Checklist Christianity
– “If we are not careful, we come before God with all the boxes (so we
think) checked off but our hearts far away from Him.”
Friday, August 31, 2018
You Can’t Love Jesus Without Loving His Church
You
Can’t Love Jesus Without Loving His Church –
“Simply put, how one views, engages and treats Jesus’ church reflects how one
views, engages and treats Jesus himself.”
How to Help Kids Attack the Number One Lie They Hear
How
to Help Kids Attack the Number One Lie They Hear –
“Here are five strategies for going to war with the lie of individual autonomy.”
Why You Cannot Follow Jesus as a Muslim
Why You Cannot Follow Jesus as a Muslim – “I’m
talking about people who for all intents and purposes continue to identify as
Muslims, yet claim to be followers of Christ.”
For Those Who Struggle With Guilt
For
Those Who Struggle With Guilt
– “In
Christ you do not live under a suspended sentence, because the sentence for
your sins has been passed on your Savior! The sentence has already been served.
That is why there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!”
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Craig Groeschel on Why Christians Shouldn’t Expect Life to Be ‘Fair’
Craig Groeschel on Why Christians Shouldn’t Expect Life
to Be ‘Fair’ – “What if drawing closer to God, developing genuine
intimacy with him, requires you to bear something that feels unbearable? To
hear him through an ominous utterance, to trust him in the moment of doom, to
embrace his strength when you’re weak with a burden? What if it takes real pain
to experience deep and abiding hope?”
3 Key Beliefs That Fuel Contentment
3 Key
Beliefs That Fuel Contentment – “If we want to live a life of
contentment, then that life should be fueled by what we believe to be true
about God. So what must we believe to be true about God if we are to live
contentedly?”
Children Born to Unwed Parents…the Latest Findings
Children
Born to Unwed Parents…the Latest Findings – “The family
structures that children are born into have drastically changed in the last few
decades. One of the biggest shifts has been children born to unwed parents. The
latest research shows that about 40 percent of children born in the U.S. are
born outside of marriage. This is up from 28 percent in 1990.”
Parenting Our Kids Toward Eternity
Parenting
Our Kids Toward Eternity – Some parents make
their kids their heaven and some parents try to build heaven here for their
kids. What does it mean to parent toward eternity?
Stubborn Love: Reflecting the Gospel By Keeping Your Marriage Covenant
Stubborn Love:
Reflecting the Gospel By Keeping Your Marriage Covenant – “There are two biblical truths that
can help us to understand why God calls us to reflect the gospel by keeping our
marriage covenant: 1) Satan hates your marriage. 2) Jesus will never leave his
bride.”
When You Feel Like a Hybrid of the Two Luke 15 Sons
When You Feel Like a Hybrid of the Two Luke 15 Sons
– “I feel like a 3rd Luke 15 son right now—a hybrid of the
Father’s two boys Jesus described. I’m not on a hedonistic holiday, and I’m not
spewing the toxins of self-righteousness. I’m just somewhere in between. I
still hear and love the music of the gospel, but I just don’t feel like dancing
right now. I’m not cold, hot, or lukewarm. I’m just here.”
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Praying Like Jesus
Praying Like
Jesus – “Here are four things that Jesus prayed for me and for all who
believe in him, which I believe should help shape our prayers today.”
Five Ways to Pray for Back-to-School
Five
Ways to Pray for Back-to-School – The new school year
has begun and calls for a covering of prayer.
Teach Them About Marriage Before the World Does
Teach Them About Marriage Before the World Does
– “Our world says that marriage is something we invented for ourselves. So, we
can reinvent it in any way we want. And, indeed, our world is doing just that.”
Is Reading the Bible a Chore or a Delight?
Is Reading the Bible a Chore or a Delight? – “As long as we insist on reading the
Bible as if it were all about us, we will not only miss the point, we will find
it dull because we won’t be interested in the character that it is
describing—God himself.”
How We Pray for the Nations
How We Pray for the Nations – “If we don’t learn to pray and weep
for souls—it will be highly unlikely that our children and grandchildren will
give themselves for the work of missions.”
Do Inconsistencies in the Gospels Undermine Scripture’s Inerrancy?
Do Inconsistencies in the Gospels Undermine Scripture’s
Inerrancy? –
“If you’re a skeptical reader of Scripture, be honest about your questions.
Pray about the concern, study the text carefully, and pose questions to a
trusted source. Don’t be afraid to ask honest questions of the text, and to
seek help answering if you need it.”
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Grace Arrives When You Need It
Grace
Arrives When You Need It – “Grace is power. Grace
moves in and enables me to fulfill a resolve.”
Christians Must Be Known For More Than What We’re For
Christians Must Be Known For More Than What We’re For
– “To follow Jesus means to follow One who was known both for what He was for
and what He was against. He pointed people to a better way, as He corrected
their views and ways of life.”
You Can Say No to Sin
You Can Say No to Sin – “Self-control can sound
so appealing. Until the time comes to actually say no.”
4 Principles for Love-Fueled Generosity
4 Principles for Love-Fueled Generosity – “Consider
with me four principles of generosity we observe as the Christians in Antioch
responded to the financial need of the Jerusalem church.”
20 Causes of Teen Anxiety
20 Causes of Teen Anxiety – David Murray
writes, “So, if teen anxiety is so widespread, what’s causing it? On the
basis of personal experience, counseling, and research, here are what I believe
are the most common causes of teen anxiety.”
Why We Need to Talk about Sin
Why
We Need to Talk about Sin –
“Faithful
Christians have always rejected the call to conform their faith to the desires
of those who want to say that all religions are equally true and useful. As
Christians, we insist that we must talk about sin if we are to be truthful
about the human condition. If we do not understand our sin, we will not
understand the kind of savior we need.”
Enter by the Narrow Gate
Enter by
the Narrow Gate – “In an ultimate sense, Jesus is talking about Himself
in this passage. Jesus is the narrow gate.”
5 Ideas to Help Kids Be Smarter About Smartphones
5
Ideas to Help Kids Be Smarter About Smartphones –
“What do American parents do when they give their 12-year-old a new iPhone? Merry Christmas! Good luck!”
Monday, August 27, 2018
Yawning at Majesty: How to Fight Boredom with the Bible
Yawning at
Majesty: How to Fight Boredom with the Bible – “The Bible is simply unequaled in its influence,
audacious in its claims, and unrivaled in its power to transform hardened
sinners into humble saints.”
7 Reasons You Should Pray the Psalms
7 Reasons You Should Pray the Psalms – “Every
Christian should learn the habit of praying through the Psalms.”
The Gospel, Breaking Sinful Patterns and Addictions
The
Gospel, Breaking Sinful Patterns and Addictions – “As disciples, part of the sanctification process
is examining our hearts before the Lord. This process of personal assessment
involves confession and prayer about the fruit of our lives and its roots. We
bring all this before the Lord so that He can uproot our sinful patterns and
heal our hearts, freeing us to act faithfully for His kingdom.”
I Want Christlike, Bible Reflexes
I Want Christlike, Bible Reflexes – “When the swirling
cultural debates are kicking up dust around us, we don’t answer the question
from the standpoint of what the experts (even the religious experts) are
saying...Instead, we follow Jesus’s pattern and direct our attention back to
the Word of God. This is our authority as Christians. It’s the ultimate
authority.”
Three Lessons We Can Learn from the Brave Life (and Quiet Faith) of Sen. John McCain
Three Lessons We Can Learn from the Brave Life (and
Quiet Faith) of Sen. John McCain – “You would be hard pressed not to
find something truly admirable in this man who served so faithfully.”
Just How Bad is the Teen Anxiety Epidemic?
Just How Bad is the Teen Anxiety Epidemic? – “While
it seems to be affecting people of all ages, the most common problem is teens
with anxiety.”
How Can I Best Prepare Students to Live Their Faith out in Public Schools?
How Can I Best Prepare Students to Live Their Faith out in
Public Schools? – “Children
face many challenges to their faith in school. How should parents and teachers
respond?”
Saturday, August 25, 2018
How to Be Unholy as You Pursue Holiness
How to Be Unholy as You Pursue Holiness – “s it
possible to have sound doctrine, a good devotional life, and yet still be
unholy? Yes, easily. You just need to forget something very basic about holiness.”
What Not to Say to Someone in the Hospital
What Not
to Say to Someone in the Hospital – Here are helpful reminders of
things to avoid and things to do when you visit someone in the hospital.
Friday, August 24, 2018
The Beautiful Distraction of Corporate Worship
The
Beautiful Distraction of Corporate Worship – Corporate worship provides us with the joy found
only in “we” and Jesus.
When Opposition to Religious Liberty Becomes Silly, Petty, and Vindictive
When Opposition to Religious Liberty Becomes Silly, Petty, and
Vindictive – Silly,
petty, and vindictive indeed. “The news about Jack Phillips is a reminder that
progressive culture war tactics are exacting...Instead of debate, bully.
Instead of civility, just claim to be a victim. Instead of principled
Constitutionalism, just rely on identity politics. In this, progressivism
brooks no compromise. It offers the opposite of the tolerance it peddles.”
Your Good Works Bring God Good Pleasure
Your Good Works Bring God Good Pleasure – “If God is our Father, and in Christ
we are his children, doesn’t it make sense that he would take pleasure in our
growth as well as our glorification?”
Pursue Growth Together: Our Call to Disciple Others
Pursue Growth Together: Our Call
to Disciple Others – “The
greatest contribution we make may be in the people we influence who then
influence others.”
Is the King James Version of the Bible the Most Accurate Translation? (Video)
Is the King
James Version of the Bible the Most Accurate Translation? (Video) – Is the King James Version of the
Bible the most accurate translation? This video explains where the Bible comes
from and how translations render it.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
United Methodists Are Not Very United These Days
United
Methodists Are Not Very United These Days – Pray for our UMC friends as they navigate
these decisions.
Your Husband’s Porn Problem is Not About You
Your Husband’s Porn Problem is Not About You –
“Your husband’s pornography problem is about one thing. It’s about how sin is
always crouching at our door, waiting to devour us. Pornography is such a quick
and easy temptation, and it’s everywhere.”
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Anxiety Distracts Us
Anxiety Distracts Us – “Anxiety distracts us
from what is most important. It trains our eyes to see only what is before us
at the very moment. It exerts great effort at keeping our vision fixed on the
horizontal—on the things of the world—instead of vertical, on the things of God.”
10 Powerful Prayers the Apostle Paul Prayed Over God’s People
10
Powerful Prayers the Apostle Paul Prayed Over God’s People –
“The prayers of Paul for God’s people are a fascinating study. It’s
interesting to observe the requests Paul makes. His prayers focused on hearts and
minds being conformed to Christ.”
I Am Not My Own
I Am Not My Own
– This is worth some reflection: “On August 18, 2018,
Orlena Lynn Boyle (96) entered the joy of her Master. She was not her own; she
was bought with a price, and she lived like it.”
Be Content with What You Have
Be Content
with What You Have – “Contentment is not simply about settling for what
we have, but trusting in what God has said. Both anxiety and greed rise in our
hearts as God’s words fall.”
Fervent Prayer
Fervent
Prayer – There is prayer for the spiritual condition of our
city or our nation and then there is “fervent prayer”. Greg Laurie gives examples.
Understanding Marriage
Understanding Marriage – “The view which is now held in most of society and the
church is what he calls a ‘companionate’ understanding of marriage.”
Growing Mighty Oak Trees
Growing
Mighty Oak Trees – “As
our culture continues its post-Christian slide, only mighty oak trees will be
able to withstand the faith assaults that come our way. Like never before, we
must be committed to helping kids and families grow oak tree faith.”
Be a Missionary, Not a Marketer
Be a Missionary,
Not a Marketer – “We have shifted from being ‘in the
world, but not of the world’ to being of the world but not in the
world.”
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
7 Ways to Remove Financial Stress From Your Marriage
7
Ways to Remove Financial Stress From Your Marriage – “If you are in a season of financial pressure in
your marriage, please remember these principles.
The Key to Evangelism No One Talks About
The
Key to Evangelism No One Talks About – “If we really want to mature in our outreach effectiveness, we must use
our words.”
10 Common but Illegitimate Reasons to Divorce
10 Common but Illegitimate Reasons to Divorce – “It is clear in the Bible that
God’s intention for marriage is that it remain in effect until the death of one
spouse. I believe it is also quite clear that God has provided a limited set of
circumstances in which a marriage can legitimately be severed…Here are 10
common but illegitimate reasons to divorce.”
The Danger of “I” in Christian Prayer
The Danger of “I” in Christian Prayer – “One of the besetting sins of
evangelicalism is our obsession with individualism. This obsession with
individualism chronically besets us as evangelicals. The first-person singular
pronoun reigns in our thinking. We tend to think about nearly everything (including
the truths of God’s Word) only as they relate to me.”
The FAQs: The Pennsylvania Report on Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy
The FAQs: The Pennsylvania Report on Child Sexual Abuse
by Catholic Clergy – “Last week a grand jury in Pennsylvania released
a 1,356-page report claiming that bishops, priests, and
deacons within the Catholic Church in almost every diocese in Pennsylvania
covered up child sexual abuse over a period of 70 years.”
Monday, August 20, 2018
A Week for Gentleness, Kindness, and Good Words
A Week for Gentleness, Kindness, and Good Words
– “Lord Jesus, as with all the Scriptures, this passage makes us think of you.
There’s no one more filled with kindness and gentle answers than you. Your
heart and words are always loving, healing, and freeing. Even your rebukes are
life-giving...”
The Doctrine of Glory
The Doctrine of Glory – “Here are 6
implications that the doctrine of glory has in and on our everyday lives.”
Even When the Worst Happens
Even When
the Worst Happens – “If police officers arrested you tomorrow and threw
you in prison because you went to church last Sunday, what would your first
letter to your friends and family sound like?”
Five Ways the #MeToo Movement Will Likely Impact Churches
Five
Ways the #MeToo Movement Will Likely Impact Churches –
“The #MeToo Movement will be one of the historic markers of 2018. Its impact is
felt in the entertainment industry, in politics, in businesses and, undoubtedly,
in churches. While we have yet to understand fully the impact in local
churches, we can anticipate changes that will come.” Thankful that our church
already practices the “Billy Graham Rules”.
Four Old Testament Perspectives on Poverty
Four Old Testament Perspectives on Poverty – If
we look at the words for “poverty” or “the poor” in the Old Testament, we see
that there are four distinct types of people who are poor.
The Church Needs Fewer Men Who Feel “Called” to Ministry
The Church Needs Fewer Men Who Feel “Called” to Ministry – “We need fewer men who feel ‘called
to ministry’ and more men who aspire to the office of elder. But if we dump the
language of calling, how do we know if we should pursue ministry? Here are five
indicators…”
Friday, August 17, 2018
Do You Really Love God? This Hebrew Word Will Tell You
Do
You Really Love God? This Hebrew Word Will Tell You –
“When we think of love in the Bible, we often think of the Greek words
mentioned in the New Testament: Agape, storge, and eros. A video by the Bible
Project invites us to look at a Hebrew word for love and what it can teach us
about how we are to act.”
3 Reminders for Weary Parents
3
Reminders for Weary Parents – “Time is going fast.
But our homes are ripe for the harvest. So whether your kid is five days old or
five days away from going to college, don’t wish away the opportunity you have
to love Christ by loving your kids well. Love your kids well by showing them
Christ.”
The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About Social Justice
The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About Social
Justice – “What is social justice? Should Christians advocate for
social justice? Is it even a term that Christians should use?”
Satanic Temple Unveils Disturbing Statue at Arkansas Capitol
Satanic
Temple Unveils Disturbing Statue at Arkansas Capitol –
“If you’re going to have one religious monument up then it should be open to
others, and if you don’t agree with that then let’s just not have any at all,”
Ivy Forrester, Satanic Arkansas cofounder and one of the organizers of the
rally, said.
Our Hope Is Coming
Our
Hope Is Coming – “Biblical
hope, then, is a reality in which we constantly live, a knowledge of what we
know will come to pass. Our response to tragedy as believers is not to bank on
God making things better now but to look forward to what we know he has
promised.”
The Encouragement of Congregational Singing
The Encouragement of Congregational Singing – “What a gift the gathered church is
to a discouraged soul! Every week we come in from our different lives and
gather to, among other things, sing the glory and power of the gospel.”
Make ‘God Talk’ an Everyday Part of Family Life
Make ‘God Talk’ an Everyday Part of Family Life
– “Make God talk so ordinary in your family that it’s not weird or awkward;
it’s just how people talk when their lives have been changed by Jesus. The more
you do it, the easier it’ll get for you and for your kids.”
Avoiding Complacency
Avoiding Complacency
– “Complacency is dangerous because it is easy. All you have to do is sit back
and go with the flow. To go against the flow requires work and conflict might
be involved. To be complacent is to get along. Complacency doesn’t require
discipline. It doesn’t require accountability.”
The Prayers Our Teens Need Most
The Prayers
Our Teens Need Most – “Praying Jesus’s words for my teens lifts my eyes
beyond every immediate need to the greater and more pressing concerns that
Jesus voiced for his followers of all time, those who were with him at the Last
Supper and those who sit around our dining room tables today.”
God’s Strong Safety Net
God’s
Strong Safety Net –
“A true believer’s salvation is secure from everything Satan and self can do to
them. True believers can know they’re saved by seeing in their life growth of
the fruit of repentance and a deepening desire to please their Savior. The
tragedy is that those left behind are left with little assurance of the fate of
their deceased loved one.”
Brothers, How Many Mistresses Do You Have?
Brothers, How Many Mistresses Do You Have? – “Scripture
doesn’t allow us to remain satisfied with avoiding illicit sexual intercourse
while we entertain a whole harem of women in our hearts and on our digital
devices.”
Thursday, August 16, 2018
What Happens Every Time You Encounter the Bible
What
Happens Every Time You Encounter the Bible –
Every time you encounter the Word of God, you bring one of four “hearts.”
Your Suffering Can Be the Pathway to Greater Godliness
Your
Suffering Can Be the Pathway to Greater Godliness – “Mountain climbers could save time and energy
if they reached the summit in a helicopter, but their ultimate purpose is
conquest, not efficiency. Sure, they want to reach a goal, but they desire to
do it by testing and deepening their character, discipline, and resolve.”
Pain Can Be a Great Friend
Pain
Can Be a Great Friend – Here’s a good reminder from Joe
McKeever: “As a general rule, church people do not intend to be rude or unkind
concerning newcomers. They do not intend to crush the spirits of those
bewildered about the large church and all the choices and unfamiliar faces. But
they do it anyway as a result of being thoughtless.”
Parents Want to Pass On Faith, But Few Talk About It
Parents Want to Pass On Faith, But Few Talk About It
– “Virtually every Christian parent says they want their teenager to develop a
lifelong faith, but relatively few are actually talking to their students about
important spiritual issues.”
What I’ve Learned About Leviticus After Studying it for Over a Decade
What I’ve Learned About Leviticus After Studying it for Over a
Decade – “God
cares a lot about our purity and holiness. Not just from a ritual perspective,
but also from a moral perspective. All day long and in
every aspect of life, the Lord wants me to pursue purity in my heart, in my
life, in my actions.”
Sin Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation
Sin Doesn’t
Take a Summer Vacation – “As believers in Christ, our battle with indwelling
sin rages fifty-two weeks a year. But for some reason, it’s during those one or
two weeks of vacation that we forget. We foolishly assume that a truce has been
arranged, that our battle with the flesh has been temporarily suspended.”
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
The Most Important Element in Back to School Preparations
The
Most Important Element in Back to School Preparations –
“The spiritual side of going back to school is something that doesn’t usually
come to the forefront of our minds, but it is equally (if not more) important
than any other kind of preparation we can do.”
Ask Someone Older Than You
Ask Someone
Older Than You – “When your next major decision comes — what house to
buy, where to go school, who to marry — do the wise and unexpected thing: Ask
someone older than you.”
How Habits Help You Grow
How Habits Help You Grow – “Scientists estimate that
about 40 percent of our activities are performed each day in almost the same
situations. In other words, almost half of our lives are run by habit. Habits
aren’t just for disciplined people. We all operate by habit.”
Good or bad...
Common Questions Christians Ask About Forgiveness
Common Questions Christians Ask About Forgiveness – “Forgiveness is central to our
experience as Christians. It is at the heart of our relationship with God and
our relationship with others. Jesus talks about forgiveness a lot and even
inscribes it on the template for our prayers (Matt. 6:9-13). At the same time,
forgiveness is hard. It’s unnatural. This presents a lot of questions as we try
to work out the implications of living faithfully as Christians.”
How Does Praying For Others Help You?
How Does
Praying For Others Help You? – “In Ephesians 6, Paul touches on several
facets of intercessory prayer.”
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
9 Tips to Help Kids Have Daily Devotions
9 Tips to Help Kids Have Daily Devotions – “Here are nine tips to help parents take the lead
in establishing fresh devotional habits for the young hearts in their care.”
When You Pray With Your Children, You Are Teaching Your Children to Pray
When
You Pray With Your Children, You Are Teaching Your Children to Pray –
“How can we learn to pray? Instruction helps, but example is the key.”
Unashamed of the Bible
Unashamed of the Bible – “Our way of thinking and feeling and acting toward the
Bible, and with the Bible, and from the Bible
is decisive in whether our lives, schools, and churches conform to God’s
saving, Christ-exalting purposes for history and for all of creation.”
7 Warning Signs You Are Drifting From God
7
Warning Signs You Are Drifting From God – “Big sin is always the sum of a thousand tiny choices.”
Monday, August 13, 2018
Convenience Store Christianity
Convenience
Store Christianity – “I
really do believe that many, many believers I know truly love the Lord and have
dedicated their lives to Him—but much of North American Christianity seems to
be what I call “Convenience Store Christianity.”
5 Myths About Depression
5 Myths About Depression – Here is wise,
gentle advice to comfort and strengthen all who struggle with depression or
know someone who does.
4 Truths I Learned From Brain Surgery
4 Truths I Learned From Brain Surgery – “Each of these truths I learned were
only possible because they were connected to a providence that oversees and
sustains my life. God is always in control. God is always good. He is for me
and not against me. For that reason and many others here are four truths I
learned (and continue to learn) from my brain surgery.”
Six Steps out of Disappointment
Six Steps out of Disappointment – Disappoint
comes from a variety of sources and sizes but it comes to us all. David Murray
offers suggestions for moving beyond it.
How (What) to Pray for Your Grandchildren
How (What) to Pray for Your Grandchildren – “Just a few years ago I remember
praying that my husband and I would be grandparents one day. Within five years
of that prayer we were blessed with five children that would call us grandpa
and grandma. Each child is a unique and special gift from God and we not only
have the joy of having them as part of our lives, we also have the privilege
and responsibility of praying for them.”
He Has Done All Things Well
He Has Done All
Things Well – This is an encouraging devotional thought
on our Savior who has truly done “all things well”.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Love Hurts God the Most
Love
Hurts God the Most – “While we remain so sensitive to
our own pain, let’s pause for just a moment to consider the pain God accepts
when he adopts us as sons and daughters.”
Erwin McManus: You Need to Tell Death and Fear to Get Behind You
Erwin
McManus: You Need to Tell Death and Fear to Get Behind You –
“He decided that living as if you are dying is not a bad way to live. It causes
you to take risks you normally wouldn’t because you don’t know if you’ll have
the chance to take those risks again.”
Behold Your Mother
Behold
Your Mother - “When
I pastored a mostly elderly congregation, I was shocked at the cavalier
attitude of their Christian children. These were otherwise professing,
faithful, generous believers who, nonetheless, seemed dismissive about their
parents.”
Tim Keller Answers: Why Is Sex Outside of Marriage So Destructive?
Tim
Keller Answers: Why Is Sex Outside of Marriage So Destructive? –
I’m reading a book on marriage by Keller right now. He speaks great truth on
marriage.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Four Lies That Keep Us from Church
Four
Lies That Keep Us from Church – “These common untruths
prevent us from fully participating in the body of Christ.” I’ve encountered
all of these in the last week.
We are Not In Eden
We are Not In Eden – “I pride myself in
my theology of this broken world and how it impacts everything. I disdain
triumphalism. I always want a healthy dose of realism when we talk about
anything that seems to imply that somehow we can get Eden or perfection or
curse-free living now. I just forget all of that when bugs or unwelcome
animals are in the picture.”
The Greatest Thing You Can Do with Your Life
The Greatest
Thing You Can Do with Your Life – “Your life is a gift and
an assignment from God. This should infuse our life — its good
and evil, its sweet and bitter, its health and affliction, its prosperity and
poverty, its comfort and suffering — with an unfathomable dignity, purpose, and
glory. You are not an accident.”
Sometimes God Says ‘Go.’ And Sometimes ‘Stay.’
Sometimes God Says ‘Go.’ And Sometimes ‘Stay.’ –
“God is always moving us closer to Christ—from fear to faith, from stuck to
steadfast. Sometimes it’s the going that’s difficult; but sometimes,
counterintuitively, it’s the staying put.”
A Bored Generation?
A Bored Generation?
–
“Ours is the first generation of Christians that has seriously asked the
question, how much time can I spend on entertaining myself? In all the reading
I have done in the sixteenth and seventeenth century, I have never once come
across this question in any serious fashion.”
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Who Will Go After the One?
Who
Will Go After the One? – “We get comfortable with our 99
suburban children. We get very busy trying to make ministry more attractive and
more entertaining so that we can maintain the 99. Who is going to go after the
one?” This is a great reminder of why and how we do children’s ministry. There’s
a place for you to serve.
Revelation: All of History Follows the Same Pattern, and Then the Lamb Wins
Revelation:
All of History Follows the Same Pattern, and Then the Lamb Wins –
“The book of Revelation can easily be considered the most complicated book of
the Bible. Fortunately, the folks at the Bible Project have broken down the
complex book to help us understand the meaning behind its symbolism and the
ultimate message it communicates.”
The Story of Your Life Is Changing the World
The
Story of Your Life Is Changing the World – “The idea of
leaving a legacy may sound intimidating. But legacy is not meant only for the
elite few who have great power or influence.”
9 Tips to Help Kids Have Daily Devotions
9 Tips to Help Kids Have Daily Devotions – “Here
are nine tips to help parents take the lead in establishing fresh devotional
habits for the young hearts in their care.”
The Best Place to Flourish
The Best Place to Flourish – “Focus your best effort on what God
has given you to do right now. It’s easy to waste your life, always looking at
the next thing, but the best place to flourish is where God has set you down.
Whatever God has given you to do, do it with all your heart!”
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
When Antsy About Stuff We Can’t Control
When Antsy About Stuff We Can’t Control – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious
about your life.”
What to Do When You Don’t Like Reading the Bible
What to Do When You Don’t Like Reading the Bible
– With so many distractions and demands, how do you make sure the Bible doesn’t
get squeezed out?
Two Reasons the Trinity Matters
Two Reasons the Trinity Matters – “Most of us
have retained a formal belief in the Trinity. What we need to recover is an
understanding and a felt sense of why it matters so much. To help us do that,
here are two reasons why the Trinity matters.”
Is the Joy of the Lord Your Strength?
Is the
Joy of the Lord Your Strength? – “God’s relationship with his people is
much like a marriage, which makes the covenant document between him and them
much like vows. Sacred promises, made in love. Deep commitments. We speak them
on our wedding day with hope and promise. And a little naïveté.”
Isn’t the Bible Full of Errors?
Isn’t
the Bible Full of Errors?
– “There
is a high degree of certainty that we have the original wording.”
Why Were Billboards for an Evangelism Event From Greg Laurie Pulled Down?
Why
Were Billboards for an Evangelism Event From Greg Laurie Pulled Down? – “Billboards for an event by evangelist, Bible
teacher and Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor Greg Laurie have
apparently been pulled down for a really strange reason.”
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
It Isn’t About Me
It Isn’t
About Me – When you meet with the body of believers in which God by his
sometimes secret design has put you, remember this great truth: it’s not about
“me.”
Protecting Our Kids From Digital Heroin
Protecting
Our Kids From Digital Heroin
– “Did you know that the most tech-cautious parents are tech designers and
engineers? What do they know that we don’t?”
Don’t Miss the Intimate Moments in Your Marriage
Don’t Miss the Intimate Moments in Your Marriage – “Most of the time, intimacy is
presented as something you have to work hard to achieve, and there’s no doubt
that we can ruin lots of opportunities for intimacy with our pride,
selfishness, or oblivious attitudes. But, the truth is that your marriage is
absolutely filled with intimate moments.”
Debt Is Not a Money Problem
Debt Is
Not a Money Problem – “It is both impossible and dangerous to solve
personal debt by only talking about money. Like every other issue in our life,
debt must be rooted in a distinctly biblical worldview. We must allow the
gospel of Jesus Christ to correct our assumptions about debt and shape our
spending. Otherwise, we won’t be able to gain ground in the way we understand
money, avoid debt, and use our finances to bring glory to God.”
10 Issues To Work Through Before You Get Married
10 Issues To Work Through Before You Get Married –
Here’s a simple, clear list for couples considering marriage.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Five Ways to Make War Against Greed
Five
Ways to Make War Against Greed
– “The reason we give allowances to our children as soon as they can count is
to teach them to give a portion of it to the church.”
Our Most Neglected Spiritual Discipline
Our Most Neglected Spiritual Discipline – “Watchfulness
embraces a variety of practices, such as self-examination, prayer, meditation,
and accountability, but all governed by the single intention of keeping the
heart.”
7 Ways Pride Grows in Our Hearts
7 Ways Pride Grows in Our Hearts – Jaquelle
Crowe: “Here are seven symptoms of pride I’ve been seeing in God’s Word as the
Spirit works in my own life.”
Satan’s Agenda For The Christian
Satan’s Agenda For The Christian – “There are two extremes to avoid
when it comes to the works of Satan in a Christian’s life. The first is the
tendency to fantasize and see him in every shadow of life. This is the thinking
of people whose minds are preoccupied with sensationalism that is more akin to
a fictional Hollywood production. The other is the thinking that belittles the
work of Satan among believers.”
Advice for Your Relationship with an Apostate Family Member
Advice for Your Relationship with an Apostate Family Member – “It’s not your job to make people
Christian. It’s not your job to convince them of your arguments either. Your job
is to be faithful to your role—being an ambassador for Christ. Share the truth
in a loving, persuasive, and gracious way, and then leave the results up to
God.”
5 Tips for Parenting in a Screen-Saturated World
5 Tips for Parenting in a Screen-Saturated World
– “Living in a screen-saturated world means our use of screens can either help
us or hinder us in our call to love God and others.”
When We're Shocked to Find Sinners at Church
When We're
Shocked to Find Sinners at Church – “I know people are mean, I know
people are judgmental, I know people act weird and get messy and cause problems
and are really inefficient for the ways we normally like to do church—but if we
believe in the gospel, we don’t have a choice any longer to live in the dark.”
What Is Sola Scriptura?
What Is Sola Scriptura? –
“Why does Sola Scriptura still matter in the 21st century, in
an age of cars, and planes, and the internet? As much as we like to think that
we are autonomous and independent, and that we have it all figured out, we
aren’t, and we don’t.”
Why There is No Such Thing as the Gift of Tongues
Why There is No Such Thing as the Gift of Tongues – “From time to time pastors are asked
about a phenomenon common to Christianity in the past one hundred years called
‘the gift of tongues.’ The phrase generally refers to a spectrum of experiences,
ranging from a supposed private, non-earthly prayer language spoken between the
believer and God enabled by the Holy Spirit, to an angelic, non-earthly prayer
language by the believer in prayer and worship, to an ecstatic non-earthly
utterance enabled by the Spirit spontaneously in the believer in private and/or
public worship.”
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Are You Too Earthly-Minded to Do Earthly Good?
Are You Too Earthly-Minded to Do Earthly Good? –
“The only way to be of true earthly good is to be heavenly minded. Thinking
about heaven doesn’t take our eyes off of the world; it allows us to live in
the world according to the way of Christ.”
4 Questions: Sam Brownback on International Religious Freedom
4 Questions: Sam Brownback on International Religious
Freedom – Sam Brownback, the former Kansas governor and U.S. senator now
serves as the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.
Friday, August 3, 2018
If God Is with Me, Why Did This Happen?
If God
Is with Me, Why Did This Happen? – “Gideon asked the question thousands
of years ago, and we have been asking it ever since. Haven’t we all asked that
question secretly, if not out loud, at some point in suffering?”
What to Do When Your Kids DON’T Want to Go to Church!
What
to Do When Your Kids DON’T Want to Go to Church! –
“Kids don’t always understand what is best for them, and they don’t have the
wisdom (life experiences) to make certain decisions until they’re older.” Here
are some examples.
Being a Father Isn’t Easy, But it is Simple
Being a Father Isn’t Easy, But it is Simple – “I've never seen anyone who did the
things on this list fail as a father. Certainly there's more that could be
written--and I know full well that making it simple doesn't make it easy--but
here is what I believe to be the essence of the call of Christian dads.”
Satan’s Go-To Temptation Against You
Satan’s Go-To
Temptation Against You – “Every army general serious about success
enters a battle with a plan. He knows his strengths, his weaknesses, his tactics,
his contingencies. Most of all, for his plan to be successful, he must know his
enemy. If he doesn’t, even his best intentions won’t keep him from destruction.”
What the Bible Teaches about Hell
What the
Bible Teaches about Hell – “What
does the Bible teach about hell? To ask this question is to acknowledge
that hell is a biblical teaching. That is an appropriate starting point for
considering the doctrine of hell.”
How to Improve Your Biblical Literacy
How to Improve Your Biblical Literacy – “Most Christians do not know the
basics of the biblical storyline, basic facts about the Bible’s major
characters, or the texts on which our most foundational doctrines are built.”
Here are some tips on improving your biblical literacy.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Here Are the Reasons People Stay Home on Sunday Morning
Here
Are the Reasons People Stay Home on Sunday Morning – “The
people who don’t go to church often cite personal, not spiritual, reasons for
staying away. That’s a conclusion from a new Pew Research study.”
A Devotional on Jesus’ Selection of the Twelve
A Devotional on Jesus’ Selection of the Twelve – “In Mark's account of the choosing of
the 12 (Mark
3:13-19), Jesus goes up on the mountain and then selects men whom He
Himself wanted to serve with Him. Drawing from the text, here are four
application points to consider devotionally.”
Why Americans Go to Church—And Why They Don’t
Why Americans Go to Church—And Why They Don’t –
“When Americans want to be close to God, they go to church. Unless they’ve
found some other way to meet up with the Almighty.”
Church Leaders, Prepare your People for Persecution
Church Leaders, Prepare your People for Persecution – This is a telling article from
Australia. “Once a government presumes to grant religious
freedom, the government can take away religious
freedom.”
Why We Worship on Repeat
Why
We Worship on Repeat – “Many a modern church-goer has
been miffed by repetition in corporate worship.” Why do our songs repeat?...Our
hearts simply don’t move as quickly as our eyes and our mouths.
Come Thou Fount - Part 1
Come Thou
Fount - Part 1 – “What is it about this age-old hymn that keeps it
relevant to Christians throughout the centuries?”
All Show and No Go
All
Show and No Go – “Faith doesn’t live in the realm of
theory; faith lives in the world of activity. So let’s use our faith. Let’s put
it into action. Then watch what God can do.”
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