Where Is God in the Fire? Reflections on the California Wildfires
January 27, 2025 Long Beach, CA “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. […]
What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
Christians long for our eternal home in heaven. When we look at the scene of the final judgment in Revelation, we notice that the most important consideration that will determine our eternal destiny is whether our names are written in the lamb’s “book of life.” This is a record of all true Christians, those whose […]
Renew Review: ‘What Comes Next’ by Max Lucado
In What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide Through the End of the Age, popular writer Max Lucado walks through what he calls “heaven’s timeline” in order to bring the reader hope in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. New Testament theologian John Whittaker offers an overview of Lucado’s book, including its strengths and weaknesses.
Review of Max Lucado’s ‘What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide Through the End of This Age’
In What Happens Next, well-known inspirational writer Max Lucado takes his turn offering his understanding of the end times. His motivation is to provide hope for believers today because “hope is an endangered species” (p. 3), and his encouragement is to fill the reader’s mind with the Bible’s teaching about our ultimate destination. Therefore, we […]
The Final Judgment
After the resurrection of the dead, all humans who have ever lived will stand before God for a final judgment of their lives.[1] This final judgment is described several times in the Bible. It is a sober yet vital reality to which all of our lives are moving. Let’s look at five truths taught throughout […]
What Is the Resurrection of the Dead?
Although this article is about the final resurrection, let’s think about the future God promises his people. What will the new heaven and new earth be like? One common depiction is that we will be floating on clouds for eternity, perhaps strumming on harps and singing songs. Yet such a caricature makes it seem like […]
What the Bible Says About the End Times: 5 Essentials
We at RENEW.org suggest a common approach for difficult theological questions like the ones we encounter when thinking about the end times. You might call the approach “bullseye theology.” We look at all teachings in God’s Word through a framework which prioritizes essential, “bullseye” beliefs and moves outward from there.[1] There are essential elements (beliefs […]
Progressivism and the Resurrection of Jesus
Orthodox, biblical, historic Christianity does not stop at the death of Jesus. It goes straight from Jesus’ death to his resurrection—which is the flip side of the same redemptive coin. In the death of Jesus, we get our sins forgiven, and in the resurrection of Jesus, we get a new life. Progressives often struggle with […]
