Blog Archives
Movie Review: Overcomer
Overcomer is a feel-good, faith-based movie that challenges you to think about your true identity. In the aptly named Christian […]
The Whole Gospel: Why Propitiation Matters
Ever heard a gospel presentation that went something like this: “We are sinners and our sin separates us from God. […]
Forgiving Like God Does
Have you ever watched a reality TV show where they are all trying to live together in a house or […]
Dr. King, the Cross and Unity
by Brandon Cox Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been an inspiration to me for a number of years because […]
Satan’s Four Favorite Tactics
Satan has been sowing seeds of deceit in my family. This is not surprising or unique because Satan is a […]
Six Keys to a Happy Marriage
Part 1: Communication, Consideration and Commitment: The keys to a successful marriage will not be found on Dr. Phil’s how […]
God’s Answer to the Problem of Loneliness
In Genesis chapter one, the Bible describes the creation of the world. As God paused to contemplate His work at […]
Giving God Control
The day my oldest daughter gave birth is a day forever imprinted in my memory. Since he was the first […]
More Languages, More People, More gospel
At the beginning of 2018 our language count was around forty. I say “around” because we couldn’t always get a […]
When You Need Healing
It’s no doubt this world occupies a space of suffering more than any other location in our universe. Earth is […]
A Solitary Firefighter
Every summer, I enjoy my precious bit of free time by reading a few books merely for enjoyment or my […]
Our 3 Excuses for Not Reading the Bible
I make excuses for not reading the Bible every day. And this is coming from a pastor. A formally-trained-in-biblical-theology pastor. […]
High School: How to Survive and Thrive
Seriously, high school is tough. If it’s not the AP classes and the pressure for more college credits, it’s the […]
Whose Truth is True?
Truth. It’s a subject that has evolved and changed. A topic that has been stretched, questioned and misused over time. Where […]
Tending the Gardens of Our Lives
It’s too nice of a day to stay indoors! The flowers that the kids and I planted are doing GREAT, […]
Six Ways to Prepare for Worship
Last Sunday was an incredible day of worship at our church! The music, fellowship, serving, and community that took place […]
Staying Christian in College: 7 Questions Parents Should Ask
You’ve detected trends that are leading kids away from Christianity in college. How do we fight back? In most cases, what it comes […]
Technology in Ministry: Social Media
by Jake Tyson My grandfather once told me, “What is not used for God’s glory will be used by Satan for destruction.” […]
Comparison-itis and Christ
by Joyce Parker When I get in a room of other women that I don’t know very well, I’m not immediately uncomfortable. […]
Go Ahead: Burst Your Bubble
By Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Our family was living in Romania in 2000 and we had […]
Ten Ways to Survive & Thrive in College
by Yalanda Merrell Thinking back to my college years, I’m reminded of . . . long nights staying up late […]
Hungry & You Fed Me
by Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Lately, whenever I go into a gas station someone is always […]
Three Reasons Your Prayers Should Always Include Praise
My wife and I are old school. We try really hard to teach our three daughters their manners. We believe […]
Who is Jesus?
Jesus offered his life as a sacrifice for sin . . . the innocent paying the price of the guilty.
Reflecting Christ in Marriage
If you have a good marriage, and if your parents modeled a good marriage for you, BE THANKFUL!! It occurred […]
Greatest Wedding Story Ever Told
We should be making ourselves ready to be found without spot or blemish for our perfect groom, Jesus Christ.
Lifeword: What I Learned as an Intern
by Melody Siebenmann I have almost completed 120 hours of internship work for Lifeword. And I must say it has […]
Technology in Ministry
When I was younger, I remember my dad, who was a pastor, coming home from a preacher’s meeting. He and […]
Ministry: Keeping It Real
It’s possible to be highly-trained and highly-regarded in your leadership role and be absolutely crumbling on the inside.
No Matter What You’ve Done or Where You’ve Been
Spring Hunter is a woman who grew up in complete poverty, religiously adhered to a cult, suffered parental abandonment, became […]
God of the Mountains and Valleys
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the […]
Surrendered: Fully and Finally
I started drinking when I was fifteen because my parents were gone every weekend and my brother and sister would […]
Sharing Your Faith
Fear of rejection is the number one reason for neglecting to bring up spiritual topics in conversations.
Three Reasons to Have Patience
1 – Because love is patient “Love is patient,” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Anyone else think “ouch” Yeah, my hand would […]
My Spiritual Journey
A SEASON OF GROWTH Time moves quickly from us, never returning. It’s our most valuable, non-replenishable asset. We can make […]
From Your Big Sister
Dear baby, This is Melody, writing to you the night before you are born into this world. There are a […]
But It’s Not My Fault
It’s obvious to me in the last sixty years there’s been a dramatic decline in the acceptance of personal responsibility […]
Mike Jones: A Lifeword Story of Grace and Mercy
Matthew chapter 17 has the account of Jesus with Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. While they […]
Part Two: Free From Pornography For Good
Pornography is a deadly mistress. She stands poised with promises, willing and ready at a moment’s notice. She strikes unexpectedly, […]
Discipleship Part Two: Three Chairs
SOAR . . . Man, I love this youth conference. Sold Out And Radical. Every summer, we gather up our […]
Part One: The Prominence of Pornography
Pornography addiction is most assuredly an androgynous affair, but for men in particular, the stimulus from pornography activates parts of […]
Discipleship Part One: How Did Jesus Do It?
It wasn’t until after my first year of college that I was truly saved. You’re probably thinking, what does that […]
What it Means to Have a Christian Attitude
The following is adapted from a sermon by Jeff Swart. Philippians 4:8 may be the most important verse in the […]
Static? Move Closer to the Tower
I hate static. Not like the kind that makes your clothes cling to you. I’m talking about static on the […]
How to Control Your FOMO Once and for All
FOMO (the “fear of missing out”) is a real thing, and it’s more intense than ever. We’re afraid we’ll miss […]
Four Practical Lessons from Job’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Have you ever had a day that goes something like this: You are trying to leave for work and the […]
Your Marriage May Be Falling Apart
t I remember very clearly the day God showed me an important truth about my relationship with him. I’m either actively […]
How to be Content in Three Acts (#3 of 3)
ACT III: The Consequences of Covetousness (Numbers 11:31—35) Let’s return to the children of Israel in the wilderness: Numbers 11:31: “Now […]