December 9, 2024 *Editor’s Note: When, if ever, should a church take a public stance over local legislation? Recently, the leaders of Harpeth Christian Church in Franklin, TN (located just outside Nashville by the Harpeth River) had a tough decision to make. Would they stake a position regarding a Tennessee law banning gender-transition treatments for […]
Each month, at our church, we ask the students in our Student Ministry one question about their relationship with their parents or their family as a whole, hoping to provide some insight to the parents that can help strengthen their connection with their kids. This month we asked, What’s one thing you wish your parents […]
Hey brother, I heard you’ve been knocked around a bit lately, and I just wanted to stop by and see how things are going. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you I understand how you feel. I know; it stinks when people say that. It’s cheap. I don’t want to offer something trite or flippant. I […]
I am a sports fan. I admit it. I also admit that my mood can rise and fall with the success, or lack thereof, of my favorite teams. Some of you (many of you?) can relate to this. When my team wins, I feel good and feel that life is good. I feel upbeat and […]
If we were to name the most important religious figures of the Western and Eastern world, they would be Jesus Christ for the West and Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, for the East. In this article, we’re going to contrast how Gautama and Jesus reacted when facing the troubles of the world. We […]
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5, NIV) Throughout the Old Testament prophets, we read promises of a coming restoration that would be accomplished by God through […]
When Christianity begins to decline in a country, one of the first signs is a drop in those choosing to become leaders in churches. I lived in Canada until I was 36 and witnessed this transition firsthand, as Canada became more and more secular, like Europe did decades earlier. First, Canadian Bible Colleges failed to […]
“Why can’t we all just get along?” We’ve all heard this phrase and have likely said it ourselves, usually in the thick of a heated argument to wave a white flag of surrender. For Christians, thankfully, these words have an answer and an antidote. We know that we’re broken sinners in need of a Savior. […]
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV) We are living in the most connected age in history. The lightning-quick speed of communication and the vast array of communication methods we have are astounding. I am old enough to have seen the development of many […]
The 2011 movie The Adventures of Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg, was based on the popular European cartoon by Georges Remi (Hergé). Early in the movie, we are introduced to Captain Haddock, voiced by Andy Serkis, the pitiable captain whose crew has turned against him. His crew has locked him in a room aboard his […]
For the last year couple of years, I have been using a phrase that many people don’t seem to recognize. When referring to our task of taking the gospel to a hurting and broken world, I have spoken of a “new missional era.” Everyone clearly understands what new means, most know what an era is, and […]
We live in a time when few people have difficulty believing in a God of love. Some central texts in Scripture emphasize this point. Here are a couple key passages emphasizing God’s love, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament: “[God] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the […]
