Category: CHURCH & MINISTRY
The Cure for Sin Spots
I recently had an interaction with a young man who was struggling with his obvious need to apologize for a particular pattern of sinning, but was reluctant to say “I’m sorry.” I confronted him with my assessment of the situation and asked him if there was...
What it Takes to See Someone Become a Christian
My greatest desire for my children is for them to become followers of Jesus. I’m sure you feel similarly about your children, other family members, friends, and even those who hate you for your faith in Christ. But what will it take for them to become...
Can These Bones Live?
In his classic book, The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson remembers his transition from pastoring in rural Pennsylvania to evangelizing the teenage street gangs of 1950s New York City. One gang, the Mau Maus, figures prominently in the book because of its unusual hardness and...
A Church Without Love?
Seven messages from the Lord Jesus to seven local congregations in 1st-century Asia form the bulk of the opening chapters of the book of Revelation. They are a mix of warning, encouragement, rebuke and commendation, with each church receiving its own personalized blend from the sovereign...
Missionary Zeal and Ability: It Takes Both
While reading a modern missionary’s book, I’m struck again with the phenomenon that so many become missionaries with a dangerously low level of insight into Scripture coupled with extraordinary romantic zeal. A handful of verses guide them, about which most have little true understanding. Their experience...
Liam Loopert, Self-duped: A Brockton Dialog
A Brockton Dialogue James, the student: How faithful does one have to be in order to be a true Christian? The wise Mr. Brockton: To church or to God? James: Doesn’t one imply the other? Mr. Brockton: Faithfulness has many drivers, which can be deceiving. But...
Seven Ways Teens Can Contribute When the Church Meets
“How can I participate right away in the church?” That was a wonderful question to hear from a teenager who recently became a believer and joined our church. I don’t remember my exact answer, but I have since thought about that question primarily as it relates...
Sharing Your Testimony or Sharing The Testimony
Sometimes we think that sharing about Jesus is mostly about sharing our personal experience. We might tell someone, “Here is how Jesus saved me” and proceed to recount our life before Christ and the story of our conversion. We often call this “sharing our testimony,” and...
How Did Jesus Get His Name?
What is in a name anyway? Maybe you know what your name means, and it is something profound and wonderful. Or maybe your name means something less than fantastic like my name, Kole, which means “darkly-complexioned”. If you met me, it would be obvious that my...
What Jesus Thought Was Wrong with the World: And How It’s Different Than Most People Think
Most people think there’s something wrong with the world. Ask almost any of our nation’s recent immigrants and they’ll tell you that without hesitation. That’s because when they came here to find something better they were fleeing something worse, usually violence or poverty. But it’s not...
