Citizen of Heaven?
Where you from? A big city lawyer is duck hunting in rural Arizona. He shoots a bird which falls over the fence into a field. As he’s climbing the fence, […]
Grandparenting Advantages for Discipling Kids
It’s true that the Bible talks about parents way more than it talks about grandparents. The most foundational family discipleship passages in Scripture are written with the parent-child relationship in […]
What Is Heaven Like? An Exploration of What Makes Heaven Heavenly
Have you ever said, “Well, it’s not my first choice, but considering my only other option, I guess I’ll go with it”? This is the kind of logic we typically […]
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 […]
The Book of Revelation Explained Simply
Do you ever like to experience the thrill of a good scare? For some of us growing up, that was what the book of Revelation was for. Perhaps as a […]
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 […]
What I Said to the Preteens About Marriage, Sexuality, and Boundaries
Once a month, I teach at the preteen youth group at church. My assigned topic a few weeks ago was what the Bible teaches about marriage, romance, and godly boundaries. […]
Four Rules for Christian Friendship
We know integrity when we’re around it, but what does the word “integrity” actually mean? It’s got the same root word as the one found in “integrate,” “integrated,” and “integral.” […]
5 Questions for Church Leaders to Ask About Generative AI
With the rise of generative AI, are we closer to Clippy, your old animated friend from Microsoft Office 97—or to the Terminator? Are we closer to Buzz Lightyear or 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 […]
Managing Your Life: What Happens When You Do and Don’t
How exciting could it be to “manage my life”? Does it sound a little, well, boring? Yet what’s truly boring is living life in a way that doesn’t work. It gets […]
Why Was Jesus Born? A Christmas Poem
One of my favorite phrases in the Bible was spoken by an angel to a group of shepherds on the first Christmas. The angel came to announce “great joy for […]
The Christmas Shepherds: Why God Picked Them and What They Teach Us
You ever feel like you’ve missed Christmas? Where it came, went, you did a bunch of activities—but you kind of missed it? Most people did. Most everybody in Israel and […]
Jesus and the Buddha: How Did They Interact with Society?
It’s impossible to overstate the influence of Siddhartha Gautama over the Eastern world and Jesus Christ over the Western world. But how did they minister in society? In this article, […]
Jesus and the Buddha: How Did They React to Suffering?
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 Surprising Power of Praying “Thank You”
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 […]
Is Jesus the Only Way?
A few years ago, a really big question on the minds of a lot of people, especially around 9/11 (September 11, 2001), was about Islam: Is Islam a religion of […]
Which Definition of Love Do You Use?
Even if you don’t necessarily love New York, the odds are good that you or someone you know has one of those “I Love New York” mugs. If you don’t know what […]
Ichabod: When the Glory Has Departed
The first time we see the word “glory” in the Bible is in Exodus, when God is preparing to show his glory through rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. […]
Church and State: 4 Ways of Church-State Interaction in History
First, some bad news. The bad news is that, historically, churches haven’t always resisted the allure of false, prepackaged gospels. Sometimes churches have traded their call to be the people […]
Should Christians Watch Horror Movies?
His friends were aiming only to be able to laugh and say, “Made you look!” Yet Alypius would go a lot farther than one look. As his friends dragged poor, […]
Who was Jezebel in the Bible? It depends on your worldview.
Who was Jezebel in the Bible? She was a Phoenician princess who became a queen of Israel. As the wife of King Ahab, Queen Jezebel forcefully introduced Baal worship into […]
God Parted the Red Sea. So, What Does That Mean for Me?
Which movie does the best job portraying the panic of seeing Pharaoh’s chariots closing in before God parted the Red Sea? Let’s do a multiple choice: The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton […]
Why Is the Bible So Hard to Understand? 3 Reasons
Why is the Bible so hard to understand? Here are some key takeaways from this article: The Bible can be hard to understand because we don’t take time to see […]
What Is Unity in the Bible? (It’s Far More Important Than I Thought.)
And the first prize for most unifying religion goes to… Easy answer, right? Obviously, the answer is supposed to be Christianity, isn’t it? And yet the church isn’t always very […]
“The Unexamined Life Isn’t Worth Living”
If you wanted to be a somebody in Athens, Greece, in the 400s BC, you needed to meet the city’s high beauty standards and/or be talented at winning arguments. It […]
An Editor’s Take on Megan Basham’s ‘Shepherds for Sale’
September 2, 2024 Everybody loves an editor. (Ha, that’s the closest you’ll get to an editor joke.) The truth is, nobody likes being told all the ways they could have […]
Did the Gospels Borrow from Pagan Mythology?
Mythology in the Greco-Roman world had dying and rising god-men—Apollo, Asclepius, Hercules, Tammuz. Serapis was called Lord. Half the Greek gods were said to be born of virgins. Hercules ascended […]
Church Is Boring? 3 Times It Actually Is
When someone says or thinks that church is boring, what is it exactly that they are bored by? Here are three times a church gathering actually is boring—to us and, […]
Jesus Is God the Son? Exploring the Logic of Jesus’ Deity
Christians believe that Jesus was a human and God. He was somehow a God-man, God “incarnate.” But does this belief make logical sense? If you’d like to delve into some […]
Just Turn the TV Off? Reflections on the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremonies
July 30, 2024 “Just turn the TV off!” That’s the advice Whoopi Goldberg gave in response to Christians outraged by the apparent depiction during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony of […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
Pray for the Gift of Seeing the Smallest Humans
July 12, 2024 “Zuzu’s petals! Zuzu—there they are! Burt! What do you know about that?!”—George Bailey, It’s a Wonderful Life A few years back, I let Nacho Libre get bumped […]
10 Biblical Truths About God, Life, and You
In times of chaos and confusion, it’s wise to look for biblical truths to hang onto. Maybe, for you, life is just really, really busy and you feel like you’re […]
What Does Our Faith Teach That Our Society Needs?
Christianity emerged in a world vastly different from the values espoused by followers of Christ. Slavery was assumed to be a necessary part of a functioning society, and slaves could […]
The Most Interesting Insult I’ve Heard in a Presidential Debate
June 28, 2024 The earliest election cycle I can remember was Bush VS Clinton in 1992. I wasn’t watching politics yet when Lloyd Bentsen said to Dan Quayle, “You’re no […]
Preaching That Engages the Skeptic: How (Part 3)
This is my third and final article on engaging the skeptic in our preaching. Let’s take a second to review: First, why do we need to engage the skeptic in […]
Why Is There Anti-Semitism…Then and Now? Q&A with Matthew Umbarger, PhD
Why is there anti-Semitism throughout history and even in our own times? Matthew Umbarger is a Catholic scholar who spent nine years studying the Old Testament in Israel (PhD in […]
What’s the Difference Between a ‘Convicted Felon’ and a ‘Political Prisoner’?
May 31, 2024 In C.S. Lewis’s children’s book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the main characters are sailing on a mission of rescue and adventure when they think they […]
Preaching That Engages the Skeptic: Why (Part 1)
In Charade, a 1963 movie starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, dangerous thieves have been cheated out of their stolen money by a fellow thief. Apparently, they kill the thief […]
The Scariest Nice Person in Your Church
What comes to mind when you think of “one-hand clapping”? Perhaps you think of the Zen “koan” in which the Zen master asks the student, “What is the sound of […]
When Was the New Testament Written?
When was the New Testament written? One way to answer this is to list the New Testament books and give their approximate date of composition. If you’re looking more for […]
Wait on the Lord: An Invitation to Unwasted Time
Let me share with you a truth I learned by the time I was a toddler: the people of God wait. A lot. My dad’s a preacher. There were quite […]
Overview of the Old Testament
The Old Testament begins with God creating a very good world. “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31a, NIV). Yet something happened after He […]
The Woman Caught in Adultery: Villain or Victim?
The classic story of the three little pigs was always so clear to me. The wolf was the bad guy, as the aggressor, and the pigs were the good guys, […]
Review of ‘God & Country’ Documentary
It stunk to be an Ephraimite in the days of Jephthah the Judge. In the biblical book of Judges, we read about how one tribe, the Ephraimites, insulted the Gileadites, […]
Do Animals Have Souls?
Do animals have souls? Let’s get imaginative. If you hear someone answer, “Of course animals don’t have souls,” what kind of person would give that answer? Well for one, that’s […]
3 Ways We Mishandle Our Minds
There are three mistakes commonly made by disciples when it comes to the mind. The first mistake is neglecting the mind. Neglecting the Mind In Mark Noll’s influential book The […]
Timeline of Holy Week
What’s the timeline of “Holy Week”? Sometimes, it’s also called Passion Week or the Final Week. Whatever you call it, the week of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion (Sunday to Saturday) […]
Congratulations: You’ve Got Generations
Every family and church is composed of multiple generations. How should we as Christians feel about this sometimes-volatile concoction? At a recent conference, I was assigned the topic of “generations” […]
Why Forgiveness Is Important: What Happens When We Do & Don’t
Since forgiveness isn’t usually easy, it’s worth pausing to ask why forgiveness is important. To help us think through the importance of forgiveness, here is what happens when we don’t […]
What We Discover About Ourselves in a Post-Roe World
March 5, 2024 We are living in a post-Roe world. Does it feel like you thought it would? Me neither. Some context: In 1973, the Supreme Court ruling called Roe […]
Why Is Teaching on Gender in Church & Family Important Today?
We’ve heard it often. “Personally, I am good with RENEW.org’s views on gender. But why put it in your faith statement? It’s a secondary issue, after all.” Great question. I […]
The Old Testament Scriptures: What They Are and Why We Read Them
What are the Old Testament scriptures, and why do Christians continue to study them? The Old Testament scriptures are a collection of 66 books written by and for ancient Jews. […]
10 Bible Verses on Creativity
A definition of creativity came to me as I was reflecting on puns. I used to see puns as subpar humor, unless you’re aiming for a cringe (extra dad humor […]
Navigating an Election Year Without Losing the Gospel
We’re living in volatile times, and the division keeps running deeper. It’s slicing even Christian families and churches right down the middle. Red-state parents send their kids off to deep-blue […]
Philosophy Questions: God Is in Everything?
Is God in everything? There is a sense in which, as the Catholic philosopher Thomas Aquinas put it, “God operates in all things. . . . Therefore God exists in […]
Rewards in Heaven: Is It Okay to Give to Get from God?
Some things seem absolutely crazy—at first. Harvey is a play written by Mary Chase (also a movie starring Jimmy Stewart) about Elwood P. Dowd, a friendly man who has a […]
Church Hurt: 4 Reasons from Jesus Why Churches Can Disappoint
Church hurt. Do you know what it’s like to be disappointed by church? In 1994, in the African country of Rwanda, one African people group named the Hutus tried to […]
Short Prayers to Fuel Big Love: See Others as Ourselves (Part 4)
God created our bodies with an in-built response to frightening situations. When we become aware of danger, we go into a survival mode. In this mode, our thinking becomes very […]
Why Eat Turkey for Thanksgiving? (It’s Not Because of the Taste.)
Why eat turkey for Thanksgiving? It’s because of a mix of historical and cultural reasons, but for 21st century Americans, it also makes for an effective training in thankfulness. Turkeys […]
Short Prayers to Fuel Big Love: See Grace as Amazing (Part 3)
I can’t think of a more encouraging character trait to be around than gratitude. It’s why we train our kids from an early age to say “Thank you” when somebody […]
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 […]
Short Prayers to Fuel Big Love: See God as God (Part 1)
Jesus never said that outsiders will know we are His disciples by our friendliness. Friendliness is great. But in a capitalist country, every company that stays open year-to-year has to […]
The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock: 3 Questions to Ask About the Way We Build
“The wise man built his house upon the rock.” By “rock,” Jesus meant his teachings. Unfortunately, it is very possible to hear the teachings of Jesus but not to put […]
Disciple Making in the Megachurch: Q&A with Bart Shaw of Trader’s Point Christian Church
Can large, long-established churches move to a disciple-making core focus? What steps need to be taken? I recently caught up with Bart Shaw, Campus Pastor and Lead Discipleship Pastor at […]
What Do You Say When Someone Dies?
What do you say when someone dies? When things get real, it can quickly get uncomfortable. This is why a lot of us like to keep conversations light. Why we […]
Does Science Put God out of a Job?
One of my favorite movies is Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black as a Mexican monk who becomes a champion wrestler. Although Nacho is a devout Catholic, his wrestling partner “Esqueleto” […]
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 […]
10 Secrets in the Bible: The Allure of Mysterious, Misleading Knowledge
Before we start listing secrets in the Bible, let’s consider what a secret is. A secret is knowledge concealed to many, revealed to some. Its allure lies in promising knowledge […]
What Does the Bible Say About Work? 10 Truths
What does the Bible say about work? That depends on where you flip to. The entrepreneurial and successful “Proverbs 31 woman” has a very different relationship to work than the […]
Top 10 Betrayals in the Bible
Betrayal. You’ve probably experienced it. You might have caused it. It’s the cruelest of vices as it stabs the back only after inviting the embrace. Its victims didn’t see it […]
6 Truths I Learned from Randy Gariss About Emotional Maturity
Isn’t it frustrating when recipients of God’s lavish grace bark at each other during the church board meeting? Or when a sermon fills you with a blaze of courage only […]
Jesus Washing Feet: Why Humble Service Makes a Lot of Sense
What are we to make of the story of Jesus washing feet? This act was meant to give Jesus’ disciples a dramatic example of love to follow so that they […]
Practicing Periodic Disobedience
When you were a kid, did you ever find yourself saying, “You’re not my boss”? Hopefully not to your parents, but perhaps to a bossy older brother or a bossy […]
In Search of Simpler Times?
Amish romance novels are a thing. No, I haven’t read one. But this intentionally lackluster genre is apparently a hot seller. Another interesting phenomena (for being so uninteresting) is Hallmark […]
Did Satan Waste His Last Temptation?
When you’ve been fasting longer than a day, food becomes a temptation. When you’re trying to get nationally known, popularity becomes a temptation. Likewise, when Jesus was fasting in the […]
Freedom in Christ: Discerning True Freedom from Its Counterfeits
Amid counterfeit freedom, we need freedom in Christ. Although we naturally want freedom to do whatever our impulses tell us we want, such unrestrained “freedom” often leads us to a […]
2 Betrayals Which Fuel anti-Christian Cynicism
If cynicism were a rock, it would be a volcanic rock formed from lava. Now cooled off and hardened, the dull, porous rock looks nothing like the explosive river of […]
Live by Faith: What It Means and Doesn’t
What does it mean to live by faith? Living by faith in Jesus means living with belief, trust, and lifelong allegiance in him. Faith may start as an internal force, […]
6 Fathers in the Bible & the Advice They’d Give Today: Adam to Jacob
If the fathers in the early pages of the Bible could give modern fathers advice, what would they say? Based on their stories in the biblical books of Genesis and […]
Who Is to Blame When a Faith Deconstructs?
Deconstruction. Have you been hearing that word a lot lately, too? What does this trending term mean? Well, just like it sounds, deconstruction is the opposite of construction. When used about a […]
A Core Conflict within Atheism
Why do people become atheists? There are many reasons given for why people stop believing there’s a God, but a reason that rises to the top for many people is […]
How to Love Well During Pride Month: 6 Bible Passages
LGBTQ+ Pride Month can bring dilemmas for disciples of Jesus. We want to show our love for everyone, but we do not want to dishonor the teachings of God’s Word […]
Renewing Your First Thought of the Morning
And the first thought of the morning is . . . What is that beeping sound? Wait a second. . . . The second thought is . . . Oh […]
The Great Mother’s Day Temptation
What kind of grinch would want to cancel Mother’s Day? As it turns out, the first person to petition to have Mother’s Day canceled wasn’t a grinch at all. She […]
The Breastplate of Righteousness: 3 Ways Righteousness Guards Our Hearts
In describing spiritual “armor” which protect followers of Jesus, the apostle Paul includes the “breastplate of righteousness.” But what is it about righteousness that protects us? How does righteousness, as […]
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 […]
What Are the Christian Beliefs Most Central to Christianity?
What are the Christian beliefs most central to Christianity? While not every belief is equally important in Christianity, some deserve to be considered “essential beliefs,” and without them, it no […]
Are All Religions True?
Are all religions true? The idea that all religions are true often feels right to people who separate religious faith from objective truth/reality. Yet these religions themselves teach countless core […]
What Is the Meaning of Easter?
What is the meaning of Easter? Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, which happened the Sunday after he was crucified on Friday. Jesus’ resurrection is worth celebrating […]
God Renews Youth, Covenants, and Things
God is a God who loves to renew things. Like what? Here are three. God renews forgotten youth. I’m not sure if you look back at your younger years with […]
When the Devil Gains a Foothold in a Nation
“And do not give the devil a foothold.” (Eph. 4:27, NIV) Be forewarned. This article is going to ask all of us to do something that sounds impossible. Especially something […]
3 Ways to Respond to Mass Shootings
Have you heard of the “Serenity Prayer”? Although the original prayer written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr is longer, here is the prayer as it is commonly quoted: “God, grant me […]
God Renews Spirits, Minds, and Lives
God is a God who loves to renew things. Like what? Here are three. God renews crushed spirits. You ever been crushed underneath the weight of something dark you did […]
6 Takeaways from Our Learning Community Event on Artificial Intelligence
On Thursday, March 16, we held our latest Learning Community event for the almost 280 senior ministers/pastors in the Renew.org Network. The Learning Community event takes place every two months, […]
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 […]
Keep Speaking These Unspeakable Words
We’re discovering some words which used to be fine to talk about, but which now have become increasingly unspeakable. These aren’t cuss words; rather, they’re Bible words. One of these increasingly unutterable […]
Jesus Is Lord: On Finding Our Identity by Discovering the Identity of Jesus
What does it mean to declare that Jesus is Lord? The Greek word kurios is a word that can mean lord, master, or sir. It is also the Greek word […]
5 Biblical Responses to Anti-Christian Slander
Why isn’t my church in the 21st century more like the early church of the 1st century? Where are the 3,000 baptisms in a single day? The opportunities to preach […]
10 Unromantic Bible Verses That Describe Real Love
Love can be celebrated in sappy ways. (That seems to be what Valentine’s Day is for.) Yes, the Bible celebrates romantic love and all that comes with it (have you […]
Some Reflections on Foreign Accents
Isn’t it interesting that you don’t have an accent? Doesn’t it feel like you talk normal, while other people from other places are the ones who have accents? One of the unfortunate […]
Is Change Good? Reflecting on Why God Placed Us in Time
Is change good or bad? As we look back over our lives, we can spot changes that were obviously good as well as ones which felt very harmful. But as […]
The Remarkable Power of Preferred Pronouns
I told myself I wouldn’t brag about this publicly. For years, it’s been a bit of a Clark Kent-Superman dilemma: should I tell people about my secret power? Should I […]
What Ethics Do We Learn from Generative AI?
First off, what is generative artificial intelligence (GAI)? Artificial intelligence has been around for a while now. It’s your phone deciphering between your fingerprint and someone else’s. It’s the chatbot […]
Jesus’ Baptism: What It Did and Why It Matters
What was the point of Jesus’ baptism? Of all the baptisms John the Baptist did, the one that most confused him was when the Messiah himself came to be baptized. […]
12 Bible Verses about Trusting God
Why take the time to walk through multiple Bible verses about trusting God? Isn’t it enough just to, well, you know, trust God? At first glance, trusting God would seem […]
How to Avoid Dancing Off a Cliff
God redeems the seemingly unredeemable. Taking that hope as my cue, I’m going to try to redeem some time I accidentally spent absorbed in a Paw Patrol episode my kids were watching. […]
Op-Ed by Herod the Great
Herod the Great, the villain of the Christmas story, was a master of political survival. His long reign under the Caesars came at the cost of constant paranoia, even having […]
Where Did God Come From?
Where did God come from? This is a complex question that assumes that God came from somewhere. By contrast, the Christian view is that God has always existed. But does […]
Philosophy Questions: Can We Have Knowledge of God?
Can we have knowledge of God? Philosophers have long debated whether we can know what, if anything, exists beyond the physical world (the “metaphysical”). The influential philosopher Immanuel Kant argued […]
Faith without Works Is Dead?
What does it mean that faith without works is dead? Having faith in Jesus means that we believe what he says, trust in him to save us, and follow him […]
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 […]
A Psalm of Thanksgiving: Reflections on Psalm 18 / 2 Samuel 22
A psalm of thanksgiving is a worship song which expresses gratitude for what God has done. In this article, we will reflect on the psalm of thanksgiving we call “Psalm […]
Why the Flood?
Isn’t it a little funny that we often use the walls of church nurseries to paint the most extreme portrait of God’s wrath to date? The Genesis Flood. Of course, […]
Walk by Faith, Not Sight: What It Means, What It Doesn’t
What does it mean to walk by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7)? It’s common to think that, as inspiring as the phrase sounds, walking by faith would make a […]
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 […]
Who Was Caleb in the Bible? Spy, Soldier, and Settler
Who was Caleb in the Bible? Caleb is best known as one of the 12 spies sent by Moses on a reconnaissance tour of the land of Canaan. The reason […]
Messianic Secret: Why Did Jesus Quiet People Down About Him?
In what has been called the “Messianic Secret,” Jesus told both demons and people not to tell what they knew about him. Sometimes it was during an exorcism, after a […]
Will a Heated Election Melt Your Church?
Church bells have been used throughout church history for various reasons. Church bells have been rung to announce times of prayer, begin church services, mark the hours in a day, […]
Who Was Joshua in the Bible? 10 Leadership Habits from the Life of Joshua
Who was Joshua in the Bible? Joshua was a national leader and military commander in ancient Israel. As Moses’ aide and successor, Joshua finished what God started through Moses: leading […]
What Is New Age Spirituality? The Basics of New Age Spirituality in 10 Questions, 10 Terms, and 10 Quotes
What is New Age Spirituality? New Age Spirituality is a movement which brings together monism (all is one) and pantheism (all is good) with Eastern spiritual techniques. The idea is […]
Philosophy Questions: What Is Christian Philosophy?
What is Christian philosophy? As the “love of wisdom,” philosophy is thinking hard about life’s biggest questions of what’s real, true, and good. Christian philosophy is thinking hard about life’s […]
Christ the Victor: How Did Jesus Beat Our Worst Enemies?
One of Jesus’ titles throughout history is “Christ the Victor.” This title describes how Jesus is victorious over his enemies. But if Jesus is the victor over his enemies, why […]
Jesus Heals a Leper (and Trades Places with Him)
In Mark 1:40-45, Jesus heals a leper. Although Jesus was notorious for defying social boundaries, the way he healed the leper was unthinkable: he reached out and touched him. In […]
Philosophy Questions: Who/What Is God?
Who/what is God? Although there have been prominent atheistic philosophers throughout history, many philosophers have speculated that there must be a deity of some kind. For some, god is in […]
Who Was Nicodemus in the Bible? An Introduction to the Gospels’ Longest Fence-Sitter
Who was Nicodemus in the Bible? Nicodemus was an esteemed rabbi who had a favorable view of Jesus, but who kept his admiration of Jesus a secret. We meet him […]
Philosophy Questions: What Is Real Reality?
What is real reality? Many people throughout history have suspected that there is a world that lies beyond what our eyes can see. One clue is that there seem to […]
God Is a Jealous God? Exploring a God Who Loves Us More Than We Want Him.
Is it true that God is a jealous God? Numerous Bible verses describe God as a jealous God, in the context of his people breaking their covenant with him and […]
Philosophy Questions: Where Does Morality Come From?
Where does morality come from? Some will answer that morality comes from humans as we learn what works and doesn’t work for society. Others answer that morality is grounded in […]
Bible Verses About Money & 10 Questions That Follow
There are surprisingly numerous Bible verses about money. What does the Bible teach about money? Biblical teachings on money emphasize our need to steward it wisely and never let it […]
What Does the Bible Say About Cremation? A Thoughtful Exploration of a Hot Topic
What does the Bible say about cremation? The Bible includes three references to cremation, compared to hundreds of references to burial, the dominant form of post-mortem care in the Old […]
What Is Islam? The Basics of Islam in 10 Questions, 10 Definitions, and 10 Quotes
What are the basics of Islam? Islam is a religion based on submission to Allah as taught through prophets, most notably Muhammad (“Allah’s Apostle”). In their submission to Allah, Muslims […]
Who Was Elijah in the Bible? Elijah’s Story in 8 Roles
Who was Elijah in the Bible? Elijah was a prophet of Yahweh sent to the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. Through displays of miraculous power […]
Philosophy Questions: Is Truth Absolute?
Is truth absolute? If truth is absolute, this means that, if something is true, then the moment it becomes true, it’s true for all times, people, and places (regardless of […]
What Are Latter-Day Saints? The Basics of the LDS Church in 10 Questions, 10 Definitions, and 10 Quotes
What Are Latter-Day Saints? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in the US in the 1830s. Smith tells of receiving visitations from heavenly […]
Philosophy Questions: Why Is Philosophy Important?
Why is philosophy important? Philosophy is important because, as the “love of wisdom,” philosophy carves out space for wrestling with life’s most important questions. When broken into its main branches, […]
What is Atheism? Definitions, Demographics, & Types of Atheists
What is atheism? Although some atheists define atheism weakly as merely a lack of belief in gods, atheism is traditionally more than a denial: It is the belief that no […]
What, How, and Why We Pray for Our Nation
As disciples of Jesus, should we regularly pray for our nation? In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, the apostle Paul urged public prayers in church for public leaders. He described these as […]
What Is Jainism? The Basics of Jainism in 10 Questions, 10 Definitions, and 10 Quotes
What are the basics of Jainism? Jainism is a religion arising from India which invites its adherents to liberation from rebirth by seeking non-violence and shedding karmic matter. It teaches […]
What Is Sikhism? The Basics of Sikhism in 10 Questions, 10 Definitions, and 10 Quotes
What are the basics of Sikhism? Sikhism is a monotheistic religion arising out of India which sought to show that God transcended both Islam and Hinduism. It was founded by […]
What Is Hinduism? The Basics of Hinduism in 10 Questions, 10 Definitions, and 10 Quotes
What are the basics of Hinduism? Hinduism is a religion historically based in India and focused on obtaining “moksha” (release, freedom). Imagine thousands and thousands of lifetimes, some better and […]
What Is Judaism? The Basics of Judaism in 10 Questions, 10 Definitions, and 10 Quotes
What are the basics of Judaism? Judaism is the religion of the Jews, with both “Jew” and “Judaism” derived from the name of one of Jacob’s sons, Judah. Judaism’s beliefs […]
How the Spirit Helps Us Pray to Our Father Who Is in Heaven
How do we pray to “our Father who is in heaven”? It’s a process that involves God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. It is God’s Son […]
Why People Leave the Church: 3 Reasons from the Book of Revelation
Why do people leave the church? The Bible gives 3 basic reasons: People leave the church because they want to, or they feel they have to, or they have been […]
Monotheism: Definition, Biblical Usage, and Meaning for Our Life
What is monotheism? Monotheism is the belief that only one God exists. While the New Testament church takes monotheism for granted, ancient Israel in the Old Testament shifted back and […]
Evil Does Exist. Is This More of a Dilemma for Christians or Atheists?
Does evil exist? Yes, but it’s not a clear mic drop for any particular worldview. If the physical world is all that exists, then it’s difficult to explain why people […]
10 Reasons to Remember the Dead
Why is it important to remember the dead? We remember the dead for many reasons, as doing so unearths lessons from their lives to guide us in the present. In […]
Spiritual Abuse: 4 Twisted Values That Enable Churches to Hurt People
Spiritual abuse happens when a person with spiritual authority or power uses it as leverage to exploit another person’s trust and vulnerability to get what they want. Spiritual abuse is […]
Amid Unspeakable Tragedies, This Is What I Most Appreciate about Jesus.
Nineteen children and two teachers were gunned down yesterday in a 2nd–4th grade elementary school in Uvalde, TX. Their parents will be sobbing and rocking themselves in grief tonight at […]
What Is a Biblical Worldview? Definitions, Dilemmas, and Dangers
What is a biblical worldview, and does it matter? A biblical worldview is a view of the world which seeks to answer life’s biggest questions from the teachings of the […]
What Does the Bible Say About Death? 10 Truths About Death
What does the Bible say about death? The biblical writers give us a comprehensive and nuanced description of death. We learn that, from God’s perspective, death is both menacing and […]
The Devil Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy—and What This Says about False Teaching
One of the clues that something is evil is that it’s not very creative. Instead, it takes what’s been created and seeks to destroy it. The Bible teaches that the […]
Sword of the Spirit: How the Word of God Puts Satan on Defense
In Ephesians 6:17, the apostle Paul talks about the importance of wielding the “sword of the Spirit.” What is he talking about? The sword of the Spirit is how Paul […]
5 Mothers in the Bible and What We Can Learn From Them
Mothers in the Bible range from saintly to seriously scary. In this article, we’ll narrate the stories of 5 mothers in the Bible and explore what we can learn from […]
Jesus Loves the Little Children—and the Church Must Too.
Jesus loves the little children, and he taught his followers to do the same. This is why churches have historically helped care for children in vulnerable situations, whether facing poverty, […]
5 Reasons Jesus Teaches Us to Choose Life
There are lots of opinions, philosophies, and beliefs surrounding the topic of abortion. As Christian ministers, we believe it is best to trust Jesus over human wisdom. By his teaching […]
So you’re about to get into a theology argument…
We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through Facebook. You’re not looking to start anything. But then you see a provocative post aimed squarely at your theological convictions. “Pro-lifers don’t really […]
How Should Christians Think about Abortion? Q&A with Dr. John D. Ferrer
How should Christians think about abortion? Dr. John D. Ferrer, president of Pella Pro-Life and teaching fellow with Equal Rights Institute, answers questions about what Roe v Wade did, what […]
Theology Is Intimidating—But Not for the Reason We Think
It was my first semester enrolled in seminary. Seminary was a distance-learning, part-time thing for me; most days, I was busy teaching Bible, language arts, and speech at a Christian school. […]
What Is the Oldest Religion? Q&A with World Religions Scholar Winfried Corduan
Why is it important to ask, “What is the oldest religion?” In the Bible, we see hints that the very first religion was based on experience with one God (monotheism), […]
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, […]
Good Friday Quiz: Score Yourself on a Scale from Jehovah’s Witness to Joel Osteen.
“Good Friday” is a fascinating name for a commemoration of history’s worst injustice. Just how should we feel on such a day? “Good” suggests happy, but that Friday was anything but. […]
What Is Process Theology? Definition and Evaluation
What is process theology? Process theology teaches that everything that exists—including God—is in an eternal process of growing and becoming. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean a chaotic mess, since God […]
Discipling Minds for This Cultural Moment
Part of Christian discipleship is to disciple minds. In order to help us disciple minds for this cultural moment, we will explore three questions about current Western culture. You know […]
Is the New Testament Reliable? An Answer in 11 Numbers.
Is the New Testament reliable? Can we know what the original documents said, and can we trust that the authors were telling the truth? Here are 11 numbers which help […]
An Easy Way to Learn Scripture Every Morning
We moved close to a burger restaurant which I immediately fell in love with. The first couple times I got their signature burger, I was in heaven. But a burger […]
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Why does God allow suffering? God allows suffering because it is a byproduct of sin. Sin happens because God gave us free will, even though he opposes sin and helps […]
Who’s Constantine the Great? The Story of the Emperor and the Church
Who’s Constantine and what should we think of the relationship between him and the church? Constantine the Great is remembered as the first Christian emperor of Rome. His conversion to […]
Are We There Yet? Here’s an Invitation to Join a Groaning Creation.
Just as we are invited to join all creation in glorifying God, we are also invited to join a groaning creation in crying out to him. Hearing “Are we there […]
Is Christian Nationalism Faithfulness? 4 Lessons from the Constantine Years
What is Christian nationalism, and is it a current problem? A healthy patriotism becomes American Christian nationalism when it draws an essential connection between the US and Christianity and then […]
What’s the History of Valentine’s Day? And Here’s Why It Matters…
What’s the history of Valentine’s Day? Here are two historical reasons for the holiday as well as a radically appropriate way to celebrate the holiday in this era. Have you […]
Zacchaeus of the Bible & the Cure for Little Man Syndrome
Who was the Zacchaeus of the Bible? Zacchaeus was a little guy with a massive salary. Although a Jew, he collected taxes from the Jews for the Romans and climbed […]
Complementarian VS Egalitarian: 10 Questions for Egalitarian Church Leaders
When it comes to the complementarian vs egalitarian debate in the church and home, here are 10 questions to think about for egalitarian leaders. For an ebook form of this […]
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 […]
Feeling Attacked? A Fight or Flight Response Is Too Weak.
When we as Christians feel our faith being attacked, it’s easy to get tense and slip into the natural “fight-or-flight” response. Doing this can narrow our focus to where we […]
Where Christmas Originated
Have you ever wondered where Christmas originated? It goes back to the birth of Jesus Christ in ancient Israel, but how we celebrate Christmas today comes from traditions from all […]
10 Ways the Holy Family Experienced the Stress of Christmas
Although most paintings don’t give any hints, Mary and Joseph experienced the stress of Christmas in ten major ways. Traditional Christmas cards often feature a painting of the Holy Family: […]
The Spiritual Meaning of Christmas: It’s Bigger Than “God Loves You”
What is the spiritual meaning of Christmas? The central message which defined the original Christmas and continues to shape spirituality today is that Jesus has come to earth as our […]
5 Insights from the Wise Men in the Bible
What can we learn from the wise men in the Christmas story of the Bible? By digging into the historical narrative, we come away with five surprisingly robust insights from […]
Who is King Herod in the Bible?
Who is King Herod in the Bible? He was a great builder, dynasty namesake, skilled politician, and paranoid king who killed any perceived threat. Although an Idumean, he married into […]
The Anxiety of Being a Progressive Christian
A progressive Christian swims along well with the cultural currents, but there’s an anxiety that comes along with it. I was interviewing a couple to get marriage advice for an […]
What’s Stronger Than the World’s Most Powerful Nation?
What’s even stronger than the world’s most powerful nation? It’s something God has placed deep within the human soul. “You know what? How about I get you a one-way way […]
A Rare Prayer at Chicago O’Hare
Prayer at Chicago O’Hare and the Surprising Power of Divine Appointments “Prayer at Chicago O’Hare” recounts how a frustrating missed connection became a providential opportunity to minister to a grieving […]
Should a Christian Celebrate Halloween? Two Bible Stories.
Should a Christian Celebrate Halloween? Two Biblical Lenses Halloween’s history blends Samhain practices with All Hallows’ traditions, which explains why Christians often disagree. Acts 8 and 1 Corinthians 8 offer […]
The TikTok Challenge and a New Authority Over Gen Zers
TikTok Challenge: Troubling New Authority Over Gen Z in a Digital Age Online crowds can become a new authority as teens perform reckless acts to gain a moment of viral […]
It’s Time to Leave the Starship Enterprise for the Blue Origin.
Starship Enterprise and the Real-Life Clarity of the Gospel Billboard-style either-or messages may feel blunt, yet Scripture consistently presents stark choices like light or darkness and salvation or destruction. Shatner’s […]
If God Is Love, Hell Is Real.
Hell Is Real Because God’s Love and Justice Are Real God’s love makes hell inevitable because real love requires freedom, and freedom includes the possibility of final separation from Him. […]
When a Story Is Cut Tragically Short
Lives Cut Short: Trusting God With Unfinished Stories Stories that end too soon remind us how deeply loss disrupts our sense of meaning and leaves grief without easy resolution. Faith […]
2 Ways to Be Weird for God’s Glory
Only two? There are hundreds of ways Christians can be weird. Ah, but there’s a qualifier: weird for God’s glory. That means all kinds of pious-feeling postures, from the finger-wagging […]
6 Things You Can Do with Truth
What is Truth: 6 Common Ways We Use and Misuse It Avoiding truth can be a way to escape discomfort, even when Jesus’ words confront unwilling hearts. Twisting truth may […]
How to Tell the Story of the Bible in 7 Kingdoms
7 Kingdoms in the Bible That Reveal the Kingdom We’ve Longed For Biblical history moves through Egypt, Israel, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, showing how human kingdoms repeatedly bring tragedy […]
5 Bible Verses on My Mind as I Watch Afghanistan Crumble
Afghanistan Christian: Bible Verses for Hope in Upheaval Scripture speaks to collapse and fear, echoing Jerusalem’s devastation and validating lament without denying God’s reign. Job exposes fragile trust, urging sober […]
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 […]
A Weird Way We Win
Meek: The Weird Way Christians Win Battles Instead of mirroring the world’s aggression, meekness wins by keeping strength under control and responding with humility. Scripture shows Jesus conquering through gentleness—riding […]
How to Botch a Baptism
Baptism Fail and the Discipleship That Must Follow Baptism fail occurs when churches baptize someone and then abandon them without the training and relationships needed to grow as a disciple. […]
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 […]
The Best Thing about Essential Beliefs
Essential Beliefs and the Truths You Can Count On Picture how life’s storms can crush what you rely on, leaving you searching for something steady and true. Remember that core […]
A Simple Definition of Grace? Yeah, About That…
Definition of Grace Through Charis and God’s Transforming Favor Charis reveals grace as God’s favor and gifts, shaped by patron-client culture and echoed in Paul’s greetings. Instead of one meaning, […]
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 […]
How Pride Month Taught Me the Power of Spirituality
Pride Month: Seeing Culture Through a Spiritual Lens Exploring the explosion of flags and identities during Pride Month, the article shows how even health sites like Healthline can shift from […]
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 […]
This Pastor Doesn’t Know the Sky Is Falling. Is He Right?
Sky is Falling? Choosing Faith Instead of Fear Sky Is Falling anxiety fades when believers stop bracing for darkness and start battling it with gospel confidence. Instead of doom scrolling, […]
My Favorite Paragraph of Disciple Making: The Core Mission of the Church
Mission of the Church: Intentional Relational Transformation Mission of the Church is portrayed as helping people toward the next life through intentional, relationship-based disciple making that treats people as true […]
The Secret to Telling the World a Better Story
Telling the World with Better Stories Telling the world a better story begins by recognizing that God has already given the church the richest stories in Scripture. By using a […]
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” […]
How to Read a Progressive like the Bible
Progressive Stories and Competing Endings Through three parallel narratives, the article shows how the same journey into deconstruction can be framed as heroic self-expression, loyal solidarity with the marginalized, or […]
How to Read the Bible like a Progressive
Read the Bible like a Progressive with Clear Discernment Progressive reading is shown as rewriting essential Christian doctrines to fit Western cultural values while proudly selecting which Scriptures still apply. […]
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 […]
Why Should Christians Learn World Religions?
World Religions — Learning to Clarify, Love, and Witness Clarifying facts about other faiths helps Christians avoid stereotypes and speak truthfully in conversations. Loving neighbors well means understanding their beliefs, […]
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 […]
Mirage #4: I Want to Find Peace through Trusting What I Can’t Trust
Find Peace in Trust — Lasting Assurance Chasing stability in possessions, people, or success only ends in disappointment because all earthly things fade away. Jesus alone has proven trustworthy through […]
Mirage #3: I Want God to Save Everyone Automatically
God to Save — Why Salvation Requires Consent Automatic rescue contradicts biblical salvation. In Scripture, salvation is God restoring people by grace through faith, not apart from a person’s knowledge […]
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 […]
How Can Churches Cultivate a Disciple Making Culture? Q&A with Brandon Guindon
Q&A with Brandon Guindon: Building a Culture of Disciple Making Q&A with Brandon Guindon emphasizes that true disciple making starts with obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission, not programs or sermons. […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Less We Use This, the More Relevant It Will Become.
Relevant in a Post-Christian Culture: Why Scripture Resurges Contrasting the raft with Noah’s ark, the article shows how Scripture can seem cumbersome until crises reveal its saving purpose. As secularism […]
A Tragic Choice for a Hill to Die On
Hill to Die On — Unity, Discernment, and Essentials Grounded in Jesus’ example (John 6; John 12), believers relinquish inferior battles to pursue the cross-shaped mission that bears lasting fruit. […]
Disciples of Jesus Choose Hope – Q&A with Michael Patterson
Disciples of Jesus Choose Hope — Practicing It When Life Feels Heavy Rooted in Scripture, biblical hope is a confident expectation in God’s promises, seen in Abraham’s trust (Romans 4:18) […]
Try to Avoid a Star Wars Christmas
Star Wars — Choosing “With” Over Holiday Overload Drawing from the infamous Holiday Special, overstuffed plans turn Christmas into chaos instead of peace. Instead, the word with reframes the season […]
Church Leader, We Are So Thankful for You
Church Leader — Encouragement for Uncertain Times Through conflict, elections, and a pandemic, you pursued unity, protected the vulnerable, and kept people connected while trusting God. Scripture-shaped leadership preached truth, […]
Something You Can Never Be
Something You Can Never Be — Love That Tells the Truth Using the square–circle analogy, Daniel McCoy exposes the contradiction of “caring” by not caring and the cultural pressure to […]
Good News: You Will Have Trouble
You Will Have Trouble — Peace, Courage, and the Value of Faith Jesus’ promise in John 16:33 frames rising hostility with His peace and victory, calling believers to take heart. […]
A Leadership Training Manual on Avoiding the Ditches
Leadership – Disciple Making Without Ditches Corey Trimble’s An Authentic Experience equips churches to build an inviting culture with biblical integrity for sustainable disciple making. Avoiding the two ditches—ineffective traditionalism […]
On Gender and the Bible: Can Women Be Elders? (Part 5)
Can Women Be Elders – Biblical Foundations for Eldership From Genesis through 1 Timothy and Titus, Scripture portrays elders/overseers as qualified men who exercise humble, servant leadership. Hermeneutics matter; rather […]
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 […]
On Gender and the Bible: Does God Allow Women Preachers in 1 Timothy 2? (Part 4)
Does God Allow Women Preachers in 1 Timothy 2 – Context & Teaching Drawing from 1 Timothy 2:11–15, the article argues that Paul grounds instructions in creation order and aims […]
We Can Now Go Post-Christian
Post-Christian Cultural Shift From 60s counterculture to intersectional activism, power is reassigned and “The Man” gets blown down. Ethics remain while faith and authority are displaced, forming a new orthodoxy […]
On Gender and the Bible: Why Do Women Stay Silent in 1 Corinthians 14? (Part 3)
Why Do Women Stay Silent in 1 Corinthians 14 — Context, Order, and Headship Drawing from 1 Corinthians 11–14, the article shows Paul correcting disorder in worship—telling tongue speakers, prophets, […]
On Gender and the Bible: What’s Up with Head Coverings in 1 Corinthians 11? (Part 2)
Gender and the Bible — Head Coverings in 1 Corinthians 11 Drawing on Roman-era evidence, the article explains why head coverings signified reverence during praying and prophesying—not sexual propriety. It […]
On Gender and the Bible: What John Mark Hicks and Scot McKnight Get Right and Wrong (Part 1)
John Mark Hicks and Scot McKnight — Methods and Message Part 1 contrasts blueprint and trajectory readings, arguing New Testament commands embody theology and still guide the church. The article […]
Intersectionality, Christianity, & Why Reconciliation > Reversal
Reconciliation in a Divided Age Jesus reframes suffering by confronting it with compassion, turning “just the way things are” into restored life and calling disciples to serve the least of […]
A Four-Word Solution to Reach a Divided Nation
Divided Nation in Missionary Engagement Adopting a missionary posture reframes culture wars by affirming the good, naming the broken, and pointing to Jesus over partisanship. Centering on King Jesus moves […]
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 […]
Confronting Racism in the Church: Part 2 of a Conversation with Anthony Walker
Racism in the Church and Gospel Reconciliation Stories of pain expose ongoing mistreatment; churches must name racism as sin, repent, and match apologies with action. Ephesians 2 centers unity at […]
Racism Cuts Deep: Part 1 of a Conversation with Anthony Walker
Racism Cuts Deep Part 1 in Personal and Faith Realities Racism continues to shape painful realities in families, churches, and communities. In this discussion, Anthony Walker emphasizes that racism is […]
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. […]
Q: Fearless or Fearful? Jesus’ Answer Is Confusing.
Fearless or Fearful and the Challenge of Trust Fearless or Fearful highlights how Jesus contrasts fear of people with fear of God, urging disciples to remain faithful under pressure. The […]
Can Churches Have Friendly Dialogue with the LGBTQ Community?
LGBTQ Community Bridge-Building Insights Lead with humility and honesty. Admitting weakness lowers defenses and opens space for friendship, evangelism, and discipleship. Serve together on shared causes. Working side-by-side for the […]
Do Prayers Work in a Pandemic?
Do Prayers Work in a Pandemic: Faith Over Outcomes When God seems silent, prayer rests in who He is—present, wise, and sovereign—more than in immediate results. Rather than demanding answers, […]
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 […]
4 Takeaways from LGBTQ Documentary
4 Takeaways from LGBTQ Documentary on Faith and Dialogue 4 Takeaways from LGBTQ Documentary reveal that churches must foster transparency, offering both truth and grace so believers struggling with same-sex […]
Confronting Coronavirus with a Dozen Contradictory Emotions
Confronting Coronavirus and the Struggles of Faith Confronting Coronavirus reveals how believers experience fear, grief, and gratitude all at once while facing the pandemic. The article shows how Scripture, from […]
Can Your Church Thrive in Exile? A Conversation with Randy Gariss
Can Your Church Thrive in Exile with Hope and Renewal Exile shapes the church’s strength. Randy Gariss explains that moving from the cultural center to the margins gives believers clarity […]
God, Chaos, and the Nashville Tornado
Nashville Tornado and God’s Greater Purpose Survivors of the Nashville Tornado remind us that chaos is part of life, but Jesus transforms suffering into opportunities for His glory. The devastation […]
Are You Creating Consumers or Disciples? Interview with Kelvin Teamer
Are You Creating Consumers or Disciples: Church Reboot Interview with Kelvin Teamer contrasts consumer Christianity with true discipleship and urges prayer-and-fasting as the spark for Holy Spirit revival. Indicators of […]
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 […]
The Iowa Caucus Delay: A Portrait of Theological Progressivism
Theological Progressivism and Its Impact on Clarity Theological Progressivism reflects vague answers to life’s biggest questions, offering optimism without grounding in reality. Candidates’ false optimism parallels theological progressivism, where ungrounded […]
Gen Z and Mental Health – Interview with Gary Zustiak
Interview with Gary Zustiak on Gen Z Challenges Interview with Gary Zustiak highlights rising anxiety and depression among Gen Z and the cultural forces shaping their struggles. Interview with Gary […]
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 […]
Ministry, Family, and Sustainability – Interview with Anthony Walker
Interview with Anthony Walker: Ministry Leadership Lessons Interview with Anthony Walker explores how ministers can cultivate balance between church and family without sacrificing either. This conversation offers insights into sustainability, […]
Spoiler Alerts for Your New Decade
New Decade Lessons for Godly Living Learn how a New Decade can bring either joy or heartbreak depending on your daily choices and spiritual direction. Biblical principles in the New […]
What’s a Biblical Disciple to Do with Trump?
Biblical Disciple Perspective on Politics Today Biblical disciples resist political idolatry, keeping their devotion centered on Christ rather than elevating human leaders. Following Jesus means praying for all in authority, […]
A Bible-Believing Person of Science? – Interview with Richard Knopp
Interview with Richard Knopp: Exploring the Role of Reason in Faith Apologetics offers a thoughtful framework for explaining belief, combining logic and humility, as discussed by Dr. Knopp. The relationship […]
Leading in Confusing Times – Interview with Matt Proctor
Interview with Matt Proctor: Leadership, Convictions, and Calling Interview with Matt Proctor highlights how he leads Ozark Christian College with conviction, prayer, and a deep reliance on God’s sovereignty—especially in […]
Overcoming Staleness in Bible Reading
Overcoming Staleness in Bible Reading: Reignite Your Passion Overcoming staleness begins by recognizing seasons of inconsistency and spiritual dryness, while choosing to reengage God’s Word with intention. Consistency and obedience […]
Church and Culture: An Interview with Christian Ray Flores
An Interview with Christian Ray Flores: Faithful Responses in a Shifting Culture Christian Ray Flores speaks to the Church’s cultural calling. This interview explores how the Church can influence society […]
The Joker’s Smile
The Joker’s Smile: Disturbing Delight or Spiritual Danger? The Joker’s Smile isn’t frightening because of makeup, but because it celebrates cruelty without guilt, reflecting evil embraced without remorse. Sin seduces […]
A Princess Bride Remake and Why Church Can Be Boring
A Princess Bride Remake: Rediscovering the Sacred in Worship A Princess Bride remake stirs cultural outrage. Fans and actors unite against the idea, viewing it as a threat to something […]
3 Dilemmas, 2 Discoveries, and 1 Desire: My Thoughts on Matthew Bates’s Gospel Allegiance
3 Dilemmas, 2 Discoveries, and 1 Desire: A Gospel Wake-Up Call Evangelism often lacks depth, leading to conversions without lasting discipleship or allegiance to King Jesus. Misunderstandings about the gospel […]
Bridging the Gap with the Gay Community: Interview with Guy Hammond
Interview with Guy Hammond: Faithful Insights on LGBTQ Ministry What does a faithful response to the LGBTQ community look like? Guy Hammond shares how Christians can engage with compassion, truth, […]
Shane Wood on Being a Scholar and a Christian
Shane Wood on Being a Scholar and a Christian – Key Insights from His Journey Holding Faith and Scholarship in TensionShane Wood discusses the challenge of balancing his academic pursuits […]
Is God Petty?
Is God Petty – Wrestling with Divine Justice Divine punishment seems excessive. The article recounts the story of Elijah and the youths, asking whether God’s response appears disproportionate. Tension emerges […]
Songwriter Marty Sampson and the Unsustainability of Feelings-Based Faith
Songwriter Marty Sampson – 3 Key Insights on Worship, Faith, and Deconstruction Charisma doesn’t equal foundation. Songwriter Marty Sampson’s disillusionment shows that emotionally stirring worship songs don’t always build enduring […]
Shane Wood on Why He Loves Revelation
Shane Wood on Why He Loves Revelation – Insights That Awaken the Modern Church Revelation was written for transformation. Shane explains how this apocalyptic book reshapes readers by revealing a […]
Can Your Church Love Its Community Well? Here’s How This One Did.
Can Your Church Love Its Community Well? Learn from This Example What happens when church becomes a verb? Crossroads Christian Church in Macon, MO, canceled its Sunday service to serve […]
Humans 2.0 – A Serious Conversation About Science and Humanity
Humans 2.0 A Serious Conversation About Science and Humanity – 3 Key Highlights Can Christians embrace transhumanism without compromise? Dr. Fuz Rana shares insights on balancing faith with breakthroughs like […]
Could the Disciples Have Been Hallucinating When They Saw the Risen Jesus?
Could the Disciples Have Been Hallucinating When They Saw the Risen Jesus? Examining the Flaws in the Hallucination Hypothesis Eyewitness accounts challenge the hallucination theory. Disciples described physical interactions with […]
Mark Moore on Life, Legacy, and Core 52
Core 52 By Mark Moore — Lessons on Legacy, Joy, and Discipleship Core 52 By Mark Moore connects biblical knowledge to daily life. The conversation highlights how Scripture can shape […]
Advice for Scholars Who Are Trying to Remain Faithful to Christ
Advice for Scholars Who Are Trying to Remain Faithful to Christ: A Timely 3-Point Reflection Many Christian scholars lose their way not through heresy but through pride, subtly drifting from […]
3 Lessons I Learned from Norman Geisler
3 Lessons I Learned from Norman Geisler Every Christian Apologist Should Know Aim higher with confidence in your calling. Despite early setbacks, Norman Geisler’s relentless pursuit of excellence led to […]
What a Lousy Dad Still Got Right (And We Can Too!)
What a Lousy Dad Still Got Right Even flawed fathers can finish strong. David’s story shows that despite major failures, dads can leave a legacy that matters. It’s never too […]
4 Righteous Responses to Evil (and Which Ones Are in Our Job Description)
4 Righteous Responses to Evil That Honor God Hate evil without harming others. Scripture urges us to abhor evil while remaining rooted in love and humility. Grieve sin but skip […]
How Do I Know My Love Isn’t Just an Act?
How to Know My Love Is Not Just an Act: 3 Biblical Truths My Love Isn’t Just an Act—but how do I make sure? Romans 12:9 reveals that true love […]
Jesus Never Lost at Rock, Paper, Scissor
Jesus Never Lost: What Rock, Paper, Scissors Reveals About His Priorities Discover how Jesus ranked justice, mercy, and faithfulness over ritual. See why “Jesus Never Lost” applies to His moral […]
It’s Not Looking Good, But It’s Not over Yet
It is Not over Yet: How Jesus’ Story of Victory Was Always Part of the Plan It’s Not over Yet—even when hope fades. Just like the final scenes of a […]
On Heaven
What Makes Heaven Worth Looking Forward To? What is Heaven truly like? Kenny Boles explains that Heaven isn’t an endless choir session but a purposeful place where our God-given design […]