Thursday, May 31, 2018

Five Truths from 10 Years of Discipleship Research


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.”

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.”

The Only Way You Can Do God’s Will


The Only Way You Can Do God’s Will – It comes from recognizing you can’t.

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 TimeEvangelism 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 WriteJennifer 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.”

It’s Submission, Not Subjection


It’s Submission, Not Subjection – Here’s a good explanation of the difference.

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

The Dying Away of Cultural Christianity


The Dying Away of Cultural Christianity – “Christianity isn’t collapsing; it’s being clarified.”

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.”

Your Best Years Are Not Behind You


Your Best Years Are Not Behind You“God needs willing workers, not necessarily young ones.”

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).”

How to Pray for Victory


How to Pray for Victory“You can’t pray about a problem he doesn’t know and care about.”

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 ComfortingDavid 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.”

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!”

Bitter Root, Rotten Fruit


Bitter Root, Rotten Fruit – “What is bitterness and what does it do?”

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

Thou Shalt Not Put Your Friends to the Test


Thou Shalt Not Put Your Friends to the Test – “An upright life is a grace to others.”

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.” 

The Best Weapon Is an Open Door


The Best Weapon Is an Open Door – “How do we open our doors to the world?”

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.

That’s What Moms Do


That’s What Moms Do – Here’s a good Mother’s Day tribute.

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?”

Only Messy People Allowed: Toward a Culture of Grace


Only Messy People Allowed: Toward a Culture of Grace – What would a grace-filled culture look like?

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 ContextThis is a good reminder not to ignore the context for any Bible passage.

The Tidy VS Messy Spouse


The Tidy VS Messy Spouse – Marriage advice for couples who do life differently.

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

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.”

What the Word of God Says About the Word of God, Book by Book



Our Call: Missionaries in a Secular Land


Our Call: Missionaries in a Secular Land – “Sorry, Christian, we are not birthright owners. We are exiles. “

Is Your Church Christian or Christianish?


Is Your Church Christian or Christianish? – “Three little letters make a world of difference.”

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.” 

10 Crucial Archaeological Discoveries Related to the Bible



Reading the Bible for the First Time


Reading the Bible for the First TimeThere 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.”