3 Dangers of (Merely) Messy Christianity

3 Dangers of (Merely) Messy Christianity – “If we’re not careful, a merely messy Christianity fails to do justice to a biblical view of the Christian life in at least three ways.”

When Your Plan for Killing Sin Isn’t Working

When Your Plan for Killing Sin Isn’t Working – “While it is good to pursue holiness, at the end of the day, we must know that it is the Spirit—not our plans, works, obedience, or Bible memorization—who sanctifies us.”

How to Stop Being So Lazy

How to Stop Being So Lazy – “Perhaps once we see laziness as God sees it, we will rightly abhor it in ourselves.”

He Dared to Defy the Pope: Martin Luther (1483–1546)

He Dared to Defy the Pope: Martin Luther (1483–1546) – “One of the great rediscoveries of the Reformation — especially of Martin Luther — was that the word of God comes to us in the form of a book, the Bible.”

Reformation: Can the Roman Catholic Gospel Get You into Heaven?

Reformation: Can the Roman Catholic Gospel Get You into Heaven? – “The difference between the gospel of Christ and that of Roman Catholicism is eternal. Rome pronounces a curse on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture pronounces a curse on any gospel that differs from that of the Bible.”

Is the God of the Bible a Genocidal Maniac?

Is the God of the Bible a Genocidal Maniac? – “God is holy, people are sinful, the world is broken, and his judgment is just.”

When You Feel Like Your Prayers Aren’t Working

When You Feel Like Your Prayers Aren’t Working – “Never, ever give up on the people you’re praying will start walking with Jesus.”

9 Things You Should Know About Hinduism

9 Things You Should Know About Hinduism – “This week more than a billion Hindus across the globe are celebrating Diwali. The five-day religious observance, which is also celebrated by followers of Sikh and Jain faiths, is the biggest holiday of the year in India, the country with the largest population of Hindus. Here are nine things you should know about Hinduism.”

Superman Can’t Share the Gospel

Superman Can’t Share the Gospel – “God is in the business of using that which is weak to bring about that which is grand.”

Are You Asking These 5 Questions?

Are You Asking These 5 Questions? – There are likely few days these questions don’t arise at some level.

The Lost Supper

The Lost Supper – We’re missing something crucial with the demise of the family dinner

Christian Apologetics Resources

Christian Apologetics Resources – I am often asked about resources for questions relating to Christian apologetics. There are tremendous helps available to us in this area. In no particular order, here are websites and resources from some of my favorites:

https://carm.org/

https://www.str.org/

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/william-lane-craig/

https://seanmcdowell.org/videos

https://leestrobel.com

https://www.josh.org

https://crossexamined.org/

https://www.rzim.org/

Joy’s Eternal Sunrise: Why Heaven Will Never Be Boring

Joy’s Eternal Sunrise: Why Heaven Will Never Be Boring – “What is it that makes the prospect of our eternal abode so appealing? What makes heaven so heavenly?”

Enter the Narrow Door

Enter the Narrow Door – “The question lingers through the centuries. Around the world. In religious gatherings. And institutions of learning. City streets. Local hangouts. And I read it in the Scriptures. The unnamed someone asks Jesus. ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?'”

6 Ways to Lead and Love Your Wife

6 Ways to Lead and Love Your Wife – “God wants to use every marriage to display his beauty and grandeur. But how? In part, by husbands leading and loving their wives in godly, nourishing, Christlike ways.”

Is It Okay to Be Single?

Is It Okay to Be Single? – “On occasion, we emphasize marriage so much that we give the impression that singleness represents a lesser state. It does not. It is not just okay to be single, but for those so gifted with singleness, it also represents a much better state of living than does marriage.”

Wait on the Lord: What it Means, Why It’s So Hard

Wait on the Lord: What it Means, Why It’s So Hard – “Remain in place, while the Lord fixes a problem, answers a prayer, and/or prepares a blessing, during which He may appear to be absent for a time.”

Doesn’t Christianity Condone Slavery?

Doesn’t Christianity Condone Slavery? – “Christianity does not endorse slavery or consider it harmless. But it does call us to live as Christians in less than ideal conditions, if that is where we find ourselves.”

Do You Really Care about Evangelism? If So, You Need To Do More Than Pray

Do You Really Care about Evangelism? If So, You Need To Do More Than Pray – “Prayer alone will not save a single soul. Prayer is the starting point, not the endpoint, of our journey in helping people from darkness to light.”

Why a 7 Year-old Boy’s “Gender Transition” Is Sparking National Outrage

Why a 7 Year-old Boy’s “Gender Transition” Is Sparking National Outrage – “An equally heartbreaking and morally revolting story is happening in Texas, where a court has severed the custody of a father from his 7-year-old son in order to allow the mother to oversee the child’s transition to living as a girl.”

LGBT Activists Get Church Banned From Local Arts Scene For Believing The Bible

LGBT Activists Get Church Banned From Local Arts Scene For Believing The Bible – “The radically subjective claims of transgender ideology, combined with the bullying approach its activists often take, offer a clear example of how moral relativism can reduce tolerance and encourage rage.”

What It Means to Be “More Than a Conqueror”

What It Means to Be “More Than a Conqueror” – “A conqueror defeats his enemy, but one who is more than a conqueror subjugates his enemy. A conqueror nullifies the purpose of his enemy; one who is more than a conqueror makes the enemy serve his own purposes. A conqueror strikes down his foe; one who is more than a conqueror makes his foe his slave.”

How Can I Know if I’m Being Greedy?

How Can I Know if I’m Being Greedy? – “Where is the line between healthy participation in economic activity that builds up a community, and a self-replicating cycle of accumulating money and stuff?”

How to Disagree Well

How to Disagree Well – “Most of us have a hard time disagreeing without also being disagreeable.”

The Samaritan Woman and Our Barrier-Smashing Savior

The Samaritan Woman and Our Barrier-Smashing Savior – “Jesus, however, cares for people more than he cares for cultural, political, and religious divides. Above all else, he is concerned for the woman’s soul; and he desires to give her living water.”

What Does Hell Say About God? The Truth Many Cannot Bear to Hear

What Does Hell Say About God? The Truth Many Cannot Bear to Hear – “How Paul considered the lostness of his kinsmen, and how Jesus lamented the unbelief of Israel teaches that we need not lay aside our love for the lost in discussing the eternal lostness being an appropriate punishment for their sin.”

You Pray the Lord’s Prayer. But Do You Understand It?

You Pray the Lord’s Prayer. But Do You Understand It? – “Unlike human fathers, who are often engrossed in their smartphones and have to have their attention captured in some creative way by their children, God is already and always attentive to his children.”

No Fear, No Wisdom

No Fear, No Wisdom – “If fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, then the refusal to fear God is the beginning of all folly. The essence of folly is trying to live in God’s world without conforming to God’s will.”

When Joy Feels Far Away

When Joy Feels Far Away – “What do you do when you have tried everything, but joy still feels far away?”

Who Was Luke?

Who Was Luke? – This is a good overview of the author of Luke and Acts.

Hope for Hong Kong

Hope for Hong Kong – “The future of Hong Kong is uncertain and will likely include further unrest. In the midst of all the rubble, may the scaffold of God’s kingdom rise up to point to a better city.”

How to Find Yourself in the Psalms

How to Find Yourself in the Psalms – “As a believer in Jesus Christ, there is no healthier place to be than to remind yourself of who you are and who your God is. That’s what the psalms do so well.”

The Samaritan Woman and Our Barrier-Smashing Savior

The Samaritan Woman and Our Barrier-Smashing Savior – “Jesus interacted with all kinds of people, but there’s something beautiful, convicting, countercultural, and transformative about Jesus’s interactions with women.”

Beware of Friendship Idealism

Beware of Friendship Idealism – “Until heaven, our community will never be perfect. Not even close. It’s inevitable that we will experience hurt and disappointment in our relationships. But it’s worth the risk.”

When Feeble Senses Blind

When Feeble Senses Blind – “Lately my feeble senses have tempted me to believe that God has forgotten to keep His promises.”

What Can Happen When a Transgender Child Transitions…

What Can Happen When a Transgender Child Transitions… - “How have we come to the place as a society that the recommended medical treatment for a gender dysphoric child means destroying a healthy body to conform it to a gender-confused mind?”

Anatomy of the Problem

Anatomy of the Problem – Gender reveal parties in the age of transgender wokeness.

The Faithful Will Look Foolish — for Now

The Faithful Will Look Foolish — for Now – “The wisdom of God is often only fully seen in retrospect. When man’s wisdom has passed as a fad, the mountain of God’s truth remains.”

Playing the Trump Card this Political Season: Civility within Political Hostility

Playing the Trump Card this Political Season: Civility within Political Hostility – Without tolerance of different worldviews, there will be no dialogue or progress.

What Does the Bible Say About the Appearance of Angels?

What Does the Bible Say About the Appearance of Angels? – “How angels really appear in the Bible.”

There’s More to Missions Than Unreached People Groups

There’s More to Missions Than Unreached People Groups – “Jesus commissions his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. That command necessitates focus on both peoples and also places.”

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Kids

18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Kids – I would encourage every parent to embrace these things.

A Life-Changing Sentence In Deuteronomy

A Life-Changing Sentence In Deuteronomy – “We, just like the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 1, are always asking five deeply theological questions. The way we answer them will push us toward hope or panic.”

Turning Point of World History: The Resurrection According to Acts

Turning Point of World History: The Resurrection According to Acts – “Here are five implications of the resurrection in Acts.”

We Are Not Omni-Anything

We Are Not Omni-Anything – “When we try to be more autonomous than God made us to exist, we start to serve ourselves and our needs over others. When we try to be in more places than God made us to dwell, we start to disconnect and be distant from those around us.”

When Christianity Doesn’t Work

When Christianity Doesn’t Work – “Christianity isn’t true because it works. In many cases, in fact, it doesn’t work. It doesn’t solve all of the problems we think it should solve.”

Take Sin Seriously

Take Sin Seriously – “Take Christ seriously. Yes, of course. For every look at your sin, take ten looks at Christ. But will you want to look at Christ if you have not seen your need? Will you see your need if you have not seen your sin?”

The Time-Traveling Temptation of Christ

The Time-Traveling Temptation of Christ – “The temptation of Jesus works backwards and forwards. It works backwards because we see in the ways that Satan tempts Jesus the exact same ways he tempted Adam and Eve.”

Five Ways to Fight Sin

Five Ways to Fight Sin – “Trying to tame sin rather than killing it is as silly as people making pets out of predatory animals.” 

6 (Non-Controversial) Ways Christians Should Deal with Disagreements about the End Times

6 (Non-Controversial) Ways Christians Should Deal with Disagreements about the End Times – These are excellent observations.

Road Built by Biblical Villain Uncovered in Jerusalem

Road Built by Biblical Villain Uncovered in Jerusalem – “A long-buried street that led pilgrims to the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago was commissioned by Roman governor Pontius Pilate.”

How Tim Keller Seeks to Pray Without Ceasing

How Tim Keller Seeks to Pray Without Ceasing – I found this to be a simple pattern of setting prayer as priority throughout the day.

20 Truths on ‘Jesus Skeptic’ by John Dickerson

20 Truths on ‘Jesus Skeptic’ by John Dickerson – “Jesus bears studying, for his movement has been...among the most powerful movements for social good in all of human history.”

Grace Not Karma in Our Relationships

Grace Not Karma in Our Relationships – All human relationships come with challenges. Let’s lean toward grace.

Argue with Your Pride

Argue with Your Pride – “Lately, the apostle Paul has been helping me to argue with my pride. In 1 Corinthians 1–4, he reminds us again and again of the madness of pride and the happy sanity of humility.”

God Is on His Throne, Everything Is Going His Way, and He Loves Me

God Is on His Throne, Everything Is Going His Way, and He Loves Me – “These are simple yet profound truths. They define not only how we are in ultimately, but how we can be in the present. Our circumstances may loom large in our minds. We may fear and fret all day long. But for those in Christ, these three things are always right.”

Dumbed Down? Why Reading the Bible Is so Elusive—Yet so Vitally Important

Dumbed Down? Why Reading the Bible Is so Elusive—Yet so Vitally Important – “Despite the fact that most Americans could likely walk around their homes and count more than a few Bibles dispersed throughout, only one in five Americans have actually read the Bible in its entirety and more than half of Americans (53%) have read merely a smattering of passages to none at all.”

Four Ways Every Believer Can Live Sent

Four Ways Every Believer Can Live Sent – “Believing the gospel comes with an obligation to the gospel.”

Understanding the Mosaic of the Atonement

Understanding the Mosaic of the Atonement – “In the mosaic of the atonement, the various words used by Scripture to portray the work of Christ all fit together when we take a step back and see God’s salvation. Propitiation, redemption, justification, and reconciliation all point us to the same story.”

The Gospel According to Galatians

The Gospel According to Galatians – “The Judaizers apparently wanted to earn religious extra credit by piggybacking Jewish legalism onto the free grace of the true gospel.”

What Does 2 John Have to Teach Us about Partnering with False Teachers?

What Does 2 John Have to Teach Us about Partnering with False Teachers? – “False teachers who confess a false Jesus are nothing new. But it seems like the church needs to reminded as often as possible that we can’t afford to get Jesus wrong.”

3 Ways to Battle Bitterness in Marriage

3 Ways to Battle Bitterness in Marriage – “The root of bitterness is powerful. It will defile both your marriage and also your relationship with God.”

Have Mercy on Those Who Doubt

Have Mercy on Those Who Doubt – “The remarkable and comforting fact is that some of Jesus’s first disciples, who personally saw and heard so many amazing things, doubted. Is it any surprise that some of us also experience a wavering, hesitant uncertainty — doubt — that what we have seen, heard, and experienced is all real?”

Tolerance Trouble

Tolerance Trouble – “The Corinthian church boasted about its tolerance of the incestuous man who was permitted to retain membership and acceptance within the Corinthian church. They were congratulating themselves for such open-mindedness when they should have been weeping. Their tolerance was beyond even what Roman law allowed.”

One Thing You Missed: Why Churches are Tax-Exempt

One Thing You Missed: Why Churches are Tax-Exempt – I’ve found that most people don’t know the answer.

9 Things You Should Know About Global Poverty

9 Things You Should Know About Global Poverty – A couple of these will surprise you and run counter to popular opinion.

How to Say ‘God Is Faithful’ When Suffering Won’t Stop

How to Say ‘God Is Faithful’ When Suffering Won’t Stop – “If God is the God of justice, of reconciliation, of deliverance, of life, then what does it look like to trust him when injustice comes, division remains, and death mocks?”

When Reading the Bible, Suspect Yourself

When Reading the Bible, Suspect Yourself – The things you read in the Bible aren’t just words on a page or a description of someone you know. Suspect yourself as you read.

Mercy and Gratitude in the Messiness of Life

Mercy and Gratitude in the Messiness of Life – “Heavenly Father, there are some days when it is critical to remember you call us to offer thanks in, not for, all circumstances.”

Dwelling on Death

Dwelling on Death – “In our culture, we do everything we can to avoid thinking about death—at least in a positive sense. We do, however, spend a lot of time thinking about how we can delay or avoid it.”

Alexa, Do You Love Me?

Alexa, Do You Love Me? – “Going beyond her practical purpose, Alexa is now becoming a personal confidant, and we are becoming more emotionally attached.”

Trans Children and Responsible Adults

Trans Children and Responsible Adults – “The surge in numbers of those identifying as transgender is one of the strangest and most confusing trends of our cultural moment.” 

What Does the Bible Say About Diseases?

What Does the Bible Say About Diseases? – “Just as Scripture notes, Jesus continues to take on diseases, pain and suffering.”

Help! My Teen Is Questioning the Faith

Help! My Teen Is Questioning the Faith – “Here are a few ways we can build homes that allow our children to wrestle with questions of faith.”

The True and Better Judas Iscariot

The True and Better Judas Iscariot – There is a difference between remorse and repentance.

Bring Your Pain to God: Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Bring Your Pain to God: Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow – “The question for believers is not whether we’ll endure pain. That’s a guarantee. The question is how we’ll endure pain.”

The Importance Of Doing What Anyone Could Do

The Importance Of Doing What Anyone Could Do – There are a lot of things anyone “could do”. What is needed are people who “will do” what needs to be done.

Missionary Insights into the Mind of the Unchurched in the Heartland

Missionary Insights into the Mind of the Unchurched in the Heartland – “Since the unchurched are not seekers actively looking for spiritual things, believers will have to take the initiative in evangelism. Increasingly, ministry leaders will need to learn to contextualize evangelism the same way international missionaries do.”

Christianity Is Not a Frowning Contest

Christianity Is Not a Frowning Contest – G. K. Chesterton is widely credited with saying, “Jesus promised his disciples three things: that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.” 

‘No Obvious Answer’: How Christian Colleges Are Responding to LGBTQ Regulations

‘No Obvious Answer’: How Christian Colleges Are Responding to LGBTQ Regulations – “The issues potentially affect hiring rights, student life policies, funding, tax-exempt status, and accreditation.”

The Strength of Silence

The Strength of Silence – “Our culture is full of noise. We constantly have places to go, things to do. Our lives are made up of errands, meetings, and schedules.”

An Underrated Key for a Fruitful Christian Life: A Rooted Life in a Place

An Underrated Key for a Fruitful Christian Life: A Rooted Life in a Place – “Are there any practices or habits we can cultivate to enable a more deeply rooted life in our place?”

Is Your Church Really Focused on Evangelism?

Is Your Church Really Focused on Evangelism? – The same could be asked of your small group or your family. Here are key ingredients in a Gospel-focus.

Christian, Feel Free to Love Politics

Christian, Feel Free to Love Politics – Here are some good reasons why. Always engage and may God call out more people to public service who love Jesus.

William Barr’s Statement at Notre Dame: My Perspective and God’s Call to Courage

William Barr’s Statement at Notre Dame: My Perspective and God’s Call to Courage – This is a particularly insightful article on our cultural struggles as Christ-followers in America.

The Cultural Left Bares Its Teeth: An Open Threat to Churches and Christians Who Hold to Biblical Conviction

The Cultural Left Bares Its Teeth: An Open Threat to Churches and Christians Who Hold to Biblical Conviction – Al Mohler weighs in: “The trajectory of the Democratic Party demands the unconditional surrender of evangelical Christianity—failure to capitulate will result in the coercive power of government to silence you.

5 Ways to 'Feel' Scripture

5 Ways to 'Feel' Scripture – “These approaches to study can condition us to feel Scripture more keenly.”

How Do I Follow God’s Will in the Face of Two Good Options?

How Do I Follow God’s Will in the Face of Two Good Options? – “Does God have a specific plan for my life, or do I have freedom to choose what I want to do and God will work in that?”

Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims Worship the Same God?

Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims Worship the Same God? – Jesus closed the door on this question in John 8:19. The answer is no and the video link included explains why in more detail.

Proclaiming Christ in the Marketplace

Proclaiming Christ in the Marketplace – “Christians are engaged in the world by carrying out their vocations. This is how they can be a positive influence in the culture.”

The Scandal of Gospel Inclusivity

The Scandal of Gospel Inclusivity – When we say that Jesus is the only way of salvation, we are sometimes accused of being “exclusive. The truth is, our Christian faith is most inclusive because... Everyone who calls on God’s name will be saved.

Democrats Are Going to Regret Beto’s Stance on Conservative Churches

Democrats Are Going to Regret Beto’s Stance on Conservative Churches – Beto’s statement was a significant attack on biblical Christianity and religious liberty. What happens next?

So You Want To Be A Missionary?

So You Want To Be A Missionary? – “So you want to be a missionary; what should you do? This question has one easy answer; talk to your church leaders and tell them about it.”

4 Things God Wants Us to Know About Sex

4 Things God Wants Us to Know About Sex – Jason Roach writes on what sex means for the Christian in terms of intimacy and what it points to.

The Art of Holding Your Nose: Negotiation and Dealing with Those Who Foster Injustice

The Art of Holding Your Nose: Negotiation and Dealing with Those Who Foster Injustice – How should Christians engage with the “Ahabs” and the “Rehoboams” of today?

Born to Rule Himself: Recovering a Lost Dream for Men

Born to Rule Himself: Recovering a Lost Dream for Men – “Here is one of the giants who can help a confused generation regain what it means to be a man.”

The Gospel According to David and Bathsheba

The Gospel According to David and Bathsheba – “God put the story of King David and Bathsheba in the Bible as a warning against the destructive tendencies of sin. But it is also a foreshadowing of the freedom from sin which Christ has won for His people.”

Do You Wish to Be Pure? Finding Hope in the Fight Against Lust

Do You Wish to Be Pure? Finding Hope in the Fight Against Lust – “As a Christian striving to live purely, arm yourself with the following three biblical admonitions in your war against lust.”

No Fear, No Wisdom

No Fear, No Wisdom – “If fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, then the refusal to fear God is the beginning of all folly. The essence of folly is trying to live in God’s world without conforming to God’s will.”

A Better Tone

A Better Tone – “Not since the Civil War, some thoughtful observers are saying, has our nation been so divided. Never so polarized. Never with so many of its citizens set so bitterly against each other.”

How Christians Can Prepare for the 2020 Election

How Christians Can Prepare for the 2020 Election – “There is little to suggest that the 2020 presidential election will yield less tension and conflict than 2016.” If anything, there will be more.

The LGBTQ+ Community, Beto, the Equality Act, and Evangelicals

The LGBTQ+ Community, Beto, the Equality Act, and Evangelicals – “The Equality Act fails to provide essential religious liberty protections that would allow a diverse group of social service and civic institutions to continue to thrive.”

Beto O’Rourke’s Plan to Destroy Churches

Beto O’Rourke’s Plan to Destroy Churches – “On Thursday, during a CNN town hall devoted to LGBTQ issues, Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke was asked, ‘Do you think religious institutions like colleges, churches, charities—should they lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage?’ ‘Yes,’ O’Rourke said without hesitation, drawing applause from the Los Angeles audience.”

Luke: Evangelist to the Rich

Luke: Evangelist to the Rich – “According to Luke-Acts, to be a rich Christian who “gets it” means (at least) these seven things.”

Is There Value in Your Work?

Is There Value in Your Work? – “Martin Luther believed that God works through our work.”

Welcoming and Affirming the Same Thing? Confusion in our Culture

Welcoming and Affirming the Same Thing? Confusion in our Culture – Here is an attempt at a simple distinction between the two.

Does Every Christian Have a Guardian Angel?

Does Every Christian Have a Guardian Angel? – “Over and over again, Scripture promises the very presence of God by the Spirit through faith. We ought to take comfort in the eternal God and his everlasting arms (Deut. 33:27), not the arms of angels.”

Habakkuk’s Place in the Grand Story

Habakkuk’s Place in the Grand Story – “The gist is this: Whatever happens, good or bad, God does all things for his own glory.”

A Digital Detox Won’t Work Unless You Ask Yourself This Question

A Digital Detox Won’t Work Unless You Ask Yourself This Question – “A big part of the reason we find ourselves spending so much time on our phones is that we don’t have a clear idea of what else we should be doing with our time.”

Bible Project: The Gospel

Bible Project: The Gospel – Here’s another great video in the series.

Surprisingly Useful Advice on Friendship

Surprisingly Useful Advice on Friendship – “Unless you’re a hermit or a saint, you’ve experienced a messy friendship. Maybe it’s rarely, maybe it’s regularly, but most of us know what it’s like to struggle with friendship.”

You Are Not Hidden From God

You Are Not Hidden From God – “Right now you may be seeking with great fervor to protect secrets that you fear would do you in if known. This will never bring you true safety.”

The Wonder of All We Have in Christ: Five Contrasts at the Heart of Hebrews

The Wonder of All We Have in Christ: Five Contrasts at the Heart of Hebrews – “When we lose our wonder, we are prone to wander.”

Just Put Your Phone Away!

Just Put Your Phone Away! - This is good advice for church, family, and community.

The Best Thing in the Bible….and The Worst

The Best Thing in the Bible….and The Worst – Joe McKeever provides his list of best, worst, and favorites.

What It Means to Be a Christian

What It Means to Be a Christian – “What does it mean to be a Christian?”

4 Practical Tips for Faithful Workplace Witness

4 Practical Tips for Faithful Workplace Witness – Here are four steps that can help.

11 Reasons Why You Need to Belong to a Church

11 Reasons Why You Need to Belong to a Church – This list is just a beginning but it’s a good one.

The Missionary and His Gospel

The Missionary and His Gospel – “In 1 Corinthians 15, we are given not only a tweetable summary of the faith, but three small insights into the shape of gospel-centered missionary labor.”

7 Sins the Church Ignores

7 Sins the Church Ignores – Don’t pass over these sins.

Expect the Bible to Unsettle You

Expect the Bible to Unsettle You – “God’s word not only comforts and uplifts his people; it also unsettles them.”

Even If It Means My Son’s Life

Even If It Means My Son’s Life – “Even if it means my son’s life, I reject those gods and follow Jesus.”

Suicide, Heaven, and Jesus

Suicide, Heaven, and Jesus – the Final Answer to Our Sorrow.

6 Ways to Help Your Kids Love Reading the Bible

6 Ways to Help Your Kids Love Reading the Bible – “Here are six ways that might help.”

What the People of God Will Be (and Are!)

What the People of God Will Be (and Are!) – “What does Psalm 48 tells us the church should do and be like? More than a few things.”

The Explosive Power of the Resurrection — Now

The Explosive Power of the Resurrection — Now – “For the joy that is set before us in the resurrection, we endure the cost of love.”

5 Ways Different Generations Can Grow In Christ Together

5 Ways Different Generations Can Grow In Christ Together – “Here are five ways that generations (Gen Zers, millennials, Gen Xers, boomers, busters, and any other group not given a clever name) can listen to each other and grow in Christ together.”

Why You Don’t Have to Fear in the Valley

Why You Don’t Have to Fear in the Valley – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Never Be Ashamed to Seek Heaven: Why Some Drag Their Feet to Paradise

Never Be Ashamed to Seek Heaven: Why Some Drag Their Feet to Paradise – “Never be ashamed of letting men see you want to go to heaven.”

Moving Our Congregations to More Effective Evangelism

Moving Our Congregations to More Effective Evangelism – “So how do we as leaders guide those in our care to become disciples who have a high priority of evangelism?”

Reconfiguring The American Household

Reconfiguring The American Household – “According to a new analysis of U.S. Census data, household composition – the way in which Americans organize themselves into households – is steadily changing.”

8 Marks of a Sluggard

8 Marks of a Sluggard – This is a good lesson from the Proverbs. I’ve found that we can all be sluggards in some area of life. Sadly, for many who are achievers in most categories, their spiritual life is marked as “sluggard”.

We Become What We Watch: What Entertainment Does to Our Minds

We Become What We Watch: What Entertainment Does to Our Minds – “Under the guise of entertainment, evil thoughts often move into our minds and entrench themselves unopposed.”

Seven Prayers for Those You Love

Seven Prayers for Those You Love – “Most of what we know about Paul’s prayer life centers on what he prayed for his brothers and sisters in the faith, including these seven big prayers — prayers we can regularly pray for the followers of Christ we love most.”

Romans 8:28: Three Pillars of Hope in the Midst of Suffering

Romans 8:28: Three Pillars of Hope in the Midst of Suffering – “Remember three ways God uses Romans 8 to give you hope in suffering.”

I’ve Been Forgiven. Now What?

I’ve Been Forgiven. Now What? – “Christians believe that God has forgiven their sins. But what difference does this actually make in the day-to-day? What difference should it make?”

How The Ten Commandments Work

How The Ten Commandments Work – “There is no escaping the essential order of God’s commands. The first four commands have to do with one thing and one thing alone: the worship of God. Why are they laid out in this way?”

Malachi’s Place in the Grand Story

Malachi’s Place in the Grand Story – “As the Old Testament narrative winds down, there is a clash of darkness and light reflected in the climactic cymbal crash of the book of Malachi.”

8 Signs of True Repentance

8 Signs of True Repentance – “When these eight signs of repentance are authentically present, we are blessed. Our offender has forsaken evil, and the God of peace is glorified. But what do we do when these signs are not present?”

Let’s Stop Asking the World To Do Our Work for Us

Let’s Stop Asking the World To Do Our Work for Us – This is a response to a common declaration among conservative Christians.

When Failure Leads to Worship

When Failure Leads to Worship – “When we fail, as we undoubtedly will again, our failures can lead us to worship the one who saves us from them all—the one whom Abram rejoiced to see was coming, to wash him anew in grace and mercy.”

Greater Works and the Ordinary Christian Life

Greater Works and the Ordinary Christian Life – “Today, when I think of doing great things for God, I think of being faithful to the call of God on my life and in the place where he has put me. I know the small things matter, and I have every intention of doing them well.”

7 Ways You Can Contribute to Better Public Discourse

7 Ways You Can Contribute to Better Public Discourse – “Here are their seven encouragements for individuals and families to be healthier contributors for the common good.”

Should We Call Out False Teachers or Ignore Them?

Should We Call Out False Teachers or Ignore Them? – “The best protection against the darkness of error is the light of truth.”

Why Pornography Is Affecting This Generation More Than Any Other

Why Pornography Is Affecting This Generation More Than Any Other – “This generation has been more affected by pornography than any other generation in history. I believe there are four major reasons for this. They are acceptability, accessibility, affordability, and anonymity.”

What I Have in Common with King Nebuchadnezzar

What I Have in Common with King Nebuchadnezzar – “Like Nebuchadnezzar, I’m in constant need of bowing my knees and acknowledging your sovereign rule over all things. I’m thankful you are God, and I am not.”

5 Prayers Prompted by Playboy’s Rebrand

5 Prayers Prompted by Playboy’s Rebrand – “In light of Playboy’s rebrand, and things like it facing us daily, here are five things to pray for that will help to align our responses to the gospel.”

The Drama of His Glory: The Worth of God from Genesis to Revelation

The Drama of His Glory: The Worth of God from Genesis to Revelation – “No biblical theme is grander than the glory of God. The entire biblical storyline, in fact, is the drama of God’s glory.”

‘God Made Me Do It!’ Why Did God Tempt Saul with an Evil Spirit?

‘God Made Me Do It!’ Why Did God Tempt Saul with an Evil Spirit? – “God wasn’t tempting Saul with the evil spirit; he sent it as an act of judgment in response to Saul’s stubborn rebellion.”

Note the Kindness of God

Note the Kindness of God – “I have been hearing myself say, ‘God was very kind to me when He yada, yada, yada,’ or ‘God was so kind to give me X, Y, Z. . .’ Those are true statements, but even more accurate is the fact that God is kind to me all the time–its just that sometimes He gives me eyes to see His hand which is always at work for my good and His glory.”

Making Prayer a Priority in a Crisis

Making Prayer a Priority in a Crisis – “Daniel is a great model for how to pray during a time of crisis.”

Bibliology: What The Bible Is and Why It Matters

Bibliology: What The Bible Is and Why It Matters – “Let us look at five ways that helpfully describe the nature of Scripture.”

The Changing Use of “Evangelical” in American History

The Changing Use of “Evangelical” in American History – The word gets thrown around with a variety of definitions these days. Here is an historical journey of the word “evangelical”.

The Uncomfortability Of Others’ Suffering

The Uncomfortability Of Others’ Suffering – “There can be a temptation to put believers who are suffering in a petri dish, watching to see if they grow evidence that will confirm our doctrinal beliefs without making us too uncomfortable in the process.”

9 Things You Should Know About Christianity and Communist China

9 Things You Should Know About Christianity and Communist China – “Here are nine things you should know about the communist state and its historic opposition and suppression of the Christian faith.”

The Saddest Word

The Saddest Word – “Christ kicked out the back wall of goodbye and cleared a path to a better hello. Let’s follow Him.”

Joy in the Sorrow of Miscarriage and Childlessness

Joy in the Sorrow of Miscarriage and Childlessness – “This subtle shift in my soul began to change everything. The nearness of children was not my good. The nearness of God was my only good, and however his nearness came—in silence, in greatness, in provision, in lack, in fullness, or in meagerness—it would be enough.”

10 Things You Should Know about ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’

10 Things You Should Know about ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ – It is an enduring work of literature and spiritual story-telling. Here are some things to know.

America: A Child Pornocracy

America: A Child Pornocracy – “I still can’t get over the big story in Sunday’s New York Times about the explosion in child pornography in the age of the Internet: last year, investigators found over 45 million videos and images of child pornography on the Internet — over twice what had been reported in the previous year.”

When the Bible Speaks, God Speaks

When the Bible Speaks, God Speaks – “The classical evangelical doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture comes down to a simple formula: when the Scripture speaks, God speaks.”

4 Ways to Revolutionize Your Bible Reading

4 Ways to Revolutionize Your Bible Reading – “Trust that the Word that spoke the world into existence will re-speak you as a new creature in Christ.”

No One To Blame But Ourselves

No One To Blame But Ourselves – “The greatest mistake of the past generations of Christians in this country was trying to Christianize the culture without evangelizing the people.  We put prayer in the schools, made the church the social life of the community, instituted blue laws so that no liquor could be sold on Sundays...The citizens were no more Christian than previously, but we were making them behave like it.”

Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion. Why?

Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion. Why? – Here’s a sample: “Although belief in God is no panacea for these problems, religion is more than a theism. It is a bundle: a theory of the world, a community, a social identity, a means of finding peace and purpose, and a weekly routine. Those, like me, who have largely rejected this package deal, often find themselves shopping à la carte for meaning, community, and routine to fill a faith-shaped void. Their politics is a religion. Their work is a religion. Their spin class is a church. And not looking at their phone for several consecutive hours is a Sabbath.”