Thursday, April 30, 2015

How Same-Sex Marriage Threatens Christian Schools

How Same-Sex Marriage Threatens Christian SchoolsThis is a key application that flows from the pending decision.

Top 10 Questions the Supreme Court Justices Asked on the Constitutional Right to Same-Sex Marriage

Top 10 Questions the Supreme Court Justices Asked on the Constitutional Right to Same-Sex MarriageThis is a short, helpful summary of key questions from the Supreme Court on this issue.

Why God’s Will Isn’t Always Clear

Why God’s Will Isn’t Always Clear“The wonderful thing to remember in all of our decisions is that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.” 

God Owes Me Nothing

God Owes Me Nothing – It is often forgotten and absolutely true. “I owe him everything; he owes me nothing.”

What Should the Church Expect as Same-Sex Marriage Moves Forward?

What Should the Church Expect as Same-Sex Marriage Moves Forward?Aaron Armstrong looks at same-sex marriage from a Canadian perspective (where it has been legal since 2005). “This probably is no shock to the Americans reading this, but Canadians don’t really get you.”

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Making Disciples in the Everyday Stuff of Life

Making Disciples in the Everyday Stuff of LifeWe make disciples “as we go”.

I Can Do All Things

I Can Do All Things – “In context this verse has a very specific, defined meaning—one that most Americans don’t want to hear about, but one that is very important for us to remember as believers.”

Supreme Court Argument on Same-Sex Marriage Puts Religious Liberty in the Crosshairs

Supreme Court Argument on Same-Sex Marriage Puts Religious Liberty in the Crosshairs“The legalization of same-sex marriage would represent the triumph of an egalitarian-based ethic over a faith-based one, and not just legally. The remaining question is whether champions of tolerance are prepared to tolerate proponents of a different ethical vision. I think the answer will be no.”

What to Preach This Sunday In Light of the End of the World

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

6 Things to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed

6 Things to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed - God intended for us to have lives filled with peace, not chaos.

Reflections from the Supreme Court Sidewalk

Reflections from the Supreme Court SidewalkRussell Moore has a good, sane word on truth, love, and the Gospel outside the Supreme Court building today.

9 Things You Should Know About Same-Sex Marriage

9 Things You Should Know About Same-Sex MarriageThis series is always interesting and helpful. This list contains multiple links to studies and research.

Why Not Gay Marriage?

Why Not Gay Marriage?  - “The establishment of gay “marriage” enshrines in law a faulty view of marriage, one that says marriage is essentially a demonstration of commitment sexually expressed. In the traditional view, marriage was ordered to the child, which is why the state had a vested interest in regulating and supporting it.” 

In Defense of Marriage, the Rule of Law, and Ordered Liberty

In Defense of Marriage, the Rule of Law, and Ordered Liberty – Here is a breakdown of the ruling, expressed by Sixth Circuit Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, that the Supreme Court begins hearing today. It is well expressed.

Gay Marriage and the Supreme Court: A Critical Fact

Gay Marriage and the Supreme Court: A Critical Fact - Jim Denison makes a key observation a key argument we often hear.

Monday, April 27, 2015

What Baltimore Needs

What Baltimore Needs - Our television screens glow with images of criminal rioting and assault on police officers in the streets of Baltimore. Russell Moore speaks to what the city needs.

Die Well

Die Well - These are straightforward, big-picture realities that, though they don’t say everything, they at least get us started.

How to Build a Faithful Witness in Your Workplace

How to Build a Faithful Witness in Your Workplace - Here are three tips for building a faithful witness to Jesus in your workplace.

Praying for Nepal

Praying for Nepal - Here's a good place to start in praying for the overwhelming needs in Nepal.

No, Hanging Out With Your Friends is Not the Church

No, Hanging Out With Your Friends is Not the Church - Don't settle for a lesser definition of church.

Why These 66 Books?

Why These 66 Books? - Have you ever looked at your Bible and wondered, “How do we know that these 66 books, and no others, comprise the inspired Word of God?”

10 Resources To Help You Talk About Transgender/Homosexuality, Biblically

10 Resources To Help You Talk About Transgender/Homosexuality, BiblicallyWatermark Church in Dallas has assembled some resources that will be helpful for Bible-believers when talking about these issues.

Barronelle Stutzman (Washington State Florist)

Barronelle Stutzman (Washington State Florist)I shared in the message Sunday about Barronelle Stutzman’s case and what it shows about the loss of religious freedom in our country. Here is a link to her story.

Bakers Face $135,000 Fine for Refusing to Make Cake for Gay Wedding

Bakers Face $135,000 Fine for Refusing to Make Cake for Gay WeddingI referenced this story in the sermon Sunday. Here is a link to learn more.

Cure for the Common Prayer Life

Cure for the Common Prayer Life - This piece was written for pastors but is a good word for all of us.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

8 Lies Christians Believe About Success

8 Lies Christians Believe About Success – “At some point in my life, Christianity had become a magic wand instead of a humble posture.”

When Fear Seizes You

When Fear Seizes You – “When fear seizes you, all our ability to think rationally evaporates. Life becomes overwhelming and the promises of God are thrown out the window.”

3 Reasons Why You Aren’t Allowed to Be Theologically Dumb

3 Reasons Why You Aren’t Allowed to Be Theologically Dumb - “When you love God with your heart but not your mind, you
end up loving the god of your imagination, not the God of the universe.”

10 Things Young Singles in Romantic Relationships Ought to Know

Who Can Be Against Us?

Who Can Be Against Us?This is a powerful, sobering, encouraging reminder.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

America Is Not the Future of the Church

America Is Not the Future of the ChurchStatistics show that church actually isn’t dying. But it is changing.

Religious Liberty Is Not Freedom from Ridicule

Religious Liberty Is Not Freedom from Ridicule“We must learn to differentiate between persecution and insult, between religious liberty and freedom from ridicule. They are not the same thing.”

9 Things You Should Know About Genocide

9 Things You Should Know About Genocide - April has been designated to be a month of genocide awareness and action against genocide. Here are nine things you should know about genocide in the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries.

The Failure of Gay Marriage

The Failure of Gay MarriageIn this article, the author argues well that “They are replicating what we might call the ‘romantic marriage,' a kind of marriage that is chosen, determined, and defined by the couple that enters into it.” It is the worst and weakest element of failed heterosexual marriage in modern culture.

I Pray This for my Children

I Pray This for my Children - Gregory Harris offers help on how to pray for your children.

Where Are We in the Movie?

Where Are We in the Movie? - Human history is like one great big giant movie. It really is. If you could watch it all in one sitting, you'd see that it has four epic scenes. Where are we in the movie?

How to Stop Praying and Start Doing What God Wants You to Do

How to Stop Praying and Start Doing What God Wants You to Do – “Even prayer can be misused. How? By praying about something you already know God wants you to do.

Monday, April 20, 2015

A Holy People

A Holy People - What will the living and breathing church, not the commodities we produce, but the people that fill the pews, what will we be know for?

God’s Grace Will Find You

God’s Grace Will Find You – The grace of God will find you. No matter where you’ve gone or how far you’ve drifted, nowhere is out of the reach of God’s grace.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Smartphone Addiction and Our Spiritual ADD

Smartphone Addiction and Our Spiritual ADD - This thoughtful perspective brings wisdom and balance to the mobile milieu.

4 Ways to Fail Well

4 Ways to Fail Well - How we respond to failure will either propel us forward or
hold us back.

2 Real Reasons People Don’t Go to Church

2 Real Reasons People Don’t Go to Church - “People give all types of reasons for why they no longer
attend church. Most of those given mask the real reasons someone becomes a former church
member. It’s the same motivations for virtually every other human decision:
pain and pleasure.”

Friday, April 17, 2015

4 Things the ‘Hate Psalms’ Teach Us

4 Things the ‘Hate Psalms’ Teach Us - Why these imprecatory psalms? Why Psalm 137? What do these psalms tell us? 

Steward the Gifts God Has Assigned to You

Steward the Gifts God Has Assigned to You - So live your assignment. 

5 Ways the Gospel Transforms Your Work

5 Ways the Gospel Transforms Your Work - Here’s a summary of what Tim Keller teaches about the gospel and work.

Who Can You “One Another” Today?

Who Can You “One Another” Today? - How are you living out the Bible’s “one anothers?”

Preaching the Ten Commandments

Preaching the Ten Commandments - Ray Ortlund shows how each of the Ten Commandments does 4 things.

Website Claims Affairs Help Marriages

Website Claims Affairs Help Marriages - Consider three claims regarding adultery, and see if they are Satanic lies intended to destroy your marriage, home, and witness.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

What's Really Holding Us Back from Giving

What's Really Holding Us Back from Giving - 3 wrong ideas that prevent us from be generous with our money.

The Socially Acceptable Sin

The Socially Acceptable Sin - It’s everywhere in our society and churches, yet almost never talked about.

Pediatricians Warn Against Cohabitation

Pediatricians Warn Against CohabitationThe American College of Pediatricians warns that “Research shows that, rather than serving as a stepping stone to a healthy marriage, living together before marriage (cohabitation) makes couples more likely to break up and more likely to divorce if they do marry.”

American Views of Gay Marriage Are Divided by Faith and Friendship

American Views of Gay Marriage Are Divided by Faith and Friendship - New research from Lifeway.

Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept - Here we find a remarkable glimpse into the glory of the Lord of the universe.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Kids Aren’t the Priority...Marriage Is

Kids Aren’t the Priority. Marriage Is - How to keep your
marriage healthy after having kids.

7 Ways to Create Time to Think

7 Ways to Create Time to Think - This is a good reminder of the value of planned thinking time and how to apply it.

You Will Change the World

You Will Change the World“Have you ever wished you could do something that would change the world? Your wish has been granted. Are you tempted to think that your obscure, little life will leave no mark on the world? You have no idea how wrong you are.”

Are You Weak Enough for God to Use?

Are You Weak Enough for God to Use? - “God is so single-minded in his preference for weakness, that when he wants to use us, he often begins by weakening us.”

The Death of President Lincoln: Where was God?

The Death of President Lincoln: Where was God? - Today is the 150th anniversary of his death. Jim Denison uses this story to discuss the issue, "Where is God when bad things happen?"

Monday, April 13, 2015

A Prayer for Those Days When We’re Feeling a Bit Scattered

A Prayer for Those Days When We’re Feeling a Bit ScatteredHere’s a good prayer thought for a rainy Monday morning in North Texas.

It Takes a Church to Educate a Christian

It Takes a Church to Educate a ChristianScot McKnight writes, “The verses in Colossians 3:12-17 above are the kind of Christian life one lived in fellowship with others (alike and different) rather than one simply concerned with how “I” am growing in “my” relation with God.”

The Church Is Not Your Frat House

The Church Is Not Your Frat House“Sometimes we can treat Christian worship like an insider’s club. And who doesn’t want to be included in a family-like brotherhood and sisterhood? But the New Testament blueprint for worship gatherings has little room for secrecy. Rather, hospitality rises to the top of the values we want to characterize our Sunday morning services.”

Why We Need the Song of Songs

Why We Need the Song of SongsHere are some good reasons.

The Transgender Agenda

The Transgender Agenda - This is true and alarming: “It might be sensible to recognize that the transgender agenda is causing us, among other things, to…experiment on our children in the most damaging way.”

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Not-So-Holy Week: Indiana, Religious Freedom, and You

Not-So-Holy Week: Indiana, Religious Freedom, and You - The article is helpful in that it also includes links to a variety of good resources on the topics.

3 Reasons to Preach on Religious Liberty

3 Reasons to Preach on Religious Liberty - This is about more than sermons. It's about living as a Christian citizen in this world.

Craving Spiritual Milk and Spiritual Growth

Craving Spiritual Milk and Spiritual GrowthHere are some toxins to be eliminated for the sake of our growth.


Marriage and the Supreme Court: A Call to Prayer

Marriage and the Supreme Court: A Call to Prayer - Russell Moore speaks to praying for the upcoming Supreme Court decision.

Why is a Wedding Any Different?

 Why is a Wedding Any Different?This article seeks to address some of the challenges in the national discussion.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

7 Unbiblical Statements Christians Believe

7 Unbiblical Statements Christians BelieveThe common misconceptions about what the Bible actually says.

Millennials Are the ‘Don’t Judge Generation’

Millennials Are the ‘Don’t Judge Generation’ – “For most millennials — including one in three who don’t identify with any particular religion — it’s all about personal circumstances.”

How God Defines Success

How God Defines Success - His definition may be a bit different than ours.

Love and Hate in a Foreign Country

Love and Hate in a Foreign Country  - “When the advocates of peace and tolerance call for the burning down of a Christian-owned pizza parlor, Rod Dreher asks the obvious question: Who are the ones who are really full of hate?”

Monday, April 6, 2015

Don’t Be Defined By What You’re Against

Don’t Be Defined By What You’re AgainstThe point of Christianity isn't avoiding sin. It's embracing Jesus.

Keeping the Baby vs. Abortion: Americans Muddled Morality About the Unborn

Keeping the Baby vs. Abortion: Americans Muddled Morality About the UnbornTrevin Wax writes, “The debate over fetal homicide reveals our society’s inconsistency in the ongoing debate over abortion: We only affirm the humanity of the unborn if the child is ‘wanted.’”

The Dead End of Sexual Sin

The Dead End of Sexual Sin - How should we to think about sin that has become a daily part of our identity? John Owen explained with four responses.


Same-Sex 'Marriage' is Becoming the Established Religion | The Stream

Same-Sex 'Marriage' is Becoming the Established Religion - Frank Turek argues that same-sex marriage has become the
established religion. “The new established religion chooses the sword of
government compulsion over the freedom of religion and conscience.”

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Do You Think It Happened or Not?

Do You Think It Happened or Not? – “When Christians assert that Jesus rose from the dead, they are making an historical claim, not a religious one.”

Friday, April 3, 2015

If Christ Is Not Raised

If Christ Is Not Raised - So what if Christ is not raised?

The Deeper Message of Holy Week

The Deeper Message of Holy WeekWhy we must embrace all three days of Easter weekend in order to get the full story of Holy Week.

A Prayer for Good Friday

A Prayer for Good Friday“Dear Lord Jesus, for years I struggled calling the day of your crucifixion good”…

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Why Have You Forsaken Me?“The crowds have jeered, darkness has covered the land, and now, suddenly, after a long silence, comes this anguished cry from the depths of the Savior’s soul.”

Why Did God Kill Jesus?

Why Did God Kill Jesus?“God was pleased with the obedience of Jesus and the price He willingly paid for the guilt of our sin.”

What Happened in Kenya?

What Happened in Kenya? - Joe Carter has an FAQ on the attacks on Christians in Kenya.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

11 Reasons Pastors Struggle on Easter

11 Reasons Pastors Struggle on EasterEach week in my Pastor’s Prayer Partners email I ask folks to pray for several area pastor friends of mine. This article is helpful in praying for other ministries this Easter.

Say Goodbye to Lifeboat Theology

Say Goodbye to Lifeboat TheologyOne of these days, this article will become a sermon.

Tale of Two Friends

Tale of Two FriendsBoth men disappointed, betrayed, and deserted Jesus. Only one finished well. There are plenty of applications for all of us in their stories.

4 Reasons to Believe in the Empty Tomb

4 Reasons to Believe in the Empty Tomb - While the historicity of the empty tomb does not by itself prove the resurrection, it plays an important role. Where does the evidence point?

Why 'RFRA' Is America's Latest Four-Letter Word

Why 'RFRA' Is America's Latest Four-Letter WordBob Smietana explains some of the complexities of this RFRA issue.

A Fixation with a Sky Pixie

A Fixation with a Sky Pixie – Here is an interesting article on how evangelical Christians are perceived in Great Britain. More is coming our way. “In a culture that prizes sophistication, non-judgmentalism, irony and detachment, [Christianity] is to declare yourself intolerant, naive, superstitious and backward.”

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Cancer Is a Parable About Sin

Cancer Is a Parable About Sin – “All human suffering, especially the suffering of the Son of God, is meant to portray to dull souls the unimaginable moral ugliness of sin and the unimaginable offensiveness of sin to God.”

Should Evangelicals Stand With Israel?

Should Evangelicals Stand With Israel? – Perry Noble makes some insightful observations about issues relating to Israel.

Mutiny Against the Messiah

Mutiny Against the Messiah – “Judas could see the value of the ointment rolling down Jesus’s head, but he couldn’t see the value of Jesus.”