Reaching Cultural Christianity With The Gospel

Reaching Cultural Christianity With The Gospel – “Here are some tips to remember when establishing a starting point in a spiritual conversation with a Cultural Christian.”

What to Say When Your Child Asks if Pets Go to Heaven

What to Say When Your Child Asks if Pets Go to Heaven – Good, simple, and spiritual advice for parents.

14 Skills Your Kids Should Have Before Moving Out

14 Skills Your Kids Should Have Before Moving Out – “Today’s parents have done a much better job protecting their kids than preparing them.”

China, Saudi Arabia Top Report of Countries Most Threatening to Religious Freedom

China, Saudi Arabia Top Report of Countries Most Threatening to Religious Freedom – “The report takes stock of religious freedoms all over the world, tracking how countries repress faith inside their borders.”

12 Powerful Surprises About the Resurrection of Jesus

 12 Powerful Surprises About the Resurrection of Jesus – “Here are an even dozen aspects of the resurrection of Jesus that instruct our minds, inspire our hearts and inform us all.”

If Your Friends Are All Christians, You’re Missing the Point of Following Jesus

If Your Friends Are All Christians, You’re Missing the Point of Following Jesus – “Jesus didn’t join in the debauchery of those he befriended outside of religious circles, but he didn’t adhere to the self-righteous zealots, either.”

Grieve with Hope

Grieve with Hope – “All people grieve, but Christians grieve differently.”

If the Bible Is Wrong, I’m So, So Wrong

If the Bible Is Wrong, I’m So, So Wrong – “When it comes to the Bible, we’ve all got a choice to make. We can take the Bible on our terms, or on its terms. We can choose to follow it some of the way, or we can choose to follow it all the way. We can dabble in it, or we can dive deep into it. At some point we have to choose.”

What Leaders Can Learn From Moses

What Leaders Can Learn From Moses – Kelly King shares 7 lessons from Moses' life that are helpful for the leader. Some of them include working in a team, and facing opposition courageously. 

God Comes Close

God Comes Close – “The challenge is that God’s closeness does not always seem to matter. Our anxieties want relief now, and God’s promises do not guarantee an easier life. He promises a full and abundant life, not an easy one. Confidence in Jesus does not act like a sedative.”

Look Backwards

Look Backwards – “Most people find it pretty easy to accept that the good things which happen are from the hand of a good God. But what about the bad?”

The Road from Emmaus

The Road from Emmaus – What do we do after experiences like the disciples had on the road to Emmaus? Aniu Kevichusa reflects on what we can learn from the disciples and how we might cope with shocking circumstances. 

s Contentment Even Possible?

Is Contentment Even Possible? – “Is it tough to imagine that people with abundance struggle with contentment? Shouldn't the wealthy and most successful people be the happiest? The opposite seems true as Americans are becoming less happy rather than more.”

10 BIG Things Jesus Said That We Often Forget

10 BIG Things Jesus Said That We Often Forget – Don’t forget these things.

Evangelism Is More Prayer Than Action for Protestant Churchgoers

Evangelism Is More Prayer Than Action for Protestant Churchgoers – “Most Protestant churchgoers say they are eager to talk to others about Jesus, and are praying for opportunities to share their faith. But most say they have not had any evangelistic conversations in the past six months.”

Is Early Retirement Biblical?

Is Early Retirement Biblical? – “I don’t think working to achieve financial independence is wrong; but the problem may lie with the motivation.”

The Cultural Revolution Comes to North America

The Cultural Revolution Comes to North America – “The goal is not to persuade or debate; it is to humiliate the target and intimidate everyone else. The ultimate objective is to destroy independent thought.”

Love Hopes All Things—And Tosses the Worst Assumptions

Love Hopes All Things—And Tosses the Worst Assumptions – “With the admonition to be slow to speak we should also remember, So be slow to assume.”

7 Practical Ways to Spark Spiritual Conversations With Your Children

7 Practical Ways to Spark Spiritual Conversations With Your Children – “Consider the following practical ways to make room for spiritual conversations in everyday family life.”

4 Ways Your Whole Bible Points to Jesus

4 Ways Your Whole Bible Points to Jesus – “God’s Word predicts, prepares for, reflects, or results from the person and/or work of Christ.”

Stop Eating Spiritual Candy

Stop Eating Spiritual Candy – “Christians frequently exchange the nourishing truths of God’s Word for “sweeter” substitutes. Particularly when life wears us thin, we can lean on half-truths about our own resilience rather than on reminders of God’s sovereignty and sufficiency.”

Making the Faith Your Own Is not the Same as Making Up Your Own Faith

Making the Faith Your Own Is not the Same as Making Up Your Own Faith – There are several excellent points made here. Much is said in written in the name of Christianity that is neither Christ nor biblical.

7 Real-Life Struggles That Jesus Can Identify With

7 Real-Life Struggles That Jesus Can Identify With – “If there’s anybody who can understand what you’re going through, it’s Jesus.”

The Worst Consequence of Skipping Church

The Worst Consequence of Skipping Church – “The first sin of skipping church is the sin of failing to love others.”

Seeing God with Renewed Eyes

Seeing God with Renewed Eyes – “Job was a different man after his trial than he was before it. God’s grace had brought healing to his soul.”

The Doctrine of God and the Content of Our Prayers

The Doctrine of God and the Content of Our Prayers – “Here are reflections on four truths about God that influence the content of our prayers.”​

Empathy Requires Humility

Empathy Requires Humility – “Genuine empathy requires humility. But humility is developed by suffering. In this way, God equips us to be more authentic ministers of the grace of comfort.”

The Many Medicines of the Lord

The Many Medicines of the Lord – “His graces are shaping you with and in the gospel.​ His gentleness is molding you (Psalm 18:35b).”

The Worrisome Reasons Why Church Membership Is Falling

The Worrisome Reasons Why Church Membership Is Falling – “The most recent Gallup report identifies three statistical realities that have contributed to the nationwide membership decline.”

More Than Half of Churchgoers Haven’t Told Anyone About Jesus in the Past 6 Months

More Than Half of Churchgoers Haven’t Told Anyone About Jesus in the Past 6 Months – I thank the Lord our church is breaking that pattern.

Introverts and Church

Introverts and Church – 9 Reasons Introverts Can Do Well in Ministry

3 Helpful Reminders When We’re Surprised By Our Sin

3 Helpful Reminders When We’re Surprised By Our Sin – “The grace that comes alongside these frequent struggles, is that the Spirit teaches us how to fight them. He reminds us of our desperate need for His help, because we know all too well that we can’t overcome them on our own.”

Will We Learn in Heaven?

Will We Learn in Heaven? – “Does Scripture indicate that we will learn in Heaven? Yes.”

Do You Have a Mutual Fund Faith?

Do You Have a Mutual Fund Faith? – “There’s wisdom in mitigating your risk with a mutual fund. But that’s toxic when it comes to God. And yet that’s precisely what many of us do. We hedge our faith.”

Restoration, Refreshment, and Renewal

Restoration, Refreshment, and Renewal – “Everybody needs what you alone can give, Jesus—new mercies, fresh grace and renewed joy.”

Chip Away at Your Children’s Spiritual Growth

Chip Away at Your Children’s Spiritual Growth – “We know the truth is that real growth comes in one small, right decision after another. And so it is with bringing up children in the Lord.”

The One Who Looks After You

The One Who Looks After You – “God hears and sees you in the midst of your pain, and will always look after you. No matter what your grief, loss, or even fear, he knows every part of it.”

God Has a Plan Through Your Life

God Has a Plan Through Your Life – “God’s plan doesn’t just involve your circumstances; it involves the blessing you pass on to others.”

How Nick Saban Develops Grit in His Players

How Nick Saban Develops Grit in His Players – In a world where we talk about a generation of snowflakes, there is some good truth here.

Staying on Mission in the Age of Outrage

Staying on Mission in the Age of Outrage – “How do Christians respond in a Christ-honoring way to a world awash in division and hostility?”

The FAQs: Supreme Court to Decide Whether ‘Sex’ Includes Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The FAQs: Supreme Court to Decide Whether ‘Sex’ Includes Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – “There are three main reasons Christians should be concerned about the Court ruling that the term ‘sex’ covers gender identity and sexual orientation.”

9 Things Everyone Should Do When Reading the Bible

9 Things Everyone Should Do When Reading the Bible – Good encouragements.

It is well

It is well ... – A great hymn came from the pen of a troubled—and troublesome—man

The Bombs on Easter Sunday

The Bombs on Easter Sunday – Five Ways to Pray for Sri Lanka

Is God Enough?

Is God Enough? – “Today, if you lost everything you hold dear in this world, would God be enough? Would your heart be peacefully content? Joyful?”

7 Motivations for Making Disciples

7 Motivations for Making Disciples – “I eventually realized that there were multiple reasons I was passionate about discipleship. The number of reasons was too many for a simple answer because discipleship intersects with multiple motivations.”

There Is Nothing Dull or Lackluster About Heaven

There Is Nothing Dull or Lackluster About Heaven – “Far from our own space and time is the perfect source and true center of all that is really important—an eternal place where the most glorious sights and the most incomparable sounds will never pass away!”

What Does “Coram Deo” Mean?

What Does “Coram Deo” Mean? – “To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God.”

Reducing the Stumbling Block before THE Stumbling Block

Reducing the Stumbling Block before THE Stumbling Block – “We all put stumbling blocks before unbelievers can get to the stumbling block of the cross. Some of these are beyond our control, but others are within our powers of adjustment.” 

Notre Dame and the Two Kinds of Secularism

Notre Dame and the Two Kinds of Secularism – “It’s ironic that they are willing to do without Christian beliefs and promote expunging the Christian presence from the public square, yet are so heart-broken at the near loss of a Christian building.”

What the Gospel Is

What the Gospel Is – “If your gospel proclamation does not contain at its heart the announcement of Jesus Christ crucified and raised for sinners, then it is not gospel proclamation.”

Does Your Search History Know You?

Does Your Search History Know You? – “We are known by what we’re searching for.”

O Death, Where Is Your Victory? Reflections of Death at Easter

O Death, Where Is Your Victory? Reflections of Death at Easter – The fact that Jesus climbed out of that tomb changes everything.

Every Sin Is A Small One: How To Safely Betray Christ

Every Sin Is A Small One: How To Safely Betray Christ – Joshua Gibbs writes about the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter. These two portions of the gospel story show us truths about our own sin and deceit. 

Psalm 22 Is All About The Cross

Psalm 22 Is All About The Cross – Antonio Coppola shares four truths about the cross that are in Psalm 22, including the fact that Jesus came to be rejected by man. 

My Joy Is So Short-Lived — How Do I Make It Last?

My Joy Is So Short-Lived — How Do I Make It Last? – “It is biblical and good to think of corporate worship on Sunday as a God-designed weekly high point in your spiritual life.”

God Does Not Delight to Grieve the Children of Men

God Does Not Delight to Grieve the Children of Men – Suffering may come for many reasons but God doesn’t waste our hurts.

Silent Saturday: The Day Before Jesus’ Resurrection

Silent Saturday: The Day Before Jesus’ Resurrection – “Resurrection Sunday was coming, and there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. The silence of Saturday would soon be shattered with the shouts of Sunday.”

How the Old Testament Prepares Us for the Third Day

How the Old Testament Prepares Us for the Third Day – “In the Old Testament we find a pattern of God doing big things on the third day. Redemptive things. Revelatory things. And yes, resurrection things. Here are four examples.”

The Veil Was Torn in Two: What Happened on Good Friday?

The Veil Was Torn in Two: What Happened on Good Friday? – “Matthew in particular narrates the tearing of the veil in a way that reveals its epoch-turning significance.”

Saturday: It is Finished

Saturday: It is Finished – “They thought things were over, but somehow they knew it was not true. The unspoken question still hung heavily in the air. What would Sunday bring?”

Mockery

Mockery – “A key feature of that dreadful day was mockery. Yes there was torture, betrayal and crucifixion. And they are terrible, terrible things. And in that context mockery may seem a minor thing. But not to the Gospel writer…”

The Holy Spirit Is Not Casper the Friendly Ghost

The Holy Spirit Is Not Casper the Friendly Ghost – “When the Holy Spirit is cartoonized or overly emphasized and brought to the forefront of our worship—we grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”

Charles Darwin’s Grave Mistake

Charles Darwin’s Grave Mistake – “One hundred and thirty-seven years ago, on April 19, 1882, a seventy-three-year-old man died at home in his bed. He was surrounded by his wife and two of his children, all three of whom wept inconsolably.”

The Agony of Jesus on Good Friday, and His Triumph on Easter Sunday

The Agony of Jesus on Good Friday, and His Triumph on Easter Sunday – Here are good reminders.

What’s the Significance of Simon Carrying Jesus’s Cross?

What’s the Significance of Simon Carrying Jesus’s Cross? – “The call to suffer for Jesus is often sudden and costly and seemingly random.”

An Embarrassing Easter Story

An Embarrassing Easter Story – “Christ’s sacrifice transformed his bickering disciples into men who brought the gospel to their world. Jesus turned ugliness into beauty, selfish men into servants for the gospel. He turned a story of embarrassment into a story beauty and faith.”

Want to Know Jesus More? Read the Old Testament

Want to Know Jesus More? Read the Old Testament – “We cannot be followers of Jesus and unfollowers of his own Scriptures.”

When Trials Become Joy

When Trials Become Joy – “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition be inspired and success be achieved.”

10 Popular Psalms to Increase Your Joy This Easter

10 Popular Psalms to Increase Your Joy This Easter – “This Easter season, remember the work of Jesus Christ, our savior. Forget not that he paid the penalty for all your sins. Forget not that he took on the death you deserved and gave you the life he earned. And forget not that he crowns you as a royal son or daughter in him.”

4 Kinds of Groups We Need for Discipleship

4 Kinds of Groups We Need for Discipleship – “Here are four types of groups within a community needed for effective discipleship.”

When Churches Can’t Do Everything

When Churches Can’t Do Everything – “Why can’t pastors and staff leaders say yes to every ministry request? Here are a few legitimate reasons.”

Jesus, the Only Good Son

Jesus, the Only Good Son – “The death of Jesus was not a random moment in time. He died in obedience when he had completed all that he had been given to do. This is what obedient love and sacrifice look like.”

A French Evangelical’s Thoughts on Notre Dame

A French Evangelical’s Thoughts on Notre Dame – “As a French Evangelical Protestant, I hardly attach any spiritual meaning to a cathedral—even my beloved Notre Dame.” 

Lies & Sex

Lies & Sex – “The devil is a liar. Since the beginning, lies have been his stock and trade, his most valuable weapon against God’s children. So effective are his lies that the world and our hearts sing harmony to his melody.”

Headwinds in Evangelism: How Secularism and Pluralism Add New Challenges to Outreach

Headwinds in Evangelism: How Secularism and Pluralism Add New Challenges to Outreach – “We’re still trying to figure out what the future should ultimately look like as we continue to share the gospel.”

Wednesday of Holy Week: Jesus Thoughts

Wednesday of Holy Week: Jesus Thoughts – “Who do we think you are, Jesus?”

He Came to Be Betrayed: The Gentle Kiss of Compromise

He Came to Be Betrayed: The Gentle Kiss of Compromise – “Our treason was his agony so that his glory would become our treasure.”

The Good News of Easter and Spiritual Warfare

The Good News of Easter and Spiritual Warfare – “The utter pervasiveness of evil is why Easter is such a precious holiday. Easter isn’t about candy, Sunday dresses, ham dinners or Easter egg hunts. Easter is about the Son of God declaring a Holy War on Satan and evil.”

Easter and Your Enemies

Easter and Your Enemies – “You need God’s wisdom to identify your actual enemy, otherwise, you become like the fool in Proverbs who is clueless about why he is frustrated and struggling.”

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – “Jesus endured real abandonment from God, so that you and I would never have to be turned away. This is a major takeaway from Psalm 22.”

History Burning Before Our Eyes: The Tragedy of Notre Dame and the Soul of Modern France

History Burning Before Our Eyes: The Tragedy of Notre Dame and the Soul of Modern France – As you consider the loss of so much in the fire, these notes from Al Mohler tell a bigger tragic story of France and Notre Dame.

How to Answer the 12 Strongest Objections to Christianity

How to Answer the 12 Strongest Objections to Christianity – “Christianity is better than you think, because Christ is.”

On Graying Toward Glory

On Graying Toward Glory – “We know our days are numbered, and with them comes an urgency, unlike the urgency we felt in our teens and twenties.”

Is Religious Decline Inevitable in the United States?

Is Religious Decline Inevitable in the United States? – “The more economic prosperity a nation enjoys, the fewer citizens of that country say that religion is very important. There are a few outliers, however.” 

Signs You Are Living in Your Own Kingdom (and Not the Kingdom of God)

Signs You Are Living in Your Own Kingdom (and Not the Kingdom of God) – “There are a few questions we need to ask to see whose kingdom we are building.”

A Three-Legged Stool for Extraordinary Prayer

A Three-Legged Stool for Extraordinary Prayer – “Without a resolute commitment of 1) Time, 2) Attention and 3) Community, our efforts to learn to pray in life-transforming ways will always fall short.”

The Fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral Cannot Destroy the Church

The Fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral Cannot Destroy the Church – “The strength of the church is not in her buildings but in her people. Our willingness to pay any price to worship and serve Jesus is the test of our faith and the foundation of our witness.”

Aging and Finishing Well

Aging and Finishing Well – “It is a high and holy privilege to serve Jesus as an older adult. God’s not through with me yet – or with you.”

How Generation Z is Changing the World of Dating

How Generation Z is Changing the World of Dating – According to the Wall Street Journal, “Educators say the current generation in college is uniquely bad at romance. Online dating has created a (false) feeling of an endless buffet of romantic choices.”

The Resurrection, Humanity’s Story

The Resurrection, Humanity’s Story – “This is the true story of Jesus Christ, the son of God.  Don’t think of this as a religious story. It is humanity’s story. It is God’s story. It is the story of why you are alive today, blessed with the hope of heaven.”

Salvation by Propitiation

Salvation by Propitiation – “Propitiation is used in the New Testament to describe the pacifying, placating, or appeasing of God’s wrath. The easiest way to remember the term is that in propitiation God is made pro-us.”

Your Faith Is More Precious than Gold

Your Faith Is More Precious than Gold – “From these verses you can be encouraged by five truths about trials.”

How Can I Explain the Gospel?

How Can I Explain the Gospel? – Here is another tool for your Gospel tool belt.

Would You Get an ‘IRS’ Tattoo to Avoid Taxes?

Would You Get an ‘IRS’ Tattoo to Avoid Taxes? – “Why God is not the IRS”

4 Reasons Why Your Generosity Matters to Your Kids

4 Reasons Why Your Generosity Matters to Your Kids – Art Rainer explains that a parent's generosity teaches their kids about God and about the church. Kids are always watching, so these encouragements from Art can help parents feel motivated to give generously. 

You Can Claim to Follow Jesus, But Miss the Point of Who He Is

You Can Claim to Follow Jesus, But Miss the Point of Who He Is – “Is the Jesus we claim to know the real Jesus, or a Jesus of our own invention, who doesn’t match up with the biblical and historical realities?”

“Joy Beyond the Sorrow”

“Joy Beyond the Sorrow” – “Like David, we must choose to sing in order to realign our emotions with biblical certainties.”

How Many Americans Actually Identify as LGBT? Fewer Than You Think

How Many Americans Actually Identify as LGBT? Fewer Than You Think – “A recent Gallup survey found the average American believes 23% of the population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. That survey also found the percentage who identify as non-heterosexual to be in the low single digits (4.1%).”

4 Necessary Traits of an Effective Disciple Maker

4 Necessary Traits of an Effective Disciple Maker – “Distilled to its essence, disciple making rests on four pillars.”

Jesus Loves the Wearied, Worried, and Weak

Jesus Loves the Wearied, Worried, and Weak – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Does Grace Still Amaze You?

Does Grace Still Amaze You? – “Grace doesn’t minimize or ignore the awful reality of our sin. Grace emphasizes the depths of sin by virtue of the unthinkable price paid to redeem us from it.”

Baptism: The Point of No Return

Baptism: The Point of No Return – A story from Somalia.

Is Buying Stuff the Best Way to Help the Poor?

Is Buying Stuff the Best Way to Help the Poor? – “The single most important factor in lifting over a billion people out of poverty was sustained economic growth—rising Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in countries with substantial poverty.”

Just Being Real: 5 Ways to Be Real Without Being Rude

Just Being Real: 5 Ways to Be Real Without Being Rude – “How do we establish honesty with each other that builds the relationship rather than pushing it down or blowing it up?”

When the Bible Confronts Your Confirmation Bias

When the Bible Confronts Your Confirmation Bias – “Confirmation bias causes us to evaluate stories in light of our preconceived notions about what is true.”

20 One-Sentence Prayers That Will Consistently Change Your Day

20 One-Sentence Prayers That Will Consistently Change Your Day – Here’s a good resource to grow your prayer life.

The Psalms Must Be Fulfilled: The Son’s Script and Strength for Holy Week

The Psalms Must Be Fulfilled: The Son’s Script and Strength for Holy Week – “As Holy Week comes, we can listen to the soul of Jesus as he silently sings the Psalms. Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book.”

Two Verses Held Me Through Suffering

Two Verses Held Me Through Suffering – “These two amazing promises about God’s presence provide true, lasting, and sturdy hope when things you have hoped in lie beaten, battered, and broken into pieces.”

Seeing Death, Speaking Life: An Easter Meditation

Seeing Death, Speaking Life: An Easter Meditation – “Jesus knew in his pierced and torn flesh the cost of my sin and theirs. And he chose to love us.”

Why We Need the Song of Songs

Why We Need the Song of Songs – Here are some good observations.

The Brave New World of Bible Reading

The Brave New World of Bible Reading – “The digital age has created a cornucopia of new opportunities for us to read, mark, learn, and digest the Word of God.”

Jesus Is Better Than The Church

Jesus Is Better Than The Church – “Jesus is better than his church and he always will be. He is the head of the church, the lover of the church, and so we can trust him with it.”

How To Weep With Those Who Weep

How To Weep With Those Who Weep – “Just as we are commanded to weep with God’s people, so we are commanded to weep with him. God gives us grief in order that we may share his heart for his people, his kingdom, and his glory.”

Relief from Bitterness of Soul

Relief from Bitterness of Soul – “Complaining about God, impugning his character, is sin. But complaining to God about your pain is an act of faith. It is a God-given means for you to grieve your loss, to walk through your valley with God.”

Living in a (Nominal) Religious Context

Living in a (Nominal) Religious Context – “The fastest shrinking category in American religion is still the largest category—people who self-identify as Christian, but whose religion is not a central part of their lives.”

Seen by the Unseen

Seen by the Unseen – “Perhaps you do not consider the implications of being watched. Among the panoply of spiritual beings said to see into our world, none is more pervasive, interested, and involved than God himself. Everything is in his purview, without any strain to his perception or cognitive reach.”

“Where Are You From?”

“Where Are You From?” –  “I have adopted a new identity: Citizen of Heaven. As my identity is found in him, and as my eternity will be found there also, I rest in the assurance that I do have a home.”

The Allure of Buddhism

The Allure of Buddhism – “I’ve come to a cultural conclusion: While Hinduism dominates our theology, Buddhism dominates our practice.”

Love the Sinner — by Hating His Sin

Love the Sinner — by Hating His Sin – “Humility does not shrink back from calling sin sin. Pride does.”

3 Reasons Christians Cannot Commit the Unforgivable Sin

3 Reasons Christians Cannot Commit the Unforgivable Sin – This topic comes up regularly and this is a simple set of answers.

One, Two, Three Marriage Tips

One, Two, Three Marriage Tips – “A marriage is not a joining of two worlds, but an abandoning of two worlds in order that one new one might be formed.”

7 Threats From a False Teacher

7 Threats From a False Teacher – “False teachers and abusive leaders need to maintain their power. Therefore, they use a series of threats to keep people quiet and in line. Get out of line? You might hear one of the seven statements I’ve listed below.”

You're Dead, Start Acting Like It

You're Dead, Start Acting Like It – “To live is Christ and to die is gain” is more than a hashtag for your Instagram account.

How Do Christians Survive in Middle-Class America?

How Do Christians Survive in Middle-Class America? – “If we are not devoted to the Son of Man, no riches, no fullness, and no laughter can keep us from condemnation.”

Easter Gospel Presentation Using Emoji’s

Easter Gospel Presentation Using Emoji’s – Always share the Gospel.

Good Friday Reflection: The Final Word of Reunion

Good Friday Reflection: The Final Word of Reunion – “Jesus’ final word from the cross, following his Word of Triumph, was THE WORD OF REUNION…”

Giving Ourselves Fully to God

Giving Ourselves Fully to God – “God does not ask us to bring in our livestock and burn it on the altar; he asks us to give ourselves, to put ourselves alive on the altar.”

Where Is Baptism in the Order of a Christian Life?

Where Is Baptism in the Order of a Christian Life? – “Proclaim Christ. Baptize converts. Teach Christians. At the end of the day, that’s what every church and, by implication, every Christian, ought to be about. And the order of those three commands is important.”

What If Tears Don’t Come? How to Weep with Those Who Weep

What If Tears Don’t Come? How to Weep with Those Who Weep – “Love’s first step in entering others’ sorrows is simply to appreciate the breathtaking choice Christ made to enter ours.”

Maybe He is the Answer, and He is Enough

Maybe He is the Answer, and He is Enough – “He doesn’t promise to take away the uncertainty of my circumstances, but He does promise to be certain.”

“Conservative” And “Liberal” Christianity

“Conservative” And “Liberal” Christianity – “The words ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal’, when applied to churches, are indicators of a profound difference, which has no connection to how the words ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal’ are usually used.”

Christian Discourse in an Age of Outrage

Christian Discourse in an Age of Outrage – “How should Christians seek to conduct themselves in such a cantankerous environment where everyone is primed to be outraged by their newfound adversaries?”

Jesus Knows the Pain of Betrayal More than Anyone

Jesus Knows the Pain of Betrayal More than Anyone – “There are two ways the betrayal of the Jesus applies to you. These are reflective of His role as Savior and Shepherd.”

How the Lord’s Supper Reminds Me of the Lord’s Grip

How the Lord’s Supper Reminds Me of the Lord’s Grip – “When Jesus first shared the Supper with his disciples, he was giving them something firm to hold on to—like a beam set in concrete.”

The “It-Is-Enough-Ness” of God’s Grace

The “It-Is-Enough-Ness” of God’s Grace – “Heavenly Father, it’d be wonderful not to have to relearn the same lessons in life, especially this one: Your grace is all we need, and Christ’s power is most fully released through our weakness.”

8 Questions You Must Face as You Fight Pornography

8 Questions You Must Face as You Fight Pornography – “Let a growing affection for Christ expel the lesser affections for sexual sin. What better way to help a porn addict than to repeatedly set their eyes on the cross?”

Look To Your Inheritance

Look To Your Inheritance – “Are you looking to your eternal inheritance with eyes of faith?”

This Is America

This Is America – “If Jesus is merely an addition to our American dream, then who really needs one more thing on their plate?”

Love Actuarially

Love Actuarially – “He knows exactly what a big fat sinner you are. He knew exactly what he was getting into. Eyes wide open, and arms too, he comes to embrace you. He’s not playing the angles, calculating the risks, hedging his bets.”

Trusting God In Your Waiting Season

Trusting God In Your Waiting Season – “Will you trust his kind intentions for you, even when it feels like you’ve been forgotten? Will you wait for Him to act when it seems like you’ll never see the results?”

10 Questions to Refocus Your Life

10 Questions to Refocus Your Life – Here are some good questions to visit from time to time.

Specks & Planks

Specks & Planks – “Self-righteousness is a sin that plagues many of us. Often the self-righteous person is oblivious to his own sin.”

Dare to Hope in God: How to Lament Well

Dare to Hope in God: How to Lament Well – “The Bible is filled with this song of sorrow. Over a third of the Psalms are laments. The book of Lamentations weeps over the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus lamented in the final hours of his life.”

Putting the “Service” Back in Worship Service

Putting the “Service” Back in Worship Service – “I wonder: have we strayed from the way the early church approached their gatherings?”

Snitching on Christians Now Pays Big Money in China

Snitching on Christians Now Pays Big Money in China – “For more than a year, Chinese authorities have tried to gain more control of faith practices.”

God Has Not Forgotten You

God Has Not Forgotten You – “The pain of loss can lead you to feel alone, even forgotten.”

Good Friday Message: 4 Powerful Reflections on the Cross

Good Friday Message: 4 Powerful Reflections on the Cross – Here are four good points about the cross and Good Friday.

Love or Anger

Love or Anger – We are choosing a path every day.

The #1 Productivity Killer in Your Life – and Why It Will Always Win

The #1 Productivity Killer in Your Life – and Why It Will Always Win – “Instead of worrying that the urgency of life will ruin our productivity, we need to be careful not to let the urgency of productivity ruin our life.”

5 Pieces of Evidence the Holy Spirit Has Control of Your Life

5 Pieces of Evidence the Holy Spirit Has Control of Your Life – “There’s a difference between living a ‘good Christian life’ and allowing the Spirit of God to transform you from the inside out. 

Christianity Isn’t Cussing Less and Giving More

Christianity Isn’t Cussing Less and Giving More – “Religion can’t transform you from a hypocrite to a true believer. Only the gospel can. But if you embrace the gospel, I can guarantee you, nothing will ever be the same.”

How to Find Joy When You’ve Lost It

How to Find Joy When You’ve Lost It – “Psalm 30 reveals David as a man who ultimately triumphs in joy, and through joy. But it was not always that way, all of the time. In his journey from sorrow to joy, we see why the Holy Spirit preserved this song for us.”

Sin Can Grow

Sin Can Grow – “Sin can grow. …like a vine that starts small but smothers an entire wall—sin can grow. …like a cute cub that becomes a lion—sin can grow. …like a tapeworm that starts microscopic but can ruin a body—sin can grow.”

You Cannot Live On Bread Alone

You Cannot Live On Bread Alone – “The Bible is the living word of the living God. Therefore, you cannot live without it. If you try then your soul will shrivel up and die. It’s been that way from the beginning.”

Let’s Stay Grateful for Our Friends

Let’s Stay Grateful for Our Friends – “We’re greatly grateful for the friends you’ve woven into our lives and stories—the brothers and sisters who pursue, pray, play with us, and offer a redemptive presence in every season of life.”

‘Exciting’ Artifacts Found in Jerusalem Point to the Truth of the Bible

‘Exciting’ Artifacts Found in Jerusalem Point to the Truth of the Bible – “The artifacts, which will be described in the Israel Exploration Journal, date back to Jerusalem’s First Temple Period. They were found in a large public building destroyed in the sixth century BCE, likely by fire. The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem in 586 BCE.”

Redefining Jesus to Meet Our Expectations and Our Culture’s Preferences

Redefining Jesus to Meet Our Expectations and Our Culture’s Preferences – “Our human nature wants to make Jesus Christ palatable to our modern culture rather than allowing him to shine forth before the world as a crucified and risen Savior.”

The Growing Danger of Spiritual Entitlement

The Growing Danger of Spiritual Entitlement – “Entitlement is the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. It is the feeling that you have the right to do or have what you want without having to work for it. Entitlement is rampant in the society but it is also creeping into the church as the consumer culture infects the minds and hearts of everyday Christ-followers.”

Your Friends Influence Your Marriage

Your Friends Influence Your Marriage – “Your friends influence your marriage probably more than you realize.”

Trusting God In Your Waiting Season

Trusting God In Your Waiting Season – “Where do I go from here? What’s the next step? or Is this ever going to change?”

Hope in the Midst of Grief

Hope in the Midst of Grief – “God has richly blessed us with a new ‘normal’, but the grief has not faded. No, I am learning grief is a journey, and once we experience it, it will always be a part of our lives.”

Who is the King of Your Heart?

Who is the King of Your Heart? “Before you answer, remember that your heart has already revealed the answer to your children, your spouse, to those who are closest to you. It is not enough to say that Jesus is your king. Your heart must live this out.”

What Judges Teaches the Church

What Judges Teaches the Church – “It seems incredible that it could happen. Only a generation after Joshua, Israel no longer knew the Lord. How is such a development possible?”

The Secret to Strong Friendships

The Secret to Strong Friendships – “What does a praying friendship look like?”

The Kingdom of God is for Sinners

The Kingdom of God is for Sinners – “We are all diagnosed with a sickness unto death and the sinners and tax collectors he sat among saw it. They saw their sickness. So, they welcomed the Physician.”

Why ‘Count It All Joy’ Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Grieve

Why ‘Count It All Joy’ Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Grieve – “It’s not wrong to feel. It’s OK, even good, to cry. Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb! He didn’t simply shed a couple of tears and move on. He was deeply moved in His spirit, and He mourned along with the other Jews at the graveside.”

Jesus Is An Understanding Priest

Jesus Is An Understanding Priest – “What sets Jesus apart from all other human priests, both in Bible times and today, is that he is both the priest and the sacrifice.”

Does Modesty Matter Anymore?

Does Modesty Matter Anymore? – “Like all gospel-driven principles, modesty cuts against the grain of our modern sensibilities.”

Continue in Prayer

Continue in Prayer – This is a good model prayer to broaden your prayer life.

Did the Resurrection Really Happen?

Did the Resurrection Really Happen? – Here are four rumors skeptics need to put to rest.

Because There’s No Gospel All Day

Because There’s No Gospel All Day – This is the answer to “why” we should read God’s word daily and over and over again.