A Prayer for Times You Feel Like a 3rd Luke 15 Son

A Prayer for Times You Feel Like a 3rd Luke 15 Son – Scottie Smith shares a good devotional thought for many of us in this prayer.

Lay Aside the Weight of Self-Indulgence

Lay Aside the Weight of Self-Indulgence - “Self-indulgence is spiritually dangerous to us because it’s a form of idolatry.”

Bill Cosby and Victoria Osteen

Bill Cosby and Victoria Osteen - Bill Cosby responds to Victoria Osteen. I just couldn’t pass this one up.

If He Can’t Destroy You, He’s Content to Divert You

If He Can’t Destroy You, He’s Content to Divert You – “The devil is not so concerned with emptying churches of people as much as he is concerned with emptying the pulpit of the cross.”

8 Ways to Comfort the Suffering

8 Ways to Comfort the Suffering – These are good, practical thoughts on the topic.

Four Evangelical Responses to Gay Rights – This is an interesting graphic.

Six Things Every Freshman Needs to Know

Six Things Every Freshman Needs to Know – A good word for college freshman and their parents.

Better Places to Send Your “Ice Bucket Challenge” Money

Better Places to Send Your “Ice Bucket Challenge” Money - Gene Veith: “ The main beneficiary of the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ is the ALS Association.  The problem with that group, though, is that they use a stem cell line from an aborted child.  There are, however, other ALS research organizations that honor the sanctity of life.”

Why Does God Let Me Stay So Weak?

Why Does God Let Me Stay So Weak? - Why does God let us stay so weak at times? Why is it so hard
to put sin to death? Why do we struggle and fail so much? Why are we so often
weak in our faith? Here are some good and godly reasons.

Why I’m Glad David Platt Is the New IMB President

Why I’m Glad David Platt Is the New IMB President - Russell Moore writes about the election of David Platt to lead the large and influential mission-sending International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Evangelicals and Same-Sex Marriage

Evangelicals and Same-Sex Marriage – An Interview with John Stonestreet and Sean McDowell.

Ten Ways to Love Your Church

Ten Ways to Love Your Church - The Bible teaches that for Christians, God is our Father, other Christians are our brothers and sisters, and the church is like a family.

Character First

Character First - This is a good word on all things church leadership.

Never Resist the Urge to Pray

Never Resist the Urge to Pray – This statement is true whether you sense a need to pray for yourself or others.

9 Things You Should Know About Rabbinic Judaism

9 Things You Should Know About Rabbinic Judaism - Aside from knowing that we share some of the same religious texts, most Christians today are completely unfamiliar with the “modern” forms of Judaism (forms that go back almost 2,000 years). To close a small portion of the knowledge gap about our religious Jewish neighbors, here are nine things you should know Rabbinic Judaism.

Satan Does Not Hold the Keys of Death

Satan Does Not Hold the Keys of Death – We have different vocations with respect to the jobs and tasks God gives us in this life. But we all share in the vocation of death.

Prayer for Believers

Prayer for Believers - This is a good prayer focus when praying for others. You can also subscribe to this site and receive a weekly "prayer tip".

The 10 Greatest Hymns of All-Time

The 10 Greatest Hymns of All-Time – Lists like this are fun to consider and a blessing to remember.

When You Don’t Feel Like Worshiping

When You Don’t Feel Like Worshiping – “David did not go through the motions of worship. Nor did he give up on worship. Instead, he waited patiently for the Lord to help him worship.”

The Open Hands of the Gospel

The Open Hands of the Gospel – “There’s a very intentional theology of generosity in the Gospel of Luke in particular, and the point, as Hughes captures it, is generosity is a sign of a regenerate soul.”

The Bridegroom’s Incredible Vow

The Bridegroom’s Incredible Vow – This is a good reflection on marriage and the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church.

A Simple Method to Organize Your Prayers

Faith Hacking: A Simple Method to Organize Your Prayers – This is a simple but strategic way to organize your prayers.

Lead with Empathy, Love Your Neighbor, Let the Truth Come Out — A Response to Ferguson

Lead with Empathy, Love Your Neighbor, Let the Truth Come Out — A Response to Ferguson – Al Mohler weighs in on Ferguson.

10 Wise Leadership Lessons I’ll Never Forget

10 Wise Leadership Lessons I’ll Never Forget - This is a good list for most any church leader.

3 Barriers to the Church's Ability to Love Others

3 Barriers to the Church's Ability to Love Others – Obstacles to viewing others as human in times of conflict.

4 Reasons to Pursue Authentic Discipleship

4 Reasons to Pursue Authentic Discipleship - A good word on discipleship.

Four Habits of a Happy Heart

Four Habits of a Happy Heart – Today’s happiness is not promised, and it refuses to be assumed.

It's Time to Listen

It's Time to Listen – For many this will be a tough article but it speaks well to the issues of race in America.

College Doesn’t Change Your Heart, It Reveals It

College Doesn’t Change Your Heart, It Reveals It – A good perspective on what really may happen to Christian students going off to college.

Have You Taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?

Have You Taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? - Jim Denison makes a good point about many of the people I've seen taking the challenge. Are they just joining the fad or are they giving?

Ferguson and the Quest for Racial Justice

Ferguson and the Quest for Racial Justice – Russell Moore writes, “Ferguson reminds us that American society has a long way to go in healing old hatreds.”

Ferguson is Ripping the Bandages Off our Racial Wounds

Ferguson is Ripping the Bandages Off our Racial Wounds - The truth is, we are still a country divided. 

The Sin of Racism Made Ferguson Escalate So Quickly

The Sin of Racism Made Ferguson Escalate So Quickly – The Christian civil rights leader responds to the shooting death of Michael Brown. The issues are complicated and Perkins speaks to some of those issues in this article. Pray for Ferguson.

Make Your Mouth a Fountain of Life

Make Your Mouth a Fountain of Life - The Bible tells us “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). That means a lot is at stake in what we say today. And in literate societies like ours, tongues include hands that write, type, paint, or sign.

Wisdom Is A “Who” More Than A “What”

Wisdom Is A “Who” More Than A “What” – Jesus is Wisdom. He is the Proverbs wrapped in flesh. They are animated and fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

Teach Believers What Happened to Them in Conversion

Teach Believers What Happened to Them in Conversion – This is a good word about the Good News from John Piper.

Whose Lie Is It Anyway? Americans Aren’t Honest About Church Attendance

Whose Lie Is It Anyway? Americans Aren’t Honest About Church Attendance - This is an interesting, revealing study.

The Spirit Is Willing But the Schedule Is Tight

The Spirit Is Willing But the Schedule Is Tight – We may be tempted to change our prayer from “Lord, use me” to “Lord, use me when I have some free time”.

The Ways We're the Same (Or, What Not to Do in an Awkward Social Situation)

The Ways We're the Same (Or, What Not to Do in an Awkward Social Situation) – Too often we just retreat when things get uncomfortable.

There Will Be No Sea

There Will Be No Sea - R.C. Sproul explains why the Bible says there will be no sea in the new heaven and new earth.

Pray for Ferguson

Pray for Ferguson - So what should our response be? Every Christian can pray.

How To Find Joy in Suffering

How To Find Joy in Suffering – Is it really possible to do what the Bible says? Brad Hambrick provides a good illustration.

8 Tips For Talking To Your Kids About Sex

8 Tips For Talking To Your Kids About Sex – This is a good article on a tough topic.

What You Need to Know About What's Happening in Iraq

What You Need to Know About What's Happening in Iraq – Preemptive Love Coalition founder Jeremy Courtney provides his take on the situation in Iraq. This isn’t everything you need to know but it does help clarify some of the issues and raise some questions.

True Grit

True Grit – “Grit. The relentless resolve to keep pursuing a desired goal and not giving up. Wouldn’t you know? Your grandfather was right after all: Success does look a lot like hard work.”

Five Principles of the New Sexual Morality

Five Principles of the New Sexual Morality – “The sociologist Mark Regnerus recently published a piece for the Witherington Institute’s Public Discourse, suggesting that support for same-sex marriage in some Christian circles correlates to broader shifts in morality surrounding sexuality and relations.”

11 Lessons from the Church in China

11 Lessons from the Church in China – The author writes, “It is good to consider what the church in the West has learned and can learn from the church in China. I recently posed this question to a number of foreign workers involved in serving the church in China: what specific lessons can the church in the West learn from the church in China?”

Three Ways to Pray for Your Enemies

Three Ways to Pray for Your Enemies - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ said Jesus in his famous Sermon on the Mount. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:43).

5 Ways to Simplify Your Life

5 Ways to Simplify Your Life – A few ways to begin to clear out the clutter.

Tracking Christian Sexual Morality in a Same-Sex Marriage Future

Tracking Christian Sexual Morality in a Same-Sex Marriage Future - “Churchgoing
Christians who support same-sex marriage are more likely to think pornography,
cohabitation, hook-ups, adultery, polyamory, and abortion are acceptable. And
it’s reasonable to expect continued change in more permissive directions.”

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up On the Church

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up On the Church – The Church is a messy place by nature. That's not a reason to quit.

"Genie: You are Free" - How Not to Talk About Suicide

"Genie: You are Free" - How Not to Talk About Suicide

When All Else Fails, What Can I Pray During a Hospital Visit?

When All Else Fails, What Can I Pray During a Hospital Visit? – When all else fails…pray the gospel. 

How Will Gay Marriage Impact Your Marriage?

How Will Gay Marriage Impact Your Marriage? - We can introduce a whole new definition of marriage without it somehow impacting traditional marriage. Denny Burk explains.

What Would Jesus Say to Robin Williams?

What Would Jesus Say to Robin Williams? - In light of the many articles and interviews covering this sad news, Jim Denison offers up a good word today.

Why We're Living Through the Greatest Period in History

Why We're Living Through the Greatest Period in History - We live in hard times, but as this article shows, we have much to be grateful for.

8 Ways the Enemy Attacks Churches

8 Ways the Enemy Attacks Churches - It's worth a read.

Homosexuality, Divorce, and the Biblical Family

Homosexuality, Divorce, and the Biblical Family - This is a strong and convicting article for believers and churches.

How Should We Respond to Ann Coulter’s Article on the Ebola Doctor?

How Should We Respond to Ann Coulter’s Article on the Ebola Doctor? – Here is another good article in response to Ann Coulter recent comments.

Gospel Outreach at Public Schools

Gospel Outreach at Public Schools - Here are several ideas for gospel outreach at your nearby public schools.

26 Ways to Provoke the “1 Peter 3:15 Question” at Work

26 Ways to Provoke the “1 Peter 3:15 Question” at Work – J.D. Greear writes, “Here is a list of 26 ways we’ve come up with that you can live provocatively at work. (Not, dress provocatively—that’s a different kind of provocatively I would discourage… But live provocatively.)”

5 Great Reasons to Memorize Scripture Today

5 Great Reasons to Memorize Scripture Today – With the Bible so accessible to us today, why should we concern ourselves with Scripture memory? Here are some good reasons.

The Priceless Grace of Pressure

The Priceless Grace of Pressure - Pressure is one of the more resented of God’s graces.

Four Moments I’m Preparing Students to Face

Four Moments I’m Preparing Students to Face - “As I listen to and observe the faith journeys of former students and young adults, I often see pivotal moments along the way that constitute ‘make or break’ tests of their faith. Discipling my students, I am preparing them for these four moments.”

Was Adam a Historical Person?

Was Adam a Historical Person? – The answer is that it matters. Here’s why.

Are Christian Missionaries Narcissistic Idiots? — A Response to Ann Coulter

Are Christian Missionaries Narcissistic Idiots? — A Response to Ann Coulter – Al Mohler responds well to Ann Coulter’s poor understanding of a biblical worldview.

How Stewarding Wealth Affects Studying the Bible

How Stewarding Wealth Affects Studying the Bible - American Christians certainly enjoy greater material wealth than much of the rest of the world, but we also enjoy less tangible forms of wealth as well. We aren’t always aware of just how wealthy we truly are. As a result, we may not remember that to whom much is given, much is required: with great wealth comes great responsibility.

9 Reasons We Can Be Confident Christians Won’t Be Raptured Before the Tribulation

9 Reasons We Can Be Confident Christians Won’t Be Raptured Before the Tribulation – With the new Left Behind movie coming out, Justin Taylor has posted a compelling article.

7 Ways to be a Bridge Builder

7 Ways to be a Bridge Builder – Building a bridge is an art. Not literal bridges that you drive over, although those are incredibly important….

Five Ways to Flourish in Journaling

Five Ways to Flourish in Journaling – I’ve resumed journaling this summer and these encouragements are right on target.

In Heaven, Can There Be Thrills without Risk?

In Heaven, Can There Be Thrills without Risk? – Randy Alcorn provides a good answer.

When Knowledge Becomes Wisdom

When Knowledge Becomes Wisdom - David says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14), and the brain enables that “wonderfulness” to happen in its full and expansive potential.

9 Things You Should Know About Hamas

9 Things You Should Know About Hamas - Since July 8, 2014, there has been an escalation of violence around the Gaza Strip. To fully understand the conflict, it is helpful to know the political and military organization that sparked the hostilities and remains the primary obstacle to peace in the area. Here are nine things you should know about Hamas.

Jesus-Centered Parenting in a Child-Focused World

Jesus-Centered Parenting in a Child-Focused World – This is a good word on parenting in our modern world.

Should Christians Bake Cakes for Gay Weddings?

Should Christians Bake Cakes for Gay Weddings? – Jim Denison asks, “Are Christians retreating into shells of secluded irrelevance?”

A Prayer for Those We Love

A Prayer for Those We Love – As we gather this week with family across four generations, this prayer gave voice to my heart.

God Works Wonders

God Works Wonders - God works wonders — in the deep, mysterious ways that may be hidden…that we may not see coming. 

A Closed Door

A Closed Door - Kim Shay writes about closed doors and God’s will.

10 Myths about Lust

10 Myths about Lust – If you embrace these 10 myths about lust, then you will find no remedy for your lust. Instead, you will dive into a “black hole” of sin. Embrace Truth; reject these 10 myths.

Stumbling into the Future

Stumbling into the Future - Here are four certainties with which to face the uncertainties of the next year — and the next 100 years.

Look! A Distraction!

Look! A Distraction! – “We are distracted. We are so distracted, and so accustomed to it, that after a while we almost become distraction. We lose the ability to be still. We fear the quiet. We are intimidated by the moments where there is nothing to look at, nothing to do.”

God Can Restore Your Lost Years

God Can Restore Your Lost Years – Years pass and we never get them back. Yet God promises the impossible: “I will restore the years that the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25).  

I Will Be a Unifying Christian

I Will Be a Unifying Christian - This is a good word from Thom Rainer.

7 Signs You’re Spending Too Much Time Looking at Your Phone

7 Signs You’re Spending Too Much Time Looking at Your Phone – A few warning signs that are not to be ignored.

A Prayer for Finishing Well

A Prayer for Finishing Well – The older I get the more I find myself drawn to this prayer.

Emotional Bullying: Using Guilt to Lead Kids to God

Emotional Bullying: Using Guilt to Lead Kids to God – (Spoiler Alert) It’s not a good idea.

Engaging an Ever-Changing Culture With a Never-Changing Gospel

Engaging an Ever-Changing Culture With a Never-Changing Gospel – Avoid church culture pendulum swings—concern yourself with proclaiming the gospel. 

Am I in Trouble?

Am I in Trouble? – Are you in trouble if you’ve fallen out of the habit of reading your Bible? This is a good word for you. God’s grace is a good  thing.

The Exclusivity of Treasure Pursuit

The Exclusivity of Treasure Pursuit - Paul Tripp writes: “it’s spiritually impossible to
pursue the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of self simultaneously.”

The Parable of the Lawn Mower

The Parable of the Lawn Mower - Here’s a helpful little parable to help explain why we must preach the gospel rather than only attempting to display it.