November 6, 2025
To focus outward means that the church’s primary concern is the people outside its walls and influence. It means that the church’s assets—its money, its talent, its time, and its facility—are focused toward reaching into that group.
April 25, 2022
This parable began in reality, for there really was a road that went from Jerusalem to Jericho referred to as “The Bloody Way.” But for a Samaritan to help a Jew on that road? That was the point at which the true-to-life parable veered into fictional analogy. . . .
April 25, 2022
The expert in the law tried to justify himself before Jesus. Why is that a bad idea?
June 15, 2021
Early this year, TCM International developed an initiative called PrayerFast to encourage and celebrate prayer and fasting movements around the world.
December 7, 2020
COMPANION RESOURCES Lesson for Dec. 13, 2020: Fulfilled through Love (Matthew 1:18-25; 22:34-40) “The Second Choice” by David Faust (Lesson Application) ________ Study Questions for Groups By Michael C. Mack 1. What from this past week would you like to thank God for? 2. In what way did you bear fruit over the last week? Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 1:18-25 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Ask the third person to retell the story as if telling it to a group of high school students. Then ask
December 4, 2018
By David Dummitt In all honesty, sometimes I just want to get through the Christmas season. As a pastor, Christmas usually means work. Lots more work. I can start to allow productivity and busyness for God’s kingdom to outweigh sacred wonder and worship of the King who has come for us. Earlier this year at a leadership retreat, my friend and fellow pastor Patrick O’Connell, the global leader of NewThing, led a devotional for a group of ministry leaders from all over the United States. He shared three “greats” that Jesus gave to us, and as he spoke, I watched
February 13, 2017
By Chad Ragsdale The Jesus of Scripture is not the safe Jesus we may seek. I was in the library the other day and stumbled across a book titled What Would Jesus Drive? My imagination was immediately captivated by the idea of Jesus and his disciples road tripping down the dusty back roads of Galilee. I was also curious how in the world the author could get an entire book from such a narrow topic, so I opened it up. It turns out each chapter placed Jesus in a different, contemporary ethical situation. “What would Jesus eat?” “What would Jesus
September 3, 2015
Book review by Bob Mink Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor Ben Witherington III Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2011 Ben Witherington doesn”t merely suggest that modern American Christians know little of what the Bible says about work, and that theologians have seldom addressed the topic. In Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor, he offers solutions to both deficiencies. And in the course of his short book (166 pages), this professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary relays quite a bit of what the Bible says about work. Foundational to a biblical and Christian view of work is that
January 15, 2013
By Teresa Welch Discipleship””following after Christ””is an expectation for every believer. But sometimes we forget that discipleship can””and often should””begin during childhood. I recently enjoyed spending time with “my kids,” who were part of the children”s ministry I led prior to joining the faculty at Emmanuel Christian Seminary. As with all of my former kids, I was curious to find out about their lives, as I felt responsibility for their continued spiritual formation. During my visit with them, it became apparent what I see in their lives now is directly connected to the time I was with them and their
February 2, 2011
By Robert Reese A chapel speaker at a Christian university stated emphatically, “I am realizing more and more that before I can share the gospel with unbelievers, I must earn the right.” He went on to explain how it is necessary in our society to establish credibility with another person before bringing up the gospel. Establishing credibility can range from being friendly to doing benevolent acts. The idea is that people will not be interested in a gospel presentation until they see an authentic expression of Christianity. With missionaries in parts of the world plagued by disease and malnutrition, the
September 6, 2009
 by Tom Jones Recently, I”ve been thinking quite a bit about my home church. I have a special place in my heart for that little church, located on the corner of Penn and Neville streets, in Follansbee, West Virginia. Do you know what a sure sign of a home church is? It”s when you are 49 years old and the good folks still call you “Tommy Jones.” I have so many fond memories of my home church, like when I was 11 years old and stole Communion grape juice from the church refrigerator with my best friend Randy Weaver.
August 31, 2008
By Michael C. Mack Two of the most common questions I hear church leaders ask is, “How do we connect people? What is the best method for assimilation?” I”ve given those questions a lot of thought and study, and I have been frustrated trying to figure out what methods the early church used to assimilate the 3,000 believers baptized on the Day of Pentecost (as well as all those who continued to be added to the church). We know what their values were and some of what they did together. We know they met in homes and the temple courts.
By Darrel Rowland About a year ago the founder of one of the most influential churches in modern American history confessed a need for repentance. But Bill Hybels wasn”t adding his name to the list of those succumbing to moral failures. Instead, he admitted that despite Willow Creek Community Church”s worldwide influence and 21,000 weekly attendees spread across four campuses, the church had failed. How so? By not equipping its members to become mature Christians. STALLED OR DISSATISFIED Using techniques borrowed from sophisticated consumer studies, Willow”s leaders discovered they were doing well meeting the needs of those exploring Christianity and
July 16, 2008
By Brad Dupray Doug Wood spent the last five years as executive pastor at Florence (Oregon) Christian Church. During that time, Doug led the church on a search for its purpose and provided direction to achieve that purpose. As a result, God transformed a traditional church with one full-time pastor into a dynamic, community-based church with a ministry staff of 10. Doug recently accepted a call as colead minister at Craig (Colorado) Christian Church, where he is helping Christians embrace a first-century growth environment. Doug has a bachelor”s degree from Hope International University, Fullerton, California, and a master”s degree from
Clearing out competing voices is only the first step in hearing God. Jan Johnson describes common themes God speaks—love, comfort, surrender, and purpose—and shares how God’s gentle questions can move us forward.
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