Category: CHURCH & MINISTRY
Do We Really Need the Local Church?
The down-the-street local church is not the only show in town anymore. We are able to enjoy faith-building messages, listen to the latest Christian music, and explore the rich diversity and variety found in the most noted Christian gatherings, all on our computer or mobile device....
Is Church Attendance Still Important?
“On one occasion, Faraday lectured to a distinguished panel of scientists. The Prince of Wales (after Edward VII) was present. For an hour Faraday held his audience spellbound as he demonstrated the nature and properties of the magnet. His lecture closed with a demonstration that...
Seriousness In Children and Teens
It is increasingly obvious that children and young people in many evangelical churches are anything but serious about Christ. There are notable exceptions, but in many churches a cursory look at the behavioral signals put out by the young people reveal a profound disinterest. On the...
When the Bible Isn’t Boring Anymore
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” -John 10:27 Jesus Christ knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him (John 10:14). They don’t “know” one another in the sense that they were merely introduced sometime in the past, but they...
When Nobody Misses You
Below is the obituary of 79 year-old Dolores Aguilar, recorded in the Vallejo, California Times-Herald (August 16-17, 2008), submitted by one of her daughters. Dolores Aguilar 1929 – Aug. 7, 2008-08-22 Dolores Aguilar, born in 1929 in New Mexico, left us on August 7, 2008. She...
What Does It Mean to Believe?
Sitting on the deck on a balmy evening, my daughter asked again for more clarity on the most important question she could pose: “Dad, what does it really mean to believe in Christ?” I commended her for that question, because it is not asked by most...
What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?
To answer that question in just one sentence: A Christian is a disciple (that is, a follower) of Jesus Christ. Here’s what that means: 1. Christians fear God. No one will seek safety if he does not believe he is in danger. Christians have come to...
Trying to be a Christian
I was astounded. I had just explained to a group of nuclear scientists the difference between trying to earn salvation by our own works and trusting Christ for it. I thought that I had made myself exceptionally clear. As I left, however, one man thanked me...
Truth . . . or Consequences
It was the moment of decision for my three-year-old son. He had been misbehaving and the matter had been brought to my attention by one of his older sisters. Sitting down, my eyes were at the same level as his. I asked him to tell me...
Too Sinful to be Saved?
Is salvation (which includes forgiveness, a relationship with Christ, and heaven) just for good people? The apostle Paul didn’t think so. For Paul, earning salvation on the basis of good behavior is as impossible as driving a car from California to Hawaii. You may start with...