“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Colossians 4:6 There ought to be something different about the way Christians talk. And that doesn’t just mean not using foul language or telling crude[...]
Preaching through the Sermon on the Mount has profoundly affected my thinking about ministry. During this series—The Jesus Agenda—God started working in me with the question, “How do we measure healthy ministry?” In other words, how can you tell a healthy church from an unhealthy one? Even though Jesus doesn’t[...]
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” John 8:31 There’s a popular teaching that says a person becomes a Christian then grows into being a disciple. But biblically speaking, a Christian is a disciple of Christ. Remember, Jesus used the term disciple but[...]
Christian parents face more opposition than ever before. We live in a culture that promotes paganism and protects perversion. Plus, there’s a rising threat from within Christianity itself, as many churches twist Scripture to make it more culturally acceptable. Without a doubt, Christian parents are on the front lines of[...]
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 Most Americans say they believe in Heaven; they just have their own ideas about who goes there. Even many professing Christians think that nonbelievers can go to Heaven. Think[...]
A recent headline from Fox News suggests the unraveling of Christianity. It reads, “Marriage collapse, absent fathers ‘unraveling’ Christianity in growing US crisis.” The subtitle says, “Churchgoers in their 30s who never married ranked the loneliest group in new survey.” There’s a lot to unpack in this headline but my first[...]
One phrase sums up the 21st century American mindset—the pursuit of pleasure. It’s easy to see how the lost world is eventually imprisoned by the pleasures they pursue. We live in an addiction culture. Ironically, much of the addiction is fueled by a desire to escape the realities of culture[...]
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:18–19 Jesus commands believers to go and make disciples in His name.[...]
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 Jesus made His mission on Earth very clear, “to save that which was lost.” Yes, He healed the sick and fed the multitude, but every word and miracle built a platform[...]