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A Healthy Church is a Messy Church, As it Should Be

Spend more than a few weeks in the heart of a church and you discover that church is messy. I can see it in the face of first-timers, that look […]

Is Masturbation a Sin? A Thoughtful Christian Exploration

“Of all the moral issues which face the community of Christian believers, there are few issues that Christians feel more uncomfortable discussing than the issue of masturbation.”[1] Masturbation is a […]

6 Ways People Read the Bible

People throughout history have done all sorts of things with Bibles. Some have bought them and left them on shelves. Others have burned them in book burnings. Bibles have been […]

A Journey from Secrecy and Control to Truth and Freedom in Christ

My name is Kirk Taylor, and I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who has found freedom from gender dysphoria, codependency, and a lifelong struggle with trying to control how […]

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 […]

The Vanity of Knowledge: Aiming for Wisdom in an Artificial World

With what set of assumptions do you begin as you open the pages of Scripture? I find myself in agreement with James B. Jordan, Protestant theologian, with Matteiu Paggeau, the […]

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, […]

When You Have Eaten and Are Satisfied: On Wealth and Forgetting God

Now that you have wealth, you’ve crossed over into the financial promised land. Or have you? From the days of Adam, God cursed man with the burden of painful toil […]

Do We Really Need to Be Saved?

In his work The Republic, Plato relates a discussion between his brother Glaucon and his teacher Socrates. The discussion was about the question of human nature. Glaucon argues that, were […]

The Deceitfulness of Wealth?

Wealth, like sex, drugs, and fame, has an unusually strong effect on people. Everyone knows sex, drugs, and fame will seriously influence us, but for some reason, we resist the […]

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 […]

Will the Real Saul of Tarsus Please Stand Up?

Updated October 24, 2025. One of the most important figures in the New Testament is the apostle Paul. Once a zealous persecutor of Christians, Jesus came to him in a […]

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 […]

Progressivism and Substitutionary Atonement

In the last hundred years or so, discussions among theological progressives about the Trinity, the nature of Christ, and substitutionary atonement are often not really about these doctrines at all. […]

Don’t Let Anger Preach Your Sermon

We often pray, “Your Kingdom come, your will be one, on earth as it is in heaven.” But what if the greatest barrier to God’s Kingdom being seen through us […]

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 […]

Is It a Sin to Be a Billionaire?

August 5, 2025 In this post, I’m going to do something very unpopular. I’m going to defend billionaires. Kind of. First, a little context. Recently, I’ve seen people—some who are […]

Calvinism: Irresistible Grace?

The most well-known feature of Calvinism is its famous five points, often referred to by Calvinists as “the doctrines of grace” and represented by the acronym TULIP.[1] There is much […]

The Heart Is Deceitful: Reflections on Pharaoh’s Divided Heart

“We are never better deceived than when we deceive ourselves.”[1] “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal [but not equal to God], that they […]

Once Saved, Always Saved?

The idea of “faithful faith” is a distinguishing mark of RENEW.org and historic Restoration Movement theology. Article 5 (Faithful Faith) of Renew’s Faith Statement for Leaders reads: “We believe that […]

Salvation: We Have Been, Are Being, and Shall Be Saved

When I was a kid, around ten years old, my mom took me to a big revival meeting in some large municipal auditorium in our city. I forget who was […]

Calvinism: Limited Atonement?

The most well-known feature of Calvinism is its famous five points, often referred to by Calvinists as “the doctrines of grace” and represented by the acronym TULIP.[1] There is much […]

Review of Austin Fischer’s ‘Young, Restless, and No Longer Reformed’

In Young, Restless, No Longer Reformed, Austin Fischer tells his own story about why he became a Calvinist and why he left Calvinism. New Testament theologian John Whittaker reviews the book, which […]

Top 11 Books that Critique Calvinism

Five-Point Calvinists can be among the most serious students of the Bible and passionate believers in God’s sovereignty you’ll find. And yet, in this article, we offer a few books […]

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 […]

Calvinism: Total Depravity?

The most well-known feature of Calvinism is its famous five points, often referred to by Calvinists as “the doctrines of grace” and represented by the acronym TULIP.[1] There is much […]

Jesus Elevates Your Dignity

In the United States in the 1920s and 30s, life was very difficult for racially mixed children. This was especially true for a particular child, “Joseph,” born in 1928 to […]

Jesus and the Buddha: What Was Their Diagnosis of Humanity’s Problem?

According to Jesus and the Buddha, what is fundamentally wrong with humanity? As we will see, Siddhartha Gautama’s diagnosis of humanity undercuts the human problem by changing our perspective about […]

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 […]

Resisting the Lure of Legalism

“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?” (Mark 7:18, NIV) Let’s talk about legalism. I know […]

God Can Do Anything? What God Can’t Do & Why It’s Good News

Tennis can be fun unless you’re playing against someone way better than you are. When you’re playing against someone quite a bit better, they can hit the ball in ways […]

What Does the Bible Say About Jealousy? An Introduction to the Scariest Sin

Why does “do not covet” make it into the Ten Commandments? To covet is to strongly desire what someone else has. What’s an internal compulsion to want someone else’s stuff […]

Original Sin or Ancestral Sin?

A nearly universal assumption we make as human beings is that we can do right and wrong things, good and evil things. This article isn’t about the basis for determining […]

Abraham, Jacob, and Generational Sin

When reading through the Old Testament, we find many common themes. One common theme is that there are specific sins shared among generations. This can appear as an older generation […]

Short Prayer to Fuel Big Love: See Sin as Sinful (Part 2)

Jesus said that outsiders will know that we are His disciples by our love. So how do we welcome and cultivate God’s love in a way that goes beyond just […]

How Can I Be Forgiven When I Sin Again and Again?

The Bible teaches that God loves to forgive our sins. All we have to do is to confess them and, where necessary, turn from them (Luke 15:18–22). The most common […]

I Must Remind Myself I Have Died

We tend to understand “Christ in me” better than we understand “me in Christ.” It’s easy for us to see Jesus as a spiritual part of us, rather than us […]

Sinners or Saints? Coming to Terms with What We Are

“Golden bars of sunlight come sneaking through the shutters laying stripes on my back like a zebra Sweaty fingers turning pages, and clinging to the bed like it’s a bride […]

Confronting Bad Plot Summaries

Have you read any of the “bad plot summaries” that are going around the internet? For example, here’s a bad plot summary of the Lord of the Rings movies: “Group […]

God Renews Strength, Selves, and Sinners

God is a God who loves to renew things. Like what? Here are three. 1. God renews exhausted strength. You find yourself tired most of the time? Busier than is […]

The Sin of Greed: Money & the Protestant Reformation

How destructive is the sin of greed? Greed is an attitude that craves more and more and can never find enough. Colossians 3:5 equates greed with idolatry, so that should […]

Why Is the World So Messed Up?

Why is the world so messed up? The world is broken because the first humans—and every human since—rebelled against their Maker. By seizing autonomy from God, we have upset the […]

Sermon on the Mount: Mammon

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot […]

Prayer for Protection from the “Spiritual” Versions of the Seven Deadly Sins

*Editor’s Note: The following prayer from Curtis Sergeant, international disciple making movement leader, reminds us that sin can take up residence even in our spirituality. We need to bring our […]

Getting Realistic about the Weight of Temptation

Since the dawn of time, humans have underestimated a great many things. And will we continue to underestimate, I suspect, until time has reached its demise. The one underestimation that […]

You might be falling for the sin of pride if…

The sin of pride is especially dangerous because it causes us to inflate our opinions and feelings over what God says. When we’re paying more attention to what we think […]

Why Did My Friend Die of Cancer at 62?

It’s been a year since my good friend of 35 years died, despite the best available medical treatment, after a three-month battle with cancer, and I miss him. He had […]

Is Gambling a Sin? An Honest Exploration from a Christian Perspective

Is gambling a sin? Gambling is risking a wager on a game in order to win a prize. Although there are some who experience gambling as something rewarding and fun, […]

How Did Jesus Die for Our Sins?

How did Jesus die for our sins? He did it by first entering our human story and being everything we had been created to be but failed to be. Then […]

Losing My Faith in Progressive Christianity: The Fleeting Fulfillment of a Feelings-Based Faith (Part 6)

Progressive Christianity Part 1: Insights from Deconstruction Stovall recounts a season of doubt, questioning a culture built on the sinner’s prayer and feelings-based assurance. The narrative challenges easy-belief formulas, contrasting […]

Are There Generational Curses? What the Bible Teaches on the Subject

Are there generational curses? You’ve probably noticed physical traits passed from generation to generation in your family. But what about spiritual and moral traits? Is there anything hereditary about spirituality? […]

Throw It Off! – How to Deal with Sin That Keeps Entangling Us

What does the Bible say for Christians to do with the sin that keeps getting in the way of running the race God has set before them? RENEW.org presents Matt […]

Pretty Little Lies: Real Life Theology with Renée Sproles

Renée Sproles kicks off her Real Life Theology series discussing the pretty little lies we are told by culture every day. She is joined by David Hunzicker of North Boulevard […]

What Is the Worst Sin? A Good Question That’s Killing Us

What is the worst sin? Instead of absorbing the angry answers that come with tribalism, let’s bring the question to Jesus. The story is told of two brothers who were […]

The Fall: Adam and Eve, You and Me, and God’s Persistence

In the fall of Adam and Eve, humans stopped trusting God’s goodness, and they made their own decisions about what was right and wrong. Yet God continued pursuing the hearts […]

Top 10 Quotes from Live No Lies by John Mark Comer

John Mark Comer wrote the book Live No Lies to give us tools to overcome the three enemies of our souls: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Joshua Branham […]

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 […]

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 […]

This Person Has Enormous Power Over You

Not Ashamed and the King Who Rules Your Life Recognize that shame reveals your ruler—whoever can make you most ashamed when you disobey them has enormous power over you. See […]

Why Do We Need Royal Good News?

What is the Gospel and Royal Good News Royal good news is necessary because God’s gospel restores His original purpose for humanity to reflect His image and rule on His […]

The Gospel Precisely Author Q&A – Matthew Bates with Bobby Harrington

Definition of the Gospel: Clear & Urgent Q&A Definition of the Gospel is clarified as the story of Jesus the saving King—sent by the Father, incarnate in David’s line, crucified, […]

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 […]

How People Make the Commitment to Jesus in Baptism

Baptism Commitment and the Covenant Promise to Follow Jesus Baptism commitment is the formal covenant pledge where a believer repents, trusts in Jesus, and receives God’s promises of forgiveness and […]

Why Is a New Birth Necessary?

New Birth and the Restoration of Our Relationship With God New Birth is necessary because sin disrupted humanity’s relationship with God, beginning with Adam and Eve’s choice to do life […]

Permission to Say No to a Fight

Say No To A Fight And Pick Battles Like Jesus Notice how Jesus repeatedly refused to be pulled into distractions and redirected people toward God’s deeper priorities. Discern which conflicts […]

Sermon on the Mount: Fulfilling the Law

Fulfilling the Law Through Jesus’ Completion and Covenant Shift Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount that He did not abolish the Law and the Prophets but brought them […]

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 […]

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 […]

Can a Christian Lose Salvation? (Part 2)

Christian Lose Salvation Perspectives on Eternal Security The article confronts casual “once saved, always saved” attitudes, arguing that Scripture’s warning passages call believers to ongoing faithfulness. By summarizing the 1610 […]

Losing My Faith in Progressive Christianity: The Banned Books and Podcasts (Part 4)

Progressive Christianity Part 4 Lessons from Deconstruction Dave recounts a slow slide into progressivism. Influences like C.S. Lewis, Rob Bell, and The Liturgists shaped his doubts, loosening his trust in […]

Are We Eternally Secure or Must We Have Faithful Faith? (Part 1)

Faithful Faith Part 1: Eternal Security and Obedient Trust Faithful Faith Part 1 contrasts Calvinism and Arminianism, showing how both camps insist that genuine salvation must produce a transformed, persevering […]

Moving Mountains in Myanmar: A Guide to Prayer and Action for Myanmar

Pray for Myanmar Faith That Moves Mountains Amid violent crackdowns and fear, Pray for Myanmar reminds believers that the true enemy is the unseen powers of darkness, not the people […]

How to Read Hard Bible Passages

Hard Bible Passages and Faithful Interpretation Hard Bible Passages start with context. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 5 must first be read in light of the original situation in Corinth […]

Worry: The Acceptable Sin?

Acceptable Sin in the Form of Worry Jesus exposes worry as more than an acceptable habit, calling disciples to trust the Father’s care instead of living like fearful slaves. Anchoring […]

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 […]

Can Masculinity Be Non-Toxic?

Masculinity in God’s Good Design for Men Scripture presents masculinity as part of God’s creation of male and female, giving men a unique calling to reflect His character in strength, […]

There Are Two Crosses in the Life of a Christian

Life of a Christian – Walking the Path of Two Crosses Carrying the two crosses reveals true discipleship. Christ’s cross brings salvation, while our cross calls us to die to […]

What Are 5 Things People Want from God That Don’t Exist?

5 Things People Want from God – Exposing Impossible Desires 5 Things People Want from God uncovers five “non things.” Many people long for God to affirm every decision, fix […]

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 […]

Mirage #5: I Want to Find Freedom through Sin

Freedom through Sin — Biblical Insight Choosing rebellion may feel liberating, yet Scripture shows it traps us in repeating folly (Prov 26:11). Jesus teaches that everyone who sins becomes a […]

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 […]

Mirage #1: I Want God to Love Me by Affirming My Decisions

I Want God to Love Me and Divine Correction When Scripture corrects sin, it’s loving guidance aimed at our long-term good, not instant affirmation of every choice. Daniel McCoy’s dissertation […]

When You Worry, Remember God Is at Work

Worry — Trusting God’s Work Today Remember Jesus’ call in Matthew 6 to release anxiety and fix your heart on the Father who provides. From wilderness sandals that never wore […]

When the Foundations Are Being Destroyed

Foundations That Endure Through Faith Discover how Foundations grounded in God’s Word give strength when society feels unstable and divided. Explore David’s Psalms to understand why trusting the Lord offers […]

Losing My Faith…in Progressive Christianity (Part 1)

Learning a Grace-Filled Approach to Ministry: Understanding

Grace-Filled Approach to Ministry: Leading with Understanding A grace-centered leader seeks to understand people’s lives, trading legalism and pride for humility that blesses worshipers. Volunteer care calls for patience and […]

Book Review: Jen Hatmaker’s Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire

Jen Hatmaker’s Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire – Biblical Evaluation Drawing on Scripture, the review contrasts Hatmaker’s self-focused identity claims with biblical teaching on sin, grace, and the fear […]

Shane Wood – Enneagram Micro Course – Introduction

Shane Wood – Enneagram Insights Shane Wood explains the Enneagram through Genesis and theology, showing how it connects with creation, brokenness, and God’s pursuit. He highlights how self-awareness and loving […]

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 […]

When Should You Confront a Fellow Christian’s Sin? Part 2

Christian’s Sin — Spirit-Led Intervention Wise, Spirit-led believers restore gently, often with others, balancing truth and love to help a brother or sister return to faithfulness. Because situations are messy […]

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 […]

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 […]

What’s the Alternative to Judgmentalism?

Judgmentalism — Paths to Empathy and Mercy Jesus’ “Judge not” warns of both human backlash and divine accountability, calling for humility instead of superiority. Proverbs-like wisdom shows criticism triggers defensiveness […]

Doubting the Doubter: On the Deconversion of Hawk Nelson’s Jon Steingard

Doubting the Doubter in Deconversion Realities Doubting the Doubter highlights the struggles of leaving faith. Jon Steingard shares his fears, uncertainties, and the personal cost of walking away from Christianity. […]

Pigs and Dogs: What is Jesus Talking About?

Pigs and Dogs in Jesus’ Teaching on Judgment Pigs and Dogs illustrate unreceptive hearts. Jesus warns that offering correction to those unwilling to receive it often leads to frustration and […]

Satanic Imagery in the Bible

Satanic Imagery in Scripture’s Story Satanic Imagery spans apocryphal voices and the Dead Sea Scrolls, where names like Mastema and Azazel shaped Jewish views of evil opposing God. Old Testament […]

Satan in the Old Testament

Satan in the Old Testament: Language, Development, and Meaning Satan in the Old Testament is not a fixed name but a role—“the satan” acts as an accuser in Job and […]

Biden, Trump, and Other Urgent Things That Come Up

Biden and Trump—A Psalm 14 Reality Check Psalm 14 indicts both parties, showing that none of us consistently does good and we often live as if God isn’t there. Political […]

How to Disciple through Emotional Trauma: Grace

Grace and Discipleship in Overcoming Emotional Trauma Grace transforms emotional wounds into love. Leonard’s journey shows how receiving God’s grace released him from shame and anger, enabling deeper love for […]

Through the Eyes of the Egyptian Mother

Egyptian Mother and the Night of the Plagues Egyptian Mother offers a vivid look at the grief of losing a firstborn during Exodus, bringing ancient sorrow into a modern reader’s […]

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 […]

Peddle

Peddle in the Light of Paul’s Teaching Peddle in ancient markets revealed corruption, where dishonest wine sellers diluted their product and cheated customers for profit. Paul’s warning about those who […]

The Promise Keepers and Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare and the Lessons from Promise Keepers Spiritual Warfare is real and relentless, as Satan attacks through division, discouragement, and external opposition, seeking to destroy families, churches, and ministries. […]

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 Makes Premarital Sex So Bad (Part 2)

What Makes Premarital Sex So Bad Part 2: Design, Purpose, and Covenant Sex as God’s gracious gift. God intends sex for joyful, self-giving love—not self-centered use—so healthy habits start before […]

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 […]

What Makes Premarital Sex So Bad? (Part 1)

What Makes Premarital Sex So Bad Part 1 in Christian Perspective What Makes Premarital Sex So Bad Part 1 challenges cultural views of sex by pointing to God’s covenant design […]

How Progressivism Refuels

How Progressivism Refuels in Christian Thought How Progressivism Refuels explains how inconsistencies among Bible-believing Christians give progressives room to reinterpret Scripture. The article shows that How Progressivism Refuels highlights the […]

Category: Sin