Five Truths from 10 Years of Discipleship Research
– “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them
little Christs. If they are not doing that, everything else is simply a waste
of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Christian Calling and Mixed Metaphors
Christian
Calling and Mixed Metaphors
– “Is
this all Christians are here on earth? Are we fighting sin, making disciples
and, otherwise, marking time until Christ returns? Thinking of ourselves
as merely pilgrims or exiles almost inevitably leads to such a narrow view of
Christian life.”
5 Keys to Unlocking the Value of the Ten Commandments
5 Keys to Unlocking the Value of the Ten Commandments
– “When the commandments are studied with these in mind, they will bring the
most value to our growth in holiness.”
God’s Grace for Foster Parents
God’s Grace for Foster Parents – “Fostering is hard. A child comes
into our home, alters the norm of our everyday lives for a number of weeks or
months, and then by government order leaves as quickly as he or she came. Many
find it difficult that we regularly let children we’ve grown attached to go
back home, usually never to see them again.”
Why is Loneliness a Thing?
Why is
Loneliness a Thing? – “Why does feeling lonely seem like the norm
versus the exception for so many of us? According to the Bible, we experience
loneliness not because there is something wrong with us, but because there is
something right with us.”
The False Gospel of Expressive Individualism
The False Gospel of Expressive Individualism – “There’s a newish gospel in town. Or
at least some make it out to be. Have you heard of it? It’s called expressive
individualism.”
Do You Wish You Had Accomplished More?
Do You
Wish You Had Accomplished More? – “When the years go by and we have not
accomplished what we had hoped to, we are left wondering what good our lives
have been. We have a nagging feeling that somehow we haven’t measured up.”
God Doesn’t Need Talented People
God
Doesn’t Need Talented People
–
“The apostle Paul, being quite familiar with the church’s craving for powerful
personalities, often spoke differently. He liked to turn our natural
expectations upside down by introducing terms like weakness, suffering, and
grace into our vocabularies.”
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
He Will Carry You Through the Fire
He Will
Carry You Through the Fire – “Fears often emerge and linger because we
don’t know how to fight them. We feel helpless and powerless before their
threats.”
Why Church Members Are Attending Less Frequently
Why Church Members Are Attending Less Frequently
– Thom Rainer gives highlights of the report on attendance patterns.
Study: America’s Greatest Gospel Opportunity Lives in Your House
Study:
America’s Greatest Gospel Opportunity Lives in Your House – “All the studies found that the most important
influencers in a person’s faith are their parents. Second most important are
other adults. (Far less important are their peers.)”
Seven Symptoms of Too Much Social Media Use
Seven Symptoms of Too Much Social Media Use – “There
are a number of signals a young person naturally sends that they’ve spent too
much time on social media platforms or on their mobile device in general.”
Remembering Whose and Who We Are
Remembering Whose and Who We Are – “Father, by the grace and truth of the gospel,
you have changed the price tags in our lives, and have turned things ride side
up. Life is now Christ, and death has become gain...”
The Best Way to Help Kids with Homework
The Best Way to Help Kids with Homework – “One
of our problems as parents is—we lock into one way of helping our kids; one
leadership style that doesn’t change as they mature. This presents a problem. Take
homework, for example.”
20 Truths from Trevin Wax’s This Is Our Time
20
Truths from Trevin Wax’s This Is Our Time – Evangelism is not just
convincing people the gospel is true but also that it is better.
Max Lucado: This Evil Will Not Last Forever
Max Lucado: This Evil Will Not Last Forever – “Followers
of Christ hold to this promise: Jesus will forever balance the scales of
fairness. A day is coming, sooner than we might expect, in which we will see
the devil pay for all the evil he has inflicted upon the world.”
Finding God in the Darkness
Finding God in the Darkness – “If you’re in a
season of darkness (confusion, waiting, conflict), take heart. You’re not in
the dark alone. The same God who used a lack of light as His creative
canvas can shape a Genesis week in you if you wait on Him.”
God’s Special People?
God’s Special People? – “Long after America is a footnote to the future world,
Christ will reign with His people from every tongue, tribe and nation.”
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Grace Calls for a Response
Grace Calls for a Response – “As deep gratitude
and abundant praise should always be responses to grace, so too are good works.
Good works are not a requirement for our salvation but should
be a response from our salvation.”
Unanswered Prayer
Unanswered Prayer
– “Why
are there times when God seems not to answer? If a good Father would never give
his children a stone in place of bread, why does it seem like God sometimes
does this very thing?”
4 Great “Therefore’s” in the Bible
4 Great “Therefore’s”
in the Bible – The link between the indicative statement of fact and
the imperative statement of response is the word “therefore.”
The Bucket List You and I Need to Write
The Bucket List You and I Need to Write – Jennifer Oshman writes, “It seems
silly to say out loud—but I want to share Christ with the same tenacity and
insistence I have in getting my house clean before guests come over.”
Your Thorn for the Shaming of Satan: To the Class of 2018
Your Thorn for the Shaming of Satan: To the Class of 2018 – “Your pains and weaknesses are not obstacles to
everything you want to accomplish, but the very instruments God uses to make
you more like his Son.”
9 Things You Should Know About MS-13
9 Things You Should Know About MS-13 – “In a
recent roundtable discussion in New York, President Trump called
MS-13 a “menace” and said about the gang members, “They’re not people. They’re
animals.” The controversial statement was the first time many Americans have
heard about the group that has been called the “world’s most dangerous gang.” Here are nine things you
should know about MS-13.”
Monday, May 28, 2018
Lest We Forget: Reflections Heavenward on Memorial Day
Lest We Forget: Reflections Heavenward on Memorial Day
– “Our memory’s limits are hardly new. Our tendency to forget truth and
goodness in favor of our passions and self-interest has haunted us for
millennia. It originated in the garden, when Adam and Eve cast God from their
minds, and it has scourged us ever since.”
Time Cannot Forgive Our Sin
Time Cannot
Forgive Our Sin – “Have you been before the throne of grace recently to
pour out your soul before God? Do you have any lingering sins that you have not
brought to him? In Christ, he is even more willing to forgive us than we are to
repent.”
What Proverbs Teaches about Being Teachable
What Proverbs
Teaches about Being Teachable – “Being teachable is a foundational
quality for everybody...If you’re wondering how to grow in teachability,
perhaps there’s no better place to turn than the Bible’s wisdom book.”
Is the Bible Pro-Slavery?
Is the Bible Pro-Slavery? – “‘The Bible is pro-slavery.’ This is a common
charge these days. It is a part of the New Atheist attack on religion, and it
also comes from various progressive circles to defend certain social views (in
line with the so-called redemptive-movement hermeneutic).”
Friday, May 25, 2018
6 Questions College Students Must Be Ready to Answer
6 Questions College Students Must Be Ready to Answer
– “Students must be armed with at least six apologetics to be ready to answer
the hardest questions they’ll face from professors as well as fellow students.”
Every believer should be able to answer these questions.
Will We Have Desires in Heaven?
Will We
Have Desires in Heaven? – “One of the greatest things about Heaven is
that we’ll no longer have to battle our desires. They’ll always be pure,
attending to their proper objects. We’ll enjoy food without gluttony and eating
disorders. We’ll express admiration and affection without lust, fornication, or
betrayal. Those simply won’t exist.”
The Devil Is Not in the Details: Fighting Temptation with Specific Truth
The Devil
Is Not in the Details: Fighting Temptation with Specific Truth – “The
devil is not an artist but a vandal. He doesn’t create; he distorts,
disfigures, and defaces what God makes. But if satanic temptation were to be an
artform, we might call it some twisted sort of Impressionism.”
Sacrificing Fast and Easy
Sacrificing Fast
and Easy – “A fast and easy faith is often a shallow faith rooted in
nothing more than what we think we know. Intentionality shapes the life of the
believer who truly seeks the Father. In-depth Bible study doesn’t always come
in short classes and convenient bite-sized chunks.”
20 Truths from Faith Among the Faithless
20 Truths from Faith Among the Faithless – “The
life the Bible offers is not one that is safe from the tragedies of the world,
but one in which God suffers with us and accompanies us through our hardships.”
Should We Sing of God’s ‘Reckless Love’?
Should
We Sing of God’s ‘Reckless Love’?
– “If you’re in a church that’s basically singing sound and helpful lyrics, and
along comes a song with questionable words, then either stop singing if your
conscience won’t let you sing, or put a meaning on the words that you are able
to affirm.”
Thursday, May 24, 2018
9 Things to Know About a Widow’s Grief
9 Things to Know About a Widow’s Grief – “According
to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one-third of women who
become widowed are younger than age sixty, and half of those widowed become so
by age sixty-five. In fact, seven out of ten baby boomers can expect to outlive
their husbands.”
The Wrath of God Poured Out — The Humiliation of the Southern Baptist Convention
The Wrath of God Poured Out — The Humiliation of the
Southern Baptist Convention – Al Mohler weighs in on the denominational
crisis. Pray for local, autonomous churches deeply affected by the actions and
inactions of denominational strife.
Where Does God Want Me to Work?
Where Does
God Want Me to Work? – “How do you find God’s will for your work-life?
Christians will want to keep three important factors in view.”
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Prospering on the Plains
Prospering on the Plains – “How can we find some steadiness in these seas of
shifting emotionalism? What does prospering look like on the plains? Is
there an inoculation available against the pretend extraordinary? Three places
I think we might begin...”
When Church Relationships Are Hard
When Church Relationships Are Hard – “If we
expect our churches to feel like family without any effort, we have
misunderstood the gospel.”
Doubt Is Not Unbelief: Evangelicals and the Stigma of Doubt
Doubt
Is Not Unbelief: Evangelicals and the Stigma of Doubt – “The key
is not the total suspension of confidence or even certainty, but rather the
judicious placement of confidence and trust.”
How to Worship with Your Debit Card
How to Worship with Your Debit Card – “When we
worship God, we are declaring how much he is worth, and how we will offer our
lives and sacrifice everything for him. But you’re also doing the same thing
every time you slide your debit card. You’re declaring how much something is
worth to you, and how much you will sacrifice for it.” (There is a sermon that
goes with this but the thought stands on its own.”
Graduate, Make Plans For Your Soul
Graduate, Make
Plans For Your Soul – Graduating seniors, this is one of
the most important decisions you can make post-college.
The Humility of Parenting
The Humility of Parenting – “Here are a couple
of thoughts on why the humility of parenting is of great benefit to us.”
Finding Contentment in Motherhood
Finding
Contentment in Motherhood
– “The
enemy of our souls wants to lure us into the comparison trap where being a mom
isn’t ‘enough.’ We begin to question our decisions when we see other women
choosing different paths: Look at all those talented women attaining goals and
recognition!”
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Grace for Our Thorns, Burrs, Punches, and Arrows
Grace for Our Thorns, Burrs, Punches, and Arrows
– “Heavenly Father, thank you for promising to give us all the grace we need,
no matter the circumstance, crisis, or crucible...”
What was Lacking in Bishop Michael Curry’s Royal Wedding Sermon
What was Lacking in Bishop Michael Curry’s Royal Wedding
Sermon – “The Bishop preached
what may be one of the most broadly viewed sermons in history. He did it in a
compelling way. But the heart of what Jesus did was omitted. Jesus did show
love, but a particular kind of love—sinner-saving, God-magnifying love.”
Should We Monitor Our Kids’ Social Media Use?
Should We Monitor Our Kids’ Social Media Use? –
The teens in our focus groups told us boldly, “My parents have no idea what my
life is like at night and what I do on social media.”
Neither Poverty nor Riches
Neither Poverty nor Riches – “I don’t know what’s worse: the
rich, miserable man who is attached to his wealth or the poor, miserable man
whose great hope in life is to become wealthy.”
Joy Doesn’t Always Look Happy: Five Lessons for Spiritually Dry Seasons
Joy Doesn’t
Always Look Happy: Five Lessons for Spiritually Dry Seasons – “God will
restore to you, in his own good way and time, the joy of your salvation.”
Humility before God
Humility before God – “In the spiritual life, there exists a fundamental
prerequisite for relating to God, and if there is any single key condition for
authentic holy living it would be the virtue of humility.”
9 Things You Should Know About Wicca and Modern Witchcraft
9 Things You Should Know About Wicca and Modern
Witchcraft – It’s more common than you might imagine and it’s good to
know some basic things about it.
10 Things You Should Know about Jehovah’s Witnesses
10 Things You Should Know about Jehovah’s Witnesses –
I visited with two members of this group Saturday and pray they will see the truth
of Jesus Christ.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Twelve Tips for Parenting in the Digital Age
Twelve Tips
for Parenting in the Digital Age – “iGen’ers were born after the
Internet was commercialized in 1995. They have no pre-Internet memories. Each
entered (or will enter) adolescence in the age of the smartphone. As parents,
we face many challenges in shepherding these teens in the digital age.”
The Eight ‘D’s’ of Personal Discipleship
The Eight
‘D’s’ of Personal Discipleship – “Here are eight habits of discipleship
that help Christians grow into spiritual adulthood.”
What I Would Have Added to the Royal Wedding
What
I Would Have Added to the Royal Wedding – Jim Denison celebrates the positives and points out the deficits.
Bishop Curry and His Royal Sermon
Bishop Curry and His Royal Sermon – “We can be grateful for things said that were
true, but let’s be slow to join the Michael Curry Facebook fan club. The issues
at stake here are far greater than a wedding sermon. The excitement and
enthusiasm will soon disappear from news headlines, but the word of God
remains, and I reckon it’s better for us to keeping believing God and not
getting swept away by a few moments in Windsor.”
The Better Version of Noah’s Ark
The Better Version of Noah’s Ark – “Jesus
brings us this better story. Here are four ways he fulfills and retells
Noah’s story.”
11 Things to Know about the Doctrine of the Trinity
11 Things to Know about the Doctrine of the Trinity – “If we’re interested in discovering (and
maintaining) an orthodox understanding of the Trinity, there are some
principles we need to understand. These 11 things you need to know about
the doctrine of the Trinity.”
Confessions of a Selfie Saturated Culture
Confessions of a Selfie Saturated Culture –
“Our culture is self-obsessed. This manifests itself in the raging ‘selfie’
culture. Josh Buice analyzes our culture through a biblical lens and provides
helpful guard rails for selfies.”
The Best Explanation for Our Spate of Mass Shootings Is the Least Comforting
The Best Explanation for Our Spate of Mass Shootings Is the
Least Comforting – David
French writes, “Writing in 2015, Malcolm Gladwell wrote what I think is still
the best explanation for modern American mass shootings, and it’s easily the
least comforting. At the risk of oversimplifying a complex argument,
essentially he argues that each mass shooting lowers the threshold for the
next.”
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Do You Fear a Day of Rest?
Do You
Fear a Day of Rest? – “By forgetting to stop, we forget God.
Restlessness — the refusal to lay down our work so we can open our arms to God
— means that our busy hands are always full. This robs God of glory — his
weighty significance in our lives.”
Weddings Royal
Weddings
Royal – “Harry & Meghan represent a very modern shape of
love though. She previously married, both from broken homes, both with previous
romantic entanglements hiding in the background. There is a lot of complexity
being brought into this marriage, as is the case for so many marriages.”
Is it ‘Unspiritual’ to be Discouraged?
Is it ‘Unspiritual’ to be Discouraged? – “Faith in Christ does not remove all
of the causes of discouragement; rather, it enables us to overcome them. We may
experience discouragement; but we will not be defeated by it.”
How Did We Get the Old Testament?
How
Did We Get the Old Testament?
– “How
did these age-old traditions, stories, and commandments make their way to
modern times? These are important questions.”
Friday, May 18, 2018
Will You Remember to be Kind?
Will You Remember to be Kind? – “Is someone sick, lonely, bereft,
unemployed, swindled, injured or depressed? Is anyone undergoing long-term
physical therapy, speech therapy or short-term gruelling chemotherapy? Whatever
lengths the summons of kindness calls you to go, you do want to go there as
quickly as you can and help that downtrodden impoverished man!”
A Field Guide to Atheism—for Believer and Unbeliever Alike
A Field Guide to Atheism—for Believer and Unbeliever
Alike – This one will take some mental energy but is rewarding. “A
godless world is as mysterious as one suffused with divinity, and the
difference between the two may be less than you think.”
On Saying ‘Everything's Fine’ When It's Not: Our Solidarity with the Shunammite Woman
On
Saying ‘Everything's Fine’ When It's Not: Our Solidarity with the Shunammite
Woman – “My prayers seemed to bounce down off the
ceiling and slap me in the face. I could endure anything if only Jesus was
close at hand . . . yet my sense of Him had vanished.”
Three Reasons Why We Can Trust the Old Testament
Three Reasons Why We Can Trust the Old Testament – “Can we trust the Old Testament?
Recently, a number of Christian leaders have argued in ways that depreciate the
value of the Old Testament.”
Thursday, May 17, 2018
When Work Stinks
When Work Stinks – “How does work stink? In oh
so many ways, but let’s start at the beginning. Genesis 3:17–19 puts the
emphasis on two primary ways the fall affects our daily work: toil and
frustration.”
The Seeds of the Worst Deeds Are In Your Heart
The Seeds
of the Worst Deeds Are In Your Heart – “David’s sin didn’t start with
Bathsheba in his bed; it started with Bathsheba in his mind.”
How Satan Gets a Hold on You
How Satan Gets a Hold on You – “Our best
protection against demons is less preoccupation with them and more
preoccupation with God — less understanding of deception and more understanding
of truth.”
Counseling Across America: Regional Snapshots of What Problems Rank Highest
Counseling
Across America: Regional Snapshots of What Problems Rank Highest – “The
stigma that was often attached to pursuing mental wellness is slowly going
away—and Americans are increasingly taking charge of their mental health
because of it.”
Study: More Than Half of Christians Are Counting Secular Charity Donations as Tithing
Study: More Than Half of Christians Are Counting
Secular Charity Donations as Tithing – Here are some trends in giving. Not all are biblical.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
9 Things You Should Know About Jerusalem
9 Things You Should Know About Jerusalem – “On
Monday, the United States formally opened its embassy in Jerusalem, finalizing the relocation
of the U.S. mission to Israel from the previous location in Tel Aviv. Here are
nine things you should know about one of the world’s oldest and most venerated
cities.”
Glorify Thy Son in the Muslim World
Glorify Thy Son in the Muslim World – “With the
beginning of Ramadan upon us, we have a good reminder to pray that the
followers of Islam might become followers of Christ.”
Why God Showed Us His Glory
Why
God Showed Us His Glory
– “Christ created all things so that he might share his glory with his people.”
The Math Language of Revelation
The Math Language of Revelation – “When it comes to the book of Revelation, you
quickly find the presence of many numbers. These numbers add (no pun intended)
to the mystery of the book.”
Study: American Christians Have Become Reluctant to Share Their Faith
Study: American Christians Have Become Reluctant to
Share Their Faith – “In news that shouldn’t come as a surprise
considering Barna’s recent survey about “The Great Commission,” Barna found that Christians are not
sharing their faith anywhere near as much as they used to.”
3 Priorities for Christian Parents
3 Priorities for Christian Parents – “What’s a parent to do? We know that
God tells us to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord—we get that. But what does that actually look like? How can we flesh out
that simple framework?”
Self-Control and the Battle for Our Minds
Self-Control and
the Battle for Our Minds – “While Scripture does not say as much as
we’d like about circumstance-control, it says a great deal more than we like
about self-control.”
7 Marks of a Good Apology vs. 8 Marks of a Bad Apology
7 Marks of a Good Apology vs. 8 Marks of a Bad Apology –
“Ken Sande in Peacemaking for Families, his excellent book on
conflict resolution, describes seven elements of repentance (bold text only).
This outline is developed in the order that words of repentance would typically
be spoken in conversation. Explanations and applications will be provided for
each point.”
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
The Gospel in 2 Cups
The Gospel
in 2 Cups – “The great exchange of the gospel is played out with two
cups. These are two cups mentioned by Jesus, both on the same night. These two
cups represent two great aspects of what happens when Jesus Christ saves his
people.”
Three Reasons Not to Gamble on Sports
Three Reasons Not to Gamble on Sports – “In a landmark decision, the Supreme
Court effectively struck
down federal laws against sports gambling. Let me offer three reasons
I think Christians are better off without sports gambling.”
In the #MeToo Moment, Publishers Turn to Morality Clauses
In
the #MeToo Moment, Publishers Turn to Morality Clauses –
“Once an anomaly in author contracts, morality clauses are becoming a standard
tool for publishers looking to protect themselves against misbehaving authors”
Why Winning the Lottery Is Dangerous
Why Winning the Lottery Is Dangerous – “Winning the lottery can be bad for
your health, in more ways than one. In fact, winning the lottery can be
dangerous.”
Monday, May 14, 2018
Refreshing the Saints
Refreshing the Saints – “What am I to my
brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus? Do I refresh or weary them? Do I give
rest or restlessness? Am I a comfort or an anxiety? Do I encourage confidence
or are people walking on egg shells around me?”
Forgiveness Is Not the Gospel
Forgiveness Is Not the Gospel – “Jesus died to
forgive us, to rescue us from hell, and to give us eternal life — but most of
all he died to bring us to God.”
The Hope of Forgiveness
The Hope of
Forgiveness – Here’s encouragement for those
struggling with assurance of their salvation.
ISIS, Just Warfare, and the 30 Percent Rule
ISIS, Just Warfare, and the 30 Percent Rule – “Just a few years ago, ISIS controlled nearly a
third of Iraqi territory. What caused the rapid rollback? The answer may be
found in a simple math formula.”
You Are Totally (Not) Depraved: How to Recover Positive Self-Image
You Are Totally (Not) Depraved: How to Recover Positive
Self-Image – “If you are truly born again, your history and
self-perception does not define you. What God says defines you.”
4 Traits of a Faithful Mother
4 Traits of a Faithful Mother – “When God wants
to train a child for the achieving of the best and the highest in life, He
sends him to school to a godly mother.”
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Mother’s Day
Mother’s
Day – Here is the video from Igniter Media that we are using
in our worship hours this Mother's Day morning.
Motherhood: A Call to Arms
Motherhood: A Call to Arms – “As another Mother’s Day rolls around, we find
ourselves floating in a sea of sentimental, loving, and sweet words on the
things that mothers do for us. It is good to recognize, appreciate, and honor
all of that, but it is not what I want to do today. I want to pull back the
sentiment and look at the unbelievably powerful position that God has called
his women to.”
God Understands Hard, Thankless Parenting
God
Understands Hard, Thankless Parenting – “Mother’s Day is difficult for many. But Scripture portrays a Father
who knows our plight.”
Marcion and Getting Unhitched from the Old Testament
Marcion and Getting Unhitched from the Old Testament – “Most heresies from the early church find a way
to live on in to other ages. This is especially true of Marcionism, with its
distaste for an angry God, its optimism about human improvement, and its
eagerness to set aside the Bible Jesus read. From Red Letter Christianity to
recent comments about our need to ‘unhitch’ from the Old Testament, Marcionism
is the evergreen heresy.”
Friday, May 11, 2018
You Must Disappoint Someone: How to Say No to Good Things
You Must Disappoint Someone: How to Say No to Good
Things – “Who are we willing to disappoint? Or, who are we unwilling to
disappoint?”
A Time to Mourn
A Time to Mourn
– “We
weep in the graveyard now just as sure as we will dance at the resurrection
when Jesus returns.”
God Understands Hard, Thankless Parenting
God
Understands Hard, Thankless Parenting – “Mother’s Day
is difficult for many. But Scripture portrays a Father who knows our plight.”
Motherhood: A Call to Arms
Motherhood: A Call to Arms – “Paul is
describing the role of a good woman in making the kind of children you just
pictured on that playground. He is calling women to their powerful, and
glorious, and world-changing work — the great good work, his work, of silencing
the enemy and the avenger.”
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Giving Glory Amid the Groans
Giving Glory Amid the Groans – “Here are three
lessons God has inscribed on my heart—lessons that help me praise him amid
chronic pain.”
Anxiety and Depression: More College Students Seeking Help
Anxiety and Depression: More College Students Seeking Help –
“Between 2009 and 2015, the number of students visiting counseling centers
increased by about 30% on average, while enrollment grew by less than 6%, the
Center for Collegiate Mental Health found in a 2015 report.”
The Oldest, Most Ignored Social Media Command
The Oldest, Most Ignored Social Media Command – “Since the beginning of our faith,
according to Paul’s letter to the Romans, we have struggled with pointless
arguments over items that aren’t deserving of such status.”
Christian, Don't Follow Your Heart
Christian, Don't
Follow Your Heart – “Our desires, reasoning, and feelings are not
trustworthy. Therefore, follow Christ. Trust the Father's heart. Be instructed
by the Word. Follow the will of the Spirit and his will to form you into the
Son (Rom. 8:29).”
Mom, I’m Such a Sinner!
Mom, I’m
Such a Sinner! – “Here
are a few tips to consider when your children confront the ugly face of their
sin.”
4 Truths to Remember When Identifying Spiritual Gifts
4 Truths to Remember When Identifying Spiritual Gifts
– “The Bible tells us that though the Holy Spirit gifts us individually, these
gifts are not to identify us as individuals. We are gifted for one purpose:
building up the church.”
A Bruised Reed He Will Not Break
A Bruised
Reed He Will Not Break – “Isaiah’s prophecy looks forward to one who
will not break a bruised reed (Isaiah 42:3). That is not because Jesus is a
pushover. He is not soft. He knows how to apply strength to vulnerability.
Think of all the things he could break and you begin to see
the wonder of what he won’t break.”
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Three Types of People Who Help the Church
Three Types of People Who Help the Church – “If every church had these types of
people, they would benefit greatly from their engagement in the body life. Are
you a person who helps or hurts your local church?”
7 Biblical Principles for Saving and Investing Your Money
7 Biblical Principles for Saving and Investing Your
Money – “Most Christians know they should save and invest for
retirement or disability. But many find it difficult to adopt a practical
theology for managing their money, especially when it comes to saving and
investing for a distant and uncertain future.”
Double the Trouble if You Ignore the Context
Double the Trouble if You Ignore the Context – This is a good reminder not to ignore
the context for any Bible passage.
50 Good Mental Health Habits
50 Good Mental Health
Habits – “Sometimes
we need to be reminded that no one area of life can completely account for our
mental health.”
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Study: Adults Say Coffee, Sweets and Social Media Are More Essential to Their Day Than the Bible
Study: Adults Say Coffee, Sweets and Social Media Are
More Essential to Their Day Than the Bible – Interesting notes from the
American Bible Society’s annual “State
of the Bible” survey results.
10 Things You Should Know about the Second Coming of Christ
10 Things You Should Know about the Second Coming of Christ –
As always with this topic, you’ll find things you agree with and things you don’t.
Seven Words that Shed Light on the Ministry of the Word
Seven Words that Shed Light on the Ministry of the Word
– “Drawing from God’s call to Jeremiah to be His
mouthpiece to Israel, here are seven words that shed light on the ministry of
the Word.”
Monday, May 7, 2018
Stop Bowing to the God of Busyness
Stop Bowing to the God of Busyness – “I believe
the gospel, and I’ve received grace upon grace. So why do I—and so many other
Western Christians—keep falling into the trap of doing more?”
‘These Bombs Led Me to Christ’
‘These
Bombs Led Me to Christ’ – The “Napalm Girl” from a famous
Vietnam War photo tells her story of coming to faith.
The Dad I Want To Be
The Dad I Want To Be –
Daniel Darling speaks the gospel into the struggles and regrets of
fatherhood.
Gen Z, Let’s Prioritize the Gospel as We Pursue Justice
Gen Z, Let’s Prioritize the Gospel as We Pursue Justice
– “When you pit justice and gospel
against each other, you miss the point of the Bible and devalue God’s heart for
both.”
Our Call: Missionaries in a Secular Land
Our Call: Missionaries in a Secular Land –
“Sorry, Christian, we are not birthright owners. We are exiles. “
Sunday, May 6, 2018
God Put You on the Pale Blue Dot: Why Your Small Life Is Not Meaningless
God Put
You on the Pale Blue Dot: Why Your Small Life Is Not Meaningless – “But
unlike Sagan, we are often asked to step back and ask, In the midst of this
chaos of what has unfolded on this pebble, is there a unifying purpose for all
of creation? Can it all be held together by something greater than itself?”
Accepting Suffering as a Normal Part of Our Heavenward Journey
Accepting Suffering as a Normal Part of Our Heavenward
Journey – “The Day of NO more suffering is coming (Rev. 21:1–5)—the Day
when your glory will be fully revealed, and our healing will be eternally
enjoyed. What a Day of rejoicing that will be. Until then, give us all the
grace and power we will need to live and love to your glory. So very Amen we
pray, in your wonderful and merciful name.”
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Three Types of People Who Hinder the Church
Three Types of People Who Hinder the Church – “As we consider the life of the local
church, we must beware of three types of people in the church who can bring
harm upon themselves while at the same time doing harm to the entire church.
Look out for such people and when you identify one in your church—labor in
discipleship in order to save them from much error.”
What Do Americans Mean When They Talk about ‘God’?
What Do Americans Mean When They Talk about ‘God’?
– Joe Carter provides another look at the recent national survey.
Go to Sleep…God Is Awake
Go
to Sleep…God Is Awake – “As
Westerners struggling to keep pace in an accelerating world, many of us tend to
underrate the value of sleep and overrate our own abilities to go without it.
Contrary to what we may believe, besides frustrating nights and drowsy days,
sleeplessness can have serious consequences.”
When Mommy Grows Up
When
Mommy Grows Up – “When
the time is right, we have to—we are privileged to—launch our children from our
knees. And as we do, we entrust them into the hands of our living God.”
Friday, May 4, 2018
6 Very Good Reasons to Consider Your Short Little Life
6
Very Good Reasons to Consider Your Short Little Life – “Here are some blessings that will be yours when
you pause to consider your short little life.”
Let Your Kids Experience Failure
Let Your Kids Experience Failure – “Watching
your children fail is much harder than you might expect. Many of us high
achievers solve problems for a living. We need to fight against stepping in,
constantly fixing problems, or helicopter parenting.”
How to Pray About What You Say
How to
Pray About What You Say – “God expects us to tremble at his words, and
to tremble over ours.”
Violence Against Women Begins in the Womb
Violence Against Women Begins in the Womb –
“Violence against women in the womb begets another kind of violence. As a
result of India’s missing girls, a large cohort of men cannot marry, and as
brides become scarce, the trafficking of women and girls increases.”
Powerful Promises to Fight Temptation
Powerful Promises to Fight Temptation – “Yes, hardships happen. But you are not alone. God
is faithful and he provides a “way out.” As you choose to believe these
powerful promises, you’ll draw near to Jesus and continue to seek his answers.”
A Response to Andy Stanley on “Theological Correctness”
A Response to Andy Stanley on “Theological Correctness” – “This article is a response to that
statement, but it comes down to the common error of thinking unity comes apart
from theology, not through it.”
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Saved by Grace Through Faith
Saved by
Grace Through Faith – “To understand Christianity, you must understand
two big words in Ephesians 2:8: grace and faith.”
The Secret Benefit of Fasting
The Secret
Benefit of Fasting – “Christian
fasting is not only going without. It is not simply abstaining. The goal of
Christian fasting, in fact, is not going without but getting.
Our abstaining always serves some greater end and purpose — some eventual gain,
not loss.”
Learning to See the Glory in the Frustration of Parenting
Learning to See the Glory in the Frustration of Parenting –
“By the grace of God, we can not only survive these years, we can thrive in
them. We just need to have the right perspective.”
Why You Should Teach Your Kids About Racial Reconciliation
Why You Should Teach Your Kids About Racial
Reconciliation – “For parents, this social reality means we need to
talk with our children about racism and ethnic difference. Below are three
pressing reasons why we believe this work is so vital.”
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
The Other Side of the Promises of God
The Other Side of the Promises of God –
“Believing the promises of God propels us to worship and to express
thankfulness for His faithfulness to restore, redeem, and rescue us from
bondage. But it also propels us to mission, because we know the faithfulness of
God means that if sinners do not hear the gospel and repent, they will perish.”
The Bible Is Much More than an Owner’s Manual
The Bible Is Much More than an Owner’s Manual –
“There are fuller, richer ways for us to think about the Scriptures, which will
in turn help us to be more effective in moving others down the road to becoming
like Christ.”
What About Divorce and Abuse?
What
About Divorce and Abuse?
– “Evangelicals
have never been monolithic in their views about divorce. Some believe that the
Bible disallows divorce altogether. Others believe that the Bible allows for
divorce in certain situations (see Matt. 19 and 1 Cor. 7). There is no one view
on divorce that has commanded the consensus of evangelicals.”
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Follow God to the Lonely and Hurting
Follow God
to the Lonely and Hurting – “We constantly walk past people who feel
forgotten, neglected, and desperately lonely: the depressed, the disabled, the
socially awkward, the grieving, the elderly.”
Reading the Bible for the First Time
Reading the Bible for the First Time – “There is much more to say about the
Bible, but for those just starting out, it is more important for you to start
reading. Here are some suggestions for reading the Bible that apply just as
much on Day 1 of your Bible-reading adventure as they will on Day 10,000.”
Imagine There’s No Hell
Imagine There’s No Hell – “If we are to faithfully herald the love of Christ
which passes knowledge, we must faithfully and compassionately herald the wrath
of God which passes comprehension.”
The Danger of an Unscraped Knee
The
Danger of an Unscraped Knee
–
“The further we get from actual contact with thorns and thistles, isn’t it more
likely we will fall for the idea that we are in control, that we are godlike in
our powers, or that we can conform nature to our own wills? Isn’t it more
likely that we will see nature as something endlessly bendable? Is there danger
in the unscraped knee?”
Help for Humanly Impossible Acts
Help for Humanly Impossible Acts – “God is
glorified in worship not only by those who come full but also by those who come
desperately needy and pinning all their hopes on meeting God.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)