Blog Archives
11 UNHEALTHY Ways to Disciple Gen Z
In some ways, discipling Gen Z (those born anywhere from 1999-2015) is no different from any other generation preceding it. […]
Where We Are, Where We Should Be
(Originally published March 2016) I haven’t weighed in much on the current political environment. Don’t get me wrong I believe this […]
Reflecting Our Owners’ Character
In an article in the New Yorkermagazine, author Malcolm Gladwell writes that vicious dogs are often not inherently vicious, but are […]
Technology in Ministry: Balance is the Key
When I was a kid, I was not motivated to learn how to ride a bike. It just wasn’t something […]
Divorce: Beauty From Ashes
Divorce. In American society, it has become the norm. In fact, the United States has the sixth highest divorce rate […]
Living When You Feel Like Dying
It was one year ago today that my baby girl stepped out of this world and into eternity. “For to […]
The Relationship-Focused Church
Church planting is relational because the gospel is relational. When Jesus commissioned the disciples to “go and make disciples,” it […]
Purpose in Pain
Divorce. It’s an ugly word, isn’t it? And yet in American society, it has become the norm. In fact, the […]
Doubts Come Like a Thief in the Night
In 1972 the rapture movie A Thief in the Night was released, but I didn’t see it in a theater. I saw […]
What is the Purpose of Life?
The Bible Confirms Our Struggle The author of Ecclesiastes says that life is “meaningless” almost forty times over the twelve […]
What Daniel Says to Our Time
Is it possible to have a thriving relationship with God even in the middle of a culture gone crazy? Absolutely! And […]
“I Choose Mercy!”
My daughter Meredith has always had a very tender heart. When she was little, she could cry the largest tears […]
Don’t Put God in a Box
On March 3, 2003 (3/3/3), my cousin Kevin and his wife Beth became parents for the first time when their […]
Holy or Happy?
Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, gave us a pathway to happiness called the beatitudes. God blesses those who are […]
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 […]