Nothing on Your Phone Can Replace the Local Church

Nothing on Your Phone Can Replace the Local Church – “Christians are not meant to be consumers; we’re meant to be servants. And Christianity is not merely content; it’s an embodied, lived community. Active, committed participation in the local church reminds us of this.”

How to Stop Praying the Same Old Things

How to Stop Praying the Same Old Things – “It doesn’t take long before rote prayers fragment your attention span and freeze your heart.”

Three Ways the Prosperity Gospel has Infected our Churches

Three Ways the Prosperity Gospel has Infected our Churches – “So many of our churches – otherwise sound, godly, healthy churches – have been infected by the prosperity gospel. We’re not typically telling people that, if you just trust God enough, he’ll make you rich. But we definitely do believe some soft prosperity lies. Let me land on just three examples.”

It’s Time for Christians to End Slavery

It’s Time for Christians to End Slavery – “Slavery is an ancient and brutal practice. And it is still rampant, with more than 40 million people living as slaves today.”

7 Takes To Becoming A Man

7 Takes To Becoming A Man – “My girls are naturally inclined to grow up. They like order and beauty. My boys, on the other hand, are inclined to be lazy. I love the breezy good-natured tone and the practical sense of this list—it strikes right at the soul of a young man’s inclinations. I’ll just pull out seven, shall I?”

4 Purposes of Godly Friendships

4 Purposes of Godly Friendships – “By no means exhaustive, below is a list of four specific purposes that friends should serve in our lives.”

College Freshmen: Don’t Forget These 3 Things

College Freshmen: Don’t Forget These 3 Things – Having worked as a college minister for several years and seeing students go off to college for many more, these are worth noting.

How Do I Pray Without Ceasing?

How Do I Pray Without Ceasing? – “Paul’s burden is not just for private piety when he teaches about prayer.”

How to Kill Your Anger so You Can Represent Christ to the World

How to Kill Your Anger so You Can Represent Christ to the World – “Our culture is angry. You only have to be on social media for five minutes to see this is true...It’s easy to fall right into that cultural pattern in our own responses to people. This is something we need to fight.”

Self-Forgiveness

Self-Forgiveness – “If you are struggling under the burden of unbearable guilt, ask yourself what you really need—your forgiveness or God’s?”

Was Jesus a Person of Color? An Immigrant? A Palestinian?

Was Jesus a Person of Color? An Immigrant? A Palestinian? – “Jesus should not be a political pawn whose identity shifts to match whatever the political cause is of the day. It is better for us to orient our lives around him than him around our politics.”

Aspire to Live Quietly

Aspire to Live Quietly – “Be honest, do you love the conflict? Do you love the argument? If so, be insignificant on social media and preserve your soul. For what use is it to you if you gain all the world’s likes but lose your soul?”

Stock Market Volatility and “The Prudent Man Rule”

Stock Market Volatility and “The Prudent Man Rule” – “In light of all this uncertainty, what is a wise steward to do? Well, I want to introduce you to something called the ‘Prudent Man Rule.’ It sounds like something right out of the Bible, but it isn’t. As we shall see, it does align with some biblical principles.”

Leading Your Church In This Time of Sexual Questioning with Bruce Miller

Leading Your Church In This Time of Sexual Questioning with Bruce Miller – I read Miller’s book earlier this year. Here is a good summary of key truths.

10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling

10 Spiritual Benefits of Journaling – “There are many blessings to be gained from the simple act of jotting down one’s thoughts each day. I thought about the ways in which journaling has benefitted me spiritually and so, in the hopes of inspiring you to begin journaling or encourage you to keep going, I here offer 10 spiritual benefits of journaling.”

Missionary Memes: Tea Bags and Coffins

Missionary Memes: Tea Bags and Coffins – “Some stories seem too good to be true. Some seem too good not to be true. Both seem too good not to be told over and over again. Here are a couple I’m thinking you’ve heard before.”

Ordinary Faithfulness in the Smallest Tasks

Ordinary Faithfulness in the Smallest Tasks – “One of the most underappreciated aspects of the Christian life is ordinary faithfulness. Striving for excellence in the small, mundane tasks that God has given today often seems boring and unsatisfying.” 

The Latest Research on the Mental Effects of Social Media Usage

The Latest Research on the Mental Effects of Social Media Usage – “In surveying 3,826 high school students in Canada over four years, researchers found that each hour of screen time, whether it be spent on social media, watching television, or generally on the internet, increases the severity of depressive symptoms like loneliness, sadness, or hopelessness in teens.”

Should Children Sit Through ‘Big Church’?

Should Children Sit Through ‘Big Church’? – John Piper provides a good summary of the difference it makes in the life of a child.

Lasting Happiness Will Never Be Found in Sin

Lasting Happiness Will Never Be Found in Sin – “It’s common to blame the world’s suffering and unhappiness on lack of education, opportunity, or resources. If only we knew more or had more, we’d surely be better. No. Our most basic problem is just . . . sin.”

Deception and Disillusionment

Deception and Disillusionment – “This is a world that tells us to value and pursue everything that doesn’t matter. It’s the great deception.” Here are some thoughts worth pondering today.

The Remembrance of Death

The Remembrance of Death – “Most of us recognize that we will eventually die—but decades from now, not today, not this week, not this month, not this year. Death is a foreigner, not a close neighbor.”

Taking Our Proper Size

Taking Our Proper Size – “We are thankful today for your “God-ness,” sovereignty, and inviolate rule. We’re grateful you’re the Alpha and the Omega, the A to Z. and everything in between.”

You Are Not Your Child’s Sin

You Are Not Your Child’s Sin – The author writes, “Even though I knew Jesus took my sin, I still bore the burden of my children’s sin.”

Fear and Forgiveness

Fear and Forgiveness – “The forgiveness of sins is so spectacular that we can only look in fear and wonder at the God who forgives. Forgiveness is not just a pass to keep us out of trouble. Forgiveness means that my sins have been covered and I can have a relationship with God. It is a reality that should bring us to a holy fear of a holy God.”

The Source of Biblical Boldness

The Source of Biblical Boldness – “When your reputation and relationships are nailed to the cross, you can speak loudly and clearly with the gracious, salty Bible words of almighty God. Because Jesus died and rose for sinners, we are dead to the world and made alive as fearless messengers.”

Jesus Throughout the Bible

Jesus Throughout the Bible – “Years ago, someone captured the centrality of Christ in the Bible by identifying the reflection of His image in each book. It goes like this...”

The Reward of Sin

The Reward of Sin – Here’s a clear illustration.

15 Prayers for Kids in School

15 Prayers for Kids in School – “Here are some specific prayers for kids in school from Scripture that I pray for kids throughout the year but especially as they go back to school.”

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken – “Like Ruth, we cannot manage this with what we’ve got. We cannot pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We don’t have what it takes.”

God Isn’t Trying To Make You Behave Better

God Isn’t Trying To Make You Behave Better – “God isn’t trying to get us to behave better, he’s proclaiming the good news of what we were truly made for, and inviting us to live into it.”

6 Powerful Keys To Overcoming Anger

6 Powerful Keys To Overcoming Anger – “Anger is a sin (most of the time). So how do we overcome anger?”

4 Ways to Grow in Self-Control

4 Ways to Grow in Self-Control – “Here are four ways to grow in self-control.”

Yes, Actually, God Does Demand Perfection

Yes, Actually, God Does Demand Perfection – “When we lower God’s expectations for his people, and de-emphasize the seriousness of his command for holiness, we actually cheapen his grace and lose sight of his spectacular promise.”

God Wants Your Weakness

God Wants Your Weakness – “Some of the greatest undertakings in the Bible were accomplished by weak people who felt they didn’t measure up to their calling.”

9 Steps Toward Apostasy

9 Steps Toward Apostasy – John Bunyan’s 9 steps toward apostasy in Pilgrim’s Progress still tell a story for many today.

College Freshman, Commit to a Church

College Freshman, Commit to a Church – “You drastically need the church, and Satan wants you to think you don’t.”

Celebrate Sexual Ethics. Don’t Apologize for Them

Celebrate Sexual Ethics. Don’t Apologize for Them – “We have nothing to apologize for. On the contrary, the orthodox vision of human sexuality is abundantly good, true, and beautiful and points toward health and healing. It’s key to discipleship inside the church.”

Teaching Your Kids the #1 Thing God Expects of Them

Teaching Your Kids the #1 Thing God Expects of Them – “As a parent, your top priority is teaching your kids the one thing God expects of them. There are many characteristics that I would like to be used to describe my children – responsible, kind, generous, forgiving, etc. However, according to Scripture, there is surprisingly only one characteristic that God prioritizes as a requirement for children –obedient.”

You’re Probably Misunderstanding What It Means to Be a ‘Lukewarm’ Christian

You’re Probably Misunderstanding What It Means to Be a ‘Lukewarm’ Christian – “Jesus isn’t calling the Laodicean church ‘less devout,’ and encouraging those Christians to be more on fire for him. He’s calling them unbelievers.”

When Reality Is Upside Down

When Reality Is Upside Down – “In God’s sovereign providence, our Creator has at times seen fit to allow fools to attain places of power. We know that this is ultimately for our greater good and His glory. Still, we rightly sense that something is wrong when we see fools in power.”

Courage and Prayer

Courage and Prayer – “We sell God short in our prayers when we only ask for things that seem to good to us.  In the prayer of our Lord, Christ gives us something better to ask for: he asks that God’s kingdom will come and that his will be done.”

The Insanity of Trusting Yourself

The Insanity of Trusting Yourself – “Why does God have such a beef with human wisdom?”

6 Ways to Grow Back Together

6 Ways to Grow Back Together – “I want us to be the close couple we used to be. What do I need to change for that to happen?”

What Missionaries Can Teach Us in Post-Christian America

What Missionaries Can Teach Us in Post-Christian America – “Three things American Christians can glean from our brothers and sisters on international missions.”

The Skill of Living in the Future

The Skill of Living in the Future – “Wise people have looked off into the future and adjusted their course accordingly. Foolish people simply do not consider the consequences of certain behaviors.”

If I Share The Gospel, I Might Ruin Our Relationship

If I Share The Gospel, I Might Ruin Our Relationship – “One of the main reasons why many people don’t share the Gospel is because they are afraid that if they do, they will ruin their relationship with that person. They enjoy their friendship, and they think that if they tell them the truth, they will no longer have the same type of relationship as before.”

When Feeling a Bit Like Both Luke 15 Sons

When Feeling a Bit Like Both Luke 15 Sons – “On this August Thursday, I bring you my busy, kinda-tired, slightly irritated heart...I feel like a 3^rd Luke 15 son right now—a hybrid of the Father’s two boys Jesus described.” 

Stop Saying God Is Not in School

Stop Saying God Is Not in School – “God is here to stay. He is Immanuel. He is God with us! And that is what we need to tell our children. We need to tell them the truth, that God IS in the public schools. That God IS in their classrooms and at their lunch tables and in their college dorm rooms and in their high school locker rooms.”

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder – This stirred a lot of memories of God’s faithful people who have touched my life.

Molecular Geneticist: Faith and Evolution Are at Odds, but Not Faith and Science

Molecular Geneticist: Faith and Evolution Are at Odds, but Not Faith and Science – “Christianity is reasonable, says Dr. Georgia Purdom, who has a PhD in molecular genetics and is a Christian.”

Idol Children

Idol Children – “We live in the age of the Child. Children are accommodated. They are the center of family life. They are the focus of the educational process. Instead of training children to worship God in all of life, our modern world idolizes them.”

The Blessing of Heaven as a Near Reality

The Blessing of Heaven as a Near Reality – “Their ages: 94 and 84. They have been friends, Sunday school members, and sisters in the faith for years. And now they were saying goodbye.”

7 Reasons Your Prayer Might Not be Answered

7 Reasons Your Prayer Might Not be Answered – “God is not a cosmic genie who promises to answer every request if we just believe strongly enough in His power. There are qualifiers.”

Why Did Jesus Institute the Lord’s Supper on the Passover?

Why Did Jesus Institute the Lord’s Supper on the Passover? – “In the first place, it is because He is the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed by the Passover lamb.”

Shacking Up VS Marriage – Dave Ramsey

Shacking Up VS Marriage – Dave Ramsey – “We pray you look at this issue of shacking up (also termed as living together) from a practical standpoint. But above all, look at it from God’s view. It violates so many of His rules. And you can’t, or never should discount the importance of what God says about all of this.”

Ten Ways To Keep Your Marriage Healthy And Happy

Ten Ways To Keep Your Marriage Healthy And Happy – “You think that after you marry, your love will continue to grow. We hope so. But just to help you along the way, the following thoughts will help keep you focused on developing a healthy and happy marriage.”

Seven Massive Changes Where Churches Must Respond

Seven Massive Changes Where Churches Must Respond – We see and feel all of them and especially #1.

Ten Principles for Personal Productivity

Ten Principles for Personal Productivity – “Don’t measure yourself by others. Measure yourself by your potential in Christ.”

Jesus Died for Sinners

Jesus Died for Sinners – Do You Know What This Actually Means?

Thought Habits of a Healthy Heart

Thought Habits of a Healthy Heart – “What you think shapes who you are. Worry or peace are the fruit of your thoughts. God makes a big deal about how and what you think.”

The Relentless Pursuit of a Good Name

The Relentless Pursuit of a Good Name – “In ancient times, your name carried tremendous meaning. It was, essentially, the sum and substance of who you were. It represented the entirety of your character. So, what is our name synonymous with? 

How to Talk to Kids About Sexual Abuse

How to Talk to Kids About Sexual Abuse – “It’s a difficult conversation but we must learn how to talk to kids about sexual abuse.”

When I First Confronted Religious Pluralism

When I First Confronted Religious Pluralism – “The charge to be faithful to Scripture is a sacred charge, but it is an unpopular one. When juxtaposed against our current age of skepticism, evangelical Christians are situated clearly within the cultural minority.”

Study: Babylon Bee’s Satire Gets Shared by People Who Think It’s Real

Study: Babylon Bee’s Satire Gets Shared by People Who Think It’s Real – The truth is, parsing political parody on the internet isn’t straightforward.

20 Bible Verses About Leadership

20 Bible Verses About Leadership – What Did Jesus Teach?

Wisely Handling the Book of Proverbs

Wisely Handling the Book of Proverbs – “The book of Proverbs is concerned to give us practical guidelines for daily experience.”

The Power of Biblical Hospitality

The Power of Biblical Hospitality – “Four characteristics that distinguish biblical hospitality from merely entertaining guests.”

Hell Is More Than a Choice

Hell Is More Than a Choice – Here are several good points to consider as we consider hell.

Why the Cost of Discipleship Is Lower Than You Think

Why the Cost of Discipleship Is Lower Than You Think – “The cost of discipleship is also about what you gain.”

The Head Crusher Cometh

The Head Crusher Cometh – “The Old Testament narratives tell the story of God’s desire to dwell with humanity. This narrative revolves around human rebellion and God’s longsuffering, faithful, covenant love for humans.” 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus – “Just as it is grace top to bottom that saves us, it is faith beginning to end that sustains us.”

I am a False Prophet

I am a False Prophet – Worriers are false prophets.

Be Ready for the Lord’s Return

Be Ready for the Lord’s Return – “Though not one of us knows when the Lord will return, we do know that He will come again. This should produce within us a certain amount of anticipation, a longing for Jesus to come again. But it should also produce decisive actions that become part of our lifestyle.”

How to Pray in Spiritual Warfare

How to Pray in Spiritual Warfare – “According to Paul in Ephesians 6, all of life is spiritual warfare. In that conflict, he reminds the Ephesians that—important though it is—the Christian armor is not enough. You and I also need to be in constant contact with God, and the means by which we stay in contact is by prayer.”

Gratitude Leads to Joy

Gratitude Leads to Joy – “Joy does not lead to gratitude. Gratitude leads to joy.”

Obey God Rather Than Man

Obey God Rather Than Man – “Peer Pressure is not something that only middle and high school kids face. Adults are still facing the choice of obeying God rather than men in several areas of life.” 

I Pray God Turns the Church Upside Down

I Pray God Turns the Church Upside Down – “During the Protestant Reformation, the church rediscovered the doctrine of justification, and the world got turned upside down. Today, I think it could be the church that is turned upside down if the application of the doctrine of justification were rediscovered.”

Am I Truly Born Again? Four Evidences That You Are New

Am I Truly Born Again? Four Evidences That You Are New – “A 2017 study by LifeWay Research discovered that 24% of Americans profess to be evangelical. A higher percent claim to be born again. But when pressed, only about 15% of Americans can affirm the most basic evangelical beliefs.”

Am I Truly Born Again?

Am I Truly Born Again? – “A gap always exists between the number of people who profess to be born again and those who possess the reality. This is true of every congregation.”

Evidence of Biblical Story Found in Layers of Jerusalem Ash

Evidence of Biblical Story Found in Layers of Jerusalem Ash – “The Bible describes King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon laying siege to Jerusalem and specifically burning down the temple, the palace and “all the great houses” (2 Kings 25:9). A group of archaeologists believe they’ve found one of those great houses and their discoveries support the biblical story.”

Five Ways God Can Use Your Stress for Great Good

Five Ways God Can Use Your Stress for Great Good – God doesn’t waste anything, including our stress.

The Two Biggest Spiritual Influences for a Child

The Two Biggest Spiritual Influences for a Child – The two things aren’t surprising. The question is, “What do we do with them?”

You Are Not the Author of Your Story

You Are Not the Author of Your Story – “Why would you ever want an autobiography when you could have the story God himself has written?”

Best Analogy of the Existence of the Invisible God I’ve Ever Heard

Best Analogy of the Existence of the Invisible God I’ve Ever Heard – In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?”

5 Actions of Faithful Evangelists

5 Actions of Faithful Evangelists – “As a Christian you want other people to get saved. You know that God uses means in the salvation of others and you want God to use you but you might not know how. Here are five actions of faithful evangelists.”

Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism

Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism – “God has tasked every Christian with communicating the good news of the gospel to the lost. For some of us, it comes naturally. It’s easy and effortless. If that’s you then you probably don’t need to keep reading. For others, not so much. It’s a struggle. It feels unnatural, forced, and uncomfortable. Concern floods our mind.”

How to Pray the Lord’s Prayer for Your Family

How to Pray the Lord’s Prayer for Your Family – “I have found the pattern Jesus gave us in “The Lord’s Prayer,” as it is called, helps me focus and stay on track in my prayers.”

Am I Really a Christian?

Am I Really a Christian? – “That’s an eternally important question, and yet, sadly, it’s one that many Christians struggle to answer.”

What Sins Are You Killing Today?

What Sins Are You Killing Today? – “Why are our sins so invisible to us? Because we are naturally complicit in the sins of our culture, our sub-culture, our heroes, our family, our friends. Because these sins surround us, because they are part of the air we breathe, they are invisible to us.”

When Someone You Admire Abandons the Faith

When Someone You Admire Abandons the Faith – Here are some helpful reminders.

Two Ways to Pray for Your Children When Life Is Messy

Two Ways to Pray for Your Children When Life Is Messy – “I see two things in Hannah’s prayer that took her from a mother-to-be who was anxious and soul-vexed to one who was at peace.”

The Lord Can and Will Keep You

The Lord Can and Will Keep You – “Many of the greatest fears in life come not from what we can see, but from what we can’t.”

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 – “Sometimes I think they are expressing a good and heartfelt desire and other times I think they are merely being superstitious, as if bad dreams will plague them and every shadow will frighten them if I do not pray. Either way, I never refuse them.”

Is My Child Ready to Make a Decision to Follow Christ?

Is My Child Ready to Make a Decision to Follow Christ? – “Let’s look at a few of the myths that perpetuate our doubts and fears as we navigate the questions of salvation.”

Graced-Up for the Day

Graced-Up for the Day – “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.”

Instruction for the Heart

Instruction for the Heart – “Biblical instruction is designed to impact the lives of your grandchildren. It is not about changing behavior for the moment.  It is about heart change.”

When God Calls

When God Calls – “Genesis 11:27-32 is more than a genealogy. It’s a status update on humanity. We’re at a dead end.”

Missing Elements in Our Discussions about Apostasy

Missing Elements in Our Discussions about Apostasy – There have been prominent, visible “Christians” recently renouncing their faith. Here are some good observations to remember.

A Subversive Netflix Documentary Titled “The Family”

A Subversive Netflix Documentary Titled “The Family” – “All I can say is that the documentary is one of the most outrageous pieces anti-Christian propaganda that I have ever seen.”

3 Reasons Drifting From the Faith Starts With Drifting From the Church

3 Reasons Drifting From the Faith Starts With Drifting From the Church  – “Wandering from the church leads to wandering from the faith.”

Putting the “Service” Back in Worship Service

Putting the “Service” Back in Worship Service – “Consider these four basic ways we can use our Sundays to serve others, as opposed to just being served ourselves.”

Confessing Sin Is Always Awkward, Sometimes Costly, and Absolutely Worth It

Confessing Sin Is Always Awkward, Sometimes Costly, and Absolutely Worth It – “Consistent Christian living consists of confessing sin consistently. So how do we get better at this distinctly Christian practice?”

The Tragedy of Loving to Be First

The Tragedy of Loving to Be First – “Please convict us, when like Diotrephes, we put ourselves first, and put others down.”

6 Distinguishing Marks of a Call to Gospel Ministry

6 Distinguishing Marks of a Call to Gospel Ministry – Here are marks of “calling to ministry” from Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Don’t Trust in Your Christianity

Don’t Trust in Your Christianity – “Here are eight deadly ways we can look, feel, and act like Christians without actually trusting in Christ.”

3 Ways Fasting and Prayer Opens Doors

3 Ways Fasting and Prayer Opens Doors – “When we fast and pray we put more spiritual “octane” on our service and ministry to the Lord. Fasting and prayer boosts the intensity of everything we do for Jesus. In addition, fasting and prayer helps us recognize the open doors God places before us.”

Together at Last

Together at Last – “In your suffering, look to the surpassing glory that awaits you in the presence of our Savior. There we will live together . . . with God . . . forever, just imagine!”

What Is the Gospel?

What Is the Gospel? – “Whether you are just beginning to investigate Christianity, or are a life-long follower of Christ, the Gospel is the one, single thing you must grasp if your life is to be all God designed your life to be.”

3 Lenses Every Parent Needs

3 Lenses Every Parent Needs – “As parents, we want to help our children live in sync with the realities of a good yet broken world that Christ is redeeming.”

When the Dam of Despair Breaks, Hold the Rope of Hope

When the Dam of Despair Breaks, Hold the Rope of Hope – “Who have you given up on? Be honest. You’ve probably given up on someone somewhere.”

Why Satan Is No Friend of the Family

Why Satan Is No Friend of the Family – “If family truly comes from the mind of God and plays such an essential role in his world, don’t you think this explains why there are so many attacks on the family? It’s pretty clear that Satan is going to be no friend of the family.” 

What Does It Mean for a Man to Lead His Family Spiritually?

What Does It Mean for a Man to Lead His Family Spiritually? – “All families are called to glorify God according to their gifts. What does that look like? That is the man’s responsibility.”

God’s Sovereignty and Human Choice: The Examples of Paul, Elisha, and Daniel

God’s Sovereignty and Human Choice: The Examples of Paul, Elisha, and Daniel – “While I doubt anyone this side of Heaven will ever manage to fully “explain” how God’s sovereignty and human choice fully fit together, I believe Scripture provides us with many examples of how the two work symbiotically.”

The Posture of Prayer: A Look at How Buddhists Pray

The Posture of Prayer: A Look at How Buddhists Pray – “When we as Christians say the word prayer, we often think of a conversation we have publicly or privately with God where we praise him, thank him, and make supplications. In other faiths, prayer has a different function and form depending on the religion, culture, and belief of the worshiper…”

Pleasant Words, Healing Words

Pleasant Words, Healing Words – “Parents who are overflowing with God’s love and grace for their children, who consider their children a blessing rather than a curse bring hope and encouragement to their families.”

Make Sunday Mornings Uncomfortable

Make Sunday Mornings Uncomfortable – “We may never know what difference a small act of welcome made. But sometimes God lets us see how he has weaved our little acts into his much greater plan.”

How Not to Fall Away

How Not to Fall Away – This is a humble warning to all of us concerning apostasy.

What Does ‘Born of Water and the Spirit’ Mean in John 3:5?

What Does ‘Born of Water and the Spirit’ Mean in John 3:5? – Here’s a simple, clear explanation.

You Are Not the Author of Your Story

You Are Not the Author of Your Story – “You have been welcomed into the best story ever by grace and grace alone. Best of all, this story that is your biography has an end that never ends.”

Identity and the Fear of Man

Identity and the Fear of Man – “Contrary to what many people believe, your desires do not determine your identity or your destiny. Scripture warns us to follow God-honoring desires but to turn away from sinful ones.”

If Journalists Would Cover Abortion with Impartiality

If Journalists Would Cover Abortion with Impartiality –“If evangelicals heard their moral angst over abortion clearly articulated in the media, I’m convinced they’d be far less likely to consider journalists their enemies.”

Where Did Satan’s First Desire for Evil Come From?

Where Did Satan’s First Desire for Evil Come From? – “To say that Satan had free will is not an explanation for why he committed his first sin.”

Most Growth Will Be Slow Growth

Most Growth Will Be Slow Growth – “The acts of obedience in front of you today may not be grand. But if you do them in faith, relying on the grace of Jesus and the power of his Spirit, they will not be in vain.”

Pray Against the Devil When You Pray for Your Kids

Pray Against the Devil When You Pray for Your Kids – “Praying for the spiritual defense of our children is a wise and necessary practice.”

Is Religious Liberty Truly In Peril? A Warning

Is Religious Liberty Truly In Peril? A Warning – “Hamilton’s definition of religious liberty is now divorced from any public action or significance. In her view, the First Amendment only protects your individual, private thoughts. That protection ceases once those thoughts enter the public square.”

10 Ways to Build an Evangelistic Church Culture

10 Ways to Build an Evangelistic Church Culture – “Here are 10 ways church leaders can cultivate a more evangelistic congregation.” We’ve found they work.

Does God Want Everyone to Be Saved?

Does God Want Everyone to Be Saved? – “God’s will for every person on the planet is for him or her to repent and believe in the gospel. Some, by grace, will respond.”

When Corporate Worship Is Just Singing

When Corporate Worship Is Just Singing – There are several good applications found here.

White Nationalist Terrorism and the Gospel

White Nationalist Terrorism and the Gospel – “This is a form of idolatry that exalts one’s own creaturely attributes, making a god out of, for instance, one’s ancestral origins or one’s tribal culture.”

Remarkable Stories of Courage in Crisis and Two Ways to Partner with God

Remarkable Stories of Courage in Crisis and Two Ways to Partner with God – “Where was God in El Paso and Dayton? What is he doing in the aftermath of these horrible tragedies?”

Why Aren’t You Safe?

Why Aren’t You Safe? – “Psalm 3 is about living in the face of terror and danger. Here, God speaks to us in his word, bringing comfort in the face of fear.”

How Do I Know God’s Calling for My Life?

How Do I Know God’s Calling for My Life? – “The renewed mind takes seriously the needs that you see in the world and the ones that move you most deeply.”

Healing Words in a Hurtful World

Healing Words in a Hurtful World – “Encourage one another and build each other up.”

True Happiness Begins with Knowing God

True Happiness Begins with Knowing God – “Human history is the story of our desperate search for true and lasting happiness.”

The FAQs: What You Should Know About Mass Shootings

The FAQs: What You Should Know About Mass Shootings – “Though we may divided about policy solutions, we should be united in opposing the climate of hate and division that has allowed evil and violent ideology to flourish.”

Nine Reasons Christians Fail to Evangelize

Nine Reasons Christians Fail to Evangelize – We’ve seen everything on the list. I’m thankful to God for the steps we’ve been able to take to get beyond most of them FBCA.

Hang on to God in Hard Times

Hang on to God in Hard Times – “As Psalm 46 reminds us that the God of Jacob is our refuge and our strength. No, Jacob did not get everything right. But he got God right.”

God’s Will Is Not Like Siri

God’s Will Is Not Like Siri – “Don’t worry if God isn’t calling out turn-by-turn directions along the way. Just love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—that’s your true north.”

Narratives of Surprising Conversions

Narratives of Surprising Conversions – “The power of conversion comes from nothing less than the Holy Spirit working through the ‘foolish’ message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It helps, then, to remember this inscrutable power by reflecting on some unlikely and unusual conversions.”

The Biblical Story of the Body

The Biblical Story of the Body – “We are going to look at four doctrines that take us through this narrative and teach us the importance of the body.”

Bible Study Leaders Should Not Have All the Answers

Bible Study Leaders Should Not Have All the Answers – There is so much freedom in not thinking you’ve got to have all the answers.

Spiritual Depression: The Dark Night of the Soul

Spiritual Depression: The Dark Night of the Soul – This part of the Christian journey is hard to understand but powerful in its outcomes.

Two Mass Shootings in Two Days: God’s Question for His People Today

Two Mass Shootings in Two Days: God’s Question for His People Today – How do we process and respond to such tragedy?

When It’s Easy to Be Hair-Trigger Anxious

When It’s Easy to Be Hair-Trigger Anxious – “Because the gospel is true, we won’t lose heart or hope.”

Baptism Around the World: Pools, Prisons, and Ponds [Photo Gallery]

Baptism Around the World: Pools, Prisons, and Ponds [Photo Gallery] – I was blessed to walk through these pictures of the celebration of new life in Christ.

Will God Ever Give Us More Than We Can Handle?

Will God Ever Give Us More Than We Can Handle? – “God will never give his people trials in which he will not sustain them and bring them through to everlasting glory.”

How Not to Be Cliquish—or Silent—About Your Faith at Work

How Not to Be Cliquish—or Silent—About Your Faith at Work – “What are some helpful ways to encourage fellow Christians who struggle to integrate their faith with their work?”

Training Our Kids in a Culture That Affirms Transgenderism

Training Our Kids in a Culture That Affirms Transgenderism – “God did not make us into undifferentiated genderless automatons. On the contrary, he made us male and female, and that fundamental biological distinction defines us.”

The Faithfulness of Christ in the Little Things

The Faithfulness of Christ in the Little Things – “This brief essay is intended simply to encourage us all to notice some of the little things we may have tended to overlook in the life of the Savior.”

What I Wish I Had Known Before Marriage

What I Wish I Had Known Before Marriage – These are good reminders for young couples and at any stage of marriage.

9 Steps to Transform Your Finances

9 Steps to Transform Your Finances – “It’s been said that if you don’t discipline your finances, they’ll discipline you. But, I’ll add that undisciplined spending punishes you.”

Parenting Is about Faith

Parenting Is about Faith – “Parental instruction focuses on the commands of God, not with the behavior of children.”

4 Reasons to Stop Grumbling

4 Reasons to Stop Grumbling – “The Bible shows that grumbling has been a problem for humans for a very long time—and that it’s not acceptable for Christians. Here are four biblical reasons why we should stick a lid on our complaints.” 

God Created Family to Carry Out His Will

God Created Family to Carry Out His Will – “As God created humanity, he assigned a huge two-part mission: one, be fruitful and multiply; and two, subdue the earth and exercise dominion over it. Both of these commands rely upon family.”

Why Do We Suffer So Much? Five Lessons from Richard Baxter

Why Do We Suffer So Much? Five Lessons from Richard Baxter – “Here are five Baxter-inspired reasons that God graciously afflicts his saints. “

Your Sin is Not Your Friend

Your Sin is Not Your Friend – “When sin crouches at your door, remind yourself that this is not who you are anymore. By the power of the Spirit, refuse to live in that for which your Savior died. Resolve to never live in the sins that defined you before you were in Jesus.”

6 Steps to Become an Effective Witness for Jesus

6 Steps to Become an Effective Witness for Jesus – “Without the ability to strike up a conversation and keep it going, there’s no space to use the helpful evangelistic techniques we’ve been trained in.”

7 Life Changing Prayers for the Church

7 Life Changing Prayers for the Church – “The more prayers for the church, the better!”

Eve’s Nakedness and Your Broken Body

Eve’s Nakedness and Your Broken Body – “Eve was the last woman to experience unbroken body-image. She was the last woman to see her body outside of the shadow of sin.”

A Quick Guide to Leading Yourself Spiritually

A Quick Guide to Leading Yourself Spiritually – “Here are three quick takeaways that could challenge you for leading yourself spiritually.”

You are Made for Gratitude

You are Made for Gratitude  - “God made you a new creature in Christ.  He also designed you to be a creature fueled by thanksgiving.”

Seven Marks of Revival

Seven Marks of Revival – “While we cannot dictate to God what he will do, history shows us that there are some things that happen before and when revival comes that are worth noting.”

When Easily Annoyed, Irritated, or Bugged

When Easily Annoyed, Irritated, or Bugged – “Fools show their annoyance at once. Prov. 12:16”

The Disruptive Witness of Praying Before Meals

The Disruptive Witness of Praying Before Meals – “If we find ourselves avoiding public prayers because it feels socially awkward, or because it feels like we’re imposing our faith on our neighbors, we need to be able to call that avoidance what it is: a capitulation to secular ideas of the public square.”

Four MORE Character Traits that Will Hold Any Marriage Together

Four MORE Character Traits that Will Hold Any Marriage Together – “There are character qualities which flow from genuine saving faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer that will keep even the most challenged marriage together.”

Stay Awake to Spiritual Danger

Stay Awake to Spiritual Danger – “A lack of watchfulness is perilous to our souls — I mean very real peril, not metaphorical or virtual or poetical peril.”

How Can I Forgive My Parents for Childhood Abuse?

How Can I Forgive My Parents for Childhood Abuse? – “Jesus teaches that an unforgiving heart is an unforgiven heart.”

Do the Gospels Borrow from Pagan Myths?

Do the Gospels Borrow from Pagan Myths? – “When these claims are compared carefully with the New Testament Gospels, the distinction between Jesus and the supposed pagan parallels becomes quite distinct, for at least two reasons.”

The Gospel in 7 Emojis

The Gospel in 7 Emojis – “By themselves, these emojis would be meaningless to a non-Christian. But they could prove useful as a visual aid in an evangelistic conversation.”

Three Cautions and Encouragements for Dads

Three Cautions and Encouragements for Dads – “Only by rehearsing the gospel of Jesus can we find both the power to pursue these things and the forgiveness and grace when we fail.”