The term baptism conjures up a variety of reactions depending on your family background and church history. Were you sprinkled or dunked? Did it occur when you were a baby or an adult? What’s the purpose of baptism?
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A lot of Christians no longer accept that there is only one “right” religion. The implications of rejecting that faith in Jesus Christ is the only hope for eternal life are obvious. How do we know which god to worship and what that god requires of us? When we pray, are we addressing Allah of Islam, Jehovah of the Bible, or one of the many gods in Hinduism? And which ...
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You can probably think of someone who seems like just the sort of person God would use—someone, say, with fantastic gifts and an attractive personality. Perhaps you’ve wished you were like that person or that you had this gift or that quality so you could be more useful for Christ. Yet while it’s good to want to grow, we must remember: we often don’t measure usefulness the way God does.
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Easter brings to mind pastel colors, Easter egg hunts, the Easter bunny and maybe even cute little chicks. Yet, a lot of people don’t know the meaning of Easter.
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Someone once said that sitting in church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. The apostle John would agree with that sentiment. His first epistle, the book of First John, is devoted to helping God’s people identify truth and discern genuine spirituality.
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Read Luke 24:13-21. For the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the cross hadn't just put an end to the life of Jesus; it had put an end to their hope as well. "[W]e had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel," they lamented (Luke 24:21). They saw their dreams dashed on the cross.
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Music, movies, and social media all contribute to shaping the world’s view of love. It is regularly confused with lust and usually driven by the quest to gratify our own selfish desires. As Christians we need to recognize the hypocrisy of that worldly mindset. The defining quality of God’s love is that He set aside what rightfully belongs to Him in order to benefit those who rightly deserve His judgment ...
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Traditional marriage vows say, “For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health.” When Jean and I got married, we assumed that life would mostly be “better, richer, and healthier.” While life with each other has been wonderful, we’ve encountered challenges along the way.
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Is it possible to be an optimistic, hopeful, and enthusiastic Christian? Definitely! After all, believers have every reason to be optimistic about life here on earth and life eternal. As English clergyman William Ralph Inge observed, “No Christian should be a pessimist, for Christianity is a system of radical optimism.” Inge’s words are most certainly true. But sometimes, it’s easy to be pulled down by tough times. When experiencing discouragement, ...
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I spent years feeling lost, abandoned, unloved, and afraid. I’d become convinced that I was unwanted—not pretty or smart enough to have a successful, happy life.
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