The Meaning of the Manger

The Meaning of the Manger – Six lessons hidden in an unlikely crib.

Forget Not the Lord's Benefits

Forget Not the Lord's Benefits – Don’t forget the encouraging message of Psalm 103.

Reflections on Restoration

Reflections on Restoration – “In this passage, the apostle Paul calls believers to be agents of restoration for those bound by sin. Many rich things can be said of this passage, but, for the sake of brevity, only four reflections for consideration will be presented here.”

When Community Isn't Gospel Community

When Community Isn't Gospel Community – “When believers discuss biblical community, we talk about it in different ways: doing life together, life on life, “one another”ing each other. While this sounds good in principle, we often get it wrong in practice. Here are 3 ways we can easily get it wrong and what to do about it.”

Praise God for His Intervention

Praise God for His Intervention – “In Psalm 18:30-50, David praises God for intervening in his circumstances and coming to his aid when he needed it the most. Today, God wants you to give thanks and praise for three specific ways He intervenes on your behalf.”

Getting Past Inertia

Getting Past Inertia – Three Simple Tips for Sharing Our Faith

The Pragmatic Benefits of God-Given Sexual Boundaries

The Pragmatic Benefits of God-Given Sexual Boundaries – “If God exists and He created us, He designed our sexuality. And if God is good, then He designed our sexuality for our benefit. Not only is this true, it has pragmatic benefits when we align our lives and behavior with our design. And recent sex scandals illustrate the destructive nature of doing things mainly because they give us pleasure rather than making wise choices that lead to our wellbeing.”

NBC fires Matt Lauer for 'inappropriate sexual behavior'

NBC fires Matt Lauer for 'inappropriate sexual behavior' – Jim Denison makes some important applications regarding today’s breaking news.

Light Has Dawned

Light Has Dawned – Reflections at Christmastime on the Light of Jesus

Are You Praying the Right Thing When You Pray to Know God's Will?

Are You Praying the Right Thing When You Pray to Know God's Will? – “The vast majority of us do not need further education into God’s will. Instead, we need to begin to live more fully in what we already know God’s will to be. This fact changes the shape of our prayers both for ourselves and for others.”

Glorification

Glorification – “The Bible looks to a final chapter in the story of redemption called glorification. It is the moment when Christ returns, the dead are raised, and all the redeemed are instantaneously transformed into the glorious likeness of Christ.”

How to Find Joy in Your Work

How to Find Joy in Your Work – “The more we think about the whole first chapter of Genesis, the more glorious things we see regarding how God views his work, and the wonderful, liberating implications it has on how we are to view our work.”

What Does #MeToo Have to Do with You? Seeking to Be Disciples in a Hurting World

What Does #MeToo Have to Do with You? Seeking to Be Disciples in a Hurting World – “What does caring mean to you as you hear stories of pain? How are you doing as a disciple of Christ in a world crying out to be heard and healed?”

5 Questions to Ask Before Posting To Social Media

5 Questions to Ask Before Posting To Social Media – “Before we snap one more picture of our hot chocolate topped with a foam leaf, perhaps we would benefit from a brief pause—an extra 30 seconds to ask five simple questions might suggest it’s time to unplug, or at least reconsider when and how we use social media.”

Teach Your Children the Virtue of Waiting

Teach Your Children the Virtue of Waiting – “To push back against this on-demand mindset, here are two ways you can cultivate a more measured approach this Christmas.”

Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged By Your Own Crippling Standard

Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged By Your Own Crippling Standard – “This is why Jesus warns about the dangers of judging others. If we’re not careful, we’re going to end up being judged by own crushing standards.”

Six Simple Steps to Revolutionize your Spiritual Life

Six Simple Steps to Revolutionize your Spiritual Life – “Though the Western world is largely Bible-saturated, many professing Christians in the West ironically live Bible-depleted lives.”

Formulaic for a Reason: The Existential Appeal of Hallmark Movies

Formulaic for a Reason: The Existential Appeal of Hallmark Movies – “Hallmark films are not beautiful because they are expertly crafted. Nor are they beautiful because they are invariably full of beautiful people. They are beautiful because they are formulaic in a good way and because they are simple and earnest in a chaotic, cynical world.” They are narratives of hope.

How to Become a Christian

How to Become a Christian – Sometimes we make it too complicated and sometimes we don’t consider the cost. Here’s a good balance.

28 Non-Numerical Signs Of A Healthy Church

28 Non-Numerical Signs Of A Healthy Church – Numbers are not the only way to determine church health. In many situations, they’re not even the best way.

What If God Takes It All Away? Trusting Him Through Financial Struggles

What If God Takes It All Away? Trusting Him Through Financial Struggles – “Although God commands us to live wisely with what he entrusts us with, he ultimately asks us to trust him above all else, no matter the cost.”

The Gospel Is the Only Stable Source of Identity and Value

The Gospel Is the Only Stable Source of Identity and Value – “In a post-Christian culture, it’s really important Christian ambassadors are good translators. People steeped in our modern culture have a very different worldview than Christianity. It’s easy for those we’re talking with about the Gospel to misunderstand what we’re saying.”

4 Truths About Christian Giving

4 Truths About Christian Giving – “Christian virtues, of which generosity is one, are disciplines that Christ commends, commands, and models as life qualities that should mark out all his disciples, that is, all those who have committed themselves to learn his way of living.”

Sexual Assault and the Scandal of Repentance

Sexual Assault and the Scandal of Repentance – “We will seem narrow and strict when we insist on calling out sins. And yet, we will seem too generous when we insist that anyone no matter their past can repent and be restored. Our stark vision of sin is grace to the victim; our call to repentance is grace to the offender.”

Our Relationship With God: Rebellion or Redemption

Our Relationship With God: Rebellion or Redemption – “Child of God, be reminded of the simplicity, yet great responsibility, with which we commune with our God and grow in relationship with Him.”

Six Prayers God Always Answers

Six Prayers God Always Answers – “When we actually look at what the Bible teaches about prayer, it is surprisingly simple: to pray is to ask God to do what he has promised to do through Christ.”

We’re Called to Make Disciples, Not Converts

We’re Called to Make Disciples, Not Converts – “Many people come to Jesus thinking it is enough to believe, to stand on the sidelines and root for Him. Jesus isn’t looking for cheerleaders. He is seeking men and women who will follow Him whatever the cost. He is looking for radical devotion, unreasonable commitment and undivided dedication.”

Polyamory, the Next Sad Frontier of the Sexual Revolution

Polyamory, the Next Sad Frontier of the Sexual Revolution – “Now that homosexuality and transgenderism are all but normalized, polyamory seems to be the next sad frontier of the sexual revolution.”

The Gospel Is the Only Stable Source of Identity and Value

The Gospel Is the Only Stable Source of Identity and Value – “Modern identity ends up crushing people because they’re responsible for validating their own value, but we just aren’t up to that task—it’s not how we’re designed. All of us look for validation outside of ourselves. We’re full of conflicting and changeable feelings and beliefs, so it’s never stable. It’s fragile.The Gospel pulls away the pretense of both models to show us it’s impossible to measure up to external standards and subjective standards aren’t enough. Neither gives us the value and significance we’re all looking for.”

9 Things You Should Know About Sexual Misconduct

9 Things You Should Know About Sexual Misconduct – “For the past several weeks, reports and allegations of sexual assault and harassment by celebrities and politicians have been in the news every day. Here are nine things you should know about these forms of sexual misconduct.”

You Too: A Call to End Violence Against Women

You Too: A Call to End Violence Against Women – “Contrary to what culture would have us believe, the church — as guardian and proclaimer of the gospel of Jesus Christ — holds the only real remedy for the evil of violence against women. For it is the only thing that can change the inclination of a sinful heart.”

Be Careful Not to Spoil the Christmas Season

Be Careful Not to Spoil the Christmas Season – “Following are several ways you can spoil the wonder of the Christmas season if you aren’t careful.”

The Courage to Share Jesus

The Courage to Share Jesus – “When you know you need to share your faith with your friend or family member, ask people to pray for courage for you and a soft heart for Him, then seek an opportunity and actually open your mouth.”

Goodbye Moral Majority. Let’s Be a Love-Driven Minority.

Goodbye Moral Majority. Let’s Be a Love-Driven Minority. – “Our hope isn’t anchored in this present world but in the world to come. Because this is true, our long-term worst case scenario is resurrection and everlasting life, an eternity of perpetual and unending strength, momentum, and bliss. The wind will forever be at our backs.”

Holy and Good — But Never Safe

Holy and Good — But Never Safe – “If you fall in love with the holiness of God, it’s a dangerous place to be. Your attitude towards the nations, the unreached peoples of the world will undergo a profound change.”

Teach Them to Give Thanks

Teach Them to Give Thanks – “God has given us the blessing of children and the responsibility of training them. By His grace, be grateful and teach your children to be grateful, too.”

4 Reasons We Can Be Thankful in Times of Trouble

4 Reasons We Can Be Thankful in Times of Trouble – “All of us struggle in times of suffering and despair to express our gratitude for what God has done for us. But there are four reasons believers can be thankful in times of trouble.”

A Call for Patient Evangelism

A Call for Patient Evangelism – “This is important, isn’t it? “Jesus made it abundantly clear that the effectiveness of sowing the word cannot be accurately measured right away. The parable of the soils shows us it takes time to see if a conversion is substantial or ephemeral (Matt. 13).”

Instilling Gratitude in Your Family

Instilling Gratitude in Your Family – “With the approach of Thanksgiving, I am often struck with how people—young and old alike—lack an important attribute: gratitude. I’m not looking for a warm fuzzy thank you for a gift, but a deep rich appreciation for life and what we’ve been given. Why is this? What gets in the way of gratitude?”

Free to Feast on God's Goodness

Free to Feast on God's Goodness – “There are many gifts to be thankful for and to enjoy. As we partake in them, I encourage you to recognize the "it-ness" of these gifts by reveling in the goodness primarily of their Giver.”

Not All Turkey and Touchdowns

Not All Turkey and Touchdowns – “Although modern Thanksgiving has become largely non-religious — focused more on food, family, and football than explicitly thanking God — the Pilgrims’ experience reveals a compelling religious aspect of our country’s roots.”

The LGBT’s False Dichotomy of Love and Hate

The LGBT’s False Dichotomy of Love and Hate – “Christians, it turns out, are given a choice. One option is to approve of people satisfying same-sex desires through sexual contact. If Christians do that, they are believed to love LGBT people. The other option is to affirm Jesus’ teaching that sexual activity is reserved for a married man and woman (Matt. 19:1–4). If they do that, then Christians are allegedly hateful towards LGBT people. It’s a tiresome, false dichotomy.”

Giving Thanks May Prevent You from Giving Up

Giving Thanks May Prevent You from Giving Up – “So, this Thanksgiving, why not turn a holiday into a lifestyle?”

The Christian’s Job Description

The Christian’s Job Description – “In the midst of the tyranny of our commitments, we would do well to boil down the plethora of our commitments to the very basics of God’s job description for us. In many respects, it’s not a job description, but a job prescription.”

Why You Should Live in the Psalms

Why You Should Live in the Psalms – “The Psalms provide a welcome antidote to our craving for shallowness.” 

The Strength You Need for Today

The Strength You Need for Today – “The strength you want most may not be the strength you need most, because the weakness you feel may not be the real source of your weakness.”

A Beautiful Table and a Bitter Heart

A Beautiful Table and a Bitter Heart – “As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, it’s easy to fall into the same grumbling and guilt cycle. We become Martha-like, busy with preparations and focused on all there is to do.” 

The Attitude of Gratitude

The Attitude of Gratitude – “We see very clearly that the apostle’s exhortations concerning thankfulness grow out of his new-creature-in-Christ theology.”

Preparing to Love Well at Our Thanksgiving Gatherings

Preparing to Love Well at Our Thanksgiving Gatherings – “Give us thick skins, so we won’t take things too personally. Give us big hearts, so we’ll love family members for who they are, not who we want (need) them to be. Fill us with your kindness, compassion, patience, and forbearance. Nobody in our families is beyond the need or reach of your grace—including us.”

Instilling Gratitude in Your Family

Instilling Gratitude in Your Family –“Discontent and entitlement are strong pressures, but there are still ways to cultivate gratitude in your home. The more I teach my children to love God, enjoy each other, and to serve others, the more they come to realize that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Here are some simple, but practical, ways to facilitate this in your family.”

The Most Repeated Command in the Bible

The Most Repeated Command in the Bible – “What do you think is the most repeated command in the Bible? It’s not any of the prohibitions or warnings. It’s not about sex, or money, or power. The most repeated command in the Bible will probably surprise you: Be happy.”

Blessed Even in the Worst: How to Give Thanks in Every Circumstance

Blessed Even in the Worst: How to Give Thanks in Every Circumstance – “If we really believe that God is the substance of blessing, we won’t confess that we’re blessed only in the circumstances that seem good. Instead, when times are hard, and even when the worst things we can imagine are happening to us, we’ll be able to say that we are blessed.”

Don’t Expect a Spectacular Christian Life

Don’t Expect a Spectacular Christian Life – “Reading your Bible, praying for your world, sharing your faith, and prioritizing your local church all seem ordinary, but maybe that’s the point. These spiritual activities remind us that we need daily bread from Jesus, and that it takes faith to keep coming back to the source of grace.”

Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith

Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith – “Few things are sadder to witness than people who once professed faith leaving it all behind. This is especially true when those people were raised in Christian homes by God-fearing parents. These children were given every opportunity to put their faith in Jesus but determined instead to turn their backs on him. Why would they make such a tragic choice?”

The Scientific Connection Between Gratitude and Happiness

The Scientific Connection Between Gratitude and Happiness – “Studies have shown that gratitude is a powerful force for creating positive changes in individuals, families, and organizations. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, a research professor of psychology, ‘The expression of gratitude is a kind of metastrategy for achieving happiness.’”

The Greatness of Giving Thanks

The Greatness of Giving Thanks – “As most Americans gather around the table this Thursday, take a moment to put on your Apostle Paul hat and share what gospel graces you are thankful for. And while you’re at it, think about the friends and family you’d love to be like. Chances are they are overflowing with gratitude, even more than they are overflowing with turkey and stuffing.”

Struggling Toward Thanksgiving

Struggling Toward Thanksgiving – This is a good testimony for those struggling with grief,  loss, or pain this Thanksgiving.

The Double Groan of the Gospel

The Double Groan of the Gospel – “It is in the context of despised, inglorious, faith that the apostle Paul mentions a ‘double groan’ of the Gospel to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5.10. His double aim is confidence in their travail for the Lord and consolation for the afflictions and reverses they endure.”

The Early Christians Were Odd, Too

The Early Christians Were Odd, Too – “It can be disheartening, not to mention frightening, when our culture rejects aspects of Christianity as strange or offensive. When Christians feel isolated and alone, it’s helpful to remember this experience is nothing new for God’s people.”

A Heart for Orphans

A Heart for Orphans – Kelly Rosati shares what God feels for orphans, and shares her personal experience with bringing the fatherless nearby. 

5 Mission Principles from Scripture’s Shortest Book

5 Mission Principles from Scripture’s Shortest Book – “In his third letter, the apostle John instructs his friend Gaius about the importance of supporting itinerate missionary evangelists. In the process, he gives us a number of biblical principles that should shape the way we think about our own missionary sending and support.”

The Pragmatic Benefits of God-Given Sexual Boundaries

The Pragmatic Benefits of God-Given Sexual Boundaries – “If God exists and He created us, He designed our sexuality. And if God is good, then He designed our sexuality for our benefit. Not only is this true, it has pragmatic benefits when we align our lives and behavior with our design. And recent sex scandals illustrate the destructive nature of doing things mainly because they give us pleasure rather than making wise choices that lead to our well-being.”

How (Not) to Stay Lukewarm

How (Not) to Stay Lukewarm – “Comparing my faith with others around me (including non-Christians) was the easiest way, as C.S. Lewis says, to travel down the gentle slope into hell.”

A Thanksgiving Focus on Marriage

A Thanksgiving Focus on Marriage – Even in the toughest of situations we can focus that, for which we can be thankful. And if we don’t, we, and our marriages suffer. That’s why we will be taking a Thanksgiving focus on marriage.”

Jesus’ Victory Over Death: Joy in Our Tears, Hope in Our Loss

Jesus’ Victory Over Death: Joy in Our Tears, Hope in Our Loss – Here’s a description of the hope we have in a world that needs the hope of Christ.

What to Do with Dumb Questions

What to Do with Dumb Questions – The Bible describes both foolish and wise questions. Some need to be asked and some need to be answered. Other questions need to be ignored.

The Early Christians Were Odd, Too

The Early Christians Were Odd, Too – “When Christians feel isolated and alone, it’s helpful to remember this experience is nothing new for God’s people.”

4 Ways to Break Down Social Barriers

4 Ways to Break Down Social Barriers – “Here are four small things we can do to help break down barriers and smudge away dividing lines.”

Every Day Might Be His Last: Drinking from God in the Drought of Suffering

Every Day Might Be His Last: Drinking from God in the Drought of Suffering – “Whether it comes as chronic illness, disability, death, or any of a million other forms, suffering is like scorching heat to the soul. It threatens to turn once-fruitful faith into a wilted husk. But in my own suffering, God’s word has taught me that the heat of hardship can also drive me deeper into the all-sufficient, refreshing grace of God.”

How Southern Baptists Trained More Disaster Relief Volunteers than the Red Cross

How Southern Baptists Trained More Disaster Relief Volunteers than the Red Cross – “The Southern Baptist Convention’s disaster response is so massive it financially trails only the Red Cross and the Salvation Army—and has more trained disaster relief volunteers than either one.”

Baptism: a Step of Obedience and a Public Profession

Baptism: a Step of Obedience and a Public Profession – “Christian baptism is a public profession of faith in Christ. A draft pick doesn’t hide his affiliation with his new team; rather, he proudly puts on the jersey for all to see.” 

Becoming a Titus 2 Woman

Becoming a Titus 2 Woman – “Titus 2:4 calls older women to ‘train the young women’ and gives examples of some practical lessons young women need to learn. To train means to show or to demonstrate. Paul describes this kind of discipleship in 1 Thessalonians 2:7–8:”

The Blessing of a Bad Reputation

The Blessing of a Bad Reputation – “How important to you is people’s approval? How important to you is faithfully obeying God? Sometimes we’re forced to sacrifice one in order to have or do the other.”

The Greatest Offense of Indulgences

The Greatest Offense of Indulgences – “Where is your theological line in the sand? As a Christian, how much of an assault on God’s character or His gospel can you endure before your righteous indignation rises up in response? And when that threshold has been reached, are you able to channel that passion in a way that honors God and furthers His gospel?” 

3 Conscience Cases Before the Supreme Court

3 Conscience Cases Before the Supreme Court – “The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear three cases that may determine whether citizens who hold traditional religious beliefs regarding marriage and human sexuality will be allowed to live according to their religious consciences.”

How Do I Glorify God in My Job?

How Do I Glorify God in My Job? – “Everything we do, from morning till night, is to be done in a Godward way, in reliance on his grace.”

Dear Mormon—I Can’t Call You a Brother in Christ

Dear Mormon—I Can’t Call You a Brother in Christ – “How can we determine if Mormonism is Christian or cult?  Based on foundational doctrinal evidence—I can’t embrace Mormons as fellow Christians.”

Doing Spiritual Warfare Without All The Weirdness

Doing Spiritual Warfare Without All The Weirdness – “So what’s the deal with spiritual warfare? How do we wage war effectively without being weird or hyper-spiritual?”

The Main Ingredient in Personal Growth

The Main Ingredient in Personal Growth – It’s vital that we grow in grace.

What Weight Watchers Taught Me About Church

What Weight Watchers Taught Me About Church – there are some good applications here.

3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Sermon on the Mount

3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Sermon on the Mount – “Here are three things I’ve learned about the sermon that most people probably don’t know.”

A Praiseworthy Perspective

A Praiseworthy Perspective – “Notice that for Habakkuk, salvation is not found in the temporary necessities of this world, but in the future redeeming work of God that is secured for his children.”

5 Ways to Stay Close to God During the Busy Holiday Season

5 Ways to Stay Close to God During the Busy Holiday Season – God can get lost in the season. Here are some helpful suggestions to keep Him central.

There is No "Just" in the Body of Christ

There is No "Just" in the Body of Christ – This was an encouraging story in considering what it means to serve the Lord.

God Has a Purpose in Your Disappointment

God Has a Purpose in Your Disappointment – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” says King Solomon.

Where are the Men in the Church?

Where are the Men in the Church? – The church is in great need of awakening and renewal. Richard Baxter said it well, “Its greatest need might well be godly men.”

And So-And-So Begat So-And-So

And So-And-So Begat So-And-So – Here’s some counsel on leading family devotions through those long “begats” passages.

5 Things to Remember When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered

5 Things to Remember When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered – Sometimes it feels like God has forgotten us. In those times, these are good reminders.

Comfort from Psalm 18

Comfort from Psalm 18 – “From David’s song of deliverance we learn much about the powerful protection and faithfulness of God.”

How to Be Busy but in Balance

How to Be Busy but in Balance – “Work is good; too much good can be bad.”

The Day of Wiped Tears and No Death

The Day of Wiped Tears and No Death – “Most sovereign, caring, and compassionate Lord Jesus. Certain days intensify our ache for the Day of no more death. Today is one of those days...”

My Biggest Mistake as a Mother

My Biggest Mistake as a Mother – “I should have trusted God more.”

Beware of These 7 Gospel-Distortions

Beware of These 7 Gospel-Distortions – “Here are seven gospel-distortions we should be aware of ...”

Why You Should Stop Pretending You'll Live Forever

Why You Should Stop Pretending You'll Live Forever  - “Ecclesiastes has much to teach about life and death. David Gibson writes that the message of this book shows us how to live even though we will be forgotten.”

Jesus Is Not Your American Patriot

Jesus Is Not Your American Patriot – “It conflates religion and politics, yielding a false god made in America’s image.”

Why I Welcome Persecution

Why I Welcome Persecution – “I am unsure of what the future holds, but if there is impending persecution, and I assume sooner or later there will be, I welcome it. Anyone reading this may wonder why. Let me give a few Biblical reasons:”

Why Does Gossip Feel So Good?

Why Does Gossip Feel So Good? – “I think this is why gossip is so delicious, why it tastes so good. It’s because it feeds pride.”

A Quiet Paranoia Haunts Post-Weinstein Hollywood

A Quiet Paranoia Haunts Post-Weinstein Hollywood – “Week five of the great reckoning and Hollywood is frightened and lost, drifting deeper into uncharted waters with no script, no direction and no sense how it will end.”

Can the Word of God Really Ease My Pain?

Can the Word of God Really Ease My Pain? – “Without God’s word, I would start interpreting life on my own. By my experiences. My feelings. My finite perspective.”

Be a Refreshing Kind of Friend

Be a Refreshing Kind of Friend – “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me” (2 Timothy 1:16–17).

Some Thoughts on Thoughts and Prayers

Some Thoughts on Thoughts and Prayers – “As Christians, we may not believe that prayer is everything, but we do believe it is of the utmost importance. We should note four things concerning prayer and action.”

How Jesus Frees Us From Living in Shame

How Jesus Frees Us From Living in Shame – “Shame is not yours to carry or walk in because it was removed when you were reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.”

Behold the Free-Speech Hypocrisy of the Corporate Left

Behold the Free-Speech Hypocrisy of the Corporate Left – “Apple’s actual corporate philosophy can summed up in eight words: Free speech for me, but not for thee.” 

10 Things to Pray Before Church

10 Things to Pray Before Church - Fodder for preparing your heart for worship in prayer.

Don’t Be That Guy: Thirty No’s in Paul’s Letters

Don’t Be That Guy: Thirty No’s in Paul’s Letters – “Paul tells us ‘don’t be’certain people. Don’t be this guy; be that guy. Don’t be this gal; be that gal. And every time he tells us what not to be, he’s also pointing us to what we should be, based on who we are in Christ.”

How to Pray Like Jesus

How to Pray Like Jesus – “God is teaching you to pray for the glory of God.”

14 Billy Graham Quotes That Helped Shape American Christianity

14 Billy Graham Quotes That Helped Shape American Christianity – “This week, the evangelist celebrated his 98th birthday. In honor of the event, here are a few of his most memorable quotes.”

Give All Glory to the Triune God

Give All Glory to the Triune God – Here are some great reasons to worship the Lord from Ephesians 1:3-14 is the longest, single sentence in the Greek New Testament.

6 Ways to Fight for Purity in a Hyper-Sexualized World

6 Ways to Fight for Purity in a Hyper-Sexualized World – No one is immune to falling into sexual sin. 

I Want My Kids to Be Good

I Want My Kids to Be Good – “I can teach biblical values. I can pray for them to resist temptation and pursue righteousness. But I know they will sin. And that scares me because I understand how lousy sin tastes and how addictive it is. I know because I haven’t been able to stop sinning, and I never will this side of heaven.”

6 Things to Remember When You’re Struggling with Anxiety

6 Things to Remember When You’re Struggling with Anxiety – “Anxiety is a monster. It can cripple you or make you act in ways that you would never otherwise act. It causes you to believe the most incredible of lies, and can even keep you from the things you care about the most.”

Uncovering Treasures in Paul’s Shortest Letter

Uncovering Treasures in Paul’s Shortest Letter – “Paul addressed the letter not only to Philemon, but also to Apphia (probably Philemon’s wife), Archippus (probably Philemon’s son), and the entire house church. It’s a powerful scene to picture: Philemon reading the letter aloud in Onesimus’s presence.”

The Worst Job Description Ever

The Worst Job Description Ever – “What about outside of the workplace, in your Christian life? Has God ever asked you to do something that you dreaded? Or, is there one thing lurking that if God asked you to do, you would be inclined to say no and run far away?”

Important Insights about Sacred Cows Gleaned from the Golden Calf

Important Insights about Sacred Cows Gleaned from the Golden Calf  - “The narrative of the Golden Calf provides at least eight insights about sacred cows.”

Deranged, Depraved, or Dejected?

Deranged, Depraved, or Dejected? – “In the wake of yet another tragic mass shooting, this time affecting another church, we’re called to reflect again about how to process these events. Many writers have discussed how to grieve, heal, and avoid living in fear following heartbreaking tragedies. Today I want to advocate for a marginalized group often indirectly hurt by the public response to these events: those who struggle with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and other emotional difficulties.”

3 Obstacles to Weeping with Those Who Weep

3 Obstacles to Weeping with Those Who Weep – “It might be helpful, then, to think about what stands in the way of obeying the command to weep with those who are weeping. Here are three of those obstacles.”

Preaching the Psalms to Ourselves

Preaching the Psalms to Ourselves – “Preach the Psalms to yourself. As you do, your confidence in the Lord will soar. The result? Your knowledge of Him will grow and you will respond in worship and right living before the Lord. Open your Bible to the Psalms and begin today, preaching the Psalms to yourselves.”

Jesus Isn’t Your Insurance Policy

Jesus Isn’t Your Insurance Policy – “Saving faith is receiving Jesus for the treasure he is, not just as health insurance or fire insurance.”

So What If 8 Out of 10 Unchurched People Are Willing to Talk About Faith?

So What If 8 Out of 10 Unchurched People Are Willing to Talk About Faith? – I have found this to be so true. Start each week with this encouragement to show and share the love of Jesus.

3 Tips for Coping with Today’s Biggest Threat to Mental Health

3 Tips for Coping with Today’s Biggest Threat to Mental Health – “Research also shows that loneliness and social isolation are major contributors to addiction and other psychiatric disorders, recovery from which, we now know, largely entails supportive relationships of love and connection.”

Acquainted with Grief: How God Draws Near to Sutherland Springs

Acquainted with Grief: How God Draws Near to Sutherland Springs – “What kind of Savior do we need when our hearts are shredded by brutal loss? We need a suffering Savior. We need a Savior who has tasted the cup of horror we are being forced to drink. And that is how he came. He knew what this world needed.” 

Why Church Shootings Don’t Intimidate the Church – “The reason was that the church came to conclude, in the midst of the violence, that death is not the endpoint.”

Why Church Shootings Don’t Intimidate the Church – “The reason was that the church came to conclude, in the midst of the violence, that death is not the endpoint.”

Tragedy in Texas: Christian Testimony in the Face of Evil – Christians have learned that sometimes we have to wait for an answer, and sometimes that wait goes beyond any answer we can get in this life. Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the 19th century in London stated this beautifully: “When we cannot trace God’s hand, we are simply to trust his heart.”

Tragedy in Texas: Christian Testimony in the Face of Evil – Christians have learned that sometimes we have to wait for an answer, and sometimes that wait goes beyond any answer we can get in this life. Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the 19th century in London stated this beautifully: “When we cannot trace God’s hand, we are simply to trust his heart.”

Another Shooting, This Time in a Church. How Should We Respond?

Another Shooting, This Time in a Church. How Should We Respond? – “We don't have answers; Christ offers hope and grace and peace.”

‘I don’t understand, but I know my God does’

‘I don’t understand, but I know my God does’ – Pastor Frank Pomeroy lost his teenage daughter and much of his congregation. When asked how to make sense of the tragedy, he said, “I don’t understand, but I know my God does.”

Desperate Is Normal: A Field Manual for Overwhelming Anxiety

Desperate Is Normal: A Field Manual for Overwhelming Anxiety – “The Bible is a field manual for the normal, embattled, desperate Christian life. God has mercifully packed it not only with examples and teaching, but also with songs and prayers for our trials. And we need songs and prayers to provide us words for the chaos, when anxiety and confusion fragment our thoughts. Psalm 27 is that kind of song.”

How to Stop Flirting with Sin

How to Stop Flirting with Sin – “Almost by accident, we can fall into a gospel that’s heavy on encouraging one another in God’s forgiveness and grace and mercy, but woefully light on warning one another of the dangers of diving headlong into sin.”

10 Things You Should Know about the Intermediate State

10 Things You Should Know about the Intermediate State – “So what happens when a Christian dies? The simple answer is that he/she enters immediately into what theologians call the intermediate state.”

We Are First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas

We Are First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas – “We are your brothers and sisters in Christ. We pray for you. We care for you. We love you.”

Something to Hate

Something to Hate – “While hate is a strong word, it is a necessary word. It is necessary to speak the truth about what is evil. We need to use it to think about, talk about, and act against sin. In doing so, it will help us see sin for what it is: an affront against a holy, perfect, and righteous God.” 

How Common Are Church Shootings?

How Common Are Church Shootings? – “The appropriate response to the news is to grieve. We should mourn the loss of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and weep with their loved ones. We can also soberly reflect on the fact that it could have been of us who were directly and intimately affected by the massacre. What we should not do, however, is let this act of terror cause us to be afraid of gathering with our fellow believers in worship. While it may be tempting to give in to the fear, we should recognize that church shootings are extremely rare events.”

3 Things Those Created in God's Image Should Do Every Day

3 Things Those Created in God's Image Should Do Every Day – Here are three daily things we should do in response to the truth of Genesis 1:26.

The Research Proves The No. 1 Social Justice Imperative Is Marriage

The Research Proves The No. 1 Social Justice Imperative Is Marriage – “A consistent and irrefutable mountain of research has shown, reaching back to the 1970s and beyond, that marriage strongly boosts every important measure of well-being for children, women, and men.” 

The Revisionist History of the Gospel

The Revisionist History of the Gospel – “Do you ever get the sense from any of the Gospel accounts of Jesus' calling his disciples that he is looking for the cream of the crop? Does it appear as if Jesus is making a bee-line for the seminaries and the synagogues to find the A-list ministry studs?”

How to Respond and Pray in the Midst of Crises

How to Respond and Pray in the Midst of Crises – In light of the tragedy at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, I was reminded of this article. It doesn’t answer all the questions we have, but it gives biblical direction in the storm we feel.

Parenting in the Midst of Tragedy

Parenting in the Midst of Tragedy – As we continue to pray for all those affected by the tragedy at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, we may need help parenting our own children as they try to process such events. Here are some suggestions.

Hungry and Hungover: How Our Emptiness Tells the Truth

Hungry and Hungover: How Our Emptiness Tells the Truth – This article is appropriate for a day we talk about prayer and fasting.

The Martyr’s Oath, an Interview with Johnnie Moore on the Persecuted Church

The Martyr’s Oath, an Interview with Johnnie Moore on the Persecuted Church – The persecuted church calls the free church to live for the Jesus they are willing to die for.

What If Tomorrow Is Even Harder Than Today?

What If Tomorrow Is Even Harder Than Today? – “The question goes something like this: If tomorrow is as difficult as today, or is even harder than today, how will I go on? Maybe you have felt the weight of that kind of despair.”

Favorite Marriage Advice

Favorite Marriage Advice – Here are several good words of advice on marriage. 

The Relationship Between Sin and Work

The Relationship Between Sin and Work – “In short, the world has been cursed by the fall of Adam into sin. Interestingly, Adam’s sin involved a failure in his work. Called to exercise dominion over the other creatures, he instead permitted himself and Eve to be ruled by the crafty serpent.”

Let’s Cast a Vision for Mere Sexuality

Let’s Cast a Vision for Mere Sexuality – “‘We speak a language that the world more and more either cannot hear or finds offensive to its ears.’ Nowhere is this more the case than when we speak about the biblical and historic Christian vision of sexuality—what I call “mere sexuality.” 

Not Neglecting the Important for the Urgent

Not Neglecting the Important for the Urgent – Tasks may be urgent, but people are important. 

4 Lessons for Christians from the Harvey Weinstein Scandal

4 Lessons for Christians from the Harvey Weinstein Scandal – Here are things for believers to consider as the news continues to tell more dark stories.

Praying For More Reformation

Praying For More Reformation – “As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther’s theses sparking the Reformation, perhaps the most reformed thing we could do would be to give ourselves to prayer. So much of the world still lives in darkness. And among those who claim faith in Jesus, so many still live within the bondage of a moralistic, works-based theology. The need for light-after-darkness hasn’t gone away.”

Whatever Is Lovely: How to Overcome Demanding Thoughts

Whatever Is Lovely: How to Overcome Demanding Thoughts – “And what our emotions point to are our underlying beliefs. What we believe is what feeds our thoughts — the thoughts that really matter to us and guide how we live.”

Free to Love

Free to Love – “What is love? And how do we love others?”

My Struggle to Smash the Food Idol

My Struggle to Smash the Food Idol – “At the root of my food problems are heart issues that can’t be diagnosed or excused by a doctor.”

3 Ways We Declare Independence from God – “Even if it’s unintentional, here are three ways you might be sending God the message you don’t need Him.”

3 Ways We Declare Independence from God – “Even if it’s unintentional, here are three ways you might be sending God the message you don’t need Him.”