Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is Near…and It’s Here
Have you ever looked for something all over your desk, kitchen counter, or workbench with no success only to see it magically appear right where you were looking one minute […]
What Does “God Fearing” Mean?
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “God fearing”? One of the first things I picture is an old movie. Maybe it’s even black and white. And one […]
When a Christian Leader Has a Moral Failure
What do we do when we see moral failure in a Christian, especially a Christian leader? Maybe you have seen news come out recently about Philip Yancey, a Christian author […]
Is Smoking a Sin?
It’s a question I’ve been asked more than once—especially since God moved our congregation into the heart of our city and we began walking closely with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, […]
Mark, Me, and the Making of Second Chances
The second book in the New Testament bears his name. However, he’s not the actual source of the original content for the narrative and teaching of Jesus. Most biblical historians […]
What Is Repentance and What Does It Look Like?
In the first-century Jewish world, large numbers of people were drawn to the simple message of repentance. Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven […]
Os Guinness: Our Nation’s Survival and the Necessity of Revival?
Author’s Note: Os Guinness knows the history of revivals. He is an internationally respected author, social critic, and cultural analyst who has written or edited more than thirty books, including […]
Failing VS Falling Away
“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32, NIV) Today, when we’re on the […]
Dear Divorced Christian
Dear divorced Christian, You are not what was done to you. You are not the choices you made in the fog of sorrow or survival. Divorce may be a chapter, […]
What is the Gospel: And How Do We Respond?
It may be the most important word in Scripture. At its core, gospel means good news. In the ancient world, it marked a turning point—“Something has happened…and because it happened, […]
Christformation and Embracing Forgiveness
What is God up to in our lives? When we look throughout Scripture, we see that, above all, God is restoring his image in us so we can be fruitful […]
Disciple Making, Matthew Bates, and 5-Point Calvinism: Q&A with Bill Hull
*Editor’s Note: Our mission at RENEW.org is to “renew the teachings of Jesus to Fuel Disciple Making,” so we want to take note of an important debate that is currently […]
Fasting in the Old & New Testaments
Fasting in the Bible is a setting aside of time to abstain from food to repent from sin and seek God. We see this practice span both Old and New […]
Finding Your Way Again: Learning from King Josiah in the Bible
My wife and I were driving to a home we had never seen to help some friends who were preparing it for another family to move into. I typed the […]
The Purpose of Lent? An Invitation of Decrease and Increase
I never quite understood Ash Wednesday when I was younger. My home church never emphasized anything about Lent, or even Good Friday for that matter. In my experience growing up […]
God’s Judgment: A Summons to Repent
One of the most important questions you can ever wrestle with is this: Which judge of your life matters most to you? Lots of people will have this or that […]
Idolatry in the Bible (and in Our Own Hearts)
Satan is always scheming and making efforts to tempt us, to dishearten us, and to break us with many other things that can take away our focus from God. The […]
Bringing Our Expectations in Line with God’s Truth
“But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.” (Luke 7:30, NIV) What expectations have we placed […]
Why Does God Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?
Summary: Why does God harden Pharaoh’s heart in the book of Exodus? This article will explore how There is hope when we listen to God and unharden our hearts to […]
Why I Chose to Preach on Sexuality and Gender, Part 1
It is no secret that one of the most explosive topics of our day is sexuality and gender. For many decades, there has been a concerted effort to change the […]
Preach and Normalize Being a Disciple of Jesus
In a previous article on preaching and normalizing “King Jesus,” I argued that we want to avoid the false dichotomy of “King Jesus” vs. “Savior Jesus” by integrating and synthesizing […]
Seven Lessons from ‘The Confessions of St. Augustine’
“For Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it rest in Thee” (1.1). So begins the acclaimed memoir from St. Augustine of Hippo, the 4th Century […]
Come to the Water: Accepting Christ’s Invitation to Baptism
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do […]
The Prophecy of Simeon: How Jesus Causes the Falling & Rising of Many
Aged Simeon nestled the eight-day-old Jesus in his arms and murmured wonderingly to Joseph and Mary, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, […]
Was It Loving to Affirm My Sin?
Years ago when I abandoned God and embraced sin, several Christians demonstrated their “loving like Jesus” by affirming my right to make my own choices, rallying around me as a […]
Accountability and the Bible: Are Christians Supposed to Hold Each Other Accountable?
Not too long ago, I attended church where I had been the senior minister/pastor many years earlier. After church, I had a conversation with a man about a Bible professor […]
Jesus Clears the Temple (and What He’ll Do to You Too)
Have you ever seen somebody get really angry who normally doesn’t get angry? It’s a little like, “Oh! Never seen that side of you.” You realize it must be really […]
What Prevents Us from Life Transformation?
At a ministry conference recently, I commented that, when measured against the heart of God in the Sermon on the Mount, large segments of American Christianity seem to be going […]
Why Should I Pray?
We have a relationship with an omniscient God who already knows every thought we have. Why would we talk to him, then, to tell him things and ask him for […]
Andy Stanley, Albert Mohler, and Three Trajectories
October 4, 2023 – Daniel McCoy, RENEW.org Editorial Director There’s a lot I appreciate about Andy Stanley. In years past, I’ve led his small group DVD studies. I’ve gathered helpful […]
Prayer of Repentance: Learning U-Turns from Nehemiah
What’s a prayer of repentance? In the Bible, “repentance” means a change in mind and behavior so that we go from doing whatever we feel like to living for God […]
What Future Awaits the Unrepentant?
Unrepentance and the Painful Reality of Eternal Separation Unrepentant people who die without Jesus will suffer eternal separation from God, which Scripture describes as everlasting punishment. Our comfort-driven culture may […]
Learning to Pray: Yield (Part 4 of P.R.A.Y.)
Yielding to God: Powerful Prayer Lessons (P.R.A.Y. 4) Joshua explains that unanswered prayer can be the hardest part of praying, yet we can still trust God’s goodness and love. Jesus’ […]
A Few Keys to Reconciling Broken Relationships
How to Reconcile: 3 Keys to Restoring Broken Relationships Begin by acknowledging the brokenness, because healing can’t start while the damage—or your part in it—is minimized or denied. Humility replaces […]
What Is Holiness and Why Is It Important?
What Is Holiness and Why It Matters for Kingdom Living Holiness is a lifestyle of separation from self-rule to God’s kingdom rule, marking what it means to live under God’s […]
Is Your Church Healthy? Let’s Be Careful…
Church Health and Returning to Your First Love Jesus’ evaluation in Revelation warns that a church can look strong in service and doctrine while still abandoning its first love. Even […]
How Do We Share the Gospel?
Sharing the Gospel: Witnessing to Jesus the Victorious King Obedience to Jesus requires sharing the gospel, even when culture resists through skepticism, narcissism, and false tolerance. Witness includes both history […]
Sermon on the Mount: Contempt
Contempt: Jesus’ Heart-Level Call to Reconciliation Jesus links contempt to the whole spectrum, from anger and “Raca/Fool” name-calling all the way to murder as its ultimate expression. Rather than policing […]
What Does It Mean to Be Baptized for the Forgiveness of Our Sins?
What Does It Mean to Be Baptized? Clear Forgiveness What does it mean to be baptized? Bapism is described as the normative point where faith connects with God’s grace and […]
What Does It Mean to Repent?
Repentance: What It Means to Truly Turn to Jesus Genuine repentance shows up as a change in heart and behavior, not just an apology without follow-through. Paul’s dramatic turnaround and […]
Habitual Sin: Do We Want to Get Well?
Habitual Sin: Do We Truly Want to Get Well? Jesus’ question in John 5 exposes whether we truly want healing or keep waiting in patterns that never change. Habitual sin […]
Does Hebrews Teach We Can Lose Our Salvation?
Eternal Security and the Teaching of Hebrews on Falling Away Explore Hebrews 6 and 10, which describe believers who fall away and face severe judgment. Understand the “by grace through […]
3 Stages in Our Fight against Sin (and How the Holy Spirit Wins It for Us)
Fight Against Sin Through the Holy Spirit’s Victory Lust describes the stage where sin feels exciting and rebellion against God’s law seems enjoyable. Disgust begins when you meet Jesus and […]
Why Did Jesus Pick Fishermen? Answer: The Gospel.
Gospel for Fishermen: Why Jesus Started with Ordinary People Mark 1 shows the gospel for fishermen calls anyone to repent and believe as God’s kingdom draws near. Instead of choosing […]
Exposing Our Self-Deceptions: Review of Daniel McCoy’s Mirage: 5 Things People Want from God That Don’t Exist
5 Things People Want from God That Don’t Exist: Exposing Self Deceptions 5 Things People Want from God That Don’t Exist reveals how spiritual “mirages” distort what we expect from […]
Are We Eternally Secure or Must We Have Faithful Faith?
Faithful Faith: Eternal Security and Obedient Trust Faithful Faith contrasts Calvinism and Arminianism, showing how both camps insist that genuine salvation must produce a transformed, persevering life. Dangerous distortions of […]
We’re about to Make a Big Mistake – Reflections on Rebecca McLaughlin’s “The Secular Creed”
The Secular Creed and the Cost of a Godless Morality McLaughlin’s book exposes a new secular religion in which slogans like “love is love” and “gay rights are civil rights” […]
Q&A – 3 Questions We’ve Started Asking at Baptism
Baptism Q&A Lifelong Discipleship Commitments Through Baptism Q&A, new believers publicly affirm Jesus as King, trust His death and resurrection, and commit to follow Him without conditions for life. Emphasizing […]
The Deconstruction Story That Makes the Most Sense
Deconstruction as the Work of Jesus in Our Lives Christ-centered deconstruction exposes false views of God and self, as Jesus analyzes human beliefs, judges them by God’s standard, and replaces […]
Food Idolatry VS Living Water: Refreshing the Soul by Fasting
Food Idolatry VS Living Water in the Purifying Practice of Fasting Fasting exposes how food has become a modern golden calf, revealing misplaced cravings that should be satisfied in Jesus […]
Good Friday: Buffet or Cafeteria?
Good Friday Reflections on Christ’s Sacrifice Jesus’ suffering reveals how every individual sin carried real weight as he bore griefs, sorrows, and transgressions on the cross. Isaiah 53 and Luke […]
Losing My Faith in Progressive Christianity: The Three Unforgivable Sins — Drinking, Smoking, and Cussing (Part 3)
Progressive Christianity Part 3: Lessons in Grace and Drift Progressive Christianity Part 3 traces how childhood taboos about drinking, smoking, and cussing slowly gave way to a “liberated” lifestyle that […]
Pain and the Necessity of Pruning
Pain in Pruning: Lessons for Growth Amid cultural upheaval and personal loss, God is actively shaping character rather than promising a pain-free life. Scripture reveals that the Father prunes fruitful […]
Everybody Is Recovering from Something
Recovering — Steps to Spiritual Health Powerlessness led to trust in God, beginning a Scripture-shaped transformation marked by honest surrender and dependence on His strength. Through the twelve steps—surrender, confession, […]
Mirage #2: I Want God to Fix Everything without Touching Anything
Fix Everything without Touching Anything — Why God Changes Us First Pharaoh’s “please…no thanks” pattern illustrates our habit of wanting relief while resisting the repentance God requires. Genuine help begins […]
Sermon on the Mount: Pure in Heart
Pure in Heart — Cleanness that Sees God Jesus moves past externals to the inner life, insisting a clean heart matters more than ritual performance (Mt 5–7; 15). Leviticus’ pattern—confession, […]
A Resilient Church in a Cancel Culture
Cancel Culture — Practicing Church Resilience Grounded in disciple making, the church develops resilient believers who hold to biblical convictions with joy and courage. Facing cultural pressure, Christians reject timidity […]
An Invitation to Come in Out of the Dark
Dark — Pathways into God’s Light From Genesis to John, Scripture shows God’s presence bringing light that exposes deception and brings order to chaos. Turning to Jesus, the Light of […]
The Long March through the Institutions of Society
Long March in Today’s Institutions—A Discipleship Response Decades of university influence spread into media, corporations, and policy, advancing Critical Theory across culture. Marxist-rooted frameworks center power and suppression, conflicting with […]
3 Spiritual Boundary Stones to Leave in Place
Boundary Stones in Discipleship: Ownership, Identity, Actions Ownership belongs to God. Devotion stays “Wholly His” when believers reject external idols and deny inner desires that try to shift their hearts. […]
6 Lies That Sink Marriages
6 Lies That Sink Marriages — Practical Guardrails Reject “greener grass” fantasies and fairy-tale expectations; intentionally nurture your spouse and grow together through every season. Seek outside support when needed—trusted […]
The Stages of Disciple Making: “Come and Follow Me” (Part 2)
Stages of Disciple Making Part 2 — Come and Follow Me in Community After hearing “Follow me,” new disciples step into deeper teaching, witness Jesus’ works, and face real conflicts […]
An Election Day Prayer
Election Day Prayer — Peace, Wisdom, and Hope in Christ Rooted in 1 Timothy 2 and Jeremiah 29, the prayer seeks national peace so believers may live quiet, godly lives. […]
A Fatal Misstep in Addiction Recovery
Addiction Recovery in Daily Dependence Overconfidence invites relapse since neuroplasticity keeps learned cravings, leaving former addicts permanently vulnerable. Ongoing community—AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery—and steady habits sustain sobriety and resist isolation. […]
Revival: God Could Do It Again!
Revival – Pathways to Renewal From the Reformation to six historic “waves,” God has repeatedly revived His church—and He can do it again. Through united prayer, fasting, repentance, and obedient […]
A Simple Way to Share the Gospel
Simple Way to Share the Gospel – Acts 2 Roadmap Starting with Jesus as Lord, Peter’s sermon brings conviction and the urgent question, “What should we do?” Peter calls hearers […]
Promise Keepers: Stand in the Gap
Stand in the Gap – Sacred Assembly Impact Over two years of planning, fasting, and prayer culminated in a Washington DC gathering where more than a million men sought God […]
Exile: The Perfect Word for Our Situation
Exile – Living Jeremiah 29 Exile calls believers to seek peace and pray for their city, following Jeremiah 29:7 while resisting deceptive voices that divide. Amid dislocation and loss, trust […]
A Reckoning for the Church
Reckoning for the Church — Repent and Reconcile Names the harm: judgmentalism and political coercion left many as casualties who need healing, not campaigns. Demands repentance: the church must own […]
Lessons from the Church in Pakistan: Boldness
Church in Pakistan and Courageous Discipleship Small groups study Scripture verse by verse and tackle core Muslim questions—Jesus as Son of God, who God is, and why the Bible is […]
Changing Times: Part 3 of a Conversation with Bob Russell
Part 3 of a Conversation with Bob Russell on Faithful Leadership Facing shifting cultural views, Russell urges thick skin with soft hearts, resisting the drift to “shout grace and whisper […]
When Should You Confront a Fellow Christian’s Sin? Part 1
Fellow Christian’s Sin in Church Discipline Scripture separates fuzzy conscience matters from blatant disobedience that calls for loving intervention. Paul’s guidance urges humble judgment “inside” the church to rescue the […]
Rethinking What Bible Character You Are
Bible Character in Self-Examination Looking closely at Gospel details challenges default identification with the “good guy” and exposes Pharisee-like habits. Considering Malchus’s healing reframes the scene: we were among those […]
Disciples Should Expect God’s Discipline
God’s Discipline — Lessons for Growing Up in Christ Trials expose our weaknesses and invite repentance, producing the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” in those trained by them (Hebrews 12:11). Parents […]
Two Perspectives on Racism and What They Need to Hear from Each Other
Perspectives on Racism — Paths Toward Unity Through a Calvinist/Arminian lens, the piece holds systemic injustice together with personal agency and calls for repentance. Christians are urged to listen humbly […]
God Sent Me a Friend: Part 3 of a 3-Way Conversation about Race
3 Way Conversation about Race: Lessons in Friendship and Justice Honest friendship and listening break stereotypes, as Jim and Mike’s dialogue replaces defensiveness with empathy. Practical steps include doing your […]
Fathers Affect How We See God: Stories from Famous Atheists
Atheists — Fatherhood Patterns and Gospel Hope Atheists frequently trace unbelief to strained father relationships, echoing Freud’s insight and Paul Vitz’s research on famous skeptics. Biographies from Nietzsche to Russell […]
Corrupted or Co-opted: 2 Non-Options as Christians Fight Racism
Christians Fight Racism — Gospel-Driven Pathways Grounded in Jesus’ model, believers practice honest conversation, compassion, lament, repentance, justice, and reconciling love. Rather than the corrupting comfort of apathy, the church […]
Grieving the Beliefs You Leave Behind
Grieving the Beliefs — Walking Through Change Recognizing denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance helps Christians process loss as old views yield to biblical convictions. Examples such as resurrection hope, […]
Baptism, Salvation, and Discipleship
Baptism and New Life: Conversion to Discipleship Conversion with repentance leads to salvation. Heaven rejoices over a sinner who repents, as God pours out forgiving grace (Luke 15:10). Union with […]
Racism: A Lament and Call to Repent
Call to Repent for Gospel Healing In light of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, the church laments evil, listens to pain, and prays with compassion. Scripture frames repentance—Lamentations, James 4, […]
Promise Keepers & Stories of Changed Lives
Stories of Changed Lives in Faith and Transformation Stories of Changed Lives highlight reconciliation, as men returned to their families and restored broken marriages after encountering Jesus. Life-change was evident […]
The Book of Job: A Guide in Suffering (Part 2)
Book of Job Part 2: Lessons for Suffering Well Worship redirects grief toward God. Job blesses the Lord amid loss and recognizes every gift was on loan. Transparency names the […]
The How’s of Humility
Humility Practices for Real-Life Formation Fasting exposes dependence on God and quickly reorients the heart toward Him. Seeing God’s majesty—making God big in your mind—reshapes pride into worship. Choosing lowly […]
Did Jesus Really Mean “Judge Not”?!
Judge Not: Living Jesus’ Teaching Jesus frames “judging” as a condemning attitude that spots a brother’s speck while ignoring our own plank, not wise evaluation of fruit. Matthew 7 with […]
This Is the Weekend to Get Right with God
Get Right with God This Easter Weekend Transformation begins when you surrender your brokenness to Jesus, just as Eli did when he realized God’s love was bigger than his past. […]
The Problem of Sin and Rhett & Link’s Deconversion
Problem of Sin and Its Impact on Faith Problem of Sin shows how Rhett and Link confused guilt with conviction, leaving them distant from true repentance and forgiveness. By neglecting […]
Rhett, Link, & the Danger of Duplicitous Faith
Danger of Duplicitous Faith and Its Impact on Believers Danger of Duplicitous Faith shows how Rhett and Link concealed doubts and spiritual struggles while leading in ministry. The narrative reflects […]
Coronavirus: What Christians Need to Know
Coronavirus Guidance For Christians Amid the coronavirus outbreak, believers are urged to embrace God’s peace even when uncertainty fuels anxiety and fear. Wise responses during coronavirus include balancing medical guidance […]
Lent & the Value of Subtraction
Value of Subtraction – Practicing Lent’s rhythms Begin by removing what dulls devotion—fasting, repentance, and prayer create space for God to draw near. Remember that God subtracts our sin as […]
What is Mianzi, and What Can Christians Learn from it?
What Can Christians Learn from Mianzi in Faith and Life What Can Christians Learn from Mianzi is shown through cultural insights that highlight humility, confession, and authentic living. By exploring […]
Kobe, Shaq, & Learning from Loss
Learning from Loss – What Shaquille O’Neal’s Grief Teaches Us Shaq’s experience shows that legacy fades, but relationships endure. His sorrow over Kobe’s passing shifted focus from trophies to time […]
Q: What Are Men Really Hungry For? (Part 2)
What Are Men Really Hungry For Part 2: Real Discipleship Needs for Men Deep spiritual hunger is addressed in What Are Men Really Hungry For Part 2 by calling men […]
Astros: A Cautionary Tale
Astros Reveal Pitfalls of Cutting Corners in Faith Astros serves as a warning that even impressive success can unravel when integrity is compromised. Cutting corners might bring results, but at […]
Kingdom VS Democracy
Kingdom VS Democracy—Following a Higher Rule Kingdom VS Democracy contrasts the sovereignty of Christ’s Kingdom with the self-governance ideals of democracy. Jesus’ Kingdom perspective demands submission to divine authority, not […]
Deep Roots in Jesus
Deep Roots in Jesus: Why Surface-Level Faith Isn’t Enough Deep Roots in Jesus start with surrender. Dave Clayton shares how self-reliance, even in ministry, can lead to spiritual emptiness without […]
If I Had One Sermon to Preach to the American Church
American Church: Returning to the Lordship of Jesus Salvation without surrender isn’t biblical. Many profess belief in Jesus without submitting to His Lordship, distorting the gospel message. Discipleship must follow […]
The Bible Number That Keeps Confronting Us
Bible Number That Forces a Life-Changing Decision God often gives us two clear options. From Eden to Moses and Jesus, Scripture reveals that God consistently puts before us a binary […]
The Perfect Lie of Discipleship
The Perfect Lie of Discipleship: Breaking the Myth of Perfection The Perfect Lie of Discipleship confronts the false belief that we must be flawless to disciple others, reminding us that […]
God Does Not Want You to Deal with Your Stuff Alone
God Does Not Want You to Deal with Your Stuff Alone: Why Repentance and Community Matter Why does God involve others in your repentance? Scripture shows that repentance isn’t meant […]
Fight for It
Fight for It: Releasing Emotional Weight for Relational Health Carrying emotional weight—like unforgiveness and hurt— is common in church communities, but it hinders both spiritual and relational health. Healing begins […]
My Decade as a Born-Again Virgin & Why the World Doesn’t Understand Sex
Understanding the Impact: Why the World Does not Understand Sex The world’s view of sex feels hollow. Jon Sherwood reflects on how worldly pleasure left him empty and searching for […]
Eat Fresh Crow
Eat Fresh Crow: Why Leaders Shouldn’t Delay Apologies Owning your mistakes builds trust. Humble leaders who admit fault quickly earn credibility and respect. Avoiding hard conversations makes things worse. Delayed […]
4 Ways to Treat the Prisoner as a Person
4 Ways to Treat the Prisoner as a Person in Light of Biblical Justice Treat the prisoner with dignity and compassion. Many incarcerated individuals are awaiting trial and deserve humane […]
Training for More
Embrace God’s Purpose and Wholeness Through Training for More Training for More invites us to move beyond temporary fitness goals and embrace lasting transformation—physically, spiritually, and emotionally. When we shift […]