BY JENNY FRANK
God is on a mission to redeem the world. We know this is true because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As believers, on one hand, we relate to this mission because we are those God has brought near to himself. But on the other hand, we relate to this mission because Jesus has commissioned us to participate by spreading the gospel....
BY JOHN PIPER
Jesus Christ is Lord of the universe. Therefore, all the nations — the peoples — of the earth belong to him by right of creation and by right of his redemptive purpose on the cross....
BY TRILLIA NEWBELL
I hear the words “abide in Christ” mentioned a lot by women as a way to express rest. At least I think that’s what they mean. The truth is, I’ve never had it defined for me clearly, even though I’ve heard it shared often. In order to gain more understanding, I started digging into God’s word to see what he says about abiding in Christ....
BY SCOTTY SMITH
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. Phil. 3:12-15....
Let’s now face a painful but helpful truth: the boldness of grace cannot come from our natural selves. I am naturally (that is, in my sinful nature inherited from my first parents) self contained and self-praising. I tend to seek assurance of my righteousness by comparing myself with others — judging them as sinners and myself as more or less sin-free (Luke 18:9-14). Following the example of a friend, I must identify myself this way: "My name is Jack Miller, and I am a recovering Pharisee.”.....
BY J. OSWALD SANDERS
In nothing should the leader be ahead of his followers more than in the realm of prayer. And yet the most advanced Christian is conscious of the possibility of endless development in his prayer life. Nor does he ever feel he has "already attained." Dean C. J. Vaughan once said: “If l wished to humble anyone, I should question him about his prayers. I know nothing to compare with this topic for its sorrowful self-confessions." Prayer is the most ancient.....
BY JOHN PIPER
One way to answer this question is to look at what the early church prayed for. Here is a list gathered from the New Testament. It can guide you in how you pray. I suggest that periodically you pray through this list just to test whether your prayers are leaving out anything the New Testament included. We don't have to pray all of these each time we pray. But over time it would be good if our prayers had the breadth and depth of the New Testament prayers.....
BY JON BLOOM
Each of us has received grace-gifts from God. And, “as each has received a gift,” we are to “use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). We are given these gifts for the “progress and joy” of one another’s faith (Philippians 1:25).....
I was brought up to believe that it is a sin to be late. To cause others to wait for you, my parents taught us, is to steal from them one of their most precious commodities. Time is a creature — a created thing — and a gift. We cannot make any more of it. We can only receive it and be faithful stewards in the use of it....
BY KEITH WELTON
The average person will spend about 70,000 hours at work.
That’s a significant part of one’s life, and yet many find themselves lacking joy and purpose in it. We get worn down by challenges and monotony at work. We feel little appreciation for what we do. We hear people boast about things like vacations and retirement or talk about the value and satisfaction of....
BY JONATHAN PARNELL
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
This is the straightforward truth that David clings to in Psalm 57:2.
Here he states two basic facts: God has a purpose for him and God will fulfill that purpose. Both these truths combine to become that deep and wondrous theological concept we call “providence.” The word was much......
BY JOHN PIPER
Being “in Christ Jesus” is a stupendous reality. It is breathtaking what it means to be in Christ. United to Christ. Bound to Christ. If you are “in Christ” listen to what it means for you:....
BY JON BLOOM
Intimacy with God is available to you. It is as accessible to you as God’s promises. And God’s invitation to you to enjoy intimate fellowship with him is that thing that is putting your faith to the test more than anything else (James 1:2–4).
BY DAVID W. HENDERSON
One of the most memorable images to remain with us from the Kennedy presidency is a poignant photo of the president with his two children, taken near the height of the Cuban missile crisis. Kennedy is surrounded by all of the familiar trappings of the Oval Office: the formidable desk, mounds of paperwork, busts of presidents-past looking on....
1. A narrative does not necessarily directly teach a doctrine.
2. A narrative often illustrates a doctrine or doctrines taught propositionally elsewhere......
“Do your best to present yourself as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of God.”
– Apostle Paul, (2 Timothy 2:15).....
The Purpose of Bible Study Training is to equip believers with a multitude of tools to promote effective study of the word of God. Through applying the truths found in study, Christians will enjoy the benefits of the sanctification process that glorifies their King.....
BY STEPHEN MILLER
Many worship leaders consider themselves artists. Translation: We are typically passionate, idealistic, opinionated, and sensitive.
We have specific ideas about how things should go and can let those preferences affect us deeply when things don’t go the way we hoped they would. While our convictions and zeal can be some of our greatest strengths, they can also set us up for a constant stream of frustration and dissatisfaction with the church.....
BY TRIP LEE
In less than three minutes, Trip Lee explains why the local church is essential to every Christian’s health....
BY DAVID MATHIS
One of the most counter-cultural things you can do is become an engaged member of a faithful local church. In our flighty and noncommittal age, neither non-Christians nor Christians are naturally inclined to find a place to put down roots and make longstanding, objective commitments for the good of others. We want to keep our options open and, above all, preserve our own freedom of choice, rather than make a covenant for the long haul and embrace a framework for real life in all its ups and downs.....