How to Live a Life of Daily Peace
Posted: April 6, 2021
REAL LIFE WITH GUY HAMMOND Four Strategies to Living a LIFE of Daily PEACE Strategy #1 Spend time with people who will complete you, not those who will deplete you. Take just 10 mins… Read More
“The One Thing”
Posted: April 5, 2021
At the end of your life, if you could pick one thing that you would like to have accomplished, what would that one thing be? Generally people do not answer… Read More
Gay and Christian? by Guy Hammond
Posted: March 23, 2021
Treating Every Person with Dignity, Kindness and Respect, While Standing for Biblical Truth Can a Person be Gay and a Christian at the Same Time? One of the greatest problems facing… Read More
This Day in History: St. Patrick Dies
Posted: March 17, 2021
On March 17, 461 A.D., Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, dies at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. Today he is honored with the annual holiday of St. Patrick’s Day. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saint-patrick-dies
Gray deserves Presidential Medal of Freedom
Posted: March 16, 2021
It’s time to bestow America’s highest civilian honor on the renowned civil rights attorney and preacher. Trindi G. Mitchell Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and John Lewis are three… Read More
BibleBrew with Daniel Berk
Posted: March 8, 2021
BibleBrew https://www.biblebrewpodcast.com/ Available on Spotify (Coming soon to Apple Podcast as well….) Instagram: @biblebrew BibleBrew is a space for respectful dialogue as we journey through 21st century popular topics such… Read More
Truth or Power? by Greg Koukl
Posted: March 1, 2021
Hugh Hewitt begins In, But Not Of—his wonderful handbook for cultivating one’s professional life as a force for Christ—with these words: The effective and mass communication of the gospel depends upon… Read More
Is Humility Just for the Minority?
Posted: March 1, 2021
Written by Clint Mosley, February 27, 2021 As we close out Black History month, I will call our attention to a pair of individuals who embodied an exemplary posture of… Read More
5 reasons Christians should get the COVID-19 vaccine
Posted: February 19, 2021
Dr. Francis Collins, NIH Director and founder of BioLogos, receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccinee. Should you get the COVID vaccine? Many Christians are saying “no” or “not yet.” Here are… Read More
N.T. Character Podcast 67 – James (the brother of Jesus)
Posted: February 16, 2021
James: background There are many Jameses in the Bible. This translates the original name Jacob. This James is the younger brother of Jesus (the 2nd of Mary’s 5 sons). Ya’akov was… Read More
The Magic Wand and the Touch, by Dave Malutinok
Posted: February 10, 2021
This world has so many problems. We try to solve them through political means and through our freedoms to protest—and even aggressively comment about our leaders. When we think about… Read More
The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters
Posted: February 1, 2021
Review: ‘Irreversible Damage’ by Abigail Shrier JANUARY 29, 2021 | SHARON JAMES “Dancing mania” hit the city of Strasbourg in 1518, and some people danced until they died of exhaustion. Numerous children… Read More
Before You Tweet Criticism: Six Considerations | Desiring God
Posted: January 30, 2021
Social media has become an inferno of insults and anger. And sometimes even professing Christians add to the rage without thinking about the foolishness of spewing verbal abuses. We need… Read More
What the Bible Says About QAnon – Christianity Today
Posted: January 29, 2021
Plandemic? QAnon? Bill Gates creating COVID-19? As the novel coronavirus has traveled around the world, so too have conspiracy theories about the origins of the disease and the winners and… Read More
Polyamory and the Overton Window, by Denny Burk
Posted: January 29, 2021
If you had asked me ten years ago whether evangelicals would ever give up ground on the issue of homosexuality, I would have said “no way!” Sure, the evangelical movement… Read More
Jesus-style Disciple Making and True Discipleship
Posted: January 27, 2021
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, This post is part of series by Discipleship.org leadership, which gives reasons why we believe that Jesus-style disciple making is the best path forward for… Read More
Revisiting the Term “Missionary” – Nadine Templer
Posted: January 18, 2021
Revisiting the Term “Missionary” Written by Nadine Templer, January 16, 2021 Many of us (myself included) have been known as “missionaries.” I currently live in Nepal, and I spent most… Read More
BBC News: Why our pursuit of happiness may be flawed
Posted: January 13, 2021
I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it: Why our pursuit of happiness may be flawed It is an emotion linked to improved health… Read More
Kit Cummings Book Launch!
Posted: January 12, 2021
a beacon of hope for bringing peace to the streets Watch Kit here talk about his new book: https://vimeo.com/499400056 Hear how we can shatter the pipeline from schools to prisons… Read More
More Than Leaves: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”
Posted: January 11, 2021
More Than Leaves: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” Written by Dr. Tim Willis, January 9, 2021 Isaiah 5 opens with a song that captures the Lord’s disappointment with Israel…. Read More
How Churches of Christ responded when the 1918 ‘Spanish flu’ killed millions
Posted: January 6, 2021
Many congregations canceled services, and some Christians focused on feeding and nursing the poor. John Mark Hicks NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville saw its first case of the “Spanish flu” in late… Read More
Faith and COVID-19: The Christian Chronicle
Posted: January 6, 2021
The Christian Chronicle’s top stories on the coronavirus pandemic. Bobby Ross Jr. Editor-in-Chief Look to The Christian Chronicle for in-depth coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. From Christians battling the virus to churches… Read More
Resources to help you plan the year God is giving you
Posted: January 6, 2021
Click here for the podcast version “Happy New Year!” I hope you had a cracking Christmas, but also a wonderful New Year. It’s two days into 2021, the sun is… Read More
Let There be Peace on Earth!, by John Teal
Posted: December 19, 2020
Let There be Peace on Earth! And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,… Read More
A Narrow Escape, by Malcolm Cox
Posted: December 18, 2020
“A narrow escape” It was Wednesday morning. I was part-way through my prayer walk in the woods. I heard a noise above me in the canopy. A small branch fell… Read More
How to turn a blue Christmas red!
Posted: December 9, 2020
A you celebrating a Blue Christmas? Are you celebrating a Blue Christmas? Childhood memories linger from years past: eager anticipation, a shiny new red bicycle, new clothes, or that unexpected… Read More
A Unity Essay by Douglas A. Foster
Posted: December 6, 2020
Point Park, part of the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, sits atop Lookout Mountain overlooking Chattanooga, TN. In the years after its 1895 dedication, numerous markers and monuments were erected to… Read More
My Child Just Came Out, What Do I Do?
Posted: November 21, 2020
New Perspectives From Strength in Weakness Ministries Volume 24 | November 13, 2020 A SIW Member’s Bi-Weekly Update Video Series for Parents Watch Part 4 of this AMAZING Video Series… Read More
Who Will Have Your Attention? Clinging to Christ in the Digital Age | Desiring God
Posted: November 21, 2020
Who Will Have Your Attention? Clinging to Christ in the Digital Age Scripture: Proverbs 27:20, Mark 9:7, Colossians 3:1–3, and Hebrews 2:1 As you know, our world offers us a feast of new multimedia… Read More
“From Me to We” – Nadine Templer
Posted: November 21, 2020
“From Me to We” – Nadine Templer A couple of months ago our family moved from the suburbs of Washington DC to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal – places with… Read More
Here’s why believers NEED false teaching
Posted: November 18, 2020
Christians have been caught off guard. The current revolution sweeping society today was largely unexpected by most believers. That’s understandable in one sense. Who knows what new philosophy will capture… Read More
Solitude Shapes Community and Mission, Brandon Bradley
Posted: November 11, 2020
Can We Begin With Solitude? I am honored that John Teal, one of my former students at CCCB, asked me to contribute to the Common Grounds discussion. He asked me… Read More
Alister McGrath | Doorway to Wonder
Posted: November 5, 2020
BioLogos Alister McGrath | Doorway to Wonder Alister McGrath joins Jim Stump to talk about his book Born to Wonder. 10/29/20 Read More >
Parents, we must not fail here. – Sam Laing
Posted: November 5, 2020
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 One of the most vital things we can do for our children is to teach… Read More
Standing at the Crossroads
Posted: October 31, 2020
Standing at the Crossroads One Sunday in the 1980s, serving as a campus minister, I found myself standing at the crossroads in front of our church building. I was debating… Read More
Teleios: A Journal of Holistic Christian Spirituality
Posted: October 29, 2020
Teleios is the journal of the Teleios Society. The Teleios Society exists to promote holistic Christian spirituality in the lives of disciples of Jesus. The editors believe the Christian community… Read More
Explore biology from a Christian worldview
Posted: October 29, 2020
BioLogos After years of listening, dreaming, planning, creating, and refining, we are thrilled to announce the launch of a new science/faith curriculum from BioLogos! INTEGRATE is a flexible teacher’s resource for… Read More
The Unity of the Spirit and “Lines of Fellowship”
Posted: October 26, 2020
Unity of the Spirit and “Lines of Fellowship” – Matt Dabbs Paul was much more ecumenical than I was growing up. The more I read Paul the more divisive… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage V—Paul, Church Fathers, Conclusion
Posted: October 14, 2020
The apostle Paul 1 Cor 7:10-12, 15 “Not I, but the Lord” and “I, not the Lord.” Paul reveals the Lord’s will on an issue common in the Greco-Roman world:… Read More
The Scourge of Suicide – Part 3, by Tim Sumerlin
Posted: October 8, 2020
The Scourge of Suicide – Part Three Resources His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage IV, the Teaching of Jesus, Pt. 2
Posted: October 7, 2020
Introduction As we have learned, in Matt 19 / Mark 10 Jesus is weighing in on the Shammai-Hillel debate. He rejects the any-cause divorce of Hillel. Familiarity with this debate… Read More
Inter-Generational Unity – Nadine Templer
Posted: October 3, 2020
Inter-Generational Unity – Nadine Templer As we strive for unity, one aspect that is often overlooked is the unity between generations, between young and “older” folks, the old guard… Read More
The Scourge of Suicide, Part 2, by Tim Sumerlin
Posted: October 3, 2020
The Scourge of Suicide – Part Two ACT! The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. ~ Galatians 5:6 Suicides have nearly doubled in the United States… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage III: The Teaching of Jesus, Part 1
Posted: September 30, 2020
Mark 10:2-3, 10-12 Jesus is quizzed. Where does he stand on the divorce issue? Mark indicates absolutely no exceptions! Don’t read through filter of other passages (like 1 Cor or… Read More
Ditch the Shame: You Aren’t Alone!
Posted: September 24, 2020
It’s easy to feel alone in your struggles with porn. We’re here to tell you that you aren’t the only one. Issue 123 • September 2020 Redeeming the Pain: Marnie’s… Read More
The Scourge of Suicide, Part 1, by Tim Sumerlin
Posted: September 23, 2020
Dr. Timothy Sumerlin – Denver, CO, USA • Sep 23, 2020 Suicides have nearly doubled in the United States among young people in recent years. Other age groups are not immune to… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage II: The Old Testament
Posted: September 23, 2020
Podcast notes: Exod 21:10-11: If a married man takes a second (slave) wife, then the food, clothing, and sexual love—material support plus emotional support—received by the first wife must not… Read More
200+ articles (multiple topics—apologetics, Dead Sea Scrolls, prophets, doctrine …)
Posted: September 23, 2020
The following two hundred plus articles are searchable nowhere else at this website, as they are found only in newsletter pdf files. USE SEARCH OR SCROLL DOWN TO THE ITEM… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage I: The Permanence of Marriage
Posted: September 16, 2020
Background information Harsh treatment of women, children, and the vulnerable in OT times: infanticide, abortion, disrespect of women. Divorce was easy and favored the man. Worse, abandoned women could be… Read More
Sharing Solitude in Community – Brandon Bradley
Posted: September 12, 2020
Sharing Solitude in Community – Brandon Bradley In my last article, we explored Henri Nouwen’s idea of a wagon wheel as a simple model of the balance of solitude and… Read More
The Biggest “But,” by Rob Kranz
Posted: September 6, 2020
The Biggest “But” by Rob Kranz In my last post, we looked at one of the two big “Buts” in the New Testament regarding women’s roles. 1 Corinthians 14 can seem problematic… Read More
NEW Videos for Marrieds & Parents Plus Our Latest PODCAST Episodes
Posted: September 4, 2020
A Strength in Weakness Member’s BI-Weekly Update New Perspectives From Strength in Weakness Ministries Volume 19 | September 4, 2020 A SIW Member’s Bi-Weekly Update Real Life Up Close Let’s… Read More
A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times
Posted: August 28, 2020
– THE STATEMENT – A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times SPANISH TRANSLATION | FRENCH TRANSLATION We, the undersigned, join together as Christians who uphold the authority of God’s Word… Read More
De Hechos a la Fe (From Facts to Faith)
Posted: August 27, 2020
This teen evidences curriculum was produced by Douglas Jacoby and Page Pennell. Click here for both Spanish & English versions in PDF, as well as an English version in Word.
We Mourn the Passing of Tom Olbricht
Posted: August 21, 2020
We Mourn the Passing of Tom Olbricht Tom Olbricht, the extraordinarily gifted founder of the Christian Scholars’ Conference, who shaped generations of scholars, ministers and church leaders for more than… Read More
After the pandemic, will people return to church?
Posted: August 18, 2020
After the pandemic, will people return to church? Some ministers fear the attendance decline will outlive the COVID-19 outbreak. Bobby Ross Jr. Editor-in-Chief Anote on the Facebook page of… Read More
Patriarchy: God’s Plan?
Posted: August 18, 2020
Patriarchy: God’s Plan? by Rob Kranz In a recent post, I explored the events of Genesis 2 and 3. As I explained in that post, a careful examination of the text’s language… Read More
Free Webinar for Parents from Covenant Eyes
Posted: August 7, 2020
Statistics show us that kids are being exposed to pornography early, and this is having detrimental effects. This webinar will feature experts from Covenant Eyes who will share valuable statistics, research, and… Read More
Jesus’ revolutionary teaching on marriage
Posted: August 5, 2020
Many biblical scholars have noted that Jesus’ teaching radically challenged Jewish marriage and divorce customs. This article details several ways in which the status quo is overturned. For reference, here… Read More
Street Tactics – Part 3 – str.org
Posted: July 23, 2020
On September 11, 2001—a day Time magazine called the bloodiest day on American soil since the Civil War—two jumbo jets slammed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City,… Read More
Civil Rights Attorney Fred Gray Remembers Congressman John Lewis
Posted: July 23, 2020
Attorney Fred Gray Remembers Congressman John Lewis Like many others, I’ve been deeply moved by the passing of Congressman John Lewis. Moved, but at a loss for words. I’ve… Read More
How I Disciple People into a Worldview on Race – by George Yancey
Posted: July 22, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, We are publishing a series in which disciple makers offer reflections on how to disciple people on racial issues. Last week it was Ben Barnett and this… Read More
How I Disciple People into a Worldview on Race—by Ben Barnett
Posted: July 21, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, We are asking a few disciple making leaders to describe how they disciple people on race. Ben Barnett is a lead pastor of Bridge Pointe Church in… Read More
It’s Here! Your Guide to a More Peaceful World
Posted: July 18, 2020
It’s Not Where you Travel, But How Just Published, Now Available! Crossing Boundaries: A Traveler’s Guide to World Peace Buy Now! Join me in forming a community of travelers that… Read More
Extremely Low Percentage of Americans Hold Biblical Worldview: An Interview with George Barna
Posted: July 15, 2020
The first national survey of the worldview of Americans conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (@crcacu) shows that although seven out of ten consider themselves to be Christian,… Read More
A Long Review of Yancey’s Beyond Racial Gridlock – Part 1
Posted: July 13, 2020
Part 1 – Synopsis Part 2 – Pros Part 3 – Defining and Repurposing Terms Part 4 – Conclusion Dr. George Yancey’s “Beyond Racial Gridlock” is one of the best,… Read More
Précis of Instone-Brewer’s books on divorce and remarriage
Posted: July 8, 2020
David Instone-Brewer, a British scholar who specializes in Rabbinic Judaism, writes the most biblically on-track books on the subject of marriage-divorce-remarriage. For the précis, CLICK HERE. Note: you can also… Read More
Q&A 1573— What about global warming? (Creation Care IV, with John Clayton)
Posted: July 3, 2020
Used with the permission of John Clayton, of Does God Exist?, who wrote this article Because we live in a time when virtually all of our information comes from news sources… Read More
Christians react to minister’s claim of ‘crocodile tears and phony outrage’ over George Floyd’s death
Posted: June 30, 2020
A sermon on abortion and race, preached at a Church of Christ in Oklahoma, sparks outrage. Bobby Ross Jr. Editor-in-Chief OKLAHOMA CITY — When I first heard about the sermon preached… Read More
Why We’re Not Under the Mosaic Law – str.org
Posted: June 26, 2020
By Amy Krall, for Stands to Reason In a post where I touched on the change from Saturday to Sunday as the day of worship, I was challenged in the comments to… Read More
Protests and prayers, The Christian Chronicle
Posted: June 24, 2020
NATIONAL Protests and prayers Christians respond to George Floyd’s death with outrage, rallies and calls for justice. Find more coverage and interviews related to the death of George… Read More
The Fundamental Foundation of Good Fatherhood, by Sam Laing
Posted: June 20, 2020
During the month of June, in connection to Father’s Day, I am thankful and eager to be able to share with you the things that God, by his love, grace… Read More
A Brief Video Message to Dads
Posted: June 20, 2020
A Message to Dads 3 mins Join Us for Our Next Family Support Group Sunday, June 28 |7 PM EST Click Here to Join Sunday, June 28 | 7 PM… Read More
Twelve Resources for this Cultural Moment
Posted: June 19, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, The United States is in the midst of big change. First, it was COVID-19 and all the changes around which everyone had to adopt. Then, it was… Read More
5 Ways Christians are Getting Swept into a Secular Worldview in This Cultural Moment
Posted: June 19, 2020
So much has been said and is being said about the tragic death of George Floyd that it almost feels excessive to add to the conversation. But to continue on… Read More
“Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]”
Posted: June 17, 2020
16 April 1963 My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities “unwise and untimely.” Seldom do… Read More
“Snide and Prejudice”, The Economist
Posted: June 16, 2020
“Snide and Prejudice”: Language is a telling clue to unacknowledged racial attitudes Source: The Economist, 13 June 2020, p.68
Dead Sea Scrolls Genetically Fingerprinted
Posted: June 16, 2020
June 15, 2020 Dead Sea Scrolls Genetically Fingerprinted Animal skin DNA reveals some scrolls came from beyond the Qumran caves A highly technical study released on June 11, 2020 in… Read More
Jesus’ Words for the Grieving
Posted: June 12, 2020
Jesus’ Words for the Grieving As a society we are contending with not only a pandemic and record job losses, but also with the racist violence that has plagued our… Read More
Beware the trap of binary thinking, by Jeff Chacon
Posted: June 12, 2020
There’s a long overdue nationwide awakening to social injustices for a large segment of our country and it affects many of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s Word… Read More
Three Transformational Conversations About Race, Christian Ray Flores
Posted: June 5, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and we have been thrust into a new storm. The wave of voices calling for change after the senseless killing of George… Read More
Is there a message in the (tragic) mayhem?, by Malcolm Cox
Posted: June 5, 2020
Is there a message in the – tragic – mayhem? Access the podcast version of the newsletter by clicking here I have two things in my mind this week…. Read More
Teaching Our Children About Sexual Ethics
Posted: June 1, 2020
Teaching Our Children about Sexual Ethics and the Bible: A Live Interview With Steve & Deb Bowen for Parents and Grandparents Steve and Deb Bowen oversee the Family Ministry for… Read More
Where is God in a Pandemic? A Conversation between Tim Keller and Francis Collins
Posted: May 20, 2020
Leading evangelical thinker Tim Keller joins Francis Collins, who heads our country’s biomedical research, in a conversation that includes updates on the latest COVID-19 research, a discussion on the value… Read More
“Origins” highlighted in Publisher’s Weekly
Posted: May 19, 2020
One of my latest books was included in a Publisher’s Weekly ad. Publisher’s Weekly is the most prestigious name in the industry. “Origins” is 2nd from right, 3rd row. MJ… Read More
What does it mean to “follow” Jesus?
Posted: May 19, 2020
What does it mean to “follow” Jesus? We hear the language “follower of Jesus” all the time, but what does it mean to be a disciple, or apprentice, of the… Read More
Home Alone: Surviving the Pandemic for Married Couples – Renew
Posted: May 15, 2020
Home Alone: Surviving the Pandemic for Married Couples
Creation Care IV, Global Warming, with John Clayton
Posted: May 13, 2020
Used with the permission of John Clayton, of Does God Exist?, who wrote this article Because we live in a time when virtually all of our information comes from news sources… Read More
Africa’s other plague | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: May 13, 2020
Africa’s other plague An army of locusts has invaded in the midst of COVID-19. Churches of Christ and relief ministries prepare for the region’s next pandemic — hunger. ‘They cover… Read More
Helping a Friend with Anxiety or Depression, Part 3
Posted: May 12, 2020
Helping a Friend with… Anxiety or Depression Part 3 This is the final blog on listening. We’ve covered ways to help your friend (or yourself) when you struggle with anxiety… Read More
The Twisted Scriptures?
Posted: May 11, 2020
The Twisted Scriptures? Sometimes my intent is well-meaning, and yet, my conclusions, actions, and/or attitudes are misguided. Someone said, “any logical deduction taken to its extreme becomes absurd.” For years,… Read More
A Letter from Catherine Keller – The Pandemic: What is God Doing?
Posted: May 9, 2020
Drew Theological School Apr 2 · 9 min read Dear Ones, Particularly, in this letter, ones who claim some seriously biblical, or explicitly theological, orientation. Amidst this pandemic, ones who may be wondering……. Read More
Helping a Friend with Anxiety or Depression Part 2
Posted: May 5, 2020
Helping a Friend with… Anxiety or Depression Part 2 Last week I shared three ways to help your friend (or yourself) when you struggle with anxiety or depression. They were:… Read More
Why Do Pastors Keep Getting Rehired After Abuse?
Posted: May 1, 2020
NEWS Why Do Pastors Keep Getting Rehired After Abuse? Victims’ advocates caution institutions against plans to “restore” fallen leaders. Kate Shellnutt Another case of a leader with an abusive… Read More
SIW: Don’t Miss What’s Coming Up, Video Series & Support Groups!
Posted: May 1, 2020
A Strength in Weakness Member’s Weekly Update New Perspectives From Strength in Weakness Ministries Volume 7; April 30, 2020 A SIW Member’s Weekly Update Coming Up: How to Break… Read More
Helping a Friend with Anxiety or Depression
Posted: April 28, 2020
Helping a Friend with… Anxiety or Depression During this difficult time, we all know someone (or we struggle with ourselves) with anxiety or depression (or both). Eighty percent of all… Read More
How to Access the Abundance
Posted: April 17, 2020
How to access the abundance Access the podcast version of the newsletter by clicking here Abundance or scarcity? What is your outlook right now? I’ve been reading Dallas Willard’s book,… Read More
Voices only: Virtual choirs are a hit | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: April 14, 2020
Voices only: Virtual choirs are a hit
Are We Making Disciples or Church Members? A FREE Resource
Posted: April 14, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, I hope the subject line got your attention because it is a vitally important question for the North American Church. Most of us have been trained to… Read More
Trust, Die, Rise—by Malcolm Cox
Posted: April 10, 2020
“if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5 NIV11) Trust, Die,… Read More
How Not to ‘Sink’, by Malcolm Cox
Posted: April 4, 2020
How not to ‘sink’ Access the podcast version of the newsletter by clicking here Thank you so much to everyone who gave me feedback on the topic of loneliness, especially… Read More
DISCIPLESHIP Bloom Where You’re Quarantined
Posted: April 3, 2020
DISCIPLESHIP Some of us were lonely well before the pandemic. How do we find God’s comfort now? Clarissa Moll This past Sunday, I took my children for a walk in… Read More
Playing God: Pandemic Brings Moral Dilemmas to US Hospitals
Posted: April 3, 2020
Two Christian bioethicists on life or death issues that American doctors may soon face. INTERVIEW BY KARA BETTIS March 31, 2020 Medical professionals across the US are preparing COVID-19 units… Read More
Compassion or Judgment?
Posted: April 1, 2020
Compassion or Judgment? Choose Today! You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. – John 8:15 Compassion or Judgment? Facing loss is never easy and suicide in particular, is… Read More
“Washing with the Word,” with Malcolm Cox
Posted: March 23, 2020
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you….Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV11) Mar 23, 10:21 AM Access the… Read More
How Churches of Christ responded when the 1918 ‘Spanish flu’ killed millions
Posted: March 22, 2020
Many congregations canceled services, and some Christians focused on feeding and nursing the poor. By John Mark Hicks NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville saw its first case of the “Spanish flu” in… Read More
BBC News: Coronavirus: Creativity, kindness and canals offer hope amid outbreak
Posted: March 21, 2020
I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it: From environmental improvements to acts of kindness, there are glimmers of light amid the crisis. Continue… Read More
Viral Christianity, by Rob Krantz
Posted: March 16, 2020
Viral Christianity by Rob Kranz The beauty of a blog is that you are in full control of what you write about. Most of the time, I write about things I… Read More
“Untangling Addiction,” by Marcus De Carvalho
Posted: March 12, 2020
Dr. Marcus De Carvalho is a world renown specialist in addictions and a great friend to SIW. In this e-book he introduces hope and the ability to overcome the “hijacking”… Read More
Down Syndrome and the Image of God
Posted: March 9, 2020
By Samuel L. Caraballo A biology teacher sees things with a new perspective when his own child is born with trisomy 21, and reflects on her life and what it… Read More
“Crucial Conversations in Texas” – Malcolm Cox
Posted: March 9, 2020
Click here for the newsletter podcast version – with extra ‘bits’ The value of conversation As you may know I’ve been in Texas for a few days at the… Read More
The Movie FINDING GUY Free on You Tube
Posted: March 5, 2020
Five Years in the Making & Nominated for Best Documentary & Best Director at the 2018 International Christian Film Festival in Miami Learn More
“The Importance of Joy”
Posted: March 3, 2020
I find it very significant that on the last night of His life Jesus talked a lot about joy. Not exactly the topic you would expect from somebody about to… Read More
Are You Creating Disciples or Consumers? Interview with Kelvin Teamer
Posted: March 2, 2020
What does revival look like in the 21st century? Are You Creating Disciples or Consumers? An Interview with Kelvin Teamer Church leaders often want to preach what feels good, and church people… Read More
The tragedy of the even dumber church
Posted: February 29, 2020
Christian theologian Dr. William Lane Craig during debate at Purdue University, Feb. 1, 2013. | (Photo: Nicole Byrd) It’s true – time really does fly. Eight years ago, I wrote an article… Read More
Mental Health in the Church Setting 2020
Posted: February 26, 2020
Mental Health in the Church Setting Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. – 2 Thessalonians 1:4 I’ve… Read More
The Emotionally Healthy Leader, by John Teal
Posted: February 22, 2020
The Emotionally Healthy Leader Last fall, I reluctantly agreed to take a class called Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. It was being offered by a couple in our congregation. As I read… Read More
THE UNSURPRISING PUSH FOR POLYGAMY
Posted: February 22, 2020
Dear marriage supporter, If two men can marry one another, why not three? Or why not two men and a woman? What’s so special about the number two once it’s… Read More
Polyamory: Pastors’ Next Sexual Frontier
Posted: February 22, 2020
CT PASTORS Polyamory: Pastors’ Next Sexual Frontier These once-taboo relationships are showing up in churches across the US. Preston Sprinkle and Branson Parler A pastor recently told me (Preston)… Read More
Why a Contradiction Seems Convincing
Posted: February 21, 2020
Why a Contradiction Seems Convincing Click Here to Listen It’s easy to believe a lie when you haven’t heard the whole story. But have you ever wondered how people can… Read More
“Can a Christian be an environmentalist?”
Posted: February 15, 2020
“Caring for Creation” Click here for the newsletter podcast version – with extra ‘bits’ We have seen what I would call “proper weather” this last week. Flights cancelled, trees felled,… Read More
Which Battery Does Your Marriage Run On?
Posted: February 14, 2020
Which Battery Does Your Marriage Run On? Click Here to Listen Items which run on batteries are irritations waiting to happen. Something stops working. You’ve got to find a… Read More
What is safety?
Posted: February 10, 2020
“How to be safe” Click here for the newsletter podcast version – with extra ‘bits’ It’s easy to become obsessed with safety. And with good reason. The coronavirus seems to… Read More
Discipling Busy People Online (and More)
Posted: February 5, 2020
Discipleship-First Friends, I am just completing an experiment in disciple making with some current and future leaders in the staff at our church that I wanted to share with you…. Read More
Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong – Barna Group
Posted: January 17, 2020
Sharing one’s faith—evangelizing—is a core practice among many religions. For Christians, it’s viewed as a mandate from Jesus himself before he departed earth: commanding his disciples to “spread the good… Read More
Losing our Religion: Conservative churches grapple with gender issues in time of growth
Posted: January 15, 2020
www.washingtontimes.com 5 mins read Religious conservative leaders at the national level see the fight over gender issues as make-or-break. (Associated Press/File) U.S. church attendance is dropping, but Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee, is… Read More
Netflix’s ‘Messiah’ Says the World Needs a Savior | Christianity Today
Posted: January 3, 2020
On January 1, Netflix released its latest über-bingeable series, Messiah, telling an all-too-believable story about the rise of a contemporary messianic figure known as Al-Masih (played by Mehdi Dehbi). Appearing out… Read More
11 Nigerian Christians Executed in ISIS Christmas Video | News & Reporting | Christianity Today
Posted: January 3, 2020
11 Nigerian Christians Executed in ISIS Christmas Video…… | News & Reporting | Christianity Today In another filmed massacre, 11 Nigerian Christians were executed by the Islamic State West African… Read More
Does Science Disprove Faith?
Posted: January 2, 2020
By John Ortberg on January 1, 2020 This piece has been adapted from the transcript of a sermon delivered by John Ortberg at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church on January 5, 2014, and has… Read More
The Most Important Habit for 2020
Posted: December 31, 2019
I like New Year’s resolutions. About 60% of Americans will join with me and make them over the next few days as we head into 2020. Here is the most… Read More
The Overlooked Nativity Character
Posted: December 25, 2019
The Overlooked Nativity Character by Rob Kranz An old girlfriend once told me that the groom was just “a prop” at the wedding. The focus of the entire ceremony is supposed to… Read More
Share with Us: Your Top Disciple Making Apps or Mobile Sites
Posted: December 11, 2019
Dear Discipleship-First Tribe, One of the major developments coming for disciple makers moving into 2020 is the proliferation of digital apps and mobile sites (that function like apps) to… Read More
Are the Crusades the Ultimate Black Mark Against Christianity? by Rob Kranz
Posted: December 4, 2019
Are the Crusades the Ultimate Black Mark Against Christianity? by Rob Kranz “How could anyone defend a religion that would sanction the Crusades?” Having spent a year living in Jerusalem in the… Read More
New Beginnings Are Possible
Posted: November 29, 2019
By Dan Armstrong • In the summer of 2019, two-time NBA champion, Olympic medalist, and reality TV star Lamar Odom announced he was giving up porn. But, he didn’t have a… Read More
Thanksgiving, Disciple Making, and the Deuteronomy 8 Principle – Discipleship.org
Posted: November 27, 2019
Discipleship-First Friends, Thanksgiving is an important day on many levels. We are committed to helping you be a disciple who makes disciples, so we know it’s important to “give thanks in… Read More
Should You be a Pastor or a Professor? Thinking Through the Options – Canon Fodder
Posted: November 22, 2019
Since I am a professor at a seminary, it is not unusual (indeed, it is very common) for students to come to me for advice about whether they should enter… Read More
Worst practices for dismissing a minister | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: November 21, 2019
Church experts and those who have been there discuss what not to do when firing a minister. Talking with ministers who have lost their jobs can feel repetitive. And depressing…. Read More
2 Ways to Fuel Disciple Making
Posted: November 14, 2019
We believe discipleship is the core mission of the church. That is why fueling discipleship is our mission. We can only do this with your prayers and support. Would you prayerfully consider joining… Read More
“I Was a Misunderstood Muslim: Common Misconceptions About Islam”
Posted: November 10, 2019
News about terrorist attacks may teach us about some Muslims, but not about most Muslims — and probably not about the Muslims down the street. Continue reading here. www.desiringgod.org
Muscle and a Shovel | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: November 6, 2019
Muscle and a Shovel | The Christian Chronicle Muscle and a Shovel is a raw and gritty true story about a pair of young newly-weds who move to the city… Read More
Why should Christians care for creation?
Posted: October 31, 2019
New Common Question: Why should Christians care for creation? As bearers of God’s image, all people have the responsibility and privilege of caring for God’s creation. How can we… Read More
The Cautionary Tale of Jerry Falwell Jr. | Christianity Today
Posted: October 25, 2019
Something doesn’t smell right in Lynchburg, Virginia, home of Liberty University and its controversial president, Jerry Falwell Jr. According to a September report in Politico: “Everybody is scared for their… Read More
David Young and Eric Metaxas? Say no more!
Posted: October 25, 2019
Our very own cofounder, David Young, was recently on The Eric Metaxas Show! Leaders are talking about A Grand Illusion, you can join the conversation. Friends, In case you don’t know, Eric Metaxas… Read More
Church and Culture, with Christian Ray Flores
Posted: October 23, 2019
Recently I caught up with one of the workshop presenters at our November 6th Gathering, Christian Ray Flores. Christian is a Renew.org co-founder and has an interesting perspective on culture and… Read More
The Top 100 Verses on Money and Wealth
Posted: October 16, 2019
Bookmark the list for Bible study, reference, and sharing with others. Top 100 Bible Verses on Money and Wealth Also see the Topical Index of Money and Wealth Scriptures The latest… Read More
Best practices for dismissing a minister – Christian Chronicle
Posted: October 16, 2019
Church experts and those who have been there offer five key recommendations for leaders. Cheryl Mann Bacon Columnist Somewhere in the unwritten but badly needed handbook for elders are three… Read More
SBC President: We Failed to Heed Victims’ Voices
Posted: October 15, 2019
SBC President J. D. Greear speaks at the ERLC’s Caring Well Conference on October 3.Southern Baptist Convention President J. D. Greear acknowledged that while sexual abuse survivors have pleaded with… Read More
CRISPR babies?
Posted: October 2, 2019
What should we think of DNA experiments and developments? Jim Stump ponders the most recent developments in the realm of gene editing, including CRISPR babies, the problem of chimeras, and more,… Read More
Spiritual Abuse in Marriage
Posted: September 20, 2019
This is part 1 of a 2 part series. Written by: Darby Strickland, Counselor Read part 1 here.
Shared Church
Posted: September 19, 2019
“. . . members together of one body and sharers together . . .” (Eph. 3:6) Shared Church aims to encourage Christians and churches to practice participatory body life—the one-anothering… Read More
Facts Concerning Social Media Use in 2019
Posted: September 16, 2019
Social Media – A powerful tool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k_G_h41ZaQ
Gauging The Health of Your Church Members
Posted: September 12, 2019
By CSN on Sep 05, 2019 01:00 pm There are many ways you can assess the spiritual health of your church members. Faith, regular church attendance, and engagement in community… Read More
What is the Bible? (Rob Bell), by Jon Sherwood
Posted: September 7, 2019
“Just let the Bible be whatever it is.” … But just what is the Bible? What is the Bible? This is a vitally important question. Rob Bell is a famous… Read More
Are Most Scientists Atheists?
Posted: September 7, 2019
ARE MOST SCIENTISTS ATHEISTS? Baruch Aba Shalev wrote a book titled 100 Years of Nobel Prizes. That book contains a report on Nobel prizes awarded between 1901 and 2000. During that period, when 423… Read More
Understanding Myths That May Hold Us Back
Posted: September 5, 2019
Don’t Be Fooled Into Believing These Final Two GRIEF MYTHS You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot… Read More
The Evolution of a Homeschooling Mom
Posted: August 29, 2019
By Kendra Terpstra on August 16, 2019 Whenever people ask me how I found out about BioLogos, I usually give them a quick elevator speech that begins with when I first read… Read More
The Developer’s Dark Side, by Craig Groeschel
Posted: August 26, 2019
This thought-provoking podcast explores four critical weaknesses in leadership: controlling, criticizing, avoiding, and rescuing. Craig Groeschel is connected with Life Church, and puts out a monthly podcast. Listen here.
Season 2 of Language of God
Posted: August 26, 2019
“One thing I see at the orthodox cores of our traditions is that at one and the same time we are to hold faithfully to truth as we know it… Read More
The Billy Graham Rule Goes to Court | News & Reporting | Christianity Today
Posted: August 23, 2019
A North Carolina sheriff’s deputy sues his former employer for religious discrimination after it wouldn’t accommodate his request to not train a female officer one-on-one. David Roach August 20, 2019… Read More
Searching for Disciple Making Churches and Movements in North America?
Posted: August 21, 2019
Dear Discipleship-First Tribe, We want you to become the disciple maker God intends you to be. For those of you who are church leaders, we also want you to develop… Read More
“Our Family Spent Too Much Money Last Year” by Patrick Blair
Posted: August 21, 2019
Late last year, I noticed our family checkbook was getting very light. Dread filled my mind as I realized that we would need to borrow money to pay our bills… Read More
Christian Cyborgs?!? A Serious Conversation About Science and Humanity
Posted: August 2, 2019
Man melding with machine. Anti-aging technology. Brain-computer interface. Gene-edited “designer” babies. Some scientific advances go beyond helping humanity overcome obstacles. They actually begin to help humanity overcome, well . …. Read More
Two Things to Know for Back-to-School Time
Posted: July 31, 2019
First – Learn from Disciple Making Leader: Small Circle Steve McCoy is the leader of Small Circle, one of our trusted disciple-making partners. Here’s what he told us about his ministry… Read More
Más Allá de la Vida 1 & 2, por Arturo Elizarrarás
Posted: July 17, 2019
Podcast 1 Podcast 2 Más Allá de la Vida – Slides
Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary
Posted: July 16, 2019
FORT WORTH, Texas — Dr. Kent Brantly sat on his counselor’s couch and wept. The tears came last summer as the Christian physician visited with Dottie Schulz, a missionary care volunteer… Read More
Mark Moore on Life, Legacy and Core 52
Posted: July 15, 2019
I was recently able to catch up with Renew Gathering speaker Mark Moore. We talked about life transitions, creating a legacy, personal discipline, and a new book he has written… Read More
Tired of Living as Predictably as a Facebook Advertisement? – Renew.org
Posted: July 6, 2019
Headlines were buzzing with the announcement. Facebook had introduced a new metric that would significantly revamp their algorithms. Continue here.
Ancient DNA reveals the origins of the Philistines
Posted: July 5, 2019
FROM THE SEA DNA obtained from remains of people who inhabited an ancient city on Israel’s coast, including this child, indicate that the Philistines mentioned in the Hebrew Bible descended… Read More
These Guys Don’t Panic at Tough Questions
Posted: July 2, 2019
In his own words, comedian Ricky Gervais went “from Jesus-loving Christian to fun-loving infidel in one afternoon.” Ricky Gervais was 8 years old. He was drawing the Crucifixion as part… Read More
When the terrorists came for us | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: July 2, 2019
After his wife became Muslim to appease militant Islamists, he fled with their children — and found Christ. Erik Tryggestad President and CEO DONO-MANGA, Chad — In this rural African village,… Read More
Is animal suffering part of God’s good creation? – Common-questions – BioLogos
Posted: June 28, 2019
If God is good, and loving, and powerful, how can we account for the enormous amount of animal (and human) suffering caused by predation, disease, and natural disasters? Traditionally, Christians… Read More
Subject: 4 Things I Would Like to Say to Taylor Swift as a Pastor
Posted: June 25, 2019
Renew.org 4 Things I Would Like to Say to Taylor Swift as a Pastor June was a big month for Taylor Swift as she embraced LGBTQ month,… Read More
“We Are Church,” by Francis Chan
Posted: June 23, 2019
History — We Are Church A Brief History of We Are Church. Excerpt from Letters to the Church, by Francis Chan. Why I Left My Megachurch In 1994, when I… Read More
“Think about it…”
Posted: June 21, 2019
Two twin boys were raised by an alcoholic father. One grew up to be an alcoholic and when asked what happened he said “I watched my father”. The other grew… Read More
Opinion | The Day Christian Fundamentalism Was Born – The New York Times
Posted: June 18, 2019
How a meeting in Philadelphia changed American religion forever. By Matthew Avery Sutton Mr. Sutton, a professor of history at Washington State University, is the author of the forthcoming “Double… Read More
Church Intensive
Posted: June 18, 2019
LEARN CHURCH PLANTING FROM OUR PASTORS a note from francis Haven’t you always been a bit confused about Church? You read about the unstoppable power, miraculous love, and outrageous sacrifice… Read More
Our Manhood Crisis – An Interview with Robert Lewis
Posted: June 17, 2019
Something ominous is happening to young men today; it’s a crisis…and strangely, we are not talking about it. A recent USA Today article captured the essence of the crisis with the article “Boy Crisis Threatens America’s… Read More
Who Was? Series
Posted: June 16, 2019
With over 150 titles, Penguin’s Who Was? series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Play the Who Was Adventure game! Download the Who Was series app… Read More
Father’s Day Challenge
Posted: June 14, 2019
Father’s Day is just around the corner. Covenant Eyes would love to see all the dads out there take the Dad Challenge. What better time to start this challenge but… Read More
The Lost Interview with Cathy Hammond
Posted: June 14, 2019
My wife Cathy passed away on August 13, 2018. We were married for 28 incredible years. Through our Strength in Weakness ministry, we traveled the world telling our story and… Read More
Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds | The New Yorker
Posted: June 12, 2019
New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason. The vaunted human capacity for reason may have more to do with winning arguments than with thinking straight. Illustration… Read More
The preachers getting rich from poor Americans – BBC News
Posted: June 12, 2019
Televangelist Todd Coontz has a well-worn routine: he dresses in a suit, pulls out a Bible and urges viewers to pledge a very specific amount of money. “Don’t delay, don’t… Read More
Miracle Soul (John Clayton)
Posted: June 11, 2019
For over 200 years people have used soil from the churchyard of Sacred Heart Church in the Boho Highlands of rural Northern Ireland as a remedy for a variety of… Read More
A Discipleship Group You Can Start Tomorrow
Posted: June 10, 2019
Friends, As a Renew subscriber you likely aspire to be a disciple who makes disciples. We want to help make that as easy as possible for you. This is… Read More
Sexual Ethics, Homosexuality and Thoughts on the Passing of my Wife (by Guy Hammond)
Posted: June 7, 2019
Today I get to sit down with the founder of Strength in Weakness Ministries, Guy Hammond, to discuss how to live a life of holiness when you’re same-sex attracted. -… Read More
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Posted: May 29, 2019
Like many of you, I enjoy a good book. Apart from occasional espionage novels, nearly all of my reading is Christian literature, theology, history, and science. Yet now and again,… Read More
Centering Christ in the Modern Wedding, by Jennifer Francis
Posted: May 15, 2019
Centering Christ in a Modern Wedding Traditional white weddings with vows exchanged at the altar and church bells signaling holy matrimony seem few and far between these days. Indeed, church… Read More
David & Bathsheba, by Sara Barton
Posted: May 13, 2019
Amazing keynote message given at the Harbor Pepperdine Bible Lectures on Thursday, May 2, 2019 in Malibu, CA. Click here to watch.
Q&A 1553—Should scientists study prayer?
Posted: May 10, 2019
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Four in five Americans believe in the healing power of prayer, according to surveys, and even a majority of medical doctors say that miraculous healing sometimes occurs…. Read More
Is the Holy Land the Promised Land? | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: May 9, 2019
Is the Holy Land the Promised Land? Leading evangelical supporters of President Trump tout the modern state of Israel as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Scholars in Churches of Christ… Read More
Video 2: Can You Be Gay and a Christian?
Posted: May 6, 2019
Can You Be Gay and a Christian? See why over 100,000 people have attended a Strength in Weakness workshop! SIW HITS THE ROAD Madrid, Spain Guy Hammond May… Read More
How a U.S. Church Baptized 3729 People in One Year
Posted: May 4, 2019
Friends, Many Renew leaders have success stories to share. We want God to get the credit in these stories. We also want to learn from these stories how… Read More
May News from Tyndale House
Posted: May 3, 2019
May News from Tyndale House Dear friends, At Tyndale House we are passionate about supporting evangelical biblical scholars, and ensuring that Christians across the world benefit from their work. In… Read More