that of Jesus.

Surviving a Dysfunctional Family Christmas

Surviving a Dysfunctional Family Christmas - A few tips for making it through.

Where the Lambs Are Kept

Where the Lambs Are Kept – A Narrative Retelling of Luke 2:8–15.

Celebrating Christmas from the Cradle to the Cross

Celebrating Christmas from the Cradle to the Cross – “Christmas provides an opportunity for the Church to reflect on and appreciate the life of Christ that leads up to the cross.”

The Christmas Story is Personal

The Christmas Story is Personal – “God knows everything about us and yet still loves us through it all. We have never had such a friend nor will we ever. It is love from another land!”

The Manger

The Manger – “Mary had been given an incredible honor. So she might have expected something notable to happen before Jesus’s birth. Earthly kings had fanfare associated with them. How much more the Son of God?”

The Cost And Beauty Of Marriage

The Cost And Beauty Of Marriage – “Marriage will bring you more heartbreak than any other relationship you'll experience. But it will also bring you more joy. It is the hardest but also the most fulfilling human relationship you will ever have.”

If I Had Known Then What I Know Now…

If I Had Known Then What I Know Now… - This reflection by a man who pastored the same church for fifty years was heart-warming and encouraging. 

A Prayer to Keep God in the Center at Christmas

A Prayer to Keep God in the Center at Christmas – “During the time when we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and want to abide in His presence, we can so easily miss time spent with Him. Making prayer and God's Word a priority in our life during this Christmas season can be difficult.” 

A Worshipful Christmas

A Worshipful Christmas – “The response of the angels, the very messengers of the good news, is instructive this Christmas season. Upon delivering their message, they worshiped.”

The Eternity Before Christmas

The Eternity Before Christmas – “The glory of Christmas is that it is not the beginning of Christ.”

Stopping Before You Start

Stopping Before You Start – This article she answers a series of objections to reading through the Bible in the new year. They are the things believers use as excuses most often. 

Our Relatives and Friends Without Christ

Our Relatives and Friends Without Christ - Jim Elliff has a helpful article on interactions with lost friends and relatives over the Christmas holiday.

Christianity and Atheism

Christianity and Atheism – “The strange Christmas story offers us “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). The strange materialism story offers us bad news of a great hopelessness that will be for all the universes.”

An Escape from Failure Culture

An Escape from Failure Culture – Here’s a good thought the day after the Steve Harvey/Miss Universe mistake. “There is something within us that feels better when we gaze at the wrinkles and cracks of others, especially public figures.” 

Top 10 Theology Stories of 2015

Top 10 Theology Stories of 2015 – These stories dominated religious and theological discussion this year. It’s been a busy year.

Muslims and Christians Do NOT Worship the Same God

Muslims and Christians Do NOT Worship the Same God – “Arguing that Christians and Muslims worship the same God is often well-intended. But in a world increasingly filled with clashes between adherents of Islam and the west, this confusion is dangerous. Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God and that matters immensely!”

One Big Tip to Make Your Resolutions Stick

One Big Tip to Make Your Resolutions Stick – “’Tis the season to begin to consider those annual New Year’s resolutions. ’Tis the season to first evaluate whether such resolutions are a good idea or a bad one.”

Don’t Starve Yourself This Christmas

Don’t Starve Yourself This Christmas – “Rather than starving your spiritual life, I hope you will spend some time planning ways to feast on God’s Word.”

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Here are some thoughts on a familiar Christmas carol.

Lay Aside the Weight of Slander

Lay Aside the Weight of Slander – “Because of its poisonous power, it is one of the adversary’s chief strategies to divide relationships and deter and derail the mission of the church. We must be on our guard against this closely clinging sin and frequently lay it aside (Hebrews 12:1).”

Must Christians Believe in the Virgin Birth?

Must Christians Believe in the Virgin Birth? – “Does belief in the virgin birth make Christians “less intellectual?” Are we saddled with an untenable doctrine? Can a true Christian deny the virgin birth, or is the doctrine an essential component of the Gospel revealed to us in Scripture?”

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God? – It’s a question that hit the news cycle this week. Al Mohler gives a great answer.

Advent Meditation: Swaddling Righteousness

Advent Meditation: Swaddling Righteousness – “It is this same Jesus who was swaddled in the garments of humility who will soon swaddle his own children in the merit of his righteousness. This Jesus will, by his perfect obedience, earn the everlasting righteousness that will be credited to a sinner like me.”

Four Signs Food Has Become an Idol

Four Signs Food Has Become an Idol – “I think it is helpful in talking about gluttony to compare it to other sins and why it is that something good like food and enjoying it becomes sinful.”

Did Jesus Even Exist?

Did Jesus Even Exist? – This time of year, there are always attacks on the truth of the Christian faith. This article addresses questions raised by a recent attack.

Christ-Centered Silence for the Noisy Advent Season

Christ-Centered Silence for the Noisy Advent Season – “We all have extra events in December. Whether for work, school, church, or the community, seasonal social opportunities keep us occupied. We assume everyone is “crazy busy.” It’s a noisy season, one of music and cheer. To enjoy the season to its fullest, then, one of the most significant disciplines we can practice both individually and corporately is “Christ-centered silence.”

Apocalypse at Christmastime

Apocalypse at Christmastime – “With Bethlehem before her, Mary also had Armageddon on her mind. So should we.”

The Pride in Our Holiday Stress

The Pride in Our Holiday Stress – We can “stress ourselves out trying to have the perfect Christmas”. Think about how we can display humility to those around us, and in that way, point our friends and neighbors to the cross.

Christmas…The Real Story

Christmas…The Real Story – John MacArthur tell the real story of Christmas…the full story.

Good News Bringing Great Joy

Good News Bringing Great Joy – “We want it and we pursue it. But, regrettably, it is often so elusive. But what is it? Why is it so precious, so highly esteemed? And how do we get it?”

Staying Godly in a Godless Workplace

Staying Godly in a Godless Workplace – So, how is it possible for anyone to escape from one’s work unimpeachable and unscathed?

The Uniqueness of Christian Parenting

The Uniqueness of Christian Parenting - “There is something wonderfully unique about Christian
parents. Christian parents seek to maintain a counter-cultural flavor even as
we seek to prepare our children for entrance into that culture as
fully-functioning adults.”

LA School Closing: 4 Ways to Face Our Fears

LA School Closing: 4 Ways to Face Our Fears - The goal of terrorists is obviously to terrorize. John Lahr is right: “The real goal of terror is not to kill people but to kill thought; to so demoralize a society that it implodes from within.” So how do we refuse to be terrorized?

5 Signs We’re Failing at the Golden Rule

5 Signs We’re Failing at the Golden Rule - What if the famous rule isn’t so much about doing, but overflowing?

Leadership, Prophecy, and Criticism

Leadership, Prophecy, and Criticism – What does biblical prophecy look like, and how does it apply to us today?

How the Bible Came Alive

How the Bible Came Alive – “I didn’t want to read it because it wasn’t about me.”

How to Love God by Getting More Sleep

How to Love God by Getting More Sleep – “Getting a good night’s rest shows that we know God is in control and will watch over us when we are at our most vulnerable.”

Striving for a More Intentional Life of Prayer

Striving for a More Intentional Life of Prayer – Here are some helpful suggestions. Don’t think you need to do all that the author suggests. Just be sure you pray.

A Perfect Christmas

A Perfect Christmas – “In the thick of the holiday planning, I must remind myself that Christ does not call us to be perfectionists; he calls us to be perfect.”

I Am What I’ve Been Through

I Am What I’ve Been Through – The article, written by a woman going through cancer treatments, makes a strong statement.

Just Another Day in America

Just Another Day in America – This article discusses modern news media and how it handles tragedy and crisis. Arthur Hunt says news has become “daily theater, which must be enhanced by a sense of urgency and crisis.”

No Place Like Church for the Holidays

No Place Like Church for the Holidays - Christmas is still a great time to invite someone to church according to Lifeway Research.

Four Truths About God’s Provision

Four Truths About God’s Provision – God always provides for his children, though often it is not in the way we expect or hope.

Gospel Power for a Secular Age

Gospel Power for a Secular Age – “The gospel has been, is, and will always be powerful in every culture—including our secular age.”

The Perfectly Respectable Environmental Movement Has Been Hijacked by Climate Radicals

The Perfectly Respectable Environmental Movement Has Been Hijacked by Climate Radicals – “I am not a climate change denier, I am an unsuccessful climate change evidence-seeker, like Jacques Cartier or Columbus peering into the distance to see a new world. And so far there is nothing there.”

Christian Rhetoric During a National Crisis

Christian Rhetoric During a National Crisis – “So the question for Christians is now twofold; how should we think about these events, and how should we respond to these events? Much ink has been and will be spilled on the former, but I’m not sure we’re giving enough thoughtful attention to the latter. Can we do better than we’ve been doing?”

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – “The mystery and the wonder of Christian living are captured. Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. Already. But not yet.”

How to Practice Biblical Hospitality

How to Practice Biblical Hospitality – “When hospitality is described in the Scriptures, there are zero instructions regarding home décor, menu, or table setting. Let’s take a journey through Scripture as we paint a word portrait of biblical hospitality.”

Imprint of King Hezekiah’s Seal Found in Jerusalem

Imprint of King Hezekiah’s Seal Found in Jerusalem - Archeology again supports the biblical record. “The royal seal of an ancient biblical king has been unearthed near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.”

On Disputable Matters

On Disputable Matters – “Every generation of Christians faces the need to decide just what beliefs and behavior are morally mandated of all believers, and what beliefs and behavior may be left to the individual believer’s conscience.”

Three Simple Ways to Encourage People in a World of Negativity

Three Simple Ways to Encourage People in a World of Negativity - Whether it be the latest Trumpian fare or the newest bit of
pop culture controversy, I’ve found plenty of reasons to be upset lately. Here
are some ways to be a light of encouragement.

I Am the Elder Brother

I Am the Elder Brother – “It can be easier for Christians, especially Christians who’ve grown rigid and “proud” of their faith, to slip into tendencies of the elder brother.”

Why Gratitude Is a Spiritual Discipline

Why Gratitude Is a Spiritual Discipline - How expressing thanks opens us up to God's grace.

Modesty Lets Our Light Shine

Modesty Lets Our Light Shine – “Last Saturday evening, Ayesha Curry, wife of NBA star Stephen Curry, was flipping through a Style Weekly and shared her observations with Twitter: Everyone's into barely wearing clothes these days huh? Not my style.” 

For the Fall and Rising of Many in Israel

For the Fall and Rising of Many in Israel – A Christmas word from Southern Seminary’s commencement.

Is Your Heart Ready to Help?

Is Your Heart Ready to Help? – A lot of noise is swirling around about refugees, America, and the local church. What do we make of it?

How to Know if You Are Called

How to Know if You Are Called – “It might surprise you, but in Scripture the idea of calling is not initially a career path we pick, a cause we choose, or a code we use for unlocking God’s will. Biblical calling is, first of all, something done for us. It is God’s summons to the Savior, and to his service.”

You and That Church Need to DTR

You and That Church Need to DTR – “Simply put, church membership is how the divinely ordained assembly of God’s people define the relationship between each other. It’s the mechanism that brings clarity to the relationships in the congregation. It’s how the good lines of God-given authority are exercised.”

The Nativity and Its Pro-Life Message

The Nativity and Its Pro-Life Message – Erik Raymond begins, “I was rereading the narrative in the Gospel according to Luke yesterday and was stuck with its contemporary significance relative to the abortion debate.”

A Crash Course on the Muslim Worldview and Islamic Theology

A Crash Course on the Muslim Worldview and Islamic Theology – If you’d like to learn more, this set of videos are well done and not overwhelming.

The Doctrine of Scripture: Defining Our Terms

The Doctrine of Scripture: Defining Our Terms – When discussing the Bible, there are certain terms that come up. Here is a good set of terms and their definitions. 

The Happy Choir of Heaven

The Happy Choir of Heaven – “Sadly, many Christians today are ignorant to the startling and strengthening ministry of angels. One of the most important ways this happens is through their example to us.” 

What to Pray When You Don’t Know What Else to Say

What to Pray When You Don’t Know What Else to Say - Reexamining deeper truth of the Lord’s Prayer.

Go Global! Think Beyond Local Ministry

Go Global! Think Beyond Local Ministry – God is a global God. He has always cared about the entire world. Here are some goals to consider in your next steps in ministry.

Keeping the Heart in Our Christmas Traditions

Keeping the Heart in Our Christmas Traditions – “So, if our primary goal at Christmas time is to worship Christ from a pure heart, which traditions deserve to be kept or started? And which deserve to be trashed?”

What’s So Special About Christmas?

What’s So Special About Christmas? –  Jesus Christ is God, and his birth is when God came to Earth.

The World's Most Popular Bible Verses, According to 200 Million YouVersion Users

The World's Most Popular Bible Verses, According to 200 Million YouVersion Users – The popularity of verses in different parts of the world is interesting.

Responding to the MTV Report on Our Abortion Data

Responding to the MTV Report on Our Abortion Data – “Christians must learn how to be both pro-life and pro-women. Those two values are not mutually exclusive, so we must pursue them both.”

Nine Consequences of Debt

Nine Consequences of Debt – Randy Alcorn says, “The more you’re inclined to go into debt, the more probable it is that you shouldn’t.”

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage – Here are some biblical thoughts on a tough subject.

Why You Don’t Need to Choose Between Happiness and Holiness

Why You Don’t Need to Choose Between Happiness and Holiness – “Sin is joy poisoned. Holiness is joy postponed and pursued.”

Is Donald Trump Right About Closing the Border to Muslims?

Is Donald Trump Right About Closing the Border to Muslims? – Russell Moore takes on a hot topic. “Make no mistake. A government that can shut down mosques simply because they are mosques can shut down Bible studies because they are Bible studies. A government that can close the borders to all Muslims simply on the basis of their religious belief can do the same thing for evangelical Christians.”

A Case for Not Instagramming Your Holidays

A Case for Not Instagramming Your Holidays - Interesting and worth considering. Here are five questions to ask before you post.

Building Margin into Your Schedule

Building Margin into Your Schedule – “About five years ago in a Sunday morning service our pastor was talking about the importance of having margin in your life. Margin to hear from God, to wait before Him and to expect miracles. That’s vital at a time of year when margin is slim because of the busy-ness of the season.”

When God was Silent

When God was Silent – “The gap between the Old and New Testament has been called “The 400 Silent Years” because God had stopped communicating directly with His people. But the 400 years of silence did not mean that God was on vacation.   He was busy fulfilling prophesy and paving the way for the Son's appearance.”  

Daily Bread

Daily Bread – This is the first in a series on the value of daily Bible reading. “While these are true for any type of Bible reading, a thorough reading of the entire text enhances them. And, while most of us may say we may believe these truths, it’s helpful to be reminded of that which is good for our souls.”

Lay Aside the Weight of Low Self Image

Lay Aside the Weight of Low Self Image – There are holy and unholy ways of thinking of yourself.

The Paradox of Chronic Pain

The Paradox of Chronic Pain – “About 40 percent of Americans suffer from chronic, persistent, and untreatable pain. Imagine this: in a congregation of 200 adults, about 80 of us are currently in pain. So how can pastors, churches, and ministries better understand and care for their suffering members?” 

4 Simple Responses to Science-Based Atheism

4 Simple Responses to Science-Based Atheism – Here are four simple responses to those who claim science has either disproved God or has made belief in God unnecessary.

To Every Mom And Dad

To Every Mom And Dad – David Murray has developed a Bible reading plan with children in mind. You might explore it.

What Child Is This?

What Child Is This? – “Sometimes questions make a point. We call those “rhetorical questions.” Other times the form of a question expresses awe and wonder about something we know to be true, but find almost too good to be true. It’s too good to simply say it directly like we say everything else.”

How You Should Respond to Evil

How You Should Respond to Evil – How should Christians relate to evil? How should we think and feel and act about satanic evil? Death? Natural Disasters? What about the evil and pain you confront in your own daily lives?

How Do I Stop Spinning Plates?

How Do I Stop Spinning Plates? – “How do we calm and control our minds when they are furiously yet pointlessly circling round and round the problems in our lives?”

The Most Essential Life Skill

The Most Essential Life Skill – “There’s one characteristic that separates the successful from the unsuccessful in every walk of life: teachability.”

When Some Turn to Church, Others Go to CrossFit

When Some Turn to Church, Others Go to CrossFit – When religion fades, people inevitably find something to replace it.

A Christmas Guide To Family Worship

A Christmas Guide To Family Worship – This Christmas season, how might we lead our families to remember Jesus?

The Twist Ending in This Toys 'R' Us Christmas Commercial Is Pretty Great

The Twist Ending in This Toys 'R' Us Christmas Commercial Is Pretty Great – This is a good reminder to pray for military families in this season.

Four Practical Ways to Avoid Burnout

Four Practical Ways to Avoid Burnout – Here are some simple, practical suggestions.

Christmas Means That God IS Fixing This

Christmas Means That God IS Fixing This – In a world that seems out of control we can know that God is fixing this, and Christmas proves it.

San Bernardino, Prayer Shaming, and a Better Way

San Bernardino, Prayer Shaming, and a Better Way – Is prayer the appropriate response to yet another mass shooting in the United States? 

Judas Betrayed Jesus with Clean Feet

Judas Betrayed Jesus with Clean Feet – “The very hands that will soon be pierced through with nails are at this moment stooping to serve, washing even the feet of one of his enemies.”

Christmas Giving: 10 Ways to Transform Your Christmas

Christmas Giving: 10 Ways to Transform Your Christmas – “Those of us who love the Christmas season often are in the market for ways to make it more meaningful.”

Pursue the Mystery and Glory of the Incarnation

Pursue the Mystery and Glory of the Incarnation – “Have you given much thought to the union of the two natures of Christ?”

Five Ways to Lead in Times of Fear

Five Ways to Lead in Times of Fear – These are troubling times. How can you lead your friends and family spiritually in such times?

How to Pray the News

How to Pray the News – We are bombarded by news. Here are a few practical tips to get you started on praying the news.

God Won’t Fix This?

God Won’t Fix This? – Russell Moore writes, “Should people who pray after tragedy be shamed for not doing something more? That’s the question I address this morning in The Washington Post, after a major news publication mocked the prayers following the San Bernardino shootings with the headline, “God Isn’t Fixing This.”

Keeping It All Together This Christmas

Keeping It All Together This Christmas – Mark Beeson asks, “What holds you, and yours, together? Who secures your life, when life gets difficult?”

Why Trust the Bible?

Why Trust the Bible? - If you’ve been looking for a book to give non-Christians explaining why the Bible can be trusted, this may be it.

Is Pro-Life Rhetoric Deadly?

Is Pro-Life Rhetoric Deadly? – “Pro-life rhetoric is in the news right now, since a deranged man went on a shooting spree inside a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic.” Russell Moore addresses the question.

Four Steps Toward Joy in Repentance

Four Steps Toward Joy in Repentance – “There is a kind of joy in repentance. I say “a kind of” because repentance is also arduous, humbling, exacting.”

Creation Chronology in 1 Corinthians 11

Creation Chronology in 1 Corinthians 11 – This article may be a little heavy but it makes a great point regarding the creation and biblical consistency.

The Book of Deuteronomy

The Book of Deuteronomy - The Bible Project gives a summary/overview of Deuteronomy (in less than seven minutes).

You Just Need to Obey

You Just Need to Obey – “Can you imagine a Christian couple actually praying about living together before marriage? Can you fathom a young woman who professes Christ even bothering to pray about whether she should marry an unbeliever? Can you grasp a Christian businessman having to pray about whether he should tell the truth in a transaction? You just need to obey.”

How Your Church Can PASTOR Your Guests This Christmas

How Your Church Can PASTOR Your Guests This Christmas – Here are some good reminders as we move into the Christmas season at church.

Christians Need to Lighten Up

Christians Need to Lighten Up - What being 'slow to speak and slow to become angry' looks like an era of Internet takedowns.

Was Jesus His Mother’s Savior?

Was Jesus His Mother’s Savior? – “Every person—from Adam and Eve forward—needs mercy, forgiveness, and saving grace. This includes Mary, the mother of Jesus.”

The Key to Praying Effectively

The Key to Praying Effectively – “When I pray with my kids, I can tell their minds are somewhere else.  They might have their eyes closed, but talking to God is the very last thing on their minds.  I guess for us adults, some things never change.”

Four Life Lessons Learned From Johnny Manziel

Four Life Lessons Learned From Johnny Manziel – Tim Elmore makes some good points about growing up.

Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent

Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent – Here are seven potential benefits of observing Advent.

How To Make Christmas the Best of Times

How To Make Christmas the Best of Times – “While most cannot wait to get to Christmas, many simply cannot wait to get through Christmas.” 

Why Do Churches Focus So Much On Families?

Why Do Churches Focus So Much On Families? - Examining the risks of making "family" into an idol.

A Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent

A Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent – We prepare our hearts.

Prepare Him Room

Prepare Him Room – “The real Christmas was nothing like the Christmas we’ve come to know, with its traditions, memories, and legends. It was a desperate moment that occurred for a desperate reason.”

11 Stats That Will Change the Way You Think About Consumerism

11 Stats That Will Change the Way You Think About Consumerism - Breaking down the numbers.

Study: 41% of Shoppers Feel Like They Need to Spend More Than They Can Afford at Christmas

Study: 41% of Shoppers Feel Like They Need to Spend More Than They Can Afford at Christmas - Here is the message: "Don't be that guy."

Seven Sentimental Lies You Might Believe

Seven Sentimental Lies You Might Believe – We hear these often and have probably said several. The problem is, they’re not true.

Security from the Shepherd

Security from the Shepherd – Psalm 23 is comfort food for the weary soul. Read it, meditate on it, and rest in these simple truths.

What Is a Budget?

What Is a Budget? – As you navigate Christmas and look toward the new year remember, “A budget is more than numbers scribbled on a yellow steno pad in response to a crisis with good intentions that will never be fulfilled...A budget is the numerical expression of an individual’s or family’s mission and priorities.”

Jesus Fell Asleep

Jesus Fell Asleep – Throughout Scripture, God has had periods of time where He seemed asleep. Does that mean He didn’t care?

5 Reasons Giving Thanks is Always God’s Will

5 Reasons Giving Thanks is Always God’s Will – Why is it always God’s will no matter what happens in my life that I am to give thanks, not for my circumstances but in my circumstances?

Give Thanks in All Things

Give Thanks in All Things – “Maintaining an attitude of thanksgiving expressed through constant prayer provides at least six benefits.”

The Fruits of the Spirit

The Fruits of the Spirit - “When we look at a tree and see bad fruit, we conclude it is
a bad tree (Matt. 7:17-20). When we look at the same tree and it has good
fruit, new fruit, we conclude the tree has changed. There’s not just new fruit
but a new tree. This is what God does for His people in regeneration. He
doesn't just change the fruit; He changes the tree.”

5 Reminders for Christian Parents

5 Reminders for Christian Parents – “Parenting is just hard. It’s tiring. It’s busy. It’s laborious. It’s unending. It’s continuous. It’s demanding. But with all these realities, we as parents must remember that parenting is supremely rewarding.”

What Is Thanksgiving Day?

What Is Thanksgiving Day? – “Prosperity breeds ingratitude.”

Doctrine Matters: Eternal Life Depends Upon It

Doctrine Matters: Eternal Life Depends Upon It – “Christianity is much more than getting your doctrine right. But it is not less. You can have right doctrine and not be a Christian. You can know all sorts of true things about Jesus and not be saved.” 

A Prayer of Gratitude

A Prayer of Gratitude – Here is some valuable assistance from The Valley of Vision.

What to Do When You’re Bored With Your Faith

What to Do When You’re Bored With Your Faith - A few ways to refresh your faith.

Thanksgiving Is a Taste of Home

Thanksgiving Is a Taste of Home – “In all things, imitate and anticipate the final Thanksgiving table and a place where all our longings will finally find their home.”

Why We Need to Know Facts About the Bible

Why We Need to Know Facts About the Bible – “Our view of Scripture—particularly how we view the Bible’s truthfulness and authority over our lives—profoundly affects our spiritual formation.”

A Prayer for Remembering Things for Which We Are Grateful

A Prayer for Remembering Things for Which We Are Grateful – “Dear heavenly Father, before we have a chance to whine today, we want to worship you; before we starting counting our disappointments, we want to declare our encouragements; before we fall into fretting and blaming, we chose to rejoice and give thanks….”

The Greatest Thing You Could Do Today

The Greatest Thing You Could Do Today – “It seems like the people in America would be content to take a selfie with Moses. Don’t they know they can go up the mountain themselves? Why don’t they want to go up the mountain?”

They Did Not Honor Him or Give Thanks

They Did Not Honor Him or Give Thanks — Why Thanksgiving is Inescapably Theological – “What about the blessings that cannot be ascribed to human agency? Those are both more numerous and more significant, ranging from the universe we experience to the gift of life itself.”

Don’t Worry, You Won’t Be a Perfect Parent

Don’t Worry, You Won’t Be a Perfect Parent - You will mess up, and that's OK.

What (Some) Church Members Really Mean When They Say They Want Their Church to Grow

What (Some) Church Members Really Mean When They Say They Want Their Church to Grow – Funny, sad, interesting…

7 Ways Christian History Benefits You

7 Ways Christian History Benefits You – We tend to live in the moment but we stand in the flow of historical Christianity. 

Contextualization at Home: What Would Jesus Do Here?

Contextualization at Home: What Would Jesus Do Here? – We can’t reach the world for Jesus if we don’t know Jesus and how He operates. How do we live as missionaries at home?

Questions Through the Decades

Questions Through the Decades – Alan Wilson shares a series of questions which characterize each decade of life.

The Prize Is Worth the Price

The Prize Is Worth the Price – Here are some great personal, spiritual assessment questions.

Thanksgiving Starts on Sunday

Thanksgiving Starts on Sunday – “While opening the Scriptures, singing, praying, and giving our offerings, a formation is underway: God is performing the slow and steady work of making us a thankful people.”

Saturday Night Prayer

Saturday Night Prayer – It will work for a Sunday morning as well.

How to Witness at Work

How to Witness at Work – “Every day when you arrive at your workplace, an attitude arrives with you. Our attitudes are like the perfume or cologne we are wearing; we smell the fragrance when we first put it on, but others smell it throughout the day. The fragrance you’re wearing at work, others are picking up.”

Brother, Where Is Your Identity?

Brother, Where Is Your Identity? - Who are you? What gives a man his identity? On what foundation are you building your sense of self? Your answer, whether true or false, defines your life.

How Do We Deal with Tragedy in a Fallen World?

How Do We Deal with Tragedy in a Fallen World? - From the Paris attacks to our daily lives, finding hope in a messed up world.

What You Should Know About The Syrian Refugee Controversy

What You Should Know About The Syrian Refugee Controversy – Here is what you should know about the current controversy.

Eight Words from Jesus in a World with Refugees

Eight Words from Jesus in a World with Refugees - Jesus calls us to follow him. Sometimes it is clear how we do this, and often it is not.

A Charlie Brown Religion

A Charlie Brown Religion – Interesting summary of a new book about the faith journey of Charlies Schultz.

Watch Colbert Try to Convert Bill Maher to Christianity

Watch Colbert Try to Convert Bill Maher to Christianity – If you missed this exchange between Stephen Colbert and atheist, Bill Maher, you will find plenty to ponder.

The Book of Psalms: Outlined and Explained with Animation

The Book of Psalms: Outlined and Explained with Animation – Here is the latest in this series. It’s a clear summary of the book of Psalms in just under nine minutes.

20 Principles for How Christians Should Relate to Muslims (And Those of Other Religions)

20 Principles for How Christians Should Relate to Muslims (And Those of Other Religions) – There is plenty to consider in this article from John Piper.

Don’t Follow Your Heart

Don’t Follow Your Heart  - It’s popular to say but is it biblical? Not hardly.

Should We Pray For ISIS To Be Defeated Or Converted?

Should We Pray For ISIS To Be Defeated Or Converted? – “These are not contradictory prayers, and to each of them I say, ‘Amen!’”

5 Things Married Couples Should Do Every Day

5 Things Married Couples Should Do Every Day - How to invest in your marriage.

A Prayer for Those in the Grip of Grace and the Valley of Fear

A Prayer for Those in the Grip of Grace and the Valley of Fear – A good prayer for such times as these.

9 Things You Should Know About Islamic State

9 Things You Should Know About Islamic State – Here are nine things you need to know about this Islamic terrorist group.

Thirteen Practical Steps to Kill Sin

Thirteen Practical Steps to Kill Sin – And you know it needs killing…

The Most Encouraging and Comforting Promise in the Bible

The Most Encouraging and Comforting Promise in the Bible - Found in Hebrews 13:5, For He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

What’s a Budget?

What’s a Budget? – “A budget is the numerical expression of an individual’s or family’s mission and priorities.”

The Islamic Revolution Comes to Paris

The Islamic Revolution Comes to Paris – David Murray explores several reasons why our world has become infested with the threat of terrorists.

A Call for Christian Extremists

A Call for Christian Extremists – “We are to bring glory to God by doing good for others. Allah may be glorified in maimed bodies and blood-soaked city streets, but God is glorified in acts of love and deeds of kindness.” 

We Are at War: 2 Lessons From the Paris Massacre

We Are at War: 2 Lessons From the Paris Massacre - What should we learn from the Paris tragedy? How should we
respond?

The 12 Most Challenging Oswald Chambers Quotes

The 12 Most Challenging Oswald Chambers Quotes - Nearly 100 years after the preacher's death, his book ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ remains a masterpiece.

We Are All Parisians Now: A Christian Response to Global Terror and Radical Islam

We Are All Parisians Now: A Christian Response to Global Terror and Radical Islam –How can we respond in a uniquely Christian way to the horror in Paris?

France: A Fabric Torn

France: A Fabric Torn – “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Making Jesus Central in Your Family’s Life

Making Jesus Central in Your Family’s Life – “Some important foundational ways you can help your kids see and savor Jesus Christ.”

Why You Shouldn’t Just Believe the Bible Is True

Why You Shouldn’t Just Believe the Bible Is True – “The preeminent question of past generations was “Is the Bible true?,” today we’re being asked “Is the Bible good?”

How to Help Those in Need (Without Treating Them Like Beggars)

How to Help Those in Need (Without Treating Them Like Beggars) – This article addresses the important topic of helpful and sustainable engagement with the poor. 

21 Ways I Know You’re Financially Unstable

21 Ways I Know You’re Financially Unstable – This is pretty basic and revealing.

Why Can’t Christians Just Join the Revolution?

Why Can’t Christians Just Join the Revolution? – “Why not just join the revolution? This question seems obvious to many people who look at conservative Christians and honestly wonder why we cannot just change our views on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and the entire LBGT constellation of issues.”

A.C.T.S. Prayer App

A.C.T.S. Prayer App – Earlier this week I posted an article about praying daily an A.C.T.S. pattern (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). This link is to an app you might look into for prayer prompts according to this prayer pattern.

Evaluating Seventh-day Adventism

Evaluating Seventh-day Adventism – “This article is not about politics. But Dr. Ben Carson’s involvement in the Republican primaries has raised questions in the minds of many evangelicals about his religious affiliation as a Seventh-day Adventist.” 

Patience is Not Optional for the Christian

Patience is Not Optional for the Christian – “Most of us recognize that patience is one of the cardinal Christian virtues—we’re just in no hurry to obtain it.”

Ten Diagnostic Questions for Your Marriage

Ten Diagnostic Questions for Your Marriage – The questions are simple as reminders or challenges to grow.

How Not to Talk About Politics

How Not to Talk About Politics – There is something for everyone in this practical post.

A.C.T.S. of Prayer

A.C.T.S. of Prayer – This is a simple way to structure your prayer time. It’s a great place to start.

One of the Strangest Commands in the Bible

One of the Strangest Commands in the Bible – “Why in the world would God tell Israel to hamstring captured horses? Does he have something against horses?”

Debunking Stupid Statements about the Bible

Debunking Stupid Statements about the Bible – Statements like this one: “No television preacher has ever read the Bible. Neither has any evangelical politician. Neither has the pope. Neither have I. And neither have you. At best, we’ve all read a bad translation—a translation of translations of translations of hand-copied copies of copies of copies of copies, and on and on, hundreds of times.”

9 Things You Should Know About Orphans

9 Things You Should Know About Orphans - Here are nine things you should know about orphans in America and around the world.

6 Reasons You Need the Songs of Jesus

6 Reasons You Need the Songs of Jesus – “The psalms are the divinely ordained way to learn devotion to our God.”

You Are a Saint, Sinner, and Sufferer

You Are a Saint, Sinner, and Sufferer – As Christians, we are all a combination of saint, sinner, and sufferer.

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child – A good article for parents of prodigals.

How to Keep Your iPhone from Destroying Your Relationships – If you’ve ever watched a group of people glued to their smartphones and wondered how these devices are shaping our relationships, Sherry Turkle’s research is for you.

The 6 Assassins of A Man's Contentment – “You have enemies as you try to live as a content man. Most of the time we think the enemies are from without—people around us and circumstances upon us. But the true enemies of contentment are within in us, which is where contentment is either fed or starved.”

7 Gospel-Centered Principles for Protecting Your Marriage

7 Gospel-Centered Principles for Protecting Your Marriage – “What can a couple do to preserve the joyful loving intimacy of their marriage? Consider these seven gospel-centered principles.”

You Cannot Domesticate Pride

You Cannot Domesticate Pride – “Pride is not something to take lightly. It is something to be identified and mortified.”

The Help of God in Every Step

The Help of God in Every Step – Here is an encouraging word for whatever a day holds.

How ‘Peanuts’ Took Faith to Culture

How ‘Peanuts’ Took Faith to Culture - The deeper message of Charlie Brown.

When Jesus Rebukes the Persecuted Church

When Jesus Rebukes the Persecuted Church – “The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates 100,000 Christians now die each year, targeted because of their faith. That’s 11 per hour. But would Jesus ever rebuke the persecuted church? He did 2,000 years ago.” 

If Richard Dawkins Is Right

If Richard Dawkins Is Right - “Nobody knows who the four evangelists were, but they almost certainly never met Jesus personally. Much of what they wrote was in no sense an honest attempt at history. . . . The gospels are ancient fiction.” – Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

What to Do When You Feel Like You Aren’t Growing

What to Do When You Feel Like You Aren’t Growing - If you're feeling stuck, it might be time to examine what you really believe.

14 Billy Graham Quotes That Helped Shape American Christianity

14 Billy Graham Quotes That Helped Shape American Christianity - In honor of the influential evangelist's 97th birthday.

Your Bible Is a Gold Mine

Your Bible Is a Gold Mine – “The wonderful thing about this mine is that we often find treasure in unexpected places.”

Taking God’s Word with Us to Work

Taking God’s Word with Us to Work – “While we may reflect on God’s Word as we hear it taught on Sunday morning, it is as if we have a kind of spiritual amnesia that accompanies us when we go to work.”

Three Ways Christians Can Be Like Jesus Amidst a More Polarized Culture

Three Ways Christians Can Be Like Jesus Amidst a More Polarized Culture – New data from Pew Research Center points to a growing ideological polarization in the U.S., and an opportunity for us to be like Jesus.

Moving Beyond “God won’t give you more than you can handle”

Moving Beyond “God won’t give you more than you can handle” – We hear it all the time. Is it a biblical teaching?

Why Would Drivers in China Intentionally Kill Those They Hit?

Why Would Drivers in China Intentionally Kill Those They Hit? – “Here we see the results of a worldview that devalues the sanctity of individual life.”

Be Known for What You’re for, Not Just What You’re Against

Be Known for What You’re for, Not Just What You’re Against - That’s what Jesus did.

You Only Live Forever

You Only Live Forever – “Our life planning ought to be about the next trillion years, and beyond.” This is a great word for “earthbound believers”.

Satan Hunts Among the Hurting

Satan Hunts Among the Hurting – “He lies in wait with lies, wanting to consume the fragile and vulnerable.”

Three Ways to Love Your Imperfect Husband

Three Ways to Love Your Imperfect Husband – While written by a woman about husbands, the principles would apply to loving your wife as well.

China’s One-Child Policy

China’s One-Child Policy – Joe Carter has a helpful FAQ on China’s one-child policy and the recent change to make it a two-child policy.

Effort, Power, and Trusting the Lord

Effort, Power, and Trusting the Lord – God will work through us, but that doesn't mean we don't have to work hard!

Why Would the World Ask About Your Hope?

Why Would the World Ask About Your Hope? – Why in 1 Peter 3:15 does the unbelieving world ask Christians about their hope?

4 Reasons You Should Vote Today

4 Reasons You Should Vote Today – Christians should exercise their vote (and not just once every four years in presidential elections). Here are some good biblical reasons to vote.

Read Scripture Series: Job

Read Scripture Series: Job – This video explores the main ideas and flow of thought of the book of Job. It is an 11-minute illustrated summary. It’s well done. 

A Church Transforming Proverb

A Church Transforming Proverb – If Christians practiced the truth of these two proverbs, a lot of problems would disappear in churches.

How Do Americans See Sacred Texts?

How Do Americans See Sacred Texts? New Data From LifeWay Research – Americans see the Christian Bible and the Muslim Quran in very different ways.

Five Ways to Stop Spending Time Managing Time

Five Ways to Stop Spending Time Managing Time – “While in no way exhaustive, here are five applications Christians might employ for buying back time for the purposes for which they were given it by God.”

The Key to a Happy Marriage

The Key to a Happy Marriage – “After interviewing 468 married individuals on relationship satisfaction, covering everything from communication habits to finances, they found that the "most consistent significant predictor" of happy marriages was whether one's spouse expressed gratitude.”

Bearing Burdens

Bearing Burdens – The last paragraph is worth the read.

Your Painful Story Brings God Glory

Your Painful Story Brings God Glory – “We can all think of an instance where someone revealing their difficult story has touched us. What if they never had told their story? What if you never tell yours?”

Four Keys to Living Faithfully in Exile

Four Keys to Living Faithfully in Exile – “Perhaps you’ve found yourself stuck in a geographical location, and every circumstance — no matter how hard you’ve tried to escape — seemed to hold you there. Maybe you’ve seen all your hopes, dreams, and plans go terribly awry.”

Five Steps to Meditating on the Bible

Five Steps to Meditating on the Bible – When you read and study the Bible, make it count.

498 Years Ago Today

498 Years Ago Today – Happy Reformation Day!

Does Halloween Scare Off Americans?

Does Halloween Scare Off Americans? New Data from LifeWay Research – How do you view the holiday? 

Jesus Came Knocking

Jesus Came Knocking – “And we should ask ourselves, is Jesus knocking — or pounding — on our door? Are we hearing him?”

Five Points for All Our Fears

Five Points for All Our Fears – “Perhaps God has given us these five points so that we have something to say to the things that creep in the dark night of our souls.”

Activism, Apathy, or Affliction?

Activism, Apathy, or Affliction? – “Perhaps we have not seriously enough considered seasons of sincere fasting and prayer among God’s people – days of affliction of the body for the sharpening of the soul.”

4 Building Blocks to a Healthy Relationship with Food

4 Building Blocks to a Healthy Relationship with Food – Brad Hambrick continues his helpful series on the believer’s relationship to food.

Why “God’s Not Dead” Resonated, and What It Missed

Why “God’s Not Dead” Resonated, and What It Missed – “If college makes it plausible to believe “God is dead,” the Church should make it hard to believe anything other than “God is alive.”

Should Christians Take Part in Halloween Celebrations?

Should Christians Take Part in Halloween Celebrations? – There are plenty of views on this topic. Here’s a fairly balanced approach.

4 Great Reasons to Read Romans

4 Great Reasons to Read Romans - “All roads in the Bible lead to Romans, and all views afforded by the Bible are seen most clearly from Romans, and when the message of Romans gets into a person’s heart there is no telling what may happen.” 

Interruption Is God’s Invitation

Interruption Is God’s Invitation – “What if we learned to experience interruption differently? Rather than viewing all outside interruption as the enemy of productivity and creativity, what if we viewed our lives as communicative vessels for the sake of the other?” 

Parents, You Can’t Build Heaven Here

Parents, You Can’t Build Heaven Here – “These verses can turn panicky parents into pilgrim parents with a purpose.”

Debunking 4 Myths About Religious Freedom

Debunking 4 Myths About Religious Freedom – Russell Moore addresses the attacks on religious freedom we commonly hear.

Before Galaxies Stood Forth, He Knew You

Before Galaxies Stood Forth, He Knew You – “But before all that, God knew you. He chose you before the foundation of the world.”

Six Ways to Cultivate Thankfulness and Joy

Six Ways to Cultivate Thankfulness and Joy – “As we make gratitude a habit by practicing it over and over, it becomes part of us. Natural. As natural as complaining. And eventually thankfulness will drive out that demon of grumbling and we’ll experience more and more consistent joy.”

I Went Away for Just 6 Days...

I Went Away for Just 6 Days... – Tim Challies (a Canadian) writes about the candidate elected Prime Minister in Canada this week. It is a good perspective to hear as we work our way through the politics of the next year.

20 Quotes from Albert Mohler’s New Book on the Sexual Revolution

20 Quotes from Albert Mohler’s New Book on the Sexual Revolution – You’ll pick up a lot just from the quotes.

Eight Life-Changing Things Someone Taught Me

Eight Life-Changing Things Someone Taught Me – These are great lessons to celebrate and if you haven’t learned them yet, maybe today is your day.

A Praying Man

A Praying Man – “It is a blessing to my heart to know that this father in the faith is storming heaven on my behalf day by day, that I need only to drop him a note with a particular request and he is sure to take it to the Lord.” 

Microscopes Make the World Larger

Microscopes Make the World Larger – “We must augment our big picture perspectives and high speed, high volume approaches with patient, slow-paced, careful, prolonged observation, examination, and reflection as well as time-intensive discussion.”

What Joe Biden and Paul Ryan Can Teach Us About Fatherhood

What Joe Biden and Paul Ryan Can Teach Us About Fatherhood – “The Biden/Ryan cases ought to remind us to think about the relationship between ambition and fathering. One does not need to aspire to be President or Speaker to be blinded by ambition.” 

The Freedom of Getting Over Yourself

The Freedom of Getting Over Yourself – Here is a quote to ponder from G.K Chesterton.

Tips for Being a False Teacher

Tips for Being a False Teacher – The article is written using humor to communicate truth about false teachers and false teaching.

The Old Me Made New

The Old Me Made New – “God does not only mean to rub the page clean. No, he intends to write a new story in sin’s place, replacing what was once broken, wicked, and dead with love, faithfulness, and life.”

Ways to Prepare for Tomorrow’s Church Service, Today

Ways to Prepare for Tomorrow’s Church Service, Today – Here are some good suggestions for preparing for worship with other believers…before you arrive.

Relevant, Old Paths

Relevant, Old Paths – “My father’s values were old, traditional values. But just because they were old and traditional didn’t necessarily make them good. They were good values because they were biblical values, and biblical values are relevant in every generation.”

20 Ways Being a Mom Makes You a Better Leader

20 Ways Being a Mom Makes You a Better Leader – Great examples of motherhood and patterns of leadership.

Why Doubt Can Give You Hope

Why Doubt Can Give You Hope - Lee Strobel on how we misunderstand wrestling with doubt.

Don’t Coddle Your Fears

Don’t Coddle Your Fears – “What I chose to believe would make all the difference in my behavior and in my future.”

When Routines Become Idols

When Routines Become Idols – “How do we know if our routines are an idol? The ways we respond to interruptions in our routines are a good indicator.” 

If the Bible Rarely Talks About It

If the Bible Rarely Talks About It – “In my theology classes, we often find ourselves wrestling with questions about which the Bible has relatively little to say. And students always wonder if that means these issues aren’t that important. If the Bible doesn’t have much to say about it, should we?”

The Problem With a Nicodemus Culture

The Problem With a Nicodemus Culture – This is a good word on our “Christian culture” from Russell Moore. The video is less than three minutes and worth the watch.

Five Ways Children Will Change the World

Five Ways Children Will Change the World – “You know, early on in our marriage we talked about how we might change the world by writing a book or getting on the cover of Time, but now we’re realizing our best shot at changing the world is through raising the kids God has given us.”

Gospel Conversation in an Age of Texting, Tweeting, and Distraction

Gospel Conversation in an Age of Texting, Tweeting, and Distraction – “Suggestions for enhancing our spiritual lives and our evangelistic efforts.”

Death Is Not ‘Okay’

Death Is Not ‘Okay’ – Death is not “okay” because it’s the result of life in a fallen world. Death is not the way it was meant to be.

Let’s Be Clear About What Real Christian Persecution Looks Like

Let’s Be Clear About What Real Christian Persecution Looks Like - What it really means to have your faith "under attack."

A Marriage Leaning on Jesus and Longing for Heaven

A Marriage Leaning on Jesus and Longing for Heaven – This is a follow-up story on a great story of a young couple’s marriage commitment.

Five Steps to Meditating on the Bible

Five Steps to Meditating on the Bible – “To meditate is to think deeply about what God has said to us in the Bible and to prepare our minds and hearts for prayer. Scripture is the foundation of our praying; meditation readies us for it by helping us focus, understand, remember, worship, and apply.”

The Church is Not a Drive-Through Restaurant

The Church is Not a Drive-Through Restaurant – “Because of cultural influences on the church in America in our time, we tend to treat the church like a drive-through restaurant.”