Articles

Articles

When Your Pastor Thinks He’s Brother Molehill

It might surprise you to know that many pastors who have generous smiles on their faces each Sunday are, deep down, very disheartened. Pastoring a church is difficult work. For one thing, it is usually thankless. I know there are some churches that seem to remember their pastors with much fanfare, but most churches do not ever esteem them. They don’t work for just the members ultimately, so they can get over it, but never hearing those words, “Thanks for…

Is Zeal Enough? Rethinking the Missionary Call

I’m baffled with the phenomenon that so many become missionaries with a dangerously low level of insight into Scripture coupled with extraordinary romantic zeal. A handful of verses guide them, about which most have little true understanding. Their experience of church life is limited and often built on poor models, even though their labors are to be all about planting churches, making leaders (even if they’ve never been leaders before), and setting churches in biblical order. And, sadly, they have…

The Surprising Story of Bill Beery

My brother pastored an unconverted man on the rolls of the church. When it was discovered, some of the men in the church began to share Christ with him and soon he became a true believer in Christ. His name was Bill Beery, a direct relative of the famous deceased actor Wallace Beery. Bill was a physically imposing mechanic at 6’ 6”. But Lou Gehrig’s disease, the illness that physicist Stephen Hawkins endured, soon wilted him into a shadow of…

CCW and AI

Below is our simple statement on CCW and generative AI. If you have questions, please let us know. CCW and AI Since we believe that writing and speaking are human endeavors, we commit to offer our articles, books, and audio, written and spoken by our authors, free from generative AI. Also we will use our own editors to improve our work and will continue to make sure our sources are properly vetted. Thank you.       

Delivered by Desire (by Daryl Wingerd)

Delivered by Desire by Daryl Wingerd is one of the most effective of our books. Discussion questions are included for mentoring or small groups. Look, maintaining purity is a real problem and Christians have ammo to fight it. Wingerd has written a powerful book which some have called the best book on sanctification they have ever read. This book is no cost to you. Order for yourself if you will read it (we’re not doing this for free for it…

15 Resolves for Maintaining Spiritual Balance in Severe Interpersonal Conflicts

The pain of interpersonal conflict may seem too acute to bear. Sometimes we see these conflicts erupt suddenly among families, or between church members, or at work or school. They may involve serious allegations that tend to rip people apart in ways that seem irreparable. In these most severe ruptures of confidence, when the necrosis of sin is eating up the lives of those involved, is it possible to rise above and maintain a spiritual composure? Certainly that must be…

Prioritizing Bible Reading and Prayer: Learning from Four Very Busy Men

The son and daughter-in-law of missionary J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) were privileged to spend much time with Taylor in China. They not only saw Taylor’s ministry in public, but the kind of man he was in private. Well do the writers remember traveling with him month after month in northern China, by cart and wheelbarrow, with the poorest of inns at night. Often with only one large room for coolies and travelers alike, they would screen off a corner for…

At Least Believe This

Jesus, the risen Ruler of the universe, and Peter, the bold spokesman for Christ’s disciples, along with the author of Hebrews—each of them expressed their belief in Noah, the flood and the ark.

You Talk About What You Love

Leading a retreat for men several years ago, I remember being aware of the spiritual immaturity of some men who had been part of their church for years. The first night I discovered that these men were capable of knowing a lot, including much detailed information. They stood in the stairwell and talked a very long time about baseball, quoting numbers of obscure statistics effortlessly. Their knowledge and obvious passion about the game was quite impressive. Here’s one thing you…

Leaving the Work Undone

One of the saddest notes in biblical history is found in the book of Joshua. The children of Israel were coming into the land that had been promised to them after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God had set everything up. He put dread into the heart of the people in the land, His usual pre-war tactic. He provided an able leader, Joshua. And He promised, and God’s promise is always enough. It was as good as done.…

Witness of the Spirit

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God . . .” Romans 8:16 This “witness” which leads to assurance that we are in God’s family is not a direct or immediate feeling or sense that we are God’s children—some inner confidence that may be entirely misplaced by being based on nothing but the notion itself. The believer will not say merely, “I know that I know that I know.” In fact, having confidence in…

Power Implies Authority; Authority Demands Obedience (by Rod McDonald)

Jesus demonstrated unusual power. It astonished people. It was evident in his making the blind see, raising the dead, healing the lame, and so much more. Multitudes came to him from great distances, and he sometimes healed them all. Dismiss the Bible as the Word of God and regard it merely as a historical record, and the fact cannot be denied: Jesus performed miracles. Some who witnessed this power were merely entertained. Others sought to get something from Jesus. But…

After Camp, or the Conference, or the Retreat, is Over

There is a spiritual “high” that is often experienced toward the end of a church camp, retreat, or conference. A few days of solid Bible teaching, intentional fellowship, and extended personal time with the Lord has a way of making a believer’s heart full. “I wish I felt like this all of the time!” the Christian might say. But you won’t. You’re soon back home experiencing life as it was before you left. Work. House maintenance. Parenting. Appointments. Practices. Bills.…

In the Dining Area

There was a man I met Friday at a grocery store dining area. It was breakfast time. I was meeting my friend there instead of Chik-fil-A where we usually meet on Fridays because his car was being inspected close by. This man strangely sat down right next to us where he could hear everything we would say as we talked through a Bible passage. That seemed strange to me since every other seat in the place was available to him.…

God Above All Governments

You may disagree, but I believe biblical history and subsequent Christian history demonstrates that radical internal holiness, godly enthusiasm to follow Christ, and courageous truth-inspired faith in him regardless of the societal externals or the diffidence and even hatred of those around us, do more to accomplish the will of God in the world than the seating of any government over the people. The government may or may not support the Christian viewpoint. It did not in New Testament days…