Blog Archives
How to Have Gospel Conversations With Non-Believers
Sam Chan’s wonderful book Evangelism in a Skeptical World fleshes out a practical pathway to create “gospel conversations.” Simply put, conversations have three […]
Separation but Restoration
“Oh, death where is your sting? Oh, grace where is thy victory?”
How Do You Know if You’re Spiritual Enough?
Before we get started, I need to let you in on a little secret about a deeply ingrained insecurity that […]
You can run but You can’t hide
Christ died for you knowing you would be a sinner.
This is How to Become a Sinner Saved by Grace
The image of a diamond is commonly used to show the multi-faceted reality of how sinners are saved by God. […]
Coronavirus: Who’s Really in Control?
I don’t know how to change a tire. I don’t know rocket science or calculus. I don’t know how bad […]
Don’t Settle For an Average Life with an Average Purpose
There are only two ways to live life: Your way. God’s way. There is no third way. To put it […]
The Sunday Lunch Crowd is the Worst, Take it From Your Server
I’m a Christian currently working in the food industry, so I’m writing this article because it’s extremely important that the […]
This is How the Cycle of Anger and Abuse Can Stop With You
Growing up, I thought my family was like every other family and then I learned that we weren’t. But wait, […]
Deep Breath
The Scriptures are deep breaths that satisfy our lungs and clear our minds.
Addiction’s Grip and What Happens When You Surrender
“Life isn’t worth living without it.” Those six words spoken by my dad brought my world racing into high-definition focus […]
Beautiful, Generous Giving Requires Humility
When an airline pilot charts his route, he is faced with the task of remaining on course until he arrives […]
Best for Last
We were set apart from every other living thing – not only were we given a voice to speak, but we were given a conscience and a soul. From the beginning, we were created with the ability to choose.
This is How You Can be the Salt of the Earth
“Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.” […]
What if Christians Acted Like the Body of Christ?
In the first century, when people became followers of Christ, they did so well aware of the cost (Luke 14:28). […]
The High Price Others Pay for Our Missed Opportunities
“Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.” (Colossians 4:5) H. Jackson Brown has been quoted as saying, […]
God Provides
God died for us, and in doing so, he provided for our future – with a tree.
This is What “Living Sent” Means
The command to “live sent” may or may not be a familiar phrase in today’s church vernacular. Same goes for […]
Five Reasons Being a Prisoner is a Good Thing
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have […]
Steve’s Story: A Lesson in Love and Grace
It was another cold, rainy day in Washington, D.C. Steve, an African American in his late 40s, was making his […]
Something Missing in Your Life? Don’t Start With Religion.
Perhaps one of the biggest frustrations in life is not knowing where to start. It is a common problem for […]
This is Why a Sheep Loves to Read
In a pivotal passage, Jesus explains, “I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). In this verse he […]
What Does it Mean to be “Born Again”?
We’ve all heard the phrase “born again”. Some mock. Some scratch their temple. Some bend their knees in worship. But, […]
Doing Ministry in the Christian Bubble
As a Christian (and a pastor, at that!) I can easily get into the rut of the infamous ‘Christian Bubble’ […]
Your Christmas Table Isn’t Extravagant Enough
Wow, the spread this year! Whether you’re catering in from a restaurant (be honest, it’s tempting!) or delegating dishes to […]
Takeaways From Christmas Hymns – Part One
Silent night, holy night!Son of God, love’s pure light;Radiant beams from thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming grace,Jesus, Lord, […]
Evangelism Begins With Grace
If you’re like me, the word evangelism is a like a guilt switch in my soul. You say “evangelism” and immediately three […]
How to Find the God Who Delights in Us
With all three of my children, I experienced nearly the same special moment playing hide-and-seek. I would hide. They would […]
Considering Celebrity Conversions
In recent news, a fair number of celebrity conversions have been taking place in the public eye. Justin Bieber has […]
Our Messy Relationship With This World
Jesus stayed on the streets and searched the corners to encounter the very people most religious folk snubbed. Jesus comes […]
Misrepresenting Christianity in America
(Originally posted February 2015) The not-so-popular news magazine, Newsweek, has started 2015 with cover article entitled “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s […]
Three Musts for Holy Desperation
“Holy Desperation” has been defined as when a congregation humbles themselves before God and realizes they can no longer keep […]
To Halloween or Not To Halloween
(Originally published as an editorial in the Central Baptist College student newspaper Tower Times) More than a thousand years ago, […]
4 Reasons You Should Prepare to Defend Your Faith
“Why do you believe in Jesus,” says the unbeliever, maybe a friend or a coworker who knows you go to […]
Three Prayers for Effective Evangelism
“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God […]
Wine at the Wedding and A Future Miracle
John 2:1-10 chronologically records the first miracle recorded in the Bible that Jesus performed: Turning water into wine at a […]
“You Heard Her”: The Power of a Praying Mom
I recently wrote that Augustine, though raised by his Christian mother to love Jesus, was not a Christian for a […]
Augustine: Pride, Sex and the Power of Jesus
Through my seminary studies, I recently read about the conversion of Augustine, one of the giants of Christian leadership and thought […]
Three Aspects of the Unchanging God
Sadness wrenched through my heart like a knife stabbing into my chest. A lump swelled in my throat and I […]
The Gospel is Your Redo Button
Have you ever wished for a “Redo” button? Have you ever had a day that started off so completely on […]
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 […]
The Relationship-Focused Church
Church planting is relational because the gospel is relational. When Jesus commissioned the disciples to “go and make disciples,” it […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]