When Your Heart Isn’t In It – “Do you really think that
avoiding worship will be the means by which your heart will changed, prepared
to engage in worship?”
Saturday, May 30, 2015
5 Things Every Christian Leader Should Pray for Themselves Everyday
5 Things Every Christian Leader Should Pray for Themselves Everyday – These are
appropriate for any believer whether they lead adults or children, at home,
community, or church.
How God Broke My Goodness Addiction
How God Broke My
Goodness Addiction – “I lived according to the goodness gospel for far
too long. But God pursued me. He used multiple people to reveal my goodness
addiction and to show me both his true nature and the truth of what he had done
for me at the cross.”
Why Are Behaviors the Bible Condemns Considered ‘Morally Acceptable’ by Christians?
Why Are Behaviors
the Bible Condemns Considered ‘Morally Acceptable’ by Christians? - According
to a new Gallup survey, Americans consider a variety of
behaviors that the Bible condemns to be “morally acceptable.”
Conflicts: Our Laboratories of Love
Conflicts: Our
Laboratories of Love – It’s important to note that when Jesus said,
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them”
(Matthew 18:20), it is sandwiched in the context of dealing with sin, conflict,
and discipline in the church.
Does God Really Love You?
Does God Really
Love You? – “Your suffering is a great enticement to Satan. He and his
anti-God federation are irresistibly attracted to persistent pain.”
Gospel-Centered Husbandship
Gospel-Centered Husbandship – “The
opposite of a gospel-centered husband, I think, is a comfortable husband.”
Praying Most For What You Love the Most
Praying Most For What You Love the Most - “Your prayer-life is a measure of your spiritual maturity.”
Leaving and Cleaving
Leaving and Cleaving - “Leaving and cleaving does
not negate honouring father and mother: it produces a mature honouring that
uses parental training and teaching to contribute to church and society.”
Thursday, May 28, 2015
In Search of an Honest Atheist
In Search of an Honest Atheist – “Do honest
atheists exist? Many profess to be atheists, but my question is whether or not
these people, in the depth and quiet of their own hearts, honestly believe
there is no God.”
Drunk You Is Not the Real You
Drunk You Is Not the Real You – “The promise on
tap is that excessive alcohol will unlock you to yourself and all your friends.
It’s liberation by libation. But the Bible presents a different picture of
freedom.”
Are All Christians Hypocrites?
Are All Christians Hypocrites? - “The revelations
about Josh Duggar have brought to the forefront a much broader discussion about
Christians and hypocrisy.”
What You See When You Read
What You See When You Read - You may be surprised to
discover just how much your culture determines what you see in the Scriptures.
This was really interesting. I’ve found the same phenomenon in Africa.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Anxiety Is a Spiritual Issue
Anxiety Is a Spiritual Issue - How the Bible deals extensively with anxiety—and its roots.
Americans Vastly Overestimate Size of Gay and Lesbian Population
Americans Vastly Overestimate Size of Gay and Lesbian
Population – This makes for a very interesting Gallup survey. You’ll be
surprised.
Servant Leadership
Servant Leadership - Matt Perman highlights the 7
characteristics of servant leadership.
Thigh, Breast or Door? The Joys of Learning a Tonal Language
Thigh,
Breast or Door? The Joys of Learning a Tonal Language – This is from a
missionary blog. The missionary shares the difficulties of learning languages.
Be sure and listen to the recording…then pray for missionaries around the
world!
A Requiem for the Boy Scouts
A Requiem for the
Boy Scouts - Speaking in Atlanta, Secretary Gates told his fellow
B.S.A. leaders that “we must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish
it to be.”
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
7 Steps to Conflict Resolution
7 Steps to Conflict Resolution - The Lord gave us
detailed advice on how to handle explosive disagreements; it’s found in
Philippians 4:2-9.
Do You Ever Have a Hard Time Completely Trusting God?
Do You Ever Have a Hard Time Completely Trusting God?
– Perry Noble reminds us why that may be so and what to do about it.
Pew: Evangelicals Stay Strong as Christianity Crumbles in America
Pew: Evangelicals Stay Strong as Christianity Crumbles in
America—This article may make some people want to return their
"Evangelicalism is Dying" books.
Responding to God’s Perpetual Invitation to His Banquet of Grace
Responding to God’s Perpetual Invitation to His Banquet of
Grace: Praying through Isaiah 55:1-3 (NLT) – Praying through this
passage was a particularly meaningful blessing to me today.
20 Lessons in 20 Years
20 Lessons in 20 Years - The lessons are true for
many areas of church leadership.
Monday, May 25, 2015
The Highest Obligation and Privilege of Citizenship
The Highest Obligation and Privilege of Citizenship - Have a blessed Memorial Day.
A Prayer for Memorial Day: The End of All Wars
A Prayer for Memorial Day: The End of All Wars – Amen.
The day is coming.
When God Mercifully Ruins Our Plans
When God Mercifully Ruins Our Plans – There are
plenty of times when God’s mercy is best shown in things we consider
disappointments.
The Holy Spirit Before Pentecost
The Holy Spirit Before Pentecost - This is a
helpful illustration of the Holy Spirit before and after Pentecost.
Atheism’s Foundation for Morality
Atheism’s
Foundation for Morality – The article explores a philosophy of
religion question. Randy Alcorn writes, “Choosing moral behaviors because they
make you feel happy can make sense, in a Bertrand Russell/Sam Harris sort of
way, but what if it makes you feel happy to torture animals or kill Jews or
steal from your employer?”
Spiritual Dry Spells: Causes and Cures
Spiritual Dry Spells: Causes and Cures - We all go
through a spiritual dry spell at one time or another. Here’s a helpful word on what to consider in
such times.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
I Still Do
I Still Do – The author tells a moving story over
years, “God gave me, a deeply flawed woman, the grace to love my deeply flawed
man.”
When Feeling Discouraged and Tempted to Lose Heart: Praying through 2 Cor. 4:16-18
When Feeling Discouraged and Tempted to Lose Heart:
Praying through 2 Cor. 4:16-18 – Here is another good prayer prompt
from Scripture that applies to several of my friends today.
We Must Not Do Nothing
We Must Not Do Nothing - “…a Memorial Day kind of remembering
will not suffice for our suffering Christian brothers and sisters. The
remembering that God requires of us demands sustained action…”
How Do You Pursue Joy in Jesus?
How Do You Pursue Joy in Jesus? – Here are three things. You can read the summary or watch
the three-minute video.
What Your Church Needs to Know About Church
What Your Church Needs to Know About Church – “Church is not there to serve you. You are there at
church to serve others.”
I’m Divorced: How Does God See Me Now?
I’m Divorced: How Does God See Me Now? – “Divorce is not the unforgivable sin. As a
Christian, the only scarlet God sees on you is the blood of Christ, which
covers your sins and presents you before God as his blameless child.”
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Seven Things Church Members Should Say to Guests in a Worship Service
Seven Things Church Members Should Say to Guests in a Worship Service - Here are some great suggestions on practical, Sunday morning hospitality.
Are You Ready for Marriage?
Are You Ready for Marriage? - 9 ways to prepare for marriage while you’re still single.
Conflict Is an Opportunity for Grace
Conflict Is an Opportunity for Grace – Conflict
will come to us all. How can we redeem conflict for God’s glory?
Ten Unforgettable Lessons
Ten Unforgettable Lessons - Ray Ortlund shares 10
unforgettable lessons on fatherhood that he learned from his own father.
Five Things Every Christian Should be Doing with God’s Word
Five Things Every Christian Should be Doing with God’s Word -
In Psalm 119 we find “David interacting with the Word of God in five
ways that should be paradigmatic for all believers…”
4 Principles for Finishing Well
4 Principles for Finishing Well – Whether you are a student trying to finish the school year
or your view is toward eternity, here are some good reminders.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
3 Ways to Pursue Justice Every Day
3 Ways to Pursue Justice Every Day - How to commit to serving others and helping those in need—every day.
Why Speaking Well of Your Spouse is So Important
Why Speaking Well of Your Spouse is So Important – Good
words on marriage and testimony through marriage.
Monday, May 18, 2015
The Bloody Business of Killing Sin
The Bloody Business
of Killing Sin – Take it seriously or it will take you.
Five Things To Keep In Mind During The Storm
Five Things To Keep
In Mind During The Storm – Here are some good reminders from Perry
Noble.
The Two Major Sins in the Old Testament
The Two Major Sins
in the Old Testament – They are still around today.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Stop Renting Your Church Home
Stop Renting Your Church Home - Here's a great word on the importance of church membership commitment.
Friday, May 15, 2015
What to Do When Your Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
What to Do When Your Life Doesn’t Go as Planned - Not married? Don’t have your dream job? Still living at home? That’s OK. Sometimes our plans aren’t the same as His.
What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say
What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say - How to offer support for a friend who is hurting.
17 Ways to Meditate on Scripture
17 Ways to Meditate
on Scripture – Here are some ideas to enrich your study of the Bible.
10 Unforgettable Lessons on Fatherhood
10 Unforgettable
Lessons on Fatherhood – Here’s a good testimony and challenge to be a
godly father.
Can Doubt Actually Be a Sign of Devotion?
Can Doubt Actually Be a Sign of Devotion? - How questioning and seeking truth can be part of loving God with our whole mind.
Four Ways to Fight the Fear of Missing Out
Four Ways to Fight
the Fear of Missing Out - It’s the belief that something apart from God
holds a key to our happiness if only we could have it or more of it.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
7 Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Twenties
7 Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Twenties - A few big mistakes to avoid in order to not get stuck.
Can You Be a Christian Without Believing in Christ?
Can You Be a Christian Without Believing in Christ? – Some
people think you can.
What Does It Mean to Accept Jesus?
What Does It Mean to Accept Jesus? - Ray Ortlund
explains by way of a helpful illustration.
8 Items for Christian Parents to Ponder
8 Items for
Christian Parents to Ponder - The purpose of these 8 considerations is
not to make parents despair, but to help them see their responsibility.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Give Up on Church
5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Give Up on Church - No church is perfect. But that doesn’t mean we should abandon them when they need us—and we need them—the most.
The "Christian Sky is (NOT) Falling"
The "Christian Sky is (NOT) Falling"— American
Christianity is not dying; but it's slowly being clarified.
Fourteen Key Reasons for the Breakdown of Church Unity
Fourteen Key Reasons for the Breakdown of Church Unity - “One of the greatest problems in our churches is the
breakdown of church unity. It is insidious, debilitating, and destructive.”
breakdown of church unity. It is insidious, debilitating, and destructive.”
Evangelicalism Continues to Grow While Christianity in America Declines
Evangelicalism Continues
to Grow While Christianity in America Declines – Here is a helpful
breakout of the information in the recent Pew Research study.
The 10 Commandments of Christian Leadership Development
The 10 Commandments of Christian Leadership Development - Here are good suggestions for Christians in any area of leadership.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
How to Poison Your Marriage in 3 Easy Steps
How to Poison Your Marriage in 3 Easy Steps - A few subtle wounds that can destroy a marriage—and how to guard against them.
Is Christianity Dying?
Is Christianity Dying? - Russell Moore responds to the Pew Research Study – “The
future of Christianity is bright. I don’t know that from surveys and polls, but
from a word Someone spoke one day back at Caesarea Philippi. The gates of hell
haven’t gotten any stronger, and the Light that drives out the darkness is
enough to counter every rival gospel, even those gospels that describe
themselves as 'none.'"
future of Christianity is bright. I don’t know that from surveys and polls, but
from a word Someone spoke one day back at Caesarea Philippi. The gates of hell
haven’t gotten any stronger, and the Light that drives out the darkness is
enough to counter every rival gospel, even those gospels that describe
themselves as 'none.'"
Nominals to Nones: 3 Key Takeaways From Pew’s Religious Landscape Survey
Nominals to Nones:
3 Key Takeaways From Pew’s Religious Landscape Survey - How are
Christians to understand the data from the newest Pew study on Christianity in
America?
Laughter Is the Sound of Joy
Laughter Is the
Sound of Joy – “It is more than reasonable to assume that the happiest
person in the universe, after taking our flesh and our sorrows, untarnished by
his own sin, often boiled over with the best of laughter.”
Pouring Out Your Heart in Lament to God
Pouring Out Your Heart in Lament to God - Did you
know that even in sadness you can worship God in prayer?
Standing as One
Standing as One – The author writes, “I’m often
asked why I prioritize the global persecuted church when there’s so
much suffering in our own backyard.” Then, he crunches the numbers.
A Prayer for Knowing God’s Goodness and Nearness in the Storm
A Prayer for Knowing God’s Goodness and Nearness in
the Storm – This is a blessed prayer expression from Scotty Smith.
13 Needs That Christianity Meets
13 Needs That Christianity Meets – Here is a brief
summary of several basic needs met by relationship to Christ.
Apologetics: Who Really Wrote the Gospels?
Apologetics: Who Really Wrote the Gospels? – Here is a simple answer to the skeptics.
How Do I Know I’m a Christian?
How Do I Know I’m a Christian? - Kevin DeYoung
provides an answer for a question people keep asking.
Monday, May 11, 2015
6 Problems With Trying to Be Sold Out For Jesus
6 Problems With Trying to Be Sold Out For Jesus - Sometimes, when you're trying to prove your love for God, you end up trying to earn His.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Mother’s Day Thanks
Mother’s Day Thanks
– Here is the piece we shared in the worship hours on Mother’s Day from Amy
Young:
·
To those who gave birth this year to their first
child—we celebrate with you.
·
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn
with you.
·
To those who are in the trenches with little
ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you.
·
To those who experienced loss through
miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you.
·
To those who walk the hard path of infertility,
fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you.
Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than
it is.
·
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and
spiritual moms – we need you.
·
To those who have warm and close relationships
with your children – we celebrate with you.
·
To those who have disappointment, heart ache,
and distance with your children – we sit with you.
·
To those who lost their mothers this year – we
grieve with you.
·
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of
your own mother – we acknowledge your experience.
·
To those who lived through driving tests,
medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having
you in our midst.
·
To those who have aborted children – we remember
them and you on this day.
·
To those who are single and long to be married
and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way
you longed for it to be.
·
To those who step-parent – we walk with you on
these complex paths.
·
To those who envisioned lavishing love on
grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you.
·
To those who will have emptier nests in the
upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you.
·
To those who placed children up for adoption —
we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in
your heart.
·
And to those who are pregnant with new life,
both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you.
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for
the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember
you." Amy Young
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Things to Remember On Your Very Worst Day
Things to Remember On Your Very Worst Day - 5 things to keep in mind when the going gets tough.
3 Things True Love Is Not
3 Things True Love Is Not - Debunking cultural misconceptions about what real love is supposed to look like.
You Can’t Hide from the Culture Wars
You Can’t Hide from the Culture Wars – “Why can’t we take a timeout or take a year
off from the culture wars? In my experience I’ve found three reasons why the
true gospel will always be at odds with any fallen culture.”
Should We Be Saying ‘It’s a God Thing’?
Should We Be Saying ‘It’s a God Thing’? Why God’s sovereignty extends to both our good days and our bad ones.
9 Things Adult Daughters Want Their Mothers to Know
9 Things Adult Daughters Want Their Mothers to Know – The author shares that little girls grow up
and need a different kind of mom.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
To the Sons and Daughters of Divorce
To the Sons and Daughters of Divorce – “We will
piece together some themes from Scripture to explain how God understands and
relates to children of divorce, in ten points.”
What Influence Do You Have on Your Children?
What Influence Do You
Have on Your Children? - John MacArthur writes, “Christian parents
today desperately need to own this simple principle. Before the throne of God
we will be held accountable if we have turned our children over to other
influences that shape their character in ungodly ways.”
The Heresy of Indifference
The Heresy of Indifference – “Indifference about doctrine is the mother of every
heresy in all of history, and in our day indifference about doctrine is
spreading like wildfire in the pulpits and pews of our churches. Ironically,
the assertion that doctrine doesn’t matter is in fact a doctrine
in itself.”
What the Media Isn’t Telling You
What
the Media Isn’t Telling You Regarding the Judicial Arguments Over Same-Sex
Marriage – Here is another significant note from the Supreme Court
hearing last week.
The Real Point of Prayer
The Real Point of Prayer – On the National Day of Prayer, we look at why the act of prayer
really matters in our lives.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
3 Questions All Parents With Young Children Must Ask
3 Questions All Parents With Young Children Must Ask – A few important questions to help
guide you on the journey of raising kids.
Worship as the Ultimate Act
Worship as the Ultimate Act – Historically,
worship has been a divisive part of the local church experience. How might we
rightly understand worship?
The Meaning of Sex
The Meaning of Sex - The article is an adapted version of an
evangelistic talk given at a Campus Outreach event given at Georgetown
University.
Friday, May 1, 2015
When a Leader Lets You Down
When a Leader Lets
You Down – “Whether it’s a moral failing, a leadership blind spot,
a deficiency of wisdom, or some other weakness—at some point and in some way we
will be disappointed by even our heroes.”
A God Greater Than Google
A God Greater Than Google – “We’ve been trained to
live without uncertainty. We’ve been taught that not only are we entitled to
every answer, but that they’re all just a couple of clicks (and seconds) away.”
Gnostic Sex
Gnostic
Sex - Michael Wittmer shares two influencers that helped lead to
where our culture is today.