There are some Christians who just seem to live in a different realm. They have the power to say no to sin. They have joy no matter what is happening around them. They are the people you want praying for you when you have a need. These Christians have experienced something more than the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Read MoreFrom a literary perspective, one of the unique aspects of the New Testament is its frank portrayal of the phenomenal failures of many of its authors and main subjects. This is nowhere more apparent than in the lives of the twelve disciples, and one of the clearest examples is in Peter’s denials of Jesus.
Read MoreIn the New Testament book of Acts, we find a bleak scenario in which James, one of the leaders of the early church, was arrested by King Herod and put to death. Then Peter was arrested, and it looked as though he would be executed.
Read MoreQuestion: Dr. Dobson, I worry so much about my children and wonder if I'm raising them wisely. Every few days my husband and I encounter a problem we don't know how to handle. Is it common for parents to feel this way?
Read MoreIf you stumbled onto a flux capacitor—you know, like the one in Back to the Future—and you could travel back to any time in your life, what year would you choose? I think I’d choose 1997. It’s the year I met my wife, Veronica, and the year I left to serve as a missionary in Southeast Asia. There are so many things I’d like to tell my 24-year-old self.
Read MoreMore than I can say, I hate it, but it’s reality: I’m more easily influenced by people other than Jesus than I ever want to admit. And I’m a pastor. Shouldn’t I be an influencer rather than the influenced? A few years ago, when everyone in our culture started saying, “That’s awesome!” about something good or exciting, I followed suit. Hey, I’m an outgoing and enthusiastic, and extroverted guy who tends ...
Read MoreIf four of your closest friends wrote a biography about you, they might tell some of the same stories, but each description would be different. One friend might focus on your sense of humor, while another would emphasize your integrity. It is the same with the Gospels. Under the Holy Spirit's inspiration, each of the Gospel writers highlights a different aspect of the life of Christ.
Read MoreThe Bible says that when Christ died on the cross, He did so to "redeem" sinners (see Titus 2:12-14). But have you ever thought about what it really means to be redeemed? You see, redemption is a marketplace term. It comes from the world of commerce. It means "to buy something back." Historically, it was used in the slave trade. A slave, made so by debt or circumstance, could be ...
Read MoreThis often-misunderstood verse has led to some confusion but without cause. When studied in its context—as all Scripture must be—we see an amazing challenge given by our Lord, and it is this: the depth of our hunger and thirst for righteousness determines our Christian advancement. The kingdom of heaven takes its ground via violent warfare in the spiritual realm. Those who lay hold of it are those who will not ...
Read MoreWe can’t fully understand God’s holiness. But we can understand it much better than we currently do. By and large, the typical evangelical’s understanding of God is pathetically superficial. Too many professing believers think about God in only self-centered and self-indulgent terms, reducing Him to little more than a genie in a lamp. Others are preoccupied with a relational perspective on God. They want Him to be more comfortable and ...
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