December 20, 2021
They Are New Every Morning
A brand-new year sounds so promising, doesn’t it? A clean slate, a fresh start. The idea of newness is so compelling, but Christians have a wonderful secret: We already are new . . .
Articles for tag: Grace
December 20, 2021
Dec. 26 | Application
There will be a last time I pet my dog, mow my lawn, eat my favorite meal, and watch a ballgame on TV. But the story won't end there . . .
December 13, 2021
Dec. 19 | Application
It started with fear, and it ended in glory. . . . The shepherds had no idea they were role-players in an unfolding drama that would forever change the world.
November 22, 2021
Nov. 28 | Application
Ministry is every Christian’s responsibility. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
November 1, 2021
How COVID-19 Is Changing Christian Missions
Missionaries and mission organizations share their stories.
November 1, 2021
Hard Truths for Modern Times
By Megan Rawlings Our world is in chaos. It seems as if major bad news breaks every day! As this chaos occurs, society seems increasingly to be motivated by materialism and comfort. When the church was young, the people of Galatia turned away from God, and this did not escape Paul’s attention. In fact, he penned one of his harshest letters to the Christians there. While reading that letter, I realized Paul’s reprimand is applicable to us in modern times. I’ll borrow from his Epistle to the Galatians to state some hard truths surrounding our current status. I am astonished
October 25, 2021
Oct. 31 | Application
God puts together some unexpected combinations. Lions and lambs, for example. And what about Jesus Christ, who is both sacrifice and sacrificer, the gift and the giver?
October 18, 2021
Oct. 24 | Application
David Faust writes, "Today we face a dizzying array of cultural changes—with shifts occurring not only in technology and style, but in substantive matters like worldviews, ethics, and how to understand the Bible . . ."
September 27, 2021
Oct. 3 | A Merciful and Faithful High Priest
Jesus experienced the full weight of what it meant to be human. His humanity and suffering qualified him to be a high priest. His death paid the punishment for sin. His temptations gave him compassion for those tempted.
September 27, 2021
Oct. 3 | Application
Where will you turn when you need help? Do you have a support network of friends, neighbors, and family members you could call anytime day or night?
September 27, 2021
Oct. 3 | Discovery
Why is it important for Jesus as our high priest to understand our trials and temptations?
September 20, 2021
Sept. 26 | Application
Hebrews 12 compares two mountains. Mount Sinai was dark and scary, and for most people it was unapproachable. Fortunately for us, Jesus is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 12:24), so we are invited to a different kind of mountaintop experience.
September 13, 2021
It’s All About Jesus
No person mentioned in the Old Testament or New Testament could have imagined how history would one day come together and finally make sense at the cross.
September 1, 2021
Reverse the Course
In the Aftermath of Several High-Profile Leadership Failures . . . 5 Strategies to Protect the Integrity of the Church
September 1, 2021
The Equality Act: Its Impact on Churches and How We Should Respond
On May 14, 1974, a spunky U.S. representative from New York named Bella Abzug introduced the first version of what we now know as the Equality Act. Even though the bill was co-sponsored by another New York representative and was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, the bill had little support and never saw the light of day. For the next 45 years, the Equality Act, in one form or another, found its way back in front of Congress. In 2019, the Equality Act passed the House for the first time. Even though it died in the Senate,
September 1, 2021
How Do We Respond to Cancel Culture?
Cancel culture can reek of moral superiority, revel in violence, lack in grace, and eschew redemption, but I believe it can also do some good. When racism is squelched, abuse is punished, victims are protected, the corrupt are exposed, and moral progress is made, Jesus is glad. Even when the fire burns within the church—that is, when church leaders are guilty and held accountable—we should be hopeful God will resurrect from the ashes something sanctified in the furnace of repentance! Maybe we should thank God for cancel culture. As Christians, we have the best theological resources to shine in a
September 1, 2021
5 Ministry Lessons (to Save You from Heartache)
All Christians are called to ministry, and the place of that ministry is not always behind a pulpit. For example, my sister’s ministry is to serve new brides by helping them pick their wedding dress. This might seem like a silly thing to call a ministry, but it involves much more than a dress. When she works with a bride, she listens to their desires and makes them feel comfortable. More than that—my sister is helping the brides feel beautiful in their own skin. She tells them of their worth because they are created in the image of God. This
August 20, 2021
Ministries Responding to Needs in Quake-Stricken Haiti
A survey of Christian church ministries serving Haiti shows that many are lending a hand in the aftermath of the earthquake and tropical storm that have rocked that nation.
August 16, 2021
Aug. 22 | Application
The word "free" gets tossed around a lot. Advertisers push fat-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free foods. Financial planners coach us to be debt-free. True freedom, though, seems elusive.
August 9, 2021
Aug. 15 | Application
In this week's Application headlined "Choosing Your Ancestors," David Faust writes: "From Adam and Eve till today, sin has tainted humanity and tilted us toward disaster. . . . Thankfully, though, we can choose the spiritual family we call our own."
