Leaping on Leap Day in a Leap Year – In Christ,
we have joy to inspire some leaping.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Coronavirus, Christians, and a Christ-Centered Response
Coronavirus,
Christians, and a Christ-Centered Response –
“How we respond in times when we feel powerless may offer a greater opportunity
for growth for us and to witness to others.”
How Jesus Fulfilled the Passover
How Jesus Fulfilled the Passover – “The reason
he came to Jerusalem that final time wasn’t just to celebrate Passover, but
to become our Passover.”
When Nobody Else Listens, God Listens
When Nobody Else Listens, God Listens –
“When we give personal voice to our emotions and organize them in this way, it
helps make sense of our hurt.”
No Condemnation
No
Condemnation – “I can’t help but feel that all my
efforts to be sufficient—to be a good wife and mother and
friend and daughter and neighbor––fall incredibly flat. And as I wonder if
I’m disappointing others, I can’t help but wonder, Am I disappointing
God?”
Friday, February 28, 2020
When Christians Fail
When Christians
Fail – “Perhaps the reason I am drawn to Peter’s character is because I
can easily read myself into his persona. I relate too much with his many
failures recorded in the scriptures.”
Four Lies That Keep Us from Prayer
Four Lies
That Keep Us from Prayer – “Consider, then, four lies that hide behind
our prayerlessness, and how the Lord Jesus exposes each of them.”
Signs of Christian Maturity
Signs
of Christian Maturity – “The Bible repeatedly teaches that
Christians are supposed to be maturing in many ways...‘cruise control’
Christianity is not genuine Christianity. Salvation is not merely eternal life
insurance. Salvation is not a get-rich, get-healed, get-famous formula either.”
What’s the Earliest Evidence for Christianity? (The Answer May Surprise You)
What’s the Earliest Evidence for Christianity? (The
Answer May Surprise You) – “The most ancient source and earliest
evidence for Christianity isn’t only a firm foundation for a Jesus follower to
stand on, it’s also a powerful apologetic for challenging 21st-century
unbelievers.”
The Danger of Love Without Truth and Truth Without Love
The Danger of Love Without Truth and Truth Without Love
– “My entire life I have been surrounded by messy people with messy lives. The
only reason it doesn’t bother me is because I’m messy, too.”
How Can Couples Heal After Adultery?
How
Can Couples Heal After Adultery? – “What are some
biblical realities and hopes when ministering to a couple where there has been
the unfaithfulness of adultery?”
Tim Keller on the Significance of ‘Birth’ in Your Life
Tim Keller on the Significance of ‘Birth’ in Your Life
– “Birth is no longer life-threatening; instead, it is lifestyle-threatening.”
Thursday, February 27, 2020
The Real Power of Living in Community
The Real Power of Living in Community – “We
need each other. Through my time exploring community living, I’ve witnessed
four ways living in a community can impact your life.”
Building a Culture of Evangelism Takes Time, So Be Patient and Get to Work
Building a Culture of Evangelism Takes Time, So Be Patient and
Get to Work – “It takes time for to grow a
culture of evangelism. Hopefully some of these practices will help. So get to
work; patiently pray and patiently wait. And over the months and even the
years, watch what type of culture the Lord grows in your congregation.”
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
The World as 100 Christians
The
World as 100 Christians – This is a great way to understand
the peoples who make up the Christian presence in the world.
When I Don’t Like God's Answer
When I
Don’t Like God's Answer – “God is God and I am not. He understands all
things and I do not. He formed all things for my good and His glory, and I did
not.”
How Can I Jumpstart My Prayer Life?
How
Can I Jumpstart My Prayer Life? – “Just three brief,
practical suggestions because many of us are not doing as well as we should.”
God Doesn’t Want a Venmo Relationship With You
God Doesn’t Want a
Venmo Relationship With You – “Most of us, however,
prefer the “gift card” approach to God. With a gift card, you know exactly what
you are on the hook for. When it’s used up, that’s not your problem.”
Repentance as Discipleship
Repentance as
Discipleship – “We cannot follow Jesus without repentance. To be his
disciple is to be a person of repentance.”
Are You A Functional Atheist?
Are You A Functional Atheist? – “If you look
around and look at yourself, you’ll see evidence of functional atheism
everywhere in the lives of Christians.”
How Should Christians Talk About the COVID-19 ‘Potential Pandemic’?
How Should Christians Talk About the COVID-19
‘Potential Pandemic’? – “As the threat of COVID-19 increases,
Christians are finding it increasingly necessary to form an opinion and discuss
the topic. But how do we do that in a way that fits the demands of biblical
ethics? Here are four suggestions.”
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Count Your Blessings
Count
Your Blessings – “When we return true heartfelt
thanksgiving to God for the blessings that He has bountifully given us, further
benefits develop.”
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self – “We
do not choose our time, and we must not waste energy lamenting our time. We
need first and foremost to understand our time and then to respond to it with
informed wisdom.”
Are the Democrats Really Close to an Openly Socialist Nominee?
Are the Democrats Really Close to an Openly Socialist
Nominee? – “Ideas have consequences and exert enormous power.”
Monday, February 24, 2020
The Gospel and an Atheist’s Joke
The Gospel and an Atheist’s Joke – “The
atheist’s argument actually makes the point, unintentionally, of why the gospel
is such good news.”
How Do You Witness to Those in Cults and Other Religions?
How Do You Witness to Those in Cults and Other Religions? –
This one simple question can spell out the difference between cults and God’s
gospel truth.
Every Marriage Needs God’s Grace
Every Marriage Needs God’s Grace – “There’s no
other relationship on earth with greater power to expose our brokenness and
reveal your grace, tap into our longings and frustrate us beyond measure. And
there’s no other relationship Satan is more determined to crash and burn.”
Marriage Was Never Supposed To Fill The Empty Spaces
Marriage Was Never Supposed To Fill The Empty Spaces –
“As we continuously seek to fill ourselves up with the knowledge of God,
through his word and through prayer, he fills us with everything we need for
life and godliness.”
He Loved You Before There Was a You
He Loved You
Before There Was a You – “God's love for his children is
grounded in the eternal reality of his very self. It is predicated on nothing
but the purity of his very nature, the endless-both-ways love he both has
and is.”
One of the Most Misused Words Today
One of the Most Misused Words Today –
“Today, heart is understood to refer to a person’s emotions.
Biblically, the heart refers to the whole person, including our capacity to
think.”
On Cracking the Code
On Cracking
the Code – “I understand the desire for a long life, and especially for
those who have no firm hope for life beyond. The grave yawns dark and cold and
terrifying for those who approach it with uncertainty.”
The Mentality That Will Kill Your Church
The Mentality That Will Kill Your Church – “All
this missions stuff is okay, I guess. But what’s in it for us?”
What If Jesus Never Left? Why His Absence Is Our Advantage
What If
Jesus Never Left? Why His Absence Is Our Advantage –
“Have you ever wondered how Jesus’s absence could be an advantage to us? I’m
referring to something Jesus said to his disciples.”
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Can You Love Jesus, But Not Christians?
Can
You Love Jesus, But Not Christians? – “Christians
don’t always act in the way that Jesus would.”
Will He Fail Me Now? When We Doubt the Faithfulness of God
Will He
Fail Me Now? When We Doubt the Faithfulness of God – “The ground of our
hope is our Lord’s faithfulness to his word. He has promised us great things.
Won’t he do them?”
What It Means To Fear God–and Why We Need To Do It
What It Means To Fear God–and Why We Need To Do It
– “Fear is a great motivator. Fear of God is the best motivator of all.”
Remembering and Praying for Nigerian Christians in the Midst of Persecution
Remembering
and Praying for Nigerian Christians in the Midst of Persecution –
“While the world has been consumed by news about Iran, China, and conflicts in
other regions, militant and extremist groups in Nigeria have waged a campaign
of death and devastation against Christians.”
The Most Frightening Three Words
The Most Frightening Three Words –
“For the tormented who endure chronic pain, or those silent souls who hide
their wounds, the question threatens to expose the sufferer to the inspection
of their pain.”
The FAQS: What You Should Know About Polygamy in America
The FAQS: What You Should Know About Polygamy in
America – “It’s not a surprising that the increase in acceptance of
homosexual behavior has led to broader acceptance of polyamorous practices
among heterosexuals.”
Friday, February 21, 2020
How Do I Bless My Children Before Bed?
How
Do I Bless My Children Before Bed? – “Now, here’s
what’s unique about a blessing like that as opposed to a simple prayer.”
How to Suffer Well: Three Ways to Prepare Now
How to
Suffer Well: Three Ways to Prepare Now – “Suffering well, like doing
anything well, requires careful preparation.”
The Engine That Drives a Good Marriage
The Engine That Drives a Good Marriage – “The
gospel is the engine for your marriage. So look to Jesus, and as much as
possible, look to him together.”
75 Icebreaker Questions for Church Small Groups
75 Icebreaker Questions for Church Small Groups –
This would come in handy for any of us who lead groups.
Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With?
Why Does God Care Who I Sleep With? –
A biblical sexual ethic in our current culture must be an ongoing priority.
The Strangest Circumcision Story Ever
The Strangest Circumcision Story Ever – “If you
were to make a short list of the strangest paragraphs in the Bible, Exodus
4:24–26 would almost certainly be on it.”
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Being Off Our Food Is a Sign of Sickness
Being Off Our Food Is a Sign of Sickness –
“When we are off our food, it is a sign that we are really quite sick. As true
as that is physically, it is equally true spiritually. If we are off our
spiritual food, it is a sign that we are spiritually really very unwell.”
Why the Current Loneliness Epidemic Is a Historical Gospel Opportunity
Why
the Current Loneliness Epidemic Is a Historical Gospel Opportunity –
“At the center of the universe is a community. It is out and for that
relationship you and I were created and redeemed. It turns out that community
is the trinity.”
Our Identity In Christ Looks A Lot Like This…
Our Identity
In Christ Looks A Lot Like This… - “We are remade and recreated. Once
we were rubbish. Now, we are redeemed.”
God’s Extraordinary Work in the Ordinary Family
God’s Extraordinary Work in the Ordinary Family –
“Fraught with all of the frustrations and hardships of life, God calls us to be
faithful to Him, to one another, to our everyday work, and to instructing our
children in the truths of the Christian faith.”
3 Reasons to Visit an Elderly Person Soon
3 Reasons to Visit an Elderly Person Soon – “Here
are three reasons to prayerfully consider this need.”
3 Ways to Fight Your Fears
3 Ways to Fight Your Fears – “In this psalm,
David guides us through three steps to trust God and fight our fears.”
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
How to Not Be Just a Consumer at Church
How to Not Be Just a Consumer at Church – “While
thinking of the church as a marriage relationship is far from a perfect analogy
it does emphasize the importance of being committed to a local body of believers
despite their imperfections.”
Parenting is Hard, but God is Gracious
Parenting is Hard,
but God is Gracious – “We can package Paul’s teaching in three words:
gentleness, discipline, and instruction.”
Who is Abraham in the Bible and Why is He Important?
Who
is Abraham in the Bible and Why is He Important? –
We can learn a great deal about faith through Abraham.
To Anyone Who Thinks Christianity is Hateful or Bigoted
To Anyone Who Thinks Christianity is Hateful or Bigoted –
“There is a growing sense in the United States that strong forms of
religion—such as Christianity—are the enemy of peace and brotherhood. Many
Americans have now come to believe that Christianity is inherently hateful or
bigoted.”
Church Should Be Your Excuse for Missing Everything Else
Church
Should Be Your Excuse for Missing Everything Else –
“Many people have it settled in their minds that church attendance is optional.
They can miss here and there without any large repercussions to their spiritual
well-being, and their own families will not be any worse off either.”
Report: 8 in 10 Evangelicals Live in Asia, Africa and South America
Report: 8 in 10 Evangelicals Live in Asia, Africa and
South America – “There are about 660 million evangelicals in the world,
representing a little over a quarter of all 2.5 billion Christians. Of those,
the largest share lives in Asia which has about 215 million evangelicals. China
has 66 million, India has 28 million, Indonesia has 16, the Philippines has 13
and South Korea has 9.”
Evangelism Formation: Three Major Challenges to Our Evangelism Today
Evangelism
Formation: Three Major Challenges to Our Evangelism Today –
“As we enter into 2020, challenges to evangelism continue to rise. We need to
face them to help us prioritize the spread of the gospel.”
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Valentine's Day and the Unending Love of God
Valentine's Day and the Unending Love of God – “Love
has always been the language of Christianity. After all, one of the shortest
yet most profound statements in the Bible is revelation that God is love.”
7 Details Christians Get Wrong about the Bible
7 Details Christians Get Wrong about the Bible –
Some of these you’re likely heard and some will come as a surprise.
Unleashing the Gift of Evangelism in 2020
Unleashing the Gift of Evangelism in 2020 – “What
is central to Jesus’ mission for us has become secondary to many Christians.”
A Law to Protect Abortion Survivors Shouldn’t Be Necessary, but It Is
A
Law to Protect Abortion Survivors Shouldn’t Be Necessary, but It Is –
“While it’s hard to imagine many Americans opposing a bill that would ensure
that medical provision was administered to a struggling newborn child, many in
Washington would prefer that it never be mentioned, because it would protect
infants born alive after an attempted abortion.”
9 Things You Should Know About Family Structure
9 Things You Should Know About Family Structure
– “In a new article for The Atlantic, David Brooks argues that “The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake.” Brooks claims that, “The
family structure we’ve held up as the cultural ideal for the past half century
has been a catastrophe for many. It’s time to figure out better ways to live
together.” Is that true?
Shut It Down
Shut
It Down – This is one of several heavy cultural articles
I’ve posted today but worth the read. “It was we, as Peter Pomerantsev argues,
who first lived through a post-fact, post-value, and post-hope era, which many
Western countries are now experiencing.”
There Is No ‘Party of Science’
There Is No ‘Party of Science’ –
“All ideological tribes use scientific research when the result supports their
priors and downplay it when it doesn’t.”
The Age of Decadence
The Age of Decadence – “We used to travel
faster, build bigger, live longer; now we communicate faster, chatter more,
snap more selfies. We used to go to the moon; now we make movies about space —
amazing movies with completely convincing special effects that make it seem as
if we’ve left earth behind.”
Friday, February 14, 2020
A Valentine’s Day Call to Courageous Love
A
Valentine’s Day Call to Courageous Love – Jim Denison
shares some helpful thoughts for Valentine’s Day.
What Is the Meaning of Marriage?
What
Is the Meaning of Marriage? – “From the
beginning, marriage always signified God’s union with humanity in Christ.”
Want to Defend the Faith? Tell a Story.
Want to Defend the Faith? Tell a Story. – “Whether
it be through someone’s conversion story or how faith allowed a person to cope
with hardship, suffering, and trauma, personal narrative is a powerful
apologetic method.”
Can Sickness Be Better Than Health?
Can Sickness
Be Better Than Health? – “Nothing has more powerfully shaped me — my
theology, my character, my love for God and for others — than suffering.”
Michael Bloomberg’s Record on Misogyny Is Straight Up Terrible
Michael Bloomberg’s Record on Misogyny Is Straight Up
Terrible – It’s going to be a long political year...
What Jesus Meant About the Lost Sheep
What Jesus
Meant About the Lost Sheep – “Jesus knew the Bible, and he used David's
words to foretell the kind of battle he came to fight and the kind of victory
he came to win.”
Thursday, February 13, 2020
God’s Word: There Are Not Accolades Enough
God’s Word: There Are Not Accolades Enough –
“If I were Satan, I would do anything and everything possible to keep you from
reading, enjoying, studying, and most of all, obeying God’s Word.”
How to Know If You’ve Made an Idol of Politics
How to Know If You’ve Made an Idol of Politics –
The article also provides some diagnostic questions to discern our idolatry.
Reading Without Seeing: How Not to Study the Bible
Reading Without
Seeing: How Not to Study the Bible – “We do not read
the Bible to the glory of God when we seek knowledge about God,
but we never meet God — when the knowledge we search for never
gets into our hearts.”
Understanding Why Religious Conservatives Would Vote for Trump
Understanding Why Religious Conservatives Would Vote for Trump –
“They will vote not so much for Donald Trump—with his uncouth
speech and incessantly immature tweets—as they will vote against the
worldview of the Democratic platform. Those who make this calculation are not
sell-outs, nor have they forfeited the credibility of their values carte blanche.”
Was Mark 16:9–20 Originally Part of Mark’s Gospel?
Was Mark 16:9–20 Originally Part of Mark’s Gospel?
– Some of your translations will omit or footnote these verses. Here is an explanation
of the issues.
International Orphans Need Families, Not Orphanage
International Orphans Need Families, Not Orphanages
– This is a foundational change of focus that must happen to truly help with
the orphan crisis in the world.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
The Only Valentine's Day Advice You Need
The Only Valentine's Day Advice You Need – “Love
is best defined by an event: Christ’s sacrifice of love is the ultimate
definition of what love is and what love does.”
Defining Moments After Sinners Say ‘I Do’
Defining Moments After Sinners Say ‘I Do’ – “We
count marriages in years, but they’re really defined by moments.”
Valentine’s Envy
Valentine’s
Envy – “Envy creeps in, whispering that something good has
been withheld from you...Envy tends to the seeds of bitterness and cheers their
growth.”
Keeping Our Confidence in Christ
Keeping Our
Confidence in Christ – “Jude’s letter is emphatic that Jesus Christ is
our only Savior, a teaching all the more pronounced through Jude’s litany of
the sorrowfully condemned.”
How to Raise Children in a ‘Be Yourself’ World
How to Raise Children in a ‘Be Yourself’ World –
“Let me therefore suggest five—admittedly broad-brush—thoughts on helping your
teenage kids navigate the modern maze of messages.”
How Do I Let Go of Anger over Past Wrongs?
How Do
I Let Go of Anger over Past Wrongs? – “If you lay down your rage, your
anger, it doesn’t get lost; God picks it up.”
When Intimacy With God Is Absent
When Intimacy
With God Is Absent – “It is easy to look around and identify things
that are wrong with the world and with others. But Jesus directs us to look
first at ourselves.”
10 Flavors of Works-Based Salvation
10 Flavors of Works-Based Salvation –
“By nature and by training we all seek solutions to our problem of sin. To
varying degrees, these solutions include doing something—law
keeping, good works, etc—to please or appease or satisfy the God who is one day
going to judge us. The idea of contributing to one’s own salvation is universal.”
Think You Don’t Need a Church to Know Jesus? Think Again.
Think
You Don’t Need a Church to Know Jesus? Think Again. –
“We need each other. We are, all of us, incomplete, insufficient for life—at
least for what God wants from our lives—without deep and meaningful involvement
in the church.”
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
4 Things to Pray Before Opening Your Bible
4 Things to Pray Before Opening Your Bible – “A
prayerless approach to God’s Word is a major reason for the low-level
dissatisfaction that hums beneath the surface of our lives.”
9 Ways to Guard Your Personal Relationship with God
9 Ways to Guard Your Personal Relationship with God –
“Giving time and energy to our relationship with God actually increases free
time and energy because it helps us get a better perspective on life and order
our priorities better.”
The Age of Celebrity Is Dead
The
Age of Celebrity Is Dead – “The Oscars have always been fundamentally
silly, but 10 years ago they were still a major event. Celebrities still
lectured people in their annoying, self-congratulatory way, but they had more
cultural capital. People listened when they spoke, and that slightly restrained
their sanctimoniousness. Now they are just howling into cyberspace, ever more
desperate to be heard.”
When the Church Apologizes for Its Beliefs
When the Church Apologizes for Its Beliefs –
“What the world needs most is a Church that is full of gracious confidence in
the goodness and beauty of our King’s commands.”
God’s Kindness in Judah’s Repentance
God’s Kindness in Judah’s Repentance – “It’s
clear that God’s grace affected Judah, enabling him to love his family, both
brother and father, in a sacrificial manner.”
Salvation and Seeing Your Sin
Salvation and Seeing Your Sin –
We may think there are some that are beyond the grips of Christ's salvation.
Kevin Gardner writes about God's salvation and how far it cleanses sin.
Some Wounds Never Heal
Some Wounds
Never Heal – “We may never return to life as it once was. That’s okay.
But we must never let the old ache stop us from living.”
Silly Things Christians Say: ‘Ask Jesus Into Your Heart’
Silly Things Christians Say: ‘Ask Jesus Into Your
Heart’ – “It’s important to critically consider the language we are
using, because our language shapes our understanding of reality.”
Why I Love Discipling Students Through This Hopeless Babylon
Why I Love Discipling Students Through This Hopeless Babylon –
“I enjoyed this perspective on discipling students. “When I think about the
hopelessness our culture has for your teenagers, I think about the hopefulness
our Scriptures have for them.”
Monday, February 10, 2020
5 Habits to Practice the Presence of God at Work
5 Habits
to Practice the Presence of God at Work – “Here are my top five habits
for practicing the presence of God in busy and tech-driven offices.”
Sometimes the Opposition of the World Works for the Best
Sometimes the Opposition of the World Works for the Best
– “For good reason, God’s people learn to rejoice in adversity and to thrive
under persecution.”
The Death of Decency in the American Mind
The Death of Decency in the American Mind –
“There are a few things that I can remember that will make me a better and more
God-honoring participant in the culture.”
Not All Sins Are the Same: Why Hell Will Be Worse for Some
Not All
Sins Are the Same: Why Hell Will Be Worse for Some – “Greater knowledge
brings greater accountability. The more truth we have, the more damnable is our
preference for lies.”
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Nothing Better Than This
Nothing Better Than This – “We want to live
today remembering who we are in Christ, and whose we are by grace.”
The Underrated Potential of One-to-One Bible Reading
The Underrated Potential of One-to-One Bible Reading
– “One-to-one Bible reading isn’t the only way to evangelize and disciple. But
if we’re stuck on what to do in these areas, it’s a good place to begin.”
‘I Shall Not Be Shaken’: How God Removes Our Greatest Fears
‘I Shall
Not Be Shaken’: How God Removes Our Greatest Fears – “In Psalm 16, we
walk with King David the short but significant path from fear to confidence,
from instability to security, from anxiety to authentic, lasting joy.”
Saturday, February 8, 2020
The Beautiful Surrender
The Beautiful Surrender – “Sometimes on
this side of heaven, faithful people face seasons of beautiful surrenders. In
the surrendering, God grows His people into maturity.”
Men: Pursue Others Like Jesus Pursues You
Men: Pursue Others Like Jesus Pursues You –
“All the biblical stories of the Lord moving toward people are stories of
grace.”
Three Lies That Separate Spouses
Three Lies
That Separate Spouses – “In the church, few people are more vulnerable
to spiritual harm than those aggrieved persons who spiritualize their
bitterness. Such a person has likely believed one of three diabolical lies.”
The Importance of What We Do in Secret
The Importance of What We Do in Secret –
“According to Jesus, it is what we do in secret that matters most.”
Forgive? Of Course! It’s What I Do.
Forgive? Of Course! It’s What I Do. – “Scripture
establishes two standards for the forgiveness Christians offer to others.”
Help! I Can’t Get Control over My Tongue
Help! I Can’t Get Control over My Tongue –
“Although we often use the words self-control and self-discipline interchangeably,
the Bible distinguishes them.”
The FAQs: What You Should Know About Late-Term Abortion
The FAQs: What You Should Know About Late-Term Abortion
– “Recent events have brought the issue of late-term abortion back into the
news, and into the realm of presidential politics.”
Friday, February 7, 2020
Assumptions people make about Jesus and His People
Assumptions people make about Jesus and His People
– “People make these generalizations and assumptions based on their
preconceptions and ignorance. We call that prejudice. They don’t consider your
evidence but go immediately to the verdict which they had decided on in
advance.”
One-on-One with Craig Groeschel on ‘Dangerous Prayers’
One-on-One
with Craig Groeschel on ‘Dangerous Prayers’ –
“I think there are many Christians who know they should pray, who want to have
great faith when they pray, but often don’t.”
Waiting for God Alone: How Desperation Teaches Us to Trust
Waiting for
God Alone: How Desperation Teaches Us to Trust – “To be brought to a
place where God is our only real hope is a merciful experience. But I don’t say
that lightly. Because almost always it’s also a desperate experience.”
Ministry Is Being a Priest to God and One Another
Ministry Is Being a Priest to God and One Another
– “The Lord has established our callings and placed us where we can serve both
him and our neighbors. As his new-covenant priests, our work has enduring
value. So no matter what work you’re called to, may Christ be honored in your
service.”
The Inefficient Ministry of Motherhood
The Inefficient
Ministry of Motherhood – “Instead of correcting the time-taking
toddlers, Jesus corrected the kingdom-driven adults who didn’t have time for
the children.”
Thursday, February 6, 2020
King Jehoshaphat and the Coronavirus
King Jehoshaphat and the Coronavirus – “As I
sit in my apartment in coronavirus-laden China, I’m hard pressed to think of a
better prayer than that one, uttered by a desperate but confident Judean King
named Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:12).”
Will Hell Really Last Forever? Answering Objections to Eternal Punishment
Will Hell
Really Last Forever? Answering Objections to Eternal Punishment – “Do
those in hell suffer eternal conscious punishment? The church throughout its
two-thousand-year history has thought so, but many today do not.”
A Crossless Gospel Makes Spineless Christians
A Crossless Gospel Makes Spineless Christians –
“Herein lies the real meaning of the love of God. It’s found in the cost of the
cross.”
Worship God: Start a Hobby
Worship
God: Start a Hobby – “Lately, hobbies have become a
metric of personal success. But their core purpose is to help us pause and
praise.”
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Guarding Our Eyes
Guarding Our Eyes – “In our visually
soaked generation, addiction to sexual uncleanness and unrestrained
covetousness are common sins. We will not make progress in growing in grace if
we do not rear back and roar a thundering No to the many
voices that call us to compromise our consciences.”
Experience Better Relationships
Experience Better Relationships – “When you
give up your self-centered agenda, you’ll find more joy, peace, and fulfillment
in your relationships than you could have ever imagined!”
What It Really Means to Have Our Minds Transformed
What
It Really Means to Have Our Minds Transformed –
“The Apostle Paul may or may not have known all this about butterflies. But he
did recognize that something similar happens to the believer.”
How Do I Grow in Wisdom?
How Do I
Grow in Wisdom? – Understanding our own sin and the
wrath of God on sin and sinners is a key part of growth in wisdom.
The Father’s Will: You Never Know Where He Will Lead
The Father’s Will: You Never Know Where He Will Lead
– “God sends no road map to His obedient; we walk by faith. He gives no
GPS to the faithful so they will always know where they are and what’s going
on.”
Conceived of the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary
Conceived
of the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary –
“The Scriptures teach nothing less than the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, without such a birth there is no gospel! A Christian who doesn’t
believe in the virgin birth is in eternal peril, for the one in whom he
believes is not the One who is testified in the Scriptures.”
The LGBT Movement’s Dangerous Hypocrisy on Conversion Therapy
The LGBT Movement’s Dangerous Hypocrisy on Conversion
Therapy – “Is sexual orientation fixed or fluid? For LGBT activists,
the answer depends on what position most benefits their cause.”
Should I Be Baptized Against My Parents’ Wishes?
Should I Be Baptized Against My Parents’ Wishes? –
“Some of you have been told to wait until you graduate and others until
your grandparents die. I know how much you love your parents and want to
honor them. And I see how deeply you love your heavenly Father and want to
follow him. I hope that these brief thoughts might help you make a wise
and prayerful decision.”
Does Your Youth Group Look Like the Muslim's Next Door?
Does Your
Youth Group Look Like the Muslim's Next Door? – This is a good word for
more than just a youth ministry at church.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
How Do You Love Your Wife Like Christ Loves the Church?
How Do You Love Your Wife Like Christ Loves the Church?
– “Here are ways in which a husband can love his wife like Jesus.”
Adulting, and Fifth Commandment Rule of Thumb
Adulting, and Fifth Commandment Rule of Thumb –
“The hardest part about growing up wasn’t holding down a job, writing a budget,
or filing my own taxes. It was learning how to keep the fifth commandment—honor
your father and mother—while becoming an adult.”
The Gods of the Prosperity Gospel
The Gods
of the Prosperity Gospel: Unmasking American Idols in Africa – “When
the passion for material things becomes god, God and his word become means. The
movement dethrones Jesus so that his word becomes merely a manual for mammon, a
guide to gold, a footpath to fitness, and a means to might.”
10 of the West’s Most Destructive Cultural Critics
10 of the West’s Most Destructive Cultural Critics –
Some you have heard of and others, probably not but they have shaped much in cultural
thought.
Can the Roman Catholic Church Survive Two Popes?
Can the Roman
Catholic Church Survive Two Popes? – “When Pope Benedict
XVI resigned in 2013 nobody could have imagined what has been happening since:
the Roman Catholic Church has one reigning pope (Francis), but also a former
yet living pope (Benedict) who still speaks, acts, and intervenes in
ecclesiastical matters.”
Front Porch Paranoia
Front
Porch Paranoia – “We’re more afraid of our neighbors
than we have ever been. The internet and social media have opened our eyes to
the evil of the world, and we’re afraid it may be lurking across the street.”
Monday, February 3, 2020
5 Myths about Studying the Bible
5 Myths about Studying the Bible – “According
to Jesus, everything in Scripture in some way relates to loving God or loving
our neighbor. So one very simple method for studying the Bible is asking good
questions that help us to see the very things that God wants us to see in
Scripture.”
Confessions of a Recovering Political Idolater
Confessions of
a Recovering Political Idolater – “Presidential elections are
important, of course. Some more important than others. But it was that week
twenty years ago that I first came face to face with my political idolatry
problem.”
It’s Like in the Great Stories, Mr. Frodo
It’s Like in the Great Stories, Mr. Frodo –
For a Lord of the Rings fan like me, this was a good devotional thought
today.
Why Prayer Often Feels Impossible
Why Prayer Often Feels Impossible –
“For many of us, prayer feels impossible. Yet we simultaneously acknowledge:
life without prayer is impossible. So where do we begin? “
When the Word of God Is Not Preached
When the Word of God Is Not Preached –
Here is an interesting story of a false teacher from a few generations ago and
how to spot one today.
Hell Will Not Unsettle Heaven: The Horror of Judgment and Promise of Joy
Hell Will
Not Unsettle Heaven: The Horror of Judgment and Promise of Joy – “The
idea that we might someday enjoy God’s justice and power on
display in his judgment seems almost imponderable — much less the thought that
we might actually appreciate him for it, even now.”
Christians Grieve the Death of Believing Loved Ones, But We Don’t Grieve Without Hope
Christians Grieve the Death of Believing Loved Ones, But We
Don’t Grieve Without Hope -Randy Alcorn writes about
the difference between funerals of those who are believers and those who are
not. He shares about the distinguishing factor of our hope for believers
who have died.
5 Ways to Rewardingly Read the Book of Job
5 Ways to Rewardingly Read the Book of Job – “Reading
Job is hard, but it can be immensely rewarding. Here are five pointers to help
you mine its rich treasures.”
The First Empty Nest
The
First Empty Nest – “Stacy Reaoch writes about the
different times in parenthood where one might struggle with a form of empty
nesting. She shares how to find joy in a hard season.”
So, What Did Jesus Think about the Old Testament?
So, What Did Jesus Think about the Old Testament? –
Jesus loved the Old Testament and elevated it as God's Word. Michael Kruger
walks through various passages where Jesus did just that, and Kruger helps us
see how much Jesus valued the Old Testament.
3 Ideas For Thoughtfully Engaging People Who Disagree With You
3 Ideas For Thoughtfully Engaging People Who Disagree
With You - Bruce Ashford writes about how the
missionary ought to engage with those who have different world views. He
encourages compassion and asking good questions.
How Bad Will the Coronavirus Outbreak Get? Here Are 6 Key Factors
How Bad Will the Coronavirus Outbreak Get? Here Are 6 Key
Factors – “As the coronavirus outbreak continues
to spread across China, a flurry of early research is drawing a clearer picture
of how the pathogen behaves and the key factors that will determine whether it
can be contained.”
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Think God Can’t Use a Nobody Like You? Bite Your Tongue!
Think God Can’t Use a Nobody Like You? Bite Your Tongue!
“If you are feeling rejected by bosses, lovers, friends, the world, anyone–lift
up your head, friend. We have a Savior who specializes in great things through
despised instruments.”
Rodgers’s Rules
Rodgers’s Rules – “While it may true that
questioning classic views on hell won’t do good things for your faith, I found
Rodgers’s self-diagnosis about why he walked away to be far more revealing and
worthy of reflection.”
Report: 260 Million Christians Currently Experience ‘High Levels’ of Persecution
Report: 260 Million Christians Currently Experience
‘High Levels’ of Persecution – Here you will find a summary and access
to the full report from Open Doors.
5 Prayer Requests from Behind the Coronavirus Curtain
5 Prayer Requests from Behind the Coronavirus Curtain
– “Having received numerous questions about our well-being and needs, I thought
it might help to share some prayer requests from behind the Coronavirus
Curtain.”
One-on-One with Nick Hall on The Year of the Bible
One-on-One
with Nick Hall on The Year of the Bible – “Growing up in
the church, I never actually learned how to read and prioritize the Bible, and
for much of my life it wasn’t a priority.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)