How
Do I Make the Most of Daily Bible Reading? – “Few things are more helpful in
grasping the totality of Scripture than a steady, week-in and week-out feeding
on the preached word of God.”
Monday, December 31, 2018
Make Habits, Not Resolutions
Make Habits, Not Resolutions – “Unlike
resolutions, we actually become our habits. There are no changed lives outside
of changed habits. And if we want to actually change, we need to take a sober
look at where our habits are leading us.”
Read the Bible More This Year: Four Great Motivations from God
Read the Bible More This Year: Four Great Motivations
from God – “If you have really struggled to read the Bible more than
you do, take some time alone with God at the beginning of this year. Ask him to
strengthen your faith in what he says about his word. And then think and pray
over promises like these.”
4 Gospel Truths You Must Believe and Teach to Your Kids
4 Gospel Truths You Must Believe and Teach to Your Kids
– “When thinking and speaking of the good news, always keep the following four
truths in mind: God is holy and righteous; we are sinful and rebellious; Jesus
is the answer; but we must respond.”
Jesus: The Perfect Burnt, Sin, and Guilt Offering
Jesus:
The Perfect Burnt, Sin, and Guilt Offering – “In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills
these three types of sin-sacrifices in a way that highlights the different
facets of Christ’s redemptive work on our behalf.”
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Why Modern Christians Should Obey the 10 Commandments
Why Modern Christians Should Obey the 10 Commandments –
“Each of the Ten Commandments now finds a fuller fulfillment in Christ. They
don’t become less than what they were, but now with the advent of Christ, they
become much more in how we fulfill them and how we obey them.”
Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2018
Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2018 – “Each year, on an almost daily
basis, archaeological discoveries help us better understand the Bible and
affirm its details about people, events, and culture. Below are the top
excavation findings reported in 2018 which have increased our knowledge of the
biblical world and the early history of Christianity.”
5 Things Failed New Year’s Resolutions Teach Us
5 Things Failed New Year’s Resolutions Teach Us
– “Here are five things our failed resolutions tell us.”
The Most Important Voice in 2019
The
Most Important Voice in 2019
– “When
we come to the Bible this year and every year, we come to an utterly unique
Book. We come to the living words of the living God made alive for us by his
living Spirit.”
How NOT to Read Your Bible in the New Year
How
NOT to Read Your Bible in the New Year – “What’s going to
make 2019 different? What, under God, will keep you plodding along in
April this year when staying power has generally vanished in
Aprils of yore?”
Giving Up Our Rights
Giving Up Our
Rights –
“Consider the formula: Giving up rights = Gospel advancement. Rights are those
preferences and freedoms we enjoy as Christians related to what we eat, drink,
and enjoy and even some things that we are owed or deserve.”
Your Child’s Greatest Need
Your Child’s Greatest Need – “Your child’s
greatest need is the one you are powerless to meet. The sooner you come to
grips with this reality the better.”
Friday, December 28, 2018
4 Mistakes That Will Sabotage Your New Year’s Resolutions
4 Mistakes That Will Sabotage Your New Year’s
Resolutions – “By February 80 percent of us have stopped jogging,
started sleeping in, or jumped headfirst back into whatever bad habits we
promised to break.”
How Parents Affect Their Children’s Faith (the Latest Findings)
How
Parents Affect Their Children’s Faith (the Latest Findings) –
“The biggest influence on children’s faith is parents.
And this includes spiritual influence as well. Whether positive or negative,
parents, by their words and actions, heavily weigh in on the trajectory of
their child’s spiritual life.”
Spiritual Disciplines for the New Year
Spiritual Disciplines for the New Year – “Our resolutions for the New Year
should certainly include needed spiritual disciplines that will enable us be
more faithful and fruitful in our service of the Lord Jesus.”
You Need Not Worry About Next Year
You Need Not Worry About Next Year – “There is
not one moment we need to fear. Every second of it, God will be working to make
us more like Christ. What could be better than that?”
10 Critical Religious Liberty Cases Coming in 2019
10 Critical Religious Liberty Cases Coming in 2019 – “Although the new year is still a few
days away, ADF is already preparing to defend a number of important legal
challenges to freedom of religion. Here are ten cases coming in 2019 you should
know about.”
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Bible Reading Plans and Guides
Bible Reading Plans and
Guides - Here are a variety of Bible reading plans
for your 2019 reading. I’ve found the use of a plan to be a key to daily
reading of my Bible and to reading through the whole Bible annually.
Skip Resolutions in 2019—Make a Rule of Life
Skip Resolutions in 2019—Make a Rule of Life - A
Rule of Life is “an intentional, conscious plan to keep God at the center of
everything we do...The starting point and foundation of any Rule is a desire to
be with God and to love him.”
The Manger and the Cross: Unlikely Bookends
The
Manger and the Cross: Unlikely Bookends – “Like bookends
facing opposite directions, yet an undeniable pair, consider the relationship
between the manger and the cross.”
Is Everyone Awesome?
Is Everyone Awesome? – “Instead of helping kids to
become confident, stable, and secure—because of humble dependency upon God and
His wisdom—messages like these feed the inborn, natural elevation of self.”
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Choose Faith
Choose
Faith – “Rather than living in a world of constant
questions, we allow this tiny babe in a manger to give us the answer.”
Year End Reflections and Marriage Resolutions
Year
End Reflections and Marriage Resolutions – “We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing
up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. But maybe this year, to
balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking
for flaws, but for potential.”
Can You Really Measure Spiritual Growth?
Can
You Really Measure Spiritual Growth?
– Here are some diagnostic questions to consider as you move into the new year.
5 Ways to Get Closer to God
5
Ways to Get Closer to God
– Here are some good reminders and a couple of things you might have never
considered.
Beware the Idol of Parenting Success
Beware the Idol of Parenting Success – “How do
we know if our desire to be good parents has morphed into an idol that has
gripped our heart? And where should we turn for hope instead?”
Sex on The Silver Screen — Outsourcing Depravity
Sex on The Silver Screen — Outsourcing Depravity –
“When we watch sex on the silver screen, we are asking unbelievers to
behave in ways we would never tolerate among ourselves. Yet we tolerate it so
we can enjoy entertainment we otherwise couldn’t enjoy. We outsource our
depravity so we can live within the letter of the law, even while violating the
spirit.”
Did We Finish Any Good Work This Year?
Did We Finish Any Good Work This Year? – For the moms out there: “So, this year was a
fruitful one filled with good work, because God is faithful to his people and
his glory. Hair combing, dish washing, tear wiping, homework helping, and, yes,
floor mopping may be what made up most of our days, but it was all work we
finished to the glory of God.”
What We Lose if We Ditch the Virgin Birth
What We Lose if We Ditch the Virgin Birth –
“There are a number of problems that arise when we insist the virgin birth
didn’t really take place. Here are a few of the big problems with dispensing
with it.”
How Should We Respond to Those Who Reject Jesus Because Some Christians Are Hypocrites?
How Should We Respond to Those Who Reject Jesus Because
Some Christians Are Hypocrites? – “Jesus himself is the main argument
for why we should believe Christianity.”
Seeking the Peace of Christ this Christmastime
Seeking
the Peace of Christ this Christmastime – “Most of us have an idea of what peace looks like. But is that the
peace that Christ promises?”
Parents What Message Are You Preaching to Your Kids?
Parents What Message Are You Preaching to Your Kids? – “One of the more sobering realities in the life
of a parent is that your life is preaching a message to your kids. They will
leave your house with the message that your life preached ringing in their
ears.”
The Forgotten Part of the Christmas Story
The Forgotten Part of the Christmas Story – “Behind the familiar scenes of
shepherds and wise men so common at this time of year is one so horrific it
often gets overlooked and under preached. Many would not even consider reading
it or telling their children that this was also part of the story that went on
during the time of Jesus’ infancy.”
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
What Child is This?
What Child
is This? – “Verse two of
the Christmas Hymn, “What Child is This?” provides much to
ponder this Christmas.”
Christmas Reminds Us That Jesus is God
Christmas Reminds
Us That Jesus is God – “We believe...in Jesus Christ, [God's] only Son,
our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary...”
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room!
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room! – “How could
there possibly be anything more mysterious and wonderful than the incarnation
of Jesus Christ?”
He Dwells Not Far Off: Reflections on Christmastime
He Dwells Not Far Off: Reflections on Christmastime
– “The peace on earth and good will to men we so desperately long for are only
possible because of that lowly manger scene.”
The Wisdom of God Lay in a Manger
The
Wisdom of God Lay in a Manger
– “Christmas
was the decisive inbreaking of God’s plan into history. Nothing has been the
same since.”
Monday, December 24, 2018
All Was Bright That Awful Night: The Christmas Truce of 1914
All Was
Bright That Awful Night: The Christmas Truce of 1914 – “Amidst
humankind’s greatest parody of hell on earth to date, a song broke into the
darkness of World War I. The war had not ended, but light had dawned for a
night.”
The Advent Willingness of Jesus
The Advent Willingness of Jesus – “So here’s
what the Christmas story is all about: a willing Savior is born to rescue
unwilling people from themselves because there is no other way.”
Remembering the Righteousness of Joseph
Remembering
the Righteousness of Joseph
– I am blessed by Joseph. I am encouraged by Joseph. And I am challenged by
Joseph. It’s no wonder that God picked him to be the father of Jesus.”
The “Mega Joy” of Christmas
The “Mega Joy” of Christmas –
The joy of Christmas is no ordinary joy, but the “mega joy” of redemptive
history.
Why We Know So Little About Jesus’ Birth
Why We Know So Little About Jesus’ Birth – “When it comes to the birth of Jesus,
we get all the details we need to understand one thing with the utmost clarity:
Jesus comes as the least.”
A Christmas Carol for the Weak
A Christmas Carol for the Weak – “We would do
well this Christmas, and any time of year, to listen carefully to Mary’s
strange song — strange to humans attuned to the music of the world, but deeply
thrilling to those who have been given an ear for the God who is, not the God
of our imaginations.”
What Makes Christmas So Controversial?
What
Makes Christmas So Controversial?
– The
three main needs that the gospel meets are felt by almost nobody.”
His Heart Is Broad as Heaven: Why God Delights to Forgive
His Heart Is Broad as Heaven: Why God Delights to Forgive – “All Christians believe
that God forgives sins. But how many of us feel, deep down in our bones, that
God delights to forgive?”
Saturday, December 22, 2018
That You May Believe
That You
May Believe – “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir
my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true
story.”
No Low Too Low
No Low
Too Low – “Through
his birth, his life, and his death, he shows that the way to be great in God’s
eyes is to go low, to love others, to serve others, to give up comfort, to give
up privilege, and to do it all for God’s glory.”
Unwrapping the Gift of Reconciliation this Christmas
Unwrapping
the Gift of Reconciliation this Christmas – “Like Christmas
itself, we can become nostalgic about reconciliation rather than embrace the
messy grace and humility that it requires.”
The Birth of the Ancient of Days
The Birth of the Ancient of Days – Here is a Christmas
text you may not have considered – Jesus on trial before Pilate.
Christmas for the Weary
Christmas for the Weary – “A season of presumed
celebration makes the hardships even more apparent. So Isaiah 9 is for us.”
His Heart Is Broad as Heaven: Why God Delights to Forgive
His Heart Is Broad as Heaven: Why God Delights to
Forgive – “All Christians believe that God forgives sins. But how many
of us feel, deep down in our bones, that God delights to
forgive?”
3 Reasons to Preach Through Daniel
3
Reasons to Preach Through Daniel (or read Daniel) – “Daniel
speaks to God’s exiled people today (1 Peter 1:1) who still wait for a better
king and better kingdom.”
Top 10 News Stories of 2018
Top 10 News Stories of 2018 –
Facts and Trends: “What were the top
headlines for evangelicals this year? Here are the 10 our team thinks were the
biggest stories of 2018.”
Friday, December 21, 2018
What the Bible Says to the Jaded, Discouraged, and Worn Out
What the Bible Says to the Jaded, Discouraged, and Worn Out – “Christmas season is the season of
joy, but it is also a time when the cumulative weight of all that has happened
in the course of the year catches up with you.”
10 Suggestions For Your Personal Devotions in 2019
10 Suggestions For Your Personal Devotions in 2019
– The list contains Bible reading and devotional plans.
13 Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
13
Characteristics of the Holy Spirit
– “The Scripture provides a number of phrases that describe the characteristics
of the Holy Spirit.”
3 Keys to Living a More Meaningful Life in the New Year
3
Keys to Living a More Meaningful Life in the New Year – “Every year, as we enter a New Year, we have high
hopes for living a more meaningful, purposeful life. Here are three ideas, that
can be applied by anyone from any walk of life, that will help you move on your
desire to lead a more meaningful life in the New Year.”
2 Things to Remember When Setting Resolutions
2 Things to Remember When Setting Resolutions –
“With some accountability and guidance from Scripture, I think you can find
success when it comes to fulfilling your resolutions this coming year.”
If I Could Choose 3 New Year’s Resolutions for You
If I Could Choose 3 New Year’s Resolutions for You –
“I think if every Christian focused on these three areas in the coming year, we
might see some drastic changes taking place in our churches.”
“That’s What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown”
“That’s
What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown” – “And at one time, most of the country would have
agreed with Linus regarding what Christmas is all about…but times have changed.”
A Bittersweet Christmas Gift
A Bittersweet
Christmas Gift –
“The sweet, but poignant moment clicking their picture brought into focus how
quickly it all passes: the young girl, beside the elderly woman who no longer
remembers me, but who, not too long ago, was a vibrant young girl herself.”
Legalism Is Easier, the Gospel Is Better
Legalism Is Easier, the Gospel Is Better – ” Legalism allows us many of the benefits of
Christianity like community, acceptance, and even grace, but it stops short of
true salvation. It doesn’t truly penetrate your heart and change your life.”
There Is No Such Thing as Worldly Security
There
Is No Such Thing as Worldly Security – “When I look at all God has provided for me, I ought to give him
thanks and credit…but I should not expect it as my due. When I am lacking
something, be it food or peace or health, I must take the approach that the
world sees as foolish—to refuse to lay up treasure for myself, but instead
marvel at and await my beautiful future with Christ, who has made me rich in
him.”
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Even as a Secular Holiday, Christmas Makes the Gospel Accessible
Even as a Secular Holiday, Christmas Makes the Gospel
Accessible – “Christmas, like
God himself, is both more wondrous and more threatening than we imagine.”
All Is Calm: The Soul-Soothing Significance of 200 Years of ‘Silent Night’
All Is Calm: The Soul-Soothing Significance of 200
Years of ‘Silent Night’ – “As we celebrate the 200th anniversary
of this carol, we remember that we’re not the first ones to experience the
calming effect it brings into moments of stress.”
When Your Sin Finds You Out
When Your
Sin Finds You Out – “There’s a deep truth running through the
world—evil exists and evil is exposed. It’s really hard to deny that; it’s just
so obvious.”
Where Is Jesus in the Old Testament? How to Find Him on Every Last Page
Where Is Jesus in the Old Testament? How to Find Him on
Every Last Page – “Perhaps we’d be helped by a simple framework for how
Christ is at the heart of the Scriptures: he is patterned, promised, and
present from Genesis onward.”
Here Are Five Signs of Maturity in Christ
Here
Are Five Signs of Maturity in Christ – “The Bible makes it
clear that we can grow in our faith and in holiness. It is not a linear path,
where we are continually helpless and have no part to play. God tells us we can
make steps forward toward him, and is always calling us closer, deeper into His
ways.”
An Open Letter to the Depressed Christian at Christmas
An Open Letter to the Depressed Christian at Christmas – “Let
me propose a better way that will enable you to carefully navigate this holiday
season while also contributing to your long-term healing.”
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2019
10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2019
– This will be helpful as you plan for the new year as a family.
10 Ways to Process the Emotions of Christmas Loss
10
Ways to Process the Emotions of Christmas Loss – “Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. But, for
some people, Christmas can be a miserable time.”
How to Love a Prodigal Son or Daughter
How
to Love a Prodigal Son or Daughter
– “Some know all too well the challenges of loving a child who leaves not just
the home, but the faith as well.”
Joy to the World
Joy to
the World – “The best gift you
can give to each other and your children is a heart filled with Christ-inspired
joy.”
God So Loved the World, He Sent You
God So Loved the World, He Sent You – “As you
sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John
17:18)
Will We Meet Jesus as Soon as We Die?
Will
We Meet Jesus as Soon as We Die? – “Paul did not conceive of a time when the body dies and we are not at
home with the Lord.”
The Stark Difference Between John MacArthur and Bishop Robert Barron
The Stark Difference Between John MacArthur and Bishop Robert
Barron –
“John MacArthur had a simple, clear goal throughout the interview: to present
the Gospel faithfully. You could see throughout the interview that he had great
compassion for Ben Shapiro, and desperately wanted Ben to hear the truth. Barron
on the other hand encouraged Shapiro in his quest to salvation through his
works.” You can read the summary or watch the video interviews.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Breakthrough Moments in the Christian Life
Breakthrough Moments in the Christian Life – “Keep
persevering Christian. You may be just one degree away from a life-changing
breakthrough in growth, in sanctification, and in usefulness.”
The Greatest Salvation Imaginable
The Greatest Salvation Imaginable – “God is
just and holy and separated from sinners like us. This is our main problem at
Christmas — and every other season. How shall we get right with a just and holy
God?”
Don't Reap to the Edge of Your Field
Don't Reap
to the Edge of Your Field – “We live in a margin-less world. Everything
from our time to our money is pretty much spoken for. We are reaping to the end
of the fields.”
The Number 1 Reason for the Decline in Church Attendance
The Number 1 Reason for the Decline in Church Attendance –
“The number one reason for the decline in church attendance is that members
attend with less frequency than they did just a few years ago.”
The Child Who Won the War Against Children: How Christmas Kills Infanticide
The Child
Who Won the War Against Children: How Christmas Kills Infanticide – “Of
course, infanticide wasn’t instantly wiped out when the Son of God became the
son of Mary. But Jesus’s incarnation forever dignified the infant form, and his
teachings promoted babies from possessions to persons.”
Christian, You Are Not the Center of the Universe
Christian, You Are
Not the Center of the Universe – “Next time you feel
anxious after watching a cable news broadcast or reading a tweet, remember we
worship the same God Daniel did.”
Why Our Spiritual Gifts Might Not Be All That Spiritual
Why
Our Spiritual Gifts Might Not Be All That Spiritual –
“Spiritual gifts have little to do with innate personal strengths and far more
to do with a yielded weakness.”
Monday, December 17, 2018
Where First-Time Bible Readers Should Start
Where
First-Time Bible Readers Should Start – “To know what
to read in the Bible, it helps to know what’s in it and how it’s organized. It
also helps to use your own interests and curiosities.”
God Is Your Open Door
God Is
Your Open Door – “God is the one person you can talk to 24 hours a day,
every day. He's always available — always welcoming humble hearts that truly
desire his company, and even messy hearts willing to change.”
When the Holiday Season Is Difficult
When the Holiday Season Is Difficult – “We pray
for friends facing their first Christmas having committed a loved one to
eternity. Death is a thief whose robbery is most profoundly felt during
holidays.”
5 Reasons I Hate the Prosperity Gospel
5
Reasons I Hate the Prosperity Gospel – It’s the most common false
teaching in the world today and it creeps into our thinking more than we realize.
10 Really Big Questions About the Future of Church Attendance (and 10 Hunches)
10 Really Big Questions About the Future of Church
Attendance (and 10 Hunches) – The issues are big and the consequences
generational and eternal.
Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions
Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions – “We don’t
simply aim to make ourselves better; we strive to develop disciplines that will
help us glorify God, steward what He’s given us, and grow in Christlikeness.”
Sunday, December 16, 2018
God’s Most Successful Setback
God’s Most Successful Setback – “Christmas
marked the beginning of God’s most successful setback. He has always delighted
to show his power through apparent defeat. He makes tactical retreats in order
to win strategic victories.”
Saturday, December 15, 2018
This Christmas, What is Your Good?
This Christmas, What is Your Good? – “What is
good cannot be found by looking at our culture. Christians have a different
standard for goodness.”
The (Hidden) Theology and History of “O Come O Come Emmanuel”
The
(Hidden) Theology and History of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” –
“When we sing the lyrics of this song, we’re not only celebrating the birth of
our savior, Jesus, but we’re also preparing our hearts and growing in
excitement for Jesus’ return, which we may actually witness during our
lifetime.”
The 7 Most Significant Religious Freedom Victories of 2018
The 7 Most Significant Religious Freedom Victories of
2018 – “The Constitution and other federal and state laws protect this
right to determine both what we believe and, in a more limited sense, how we
act on those beliefs.”
The Visionary Worrywart
The Visionary Worrywart – Worriers are always looking to the future—a future
that is tragic and brutal.
Misguided Proposal From Christian Leaders and LGBT Activists Is Anything but ‘Fairness for All’
Misguided Proposal From Christian Leaders and LGBT Activists Is
Anything but ‘Fairness for All’ – Biblical Christian ethics
must be biblical above all things.
Not Everything Needs a Gospel Talk
Not Everything Needs a Gospel Talk – “I am a firm believer that, at some
point, you actually have to share the gospel and that if all you’re doing is
mercy ministry, or acts of service without words, you are not doing gospel
ministry. But that doesn’t mean those sorts of things have absolutely no
evangelistic value whatsoever.”
Friday, December 14, 2018
“Does God See Me?” An Advent Devotional
“Does God See Me?” An Advent Devotional
– “To be seen is to be known. It is to be understood. It is to have our
circumstances measured, our burdens weighed, our situations assessed and
appreciated. But motherhood is often hidden...And we wonder if God sees us in
our secret settings. Does he know? Does he understand what we’re walking
through?”
My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience
My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience – “Over 100 members of Early Rain
Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, were arrested beginning Sunday, December 9.
At the time of publication of this translation, arrests are still being made.
Among those taken away were Pastor Wang Yi, senior pastor of Early Rain, and
his wife, Jiang Rong, who have not been heard from since Sunday. Foreseeing this
circumstance, Pastor Wang Yi wrote the declaration below to be published by his
church should he be detained for more than 48 hours.”
The Incarnation Began Before Christmas
The Incarnation Began Before Christmas
– “God didn’t enter into humanity on Christmas morning as a newborn baby. He
entered it nine months earlier inside of Mary’s womb.God didn’t enter into
humanity on Christmas morning as a newborn baby. He entered it nine months
earlier inside of Mary’s womb.”
Why Do We Give Christmas Gifts?
Why
Do We Give Christmas Gifts?
– “It’s
good to ask which aspects of our giving and getting are merely cultural and
which are shaped by Christ to magnify Christ.”
There is No Such Thing as Worldly Security
There is No Such Thing as Worldly Security – “When I look at all God has provided
for me, I ought to give him thanks and credit… but I should not expect it as my
due. When I am lacking something, be it food or peace or health, I must take
the approach that the world sees as foolish—to refuse to lay up treasure for
myself, but instead marvel at and await my beautiful future with Christ, who
has made me rich in him (2 Cor 8:9).”
Focus on What God Has Revealed, Not Concealed
Focus on What God Has Revealed, Not Concealed – “God is kind to open minds to
understand the Word of God, and as he does, he enflames hearts to rejoice in
the God of the Word. Like Mary, I treasure these things up in my heart.”
Busy is a Four-Letter Word
Busy is a Four-Letter Word – “When you stop and
think about it, busy is a four-letter word because it’s a seductive way to keep
us from being accountable for accomplishing the things we want and need to do.”
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Thirty Three Years
Thirty Three
Years – “Tell your children the awesome story of those thirty-three
years. Tell them the story from the manger to the cross.”
Is There a Loneliness Epidemic?
Is There a Loneliness Epidemic? – “We have
drifted from seeing the biblical picture of the gospel, which balances for us
the personal and the communal, the one and the many, the individual and the
community.”
Singing From Mary’s Sheet
Singing
From Mary’s Sheet – “This familiar Christmas
passage is often called Mary’s Song or the Magnificat, which is
Latin for magnify.”
How to Love Hard People at Christmas
How to
Love Hard People at Christmas – “As we head into the relational trials
and opportunities of the season, I’m reminding myself of three important texts
for how real Christmas joy produces, rather than compromises,
love for others.”
Why X-mas Actually Keeps Christ in Christmas
Why X-mas Actually Keeps Christ in Christmas – “When
properly understood, it’s more like using “JFK” to refer to John F. Kennedy
than removing a reference to Jesus from the celebration of His birthday.” That
can be good or bad.
Christmas Teaches Us That Virtual Reality Church is No Gift
Christmas Teaches
Us That Virtual Reality Church is No Gift – “The Gospel is
incarnational, hence the church is meant to carry and live the message of the
Gospel incarnationally. Any substitution is less than the complete Gospel.”
Why Regrets Are a Waste of Time
Why
Regrets Are a Waste of Time – “It’s that time of
year where we may feel regret because we didn’t do what we had planned to do,
because we tried but didn’t even come close, because well, we failed. Big time.”
The Error of Prosperity Theology
The Error
of Prosperity Theology – “The error of prosperity theology comes down
to one question: Does the Christian receive all the benefits of the cross now,
or are some benefits of salvation kept for us until Christ returns? That's it.
How you answer that question determines if you embrace prosperity theology or
not.”
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Far as the Curse Is Found
Far as
the Curse Is Found – “Our songs at Christmas serve to remind us that
this season isn’t merely about looking back at that holy night when Christ was
born. Rather, our celebration of his first coming is meant to nurture in us a
greater longing for his second coming.”
Bible Readers Searched Most for a Plan in 2018
Bible Readers Searched Most for a Plan in 2018 –
Bible Gateway reveals what people searched for most often in the Bible.
Why Jesus Came
Why Jesus
Came – “This, I think, is my favorite Advent text because I don’t know
any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and
the end of Jesus’s earthly life — between the incarnation and crucifixion.”
Know Who You Are Not
Know Who
You Are Not – “Many of the problems that plague us as Christians begin
with misplaced identity.”
Are Screens Affecting Our Children’s Brains?
Are
Screens Affecting Our Children’s Brains? – “The
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying the effect of screen time
for children. The preliminary results are in and they’re not good.”
Why the North American Church Is Unlikely to Experience Revival
Why
the North American Church Is Unlikely to Experience Revival – “Our church
culture doesn’t exhibit some of the characteristics that have preceded God’s
great movements.”
Should Christians Demand That People Say ‘Merry Christmas’?
Should Christians Demand That People Say ‘Merry
Christmas’? – “In our increasingly hostile environment, we need to find
a way of speaking the good news without being caustic, a way of being
conciliatory without surrendering our voice.”
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
A Lesson Heard in Longfellow’s Home
A Lesson Heard in Longfellow’s Home –
Here is the inspiring story behind the song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas
Day”.
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh
Gold, Frankincense,
and Myrrh – “Whatever opposition I may find, I joyfully ascribe
authority and dignity to you, and bring my gifts to say that you alone can
satisfy my heart, not holding on to these gifts.”
Making Music to Jesus in Our Hearts
Making Music to Jesus in Our Hearts – We don’t
want a “merry little Christmas,” we want one as big as the gospel is
beautiful.
Every Sin / Every Temptation Not Taken
Every Sin / Every Temptation Not Taken – “You should thank God that he is
working out his salvation in you, for his good pleasure and your good.”
Most Americans Find Fulfillment in Family, Not Faith
Most Americans Find Fulfillment in Family, Not Faith
– “Almost 7 in 10 Americans (69 percent) mentioned family when describing where
they find a sense of meaning in the open-ended survey, with similar results
emerging in the close-ended survey. In both surveys, Americans’ dependence on
faith trailed significantly behind.”
5 Simple Ways to Share Christ This Christmas
5
Simple Ways to Share Christ This Christmas –
“Christmas is one of the holidays where engaging others in a Gospel
conversation can be easier and more natural.”
How Hollywood Hijacked Your Mind
How
Hollywood Hijacked Your Mind – “Today, we are simply
peer pressured into accepting every sexy wind of heresy and affirming every
possible sexual orientation our sideways imaginations can conjure
up. More often than not, though, this peer pressure takes the form of appealing
sitcoms and catchy lyrics. It’s taken time, but media has so influenced our
culture that to frown upon such media or behavior doesn’t make you pious, it
makes you a prude.”
Look Forward to a Better Christmas
Look Forward to a Better Christmas – “If you
accept this gift, you have everything to look forward to. You can always know
your best days are ahead. Whatever else is going on in life, you can look at
Jesus with a kind of giddy ‘I can’t wait for him to come back’ feeling.”
The Gospel According to the Fellowship Hall
The Gospel
According to the Fellowship Hall
–
“See, you cannot grow in holiness and holier-than-thou-ness at the same time.
So a church that makes its main thing the gospel, and when faced with sin in
its ranks doesn’t simply crack the whip of the law but says “remember the
gospel,” should gradually be seeing grace coming to bear.”
Monday, December 10, 2018
Dealing With Christmas Stress: How to Avoid a “Bah, Humbug!” Christmas
Dealing
With Christmas Stress: How to Avoid a “Bah, Humbug!” Christmas –
“So what can you do to ease the hectic feeling of an overloaded schedule?”
It’s Never ‘Just Business’ at Work
It’s Never ‘Just Business’ at Work – “The light
of Christ in us might be the only flicker our coworkers and clients ever see.”
Two Kinds of Opposition to Jesus
Two Kinds of Opposition to Jesus – “So today,
these two kinds of opposition will come against Christ and his worshipers:
indifference and hostility. I surely hope that you are not in one of those
groups.”
Bethlehem’s Supernatural Star
Bethlehem’s Supernatural Star – We risk a “mentality
for the marginal” when we bog down in the details and miss the message.
How to Care for Those Who Are Suffering and Grieving at Christmastime
How to Care for Those Who Are Suffering and Grieving at
Christmastime – “While each person and each loss is unique, from my
experience, here are five suggestions for caring for those who are suffering at
Christmas.”
What If I Never Get Better? How Not to Comfort Suffering People
What If I Never Get Better? How Not to Comfort
Suffering People – “Why do we offer whitewashed comfort anyway?”
Are You Raising a Narcissist?
Are You Raising a Narcissist? – “The parent who always insists
on being right or knowing more than others,
should not be surprised if his or her children display the same behaviors.”
Joni and Suffering Well
Joni and Suffering Well –
“Still what continually stuns me, and convicts me, is how Joni understands—even
now, even after fifty years in a wheelchair and even in the midst of a second
battle with cancer—that her suffering is not about her. It has eternal potential.”
5 Ways Grown Children Can Love Their Parents
5 Ways Grown Children Can Love Their Parents – “As a Christian, your ministry to your
parents should be distinctly Christian—done in the love of Christ, speaking
about the gospel of Christ, aiming for the glory of Christ.”
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Why Christians Should Think More About Heaven
Why Christians Should Think More About Heaven – “We focus a ton on what’s right in
front of us—politics, movies, our social-media feeds—but give little thought to
what lies ahead in eternity. Small wonder so many believers today are discouraged.”
Sharing Mary’s Awe and Hope
Sharing Mary’s Awe and Hope – “Heavenly Father,
with Mary, we are in awe of the mind-boggling, heart-encouraging promises
you’ve made about the coming(s) of Jesus. We’re thankful everything you’ve
promised will come to pass.”
We Fall for the Feeling of Christmas: The Subtle War in Our Celebrations
We Fall
for the Feeling of Christmas: The Subtle War in Our Celebrations – “Our
battle is to get underneath all the commercialism and consumerism, to actually
experience Christ Jesus, our Savior, who has come — and who will come again.”
Porn Stars Bear God’s Image
Porn Stars Bear
God’s Image – Russell
Meek: “Next time you find yourself staring at people having sex, stop and think
for a moment about who those people are—image bearers of the almighty God.”
Friday, December 7, 2018
God Uses Damaged Goods
God Uses Damaged Goods – “When life
hits us hard, we feel like something is broken and unfixable inside of us. We
consider ourselves to be flawed and no longer valuable or desirable because of
something we have done or something that was done to us.
Prostitutes, Mistresses, and the Messiah: Seven Great Women of Ill Repute
Prostitutes, Mistresses, and the Messiah: Seven Great
Women of Ill Repute – “God has thousands of reasons for everything he
does. One great reason he founded this gracious sorority was to remind us of
his lavish, unmerited grace to the undeserved and unlikely and despised.”
The Wonder of Christmas
The Wonder of Christmas – “Enjoy the journey.
There’s going to be traffic, lines, and surly shoppers and sales clerks. You
know this–but don’t let it affect the joy of the season; wait with joyful
expectation.”
Messiah for the Magi
Messiah
for the Magi – Matthew
portrays Jesus at the beginning and ending of his Gospel as a universal Messiah
for all the nations, not just for Jews.”
7 Staggering Things That Happen When We Pray for One Another
7
Staggering Things That Happen When We Pray for One Another –
“Paul’s example demonstrates how incredibly important it is for us to pray for
one another.”
How to Forge a Friendship
How to Forge a Friendship – “Friendships are an amazing discovery in life. But
strong friendships don’t just spring from nothing. Friendships require wise
effort. They require forging. And in his grace, God has given us wisdom in the
book of Proverbs to understand this forging process.”
Thursday, December 6, 2018
The Longing to Be Free from Fear
The Longing to Be Free from Fear – “In our
longing to be free from fear, we can take Mary’s story to heart.”
10 Christmas Story Truths Students Should Know
10
Christmas Story Truths Students Should Know – “The Christmas story is literally crammed full of
powerful teachings. Here are 10 takeaways.”
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