The Big Story

The Big Story is a a video that tells the story of the Bible in 5 1/2 minutes.

How Much Did Prayer Cost God?

How Much Did Prayer Cost God?

 Tim Keller wrote:

The only time in all the gospels that Jesus Christ prays to God and doesn’t call him Father is on the cross, when he says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus lost his relationship with the Father so that we could have a relationship with God as father.

Jesus was forgotten so that we could be remembered forever—from everlasting to everlasting.

Jesus Christ bore all the eternal punishment that our sins deserve.

That is the cost of prayer. Jesus paid the price so God could be our father.

—Tim Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (New York: Dutton, 2014), 79-80.

Supreme Court Leaves New York City Ban on Religious Services in Schools in Place

Supreme Court Leaves New York City Ban on Religious Services in Schools in Place  - Effectively this solidifies the city’s ban, and could potentially result in the replication of that ban in other cities, counties and states across the country.

The King We Needed, But Never Wanted

The King We Needed, But Never Wanted - The road to Calvary was a road of confusion, not confidence, for those first disciples.

Helping Children Benefit from the Sermon

Helping Children Benefit from the Sermon – Here are some great thoughts on “parenting in the pew.”

Indiana: A Religious Liberty Bellweather

Indiana: A Religious Liberty Bellweather – Here is a good article on the realities of the religious liberty issues rather than the hipe.

Americans Approve More of Gays Than Evangelicals

Americans Approve More of Gays Than Evangelicals - Here is a good word for Tuesday of HolyWeek.

Nine Traits of Church Bullies

Nine Traits of Church Bullies – Thom Rainer writes, “Church bullies are common in many churches. They wreak havoc and create dissension.”

5 Resurrection Realities that Reorient Our Evangelism

5 Resurrection Realities that Reorient Our Evangelism – “Because the resurrection is true…”

A Prayer for Monday of Easter Week

A Prayer for Monday of Easter Week  - “As the events of our week now unfold, grant us grace to slow our pace and quiet our hearts, that we might survey the wonders of your sacrifice and love for us.” 

Discrimination Against Gay People in Indiana?

Discrimination Against Gay People in Indiana? – “Most of the activists in this fight, on both sides, want liberty and justice only for their side. They want to crush the other side.”

Corporate Worship and Two Kinds of Bad Singers

Corporate Worship and Two Kinds of Bad Singers – I’m glad that in worship God accepts imperfect gifts.

The Effect of Singing

The Effect of Singing - “There is an old joke for those who cannot sing that I may
not be making a joyful noise but at least I’m joyful when I make it. For those
reasons, some people can find congregational singing to be intimidating, yet,
hopefully, we would all acknowledge the importance of congregational singing as
a part of corporate worship.”

The Spiritual Stages of a Believer’s Life

The Spiritual Stages of a Believer’s Life - Christians progress through various spiritual stages.

Jesus Turns the Tables

Jesus Turns the Tables – This Holy Monday meditation is the second installment in the Desiring God 2015 Holy Week daily devotional series. 

A Prayer for Palm Sunday

A Prayer for Palm Sunday – A prayer of worship for the One who has come.

The Savior’s Tears of Sovereign Mercy

The Savior’s Tears of Sovereign Mercy – Here are some good thoughts on a Palm Sunday.

9 Ways to be a Better Neighbor

9 Ways to be a Better Neighbor – Taking 'love your neighbor' to the next level.

Don't Miss the Story of the Bible

Don't Miss the Story of the Bible – Jesus isn’t just part of the Bible story; He is the point of the Bible story.

Tattoos for the Soul

Tattoos for the Soul – Why We Need Confessions of Faith. A good word for our church as we seek to better communicate our church confession of faith.

Parenting in a Hyper-Sexualized Culture

Parenting in a Hyper-Sexualized Culture - Heath Lambert explains how he and his wife are raising their younger children in this hyper-sexualized culture.

Biblical Grounds for Divorce

Biblical Grounds for Divorce - The article provides a clear, simple discussion of a hot topic.

Get to Know Yourself

Get to Know Yourself – “The very heart of the human condition is a faulty assessment of self. We think too much of ourselves, and think of ourselves too much. We overrate our importance and underestimate our depravity. Ultimately, we elevate ourselves to the place reserved for God.”

Calling a Truce in the ‘Culture Wars’

Calling a Truce in the ‘Culture Wars’ – “What matters more to us—that we successfully put others in their place, or that we are known to love well?”

A Prayer for Seasons When Trusting Is Hard

A Prayer for Seasons When Trusting Is Hard – Maybe this is your season just now.

Put Laziness to Rest

Put Laziness to Rest -  Because of the complexity of laziness, we need to pay close attention to the ways God addresses our complacency.

Sing Your Heart Out

Sing Your Heart Out - “The messiness of congregational singing is part of the beauty of God using weak and broken people. While we certainly want to strive for excellence in how we sing to our God, the sound of a child singing extremely loudly or, even at times, out of key, is a sweet sound that brings God great glory.”

Christians, You Will Suffer

Christians, You Will Suffer - “If suffering disproves your Christianity, you’ve missed Christianity. The Bible is filled with the suffering of those whom God loves.”

How to Pray All Day

How to Pray All Day - Begin the day with God. Spend the day with God. Close the day with God. “This life of communion with God, and constant attendance upon him, is a heaven upon earth.”

9 Things You Should Know About Church Architecture

9 Things You Should Know About Church Architecture – Just in case you didn’t know.

Witchdoctors, Football, and Understanding Africa

Witchdoctors, Football, and Understanding Africa - This is definitely one of the most interesting articles you’ll read today.

5 Reasons to Rejoice in Persecution

5 Reasons to Rejoice in Persecution – In the worst of things, God can do great things.

4 Questions About Heaven

4 Questions About Heaven – Randy Alcorn answers common questions about heaven.

We Complain Because We Forget

We Complain Because We Forget – The problem we have with spiritual amnesia.

I Shall Walk in a Wide Place

I Shall Walk in a Wide Place – Here’s a good thought on Psalm 119:45, ““I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.”

The Wonder of Sunday Morning

The Wonder of Sunday Morning - Trevin Wax reflects on the sweet wonder of a normal Sunday morning.

The Grace in Going to Church

The Grace in Going to Church - Testimony to the simple act of just getting up and going.

You Are Dust, Not Divine

You Are Dust, Not Divine – We dusty, sinful human beings face a ridiculous temptation: self-reliance. Despite our weaknesses and despite our track-record of sin, we find ourselves constantly tempted to look to ourselves for help.

PRAY - The Brooklyn Tabernacle

Live Homeless, Homesick, and Free

Live Homeless, Homesick, and Free - There is a homelessness that is distinctly Christian. Because a Christian is no longer of this world, even though he or she remains in the world (John 17:14–15).

Our Everyday Obedience Is Our Best Witness

Our Everyday Obedience Is Our Best Witness – The greatest opportunities of the Christian life are found in the routine things.

Things I Would Do Differently If I Were Raising My Children Again

Things I Would Do Differently If I Were Raising My Children Again - Mark Altrogge provides a good perspective on parenting.

When You’re Waiting for God to Show Up

When You’re Waiting for God to Show Up – A few things to remember when it feels like your prayers aren't being answered.

It’s Not You, It’s Me

It’s Not You, It’s Me - “God has a multitude of arrows in his quiver that enable him to hit his mark. Sometimes he does so in surprising, even humbling ways.” This is a keeper!

The Millennial “Adulthood” Delusion

The Millennial “Adulthood” Delusion - This is an interesting read on generational issues and attitudes. Chris Martin writes this about his own generation, “Millennials
aren’t growing up because we think adulthood is more about self-discovery than
self-discipline.”

Five Pieces of Advice for Young Men

Five Pieces of Advice for Young Men - ...and a lot of other people.

Why Doesn’t God Just Remove that Sin?

Why Doesn’t God Just Remove that Sin? - “Every Christian I know has had the experience of coming up against the same sin—again—and wondering, ‘Will this struggle ever end? Why doesn’t God just remove this?’”

Navy Forces Chaplain to Choose Between Faith and Job

Navy Forces Chaplain to Choose Between Faith and Job - “The Navy is telling Chaplain Modder – you have to choose between disciplinary action or following your religious beliefs…”

Praying the Bible - The Pathway to Breakthrough

Praying the Bible -The Pathway to Breakthrough – Here are some great reasons to pray scripture and prompts doing so.

A Prayer for Days When It’s Hard to Trust God and Risk Hoping Again

A Prayer for Days When It’s Hard to Trust God and Risk Hoping Again – Today, as I pray for a dear friend dying of cancer, this was a good word.

How to Read the Bible for Yourself

How to Read the Bible for Yourself – Here are some practical suggestions.

Megachurch Changes Position on Homosexuality

Megachurch Changes Position on Homosexuality - Jim Denison writes, “It seems that evangelicals are forced
to two options today.  One is to affirm
historical biblical orthodoxy, which forbids homosexual practice.  Many, whether gay or straight, see this
position as antagonistic to the LGBT community. 
The other is to revise historic theological doctrines regarding sexual
morality. Is there a third option?”

Gordon College Reaffirms Sexuality Policy, Launches Taskforce

Gordon College Reaffirms Sexuality Policy, Launches Taskforce – “Gordon issued a statement that announces the next steps in Gordon’s process of responding to questions about the school’s sexuality policy. Three takeaways from the statement are…”

Isn’t the Christian View of Sexuality Dangerous and Harmful?

Isn’t the Christian View of Sexuality Dangerous and Harmful? – “One of the most common and significant charges leveled against the traditional Christian understanding of sexuality and marriage is that it is damaging.” Is that really true?

7 Encouraging Trends in Global Christianity

7 Encouraging Trends in Global Christianity - Trends are always open to interpretation but these are worth considering.

5 Stages of Spiritual Awakening

5 Stages of Spiritual Awakening – People pass through remarkably similar experiences on their journeys to God.

Overcoming Pornography: Choosing Obedience

Overcoming Pornography: Choosing Obedience – Let’s choose what’s best: life, not death (Deut. 30:19). Through the power of His Spirit, we can do this.

We Live in an Age of Irrational Parenting

We Live in an Age of Irrational Parenting – “We’ve deferred having children for so long — college-educated woman today have their first child at 30.3 years old — and we have so many fewer children than we once did (an average of two per family, as opposed to five in 1850) that we assign them a far higher value and therefore fret far more about their physical well-being.”

What Not to Ask Someone Suffering

What Not to Ask Someone Suffering - …and some great suggestions on the right things to say.

Be Happy When Someone Leaves Your Church

Be Happy When Someone Leaves Your Church – I am often saddened by the reasons people give me but sometimes I rejoice…for all the right reasons. Here’s a good example.

4 Characteristics of Legalism

4 Characteristics of Legalism – The article is clear and convicting.

What Other World Religions Think About Jesus

What Other World Religions Think About Jesus – Every major world religion has some account of who Jesus was. Here's what they say.

Left Behind in America

Left Behind in America – “The problem was that, from the beginning, Christian values were always more popular than the Christian gospel in American culture.” 

The Situation in Syria Is Worse than You Think

The Situation in Syria Is Worse than You Think – The civil war in Syria has entered its fifth year, and the human toll is almost impossible to fathom. Pray for the people of Syria.

22 Benefits of Meditating on Scripture

22 Benefits of Meditating on Scripture - “The Puritans devoted scores of pages to the benefits, excellencies, usefulness, advantages, or improvements of meditation.” Dr. Beeke lists some of the benefits as follows:

5 Things People Blame The Church For…But Shouldn’t

5 Things People Blame The Church For…But Shouldn’t—Helpful article on what church can, and cannot, do.

60 Ways the Inerrant Word Blesses Us

60 Ways the Inerrant Word Blesses Us – Here is a quick walk of applications in Psalm 119.

Parenting Well in a Digital World

Parenting Well in a Digital World – Here’s a simple philosophy for parenting through the technological mine fields.

4 Reasons to Beware the Goodness Gospel

4 Reasons to Beware the Goodness Gospel – It’s a false gospel and yet so appealing for us all.

Don’t Follow Your Heart

Don’t Follow Your Heart – Your heart is not the leader you want to follow.

Older Men, Younger Men Need You

Older Men, Younger Men Need You - We want to be like you, as you are like Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

How God Answers Prayer

Here  is a quote from Sunday's sermon:

When you pray and the request is not right, God says “NO.” When you pray and you’re not right, God says, “GROW.” When you pray and the timing is not right, God says, “SLOW.” When everything’s in place, God says, “GO.” He gives the green light and you’re able to move.

A Prayer for Trusting God in Seemingly Impossible Situations

A Prayer for Trusting God in Seemingly Impossible Situations - Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 (NIV)

3 Ways to Be a Friend of Sinners

3 Ways to Be a Friend of Sinners - Consider these principles, and weigh your own life against
them.

The Gospel According to Pinterest

The Gospel According to Pinterest - “Projects I will never tackle, recipes I will never cook, and homemade cleaning solutions I will never try - they all mocked me horrendously. Staring at all the amazing things other women are doing, I felt ashamed.”

4 Ways to Pray

4 Ways to Pray - In his book Mindscape, Timothy Witmer explains that there are 4 ways in which these words call us to pray.

The Bigger Thing in Bible Study

The Bigger Thing in Bible Study - Rather than thinking of Bible study as a debit account, where you are putting in your card and taking out the emotional boost you need for the day, regard studying the Bible as a savings account where you make small deposits on a regular basis.

What Is a Kind Husband?

What Is a Kind Husband? - We find many husbands in the Bible, but not many stand out as ideal. One of the men who does stand out is Boaz. 

A Simple Guide to Reading and Applying the Bible with Jesus as the Hero

A Simple Guide to Reading and Applying the Bible with Jesus as the Hero – “The goal is for you to gain a Jesus-centered, gospel-focused mentality while reading the Scripture.”

The Secret Shame of Abortion in the Church

The Secret Shame of Abortion in the Church - “In the church, we face the challenge of upholding the sanctity of life, while simultaneously ministering to women who feel overwhelming shame about their abortions.”

What It Means And Does Not Mean To Honor Our President

What It Means And Does Not Mean To Honor Our President – It’s grace and truth.

Want to Hear from God? Slow Down

Want to Hear from God? Slow Down – There are few surer ways to miss out on God's voice than urgency.

FAQ on Baptism in the Early Church

FAQ on Baptism in the Early Church – Helpful look at baptism from Justin Taylor.

4 Ways to Raise Up Godly Girls

4 Ways to Raise Up Godly Girls – Laurel Bunker shares about modeling Christlikeness and raising godly girls despite our brokenness.

Lazy Busy

Lazy Busy - Sloth is a craving for personal comfort at all costs. And it is costly.

A Great Commandment Check-Up

A Great Commandment Check-Up - “The Great
Commandment” is our Great Physician’s comprehensive check-up for the believer’s
heart, as well as his or her soul, mind, and body.

3 Well-Meaning (but Unhelpful) Approaches During Grief

3 Well-Meaning (but Unhelpful) Approaches During Grief - These are helpful reminders.

Parenting Means Wrestling Demons

Parenting Means Wrestling Demons – And we’ve learned by now that wrestling demons isn’t supposed to be easy.

10 Ways To Hate People

10 Ways To Hate People – Paul says in Titus 3:3 that this comes naturally to most of us.

Why the Reality of the Resurrection Means You Don’t Need a “Bucket List”

Why the Reality of the Resurrection Means You Don’t Need a “Bucket List” – Here are some great thoughts on eternity from Randy Alcorn.

Wrestling With God When He Doesn’t Seem Good

Wrestling With God When He Doesn’t Seem Good - A few things to remember when it's hard to believe God is there.

4 Leadership Insights from Bill Hybels

4 Leadership Insights from Bill Hybels – Hybels always give me something to think about.

Google’s Tour of the Holy Land Map

Google’s Tour of the Holy Land Map - You may find some things of interest here.

3 Muslim Misconceptions about Christians

3 Muslim Misconceptions about Christians – “There is a set of misconceptions that most Muslims have about Christians that keep them from even considering the gospel.”

The Dangers of Pet Sins

The Dangers of Pet Sins - “Pet sins are those sins we believe we have domesticated. We view them as small and insignificant.”

Josh Hamilton and the Monster that Hunts Us All

Josh Hamilton and the Monster that Hunts Us All - “I whispered a prayer under my breath: ‘Father, lavish your mercy on Josh Hamilton and his family. And have mercy on us. Let us never forget what hunts us.’”

A Prayer for Crying Out to Jesus for Healing–for Others and Ourselves

A Prayer for Crying Out to Jesus for Healing–for Others and Ourselves – Here’s a good word on prayer for today.

Stop Guessing at God’s Will

Stop Guessing at God’s Will — Just Go In his new book, John Ortberg offers up a different perspective, “God is primarily in the character-forming business, not the circumstance-shaping business.”

The Whole Foods Movement and the Developing World

The Whole Foods Movement and the Developing World – Here is an interesting article, “In this fallen world where perfect health is an illusion, can we feed 7 billion people this way?”

Facebook Obsession and the Anguish of Boredom

Facebook Obsession and the Anguish of Boredom - Facebook is a kind of addiction, a default habit that is now rewiring our brains.

A Pattern Among Fallen Pastors – Lessons for Us All

A Pattern Among Fallen Pastors – Lessons for Us All – The author describes a study that looked at 246 pastors who had experienced moral failure and points to the common patterns.