Inter-Generational Unity – Nadine Templer
Posted: October 3, 2020
Inter-Generational Unity – Nadine Templer As we strive for unity, one aspect that is often overlooked is the unity between generations, between young and “older” folks, the old guard… Read More
Following Christ in a Pandemic: A Conversation Led by Philip Yancey
Posted: October 2, 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, “science” has become a battleground. There’s an increase in polarization and misinformation around COVID-19, even in Christian circles, and it is costing… Read More
Excellent Biblical Studies Page, from Arturo Elizararrás (Spanish)
Posted: September 30, 2020
Enjoy the great resources found in this link, including a sampling of the articles below: https://www.fpesdras.org/acerca-de-fpe/pagina-de-arturo-elizarraras/
Further Race Matters / BLM resources
Posted: September 30, 2020
My initial post (my George Floyd page) includes a list of helpful resources. (Not all persons agree with each other, or necessarily even with me—the various books, articles, videos, podcasts,… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage III: The Teaching of Jesus, Part 1
Posted: September 30, 2020
Mark 10:2-3, 10-12 Jesus is quizzed. Where does he stand on the divorce issue? Mark indicates absolutely no exceptions! Don’t read through filter of other passages (like 1 Cor or… Read More
Ditch the Shame: You Aren’t Alone!
Posted: September 24, 2020
It’s easy to feel alone in your struggles with porn. We’re here to tell you that you aren’t the only one. Issue 123 • September 2020 Redeeming the Pain: Marnie’s… Read More
The Scourge of Suicide, Part 1, by Tim Sumerlin
Posted: September 23, 2020
Dr. Timothy Sumerlin – Denver, CO, USA • Sep 23, 2020 Suicides have nearly doubled in the United States among young people in recent years. Other age groups are not immune to… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage II: The Old Testament
Posted: September 23, 2020
Podcast notes: Exod 21:10-11: If a married man takes a second (slave) wife, then the food, clothing, and sexual love—material support plus emotional support—received by the first wife must not… Read More
RMSMT Faculty
Posted: September 17, 2020
Rocky Mountain School of Theology and Ministry off to a great start this autumn, and our staff are looking forward to even greater things next semester. First off, in early… Read More
Is It Wrong to Think You’re Right?
Posted: September 16, 2020
September 2020 Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason responds to a common challenge from relativists that Christians face when trying to share their views. For more information, visit str.org.
100 Daily Devotionals on Psalms – Rolan Monje
Posted: September 16, 2020
Play. Pause. Pray. Rolan invites us to play, pause, and pray for 100 days (September 16-December 24), as we look into our deepest feelings throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. Play a… Read More
Divorce & Remarriage I: The Permanence of Marriage
Posted: September 16, 2020
Background information Harsh treatment of women, children, and the vulnerable in OT times: infanticide, abortion, disrespect of women. Divorce was easy and favored the man. Worse, abandoned women could be… Read More
Messianic Judaism 1—Why Focus on this movement?
Posted: September 14, 2020
Talks in this series. Each talk comes with brief notes and key scriptures. 1 — Why focus on this movement? (Please listen to this if you’re unfamiliar with Messianic Judaism.)… Read More
Sharing Solitude in Community – Brandon Bradley
Posted: September 12, 2020
Sharing Solitude in Community – Brandon Bradley In my last article, we explored Henri Nouwen’s idea of a wagon wheel as a simple model of the balance of solitude and… Read More
The Future of Christian Spirituality: In Our Lives, In Our Churches, and In the Academy
Posted: September 11, 2020
Rolheiser Virtual Conference Flyer – The Future of Christian Spirituality: In Our Lives, In Our Churches, and In the Academy – Nov 12-14, 2020 See this flyer for all the… Read More
The Biggest “But,” by Rob Kranz
Posted: September 6, 2020
The Biggest “But” by Rob Kranz In my last post, we looked at one of the two big “Buts” in the New Testament regarding women’s roles. 1 Corinthians 14 can seem problematic… Read More
NEW Videos for Marrieds & Parents Plus Our Latest PODCAST Episodes
Posted: September 4, 2020
A Strength in Weakness Member’s BI-Weekly Update New Perspectives From Strength in Weakness Ministries Volume 19 | September 4, 2020 A SIW Member’s Bi-Weekly Update Real Life Up Close Let’s… Read More
Topics You’ve NEVER Heard on a Podcast Before!
Posted: September 4, 2020
Treating Every Person with Dignity, Kindness and Respect, While Standing for Biblical Truth Discussing Issues You’ve NEVER Heard on a Podcast Before! Oh Yeah, We’re Going There! Click on a TOPIC to… Read More
Peace Behind the Wire
Posted: September 3, 2020
Nonviolent resolution Share my experience in bringing rival gangs to the table and practicing nonviolence together in some of the toughest prisons in the country. Buy the book
Don’t throw them away
Posted: September 3, 2020
Don’t Throw Them Away Imagine a world where nonviolent offenses result in counseling and education rather than incarceration. Instead of learning how to be better criminals, young offenders learn… Read More
Street Tactics – Part 4
Posted: September 2, 2020
AUTHOR Greg Koukl PUBLISHED ON 09/01/2020 TACTICS AND TOOLS Street Tactics are specific conversation maneuvers you can use to navigate graciously, safely, and effectively in what otherwise would be difficult… Read More
A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times
Posted: August 28, 2020
– THE STATEMENT – A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times SPANISH TRANSLATION | FRENCH TRANSLATION We, the undersigned, join together as Christians who uphold the authority of God’s Word… Read More
We Mourn the Passing of Tom Olbricht
Posted: August 21, 2020
We Mourn the Passing of Tom Olbricht Tom Olbricht, the extraordinarily gifted founder of the Christian Scholars’ Conference, who shaped generations of scholars, ministers and church leaders for more than… Read More
Patriarchy: God’s Plan?
Posted: August 18, 2020
Patriarchy: God’s Plan? by Rob Kranz In a recent post, I explored the events of Genesis 2 and 3. As I explained in that post, a careful examination of the text’s language… Read More
The God of the Old Testament: Loving Deity or Cosmic Bully?
Posted: August 13, 2020
The presentations directly address one of the most common objections against the Bible. Taught online to Dallas / Fort Worth area campus ministries in April 2020. Part One (begins about 11… Read More
Free Webinar for Parents from Covenant Eyes
Posted: August 7, 2020
Statistics show us that kids are being exposed to pornography early, and this is having detrimental effects. This webinar will feature experts from Covenant Eyes who will share valuable statistics, research, and… Read More
Street Tactics – Part 3 – str.org
Posted: July 23, 2020
On September 11, 2001—a day Time magazine called the bloodiest day on American soil since the Civil War—two jumbo jets slammed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City,… Read More
Messianic Judaism 12—Shadow vs. Substance, Resources, Challenge
Posted: July 22, 2020
Review: Galatians: Deals with a set of teachings remarkably similar to modern Messianic Judaism. As in Romans, the phrase “the Law” refers to Torah, not works-righteousness…. Read More
How I Disciple People into a Worldview on Race—by Ben Barnett
Posted: July 21, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, We are asking a few disciple making leaders to describe how they disciple people on race. Ben Barnett is a lead pastor of Bridge Pointe Church in… Read More
Messianic Judaism 11—Galatians, Romans, the Jew-Gentile Controversy, & the Israel of God
Posted: July 19, 2020
Main ideas The Jew-Gentile Controversy Just how “Jewish” do Christians need to be? The answer: Not at all, although it is okay for actual Jews to… Read More
It’s Here! Your Guide to a More Peaceful World
Posted: July 18, 2020
It’s Not Where you Travel, But How Just Published, Now Available! Crossing Boundaries: A Traveler’s Guide to World Peace Buy Now! Join me in forming a community of travelers that… Read More
Messianic Judaism 10—Third Temple? Circumcision? Keeping Kosher?
Posted: July 17, 2020
We have already discussed several major features of Judaism that do not carry over directly into Christianity. For example, consider: Animal sacrifices (Heb 9:22; 10:1-4; 10:18)… Read More
Extremely Low Percentage of Americans Hold Biblical Worldview: An Interview with George Barna
Posted: July 15, 2020
The first national survey of the worldview of Americans conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University (@crcacu) shows that although seven out of ten consider themselves to be Christian,… Read More
Messianic Judaism 9—What about the Sabbath?
Posted: July 14, 2020
Main ideas: Sabbatarians are right about the day: Sabbath is the 7th day, sundown Friday-sundown Saturday. The 4th-C church created a “Sunday Sabbath”. (Although Christians had long been… Read More
Messianic Judaism 8—End-time conversion of Israel?
Posted: July 14, 2020
Main ideas: In Rom 11:25, plērōma means fullness, not “full number.” (The identical term appears in 13:10 and 15:29. Also John 1:16; 1 Cor 10:26; Gal 4:4;… Read More
A Long Review of Yancey’s Beyond Racial Gridlock – Part 1
Posted: July 13, 2020
Part 1 – Synopsis Part 2 – Pros Part 3 – Defining and Repurposing Terms Part 4 – Conclusion Dr. George Yancey’s “Beyond Racial Gridlock” is one of the best,… Read More
SIW: NEW PODCAST / New Video for Parents
Posted: July 10, 2020
New Perspectives Listen to Our New SIW Q&A Podcast “Home from Home with Topher & Thomas” Join us, Topher and Thomas, two twenty-somethings who like guys but really love God. We’ll dive head-first… Read More
Messianic Judaism 7—The view of the early church on Israel
Posted: July 10, 2020
Main ideas: Jesus and the apostles clearly taught that Israel had lost its covenant and nationhood in the sight of God (Matt 22:2-9; 23:31-39; John 8:22-24,… Read More
Messianic Judaism 6—Israel: Still God’s People?
Posted: July 10, 2020
Main ideas: The new covenant is for all believers, not just the Jews. In fact, the Jews have no special status before the Lord, and more… Read More
Messianic Judaism 5—Is the Old Covenant still valid?
Posted: July 8, 2020
Main ideas: Law and covenant are integrally connected. Nearly the entire book of Deuteronomy is cast in the form of a covenant, the conditions of which… Read More
Messianic Judaism 4—Jesus Fulfilled the Law
Posted: July 8, 2020
Main ideas: The Law and Prophets are the foundation on which Jesus begins his transformative ministry. Analogy: algebra builds on arithmetic—not invalidating it, but fulfilling it…. Read More
Q&A 1573— What about global warming? (Creation Care IV, with John Clayton)
Posted: July 3, 2020
Used with the permission of John Clayton, of Does God Exist?, who wrote this article Because we live in a time when virtually all of our information comes from news sources… Read More
LIVE STREAM: N.T. Wright and Francis Collins—A Christian Response to Coronavirus
Posted: July 2, 2020
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, what should be the Christian response? Bible scholar N.T. Wright and BioLogos founder Francis Collins, two influential Christian figures and long-time… Read More
The 4th of July
Posted: July 2, 2020
Here you will find a podcast plus notes on The 4th of July (11 minutes). To download the podcast, right click on “download” and select “save link as” or “save target… Read More
Messianic Judaism 3—Is Torah for today?
Posted: July 1, 2020
Main ideas: Matthew 5:17-20 is an important passage for Messianics. Yet the commands Jesus refers to are not the typically “Jewish” mitzvoth, but dealing with anger… Read More
Messianic Judaism 2—Roots and Terms
Posted: July 1, 2020
Main ideas: 1st century: apostles agree Gentiles are not obligated to follow Torah (Acts 15:1-35; Titus 1:10-11). 19th century: rooted in evangelism of Jews in Israel during the Ottoman… Read More
Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, by Jean Henderson
Posted: June 27, 2020
Many of the 19th century novels are great character studies. In her talk on Mansfield Park, Jean Henderson focuses on the meek character of Fanny. If you want more Jane… Read More
Why We’re Not Under the Mosaic Law – str.org
Posted: June 26, 2020
By Amy Krall, for Stands to Reason In a post where I touched on the change from Saturday to Sunday as the day of worship, I was challenged in the comments to… Read More
Protests and prayers, The Christian Chronicle
Posted: June 24, 2020
NATIONAL Protests and prayers Christians respond to George Floyd’s death with outrage, rallies and calls for justice. Find more coverage and interviews related to the death of George… Read More
King Jesus and the Beauty of Obedience-Based Discipleship
Posted: June 24, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, This is your invitation to join David Young, myself, Bill Hull, Renee Sproles, and Ben Barnett for a half-day seminar July 1st on an important topic: King Jesus and… Read More
A Brief Video Message to Dads
Posted: June 20, 2020
A Message to Dads 3 mins Join Us for Our Next Family Support Group Sunday, June 28 |7 PM EST Click Here to Join Sunday, June 28 | 7 PM… Read More
Twelve Resources for this Cultural Moment
Posted: June 19, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, The United States is in the midst of big change. First, it was COVID-19 and all the changes around which everyone had to adopt. Then, it was… Read More
5 Ways Christians are Getting Swept into a Secular Worldview in This Cultural Moment
Posted: June 19, 2020
So much has been said and is being said about the tragic death of George Floyd that it almost feels excessive to add to the conversation. But to continue on… Read More
Dead Sea Scrolls Genetically Fingerprinted
Posted: June 16, 2020
June 15, 2020 Dead Sea Scrolls Genetically Fingerprinted Animal skin DNA reveals some scrolls came from beyond the Qumran caves A highly technical study released on June 11, 2020 in… Read More
Jesus’ Words for the Grieving
Posted: June 12, 2020
Jesus’ Words for the Grieving As a society we are contending with not only a pandemic and record job losses, but also with the racist violence that has plagued our… Read More
Three Transformational Conversations About Race, Christian Ray Flores
Posted: June 5, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and we have been thrust into a new storm. The wave of voices calling for change after the senseless killing of George… Read More
Is there a message in the (tragic) mayhem?, by Malcolm Cox
Posted: June 5, 2020
Is there a message in the – tragic – mayhem? Access the podcast version of the newsletter by clicking here I have two things in my mind this week…. Read More
Racism: A Lament and Call to Repent – Renew.org
Posted: June 3, 2020
Shawn Patterson | Bio Friday, May 8, would have been Ahmaud Arbery’s 26th birthday. On Sunday, February 23, Ahmaud, a 25-year-old African American male, was jogging through Satilla Shores, Georgia. After seeing… Read More
‘We are not screaming when God is screaming’ – Christian Chronicle
Posted: June 2, 2020
Four lessons for members of Churches of Christ — black and white — outraged by George Floyd’s death. Cheryl Mann Bacon Columnist ‘We lose connection with the heart of God,… Read More
Race and Police Violence in America – Is the Beloved Community Actually Achievable?
Posted: June 2, 2020
It’s fair to say our country finds itself in the heat of a reopened wound stemming from police violence and racial tensions. As we see our cities in turmoil, we… Read More
Teaching Our Children About Sexual Ethics
Posted: June 1, 2020
Teaching Our Children about Sexual Ethics and the Bible: A Live Interview With Steve & Deb Bowen for Parents and Grandparents Steve and Deb Bowen oversee the Family Ministry for… Read More
Sermon on the Book of Jude
Posted: May 30, 2020
Sermon for the Milwaukee Church of Christ via Zoom in May, 2020 from the book of Jude. Click here for a link in Dropbox. (This one filmed in a studio… Read More
Common Grounds Unity
Posted: May 23, 2020
A website that may be of interest to you: Unity Draws People to Jesus Our mission is to promote and pray for unity within the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement through the… Read More
Focus on the Person Rather Than the Argument
Posted: May 23, 2020
May 2020 Focus on the Person Rather Than the Argument Alan Shlemon of Stand to Reason shares how best to use your time if you only have one hour… Read More
Where is God in a Pandemic? A Conversation between Tim Keller and Francis Collins
Posted: May 20, 2020
Leading evangelical thinker Tim Keller joins Francis Collins, who heads our country’s biomedical research, in a conversation that includes updates on the latest COVID-19 research, a discussion on the value… Read More
What does it mean to “follow” Jesus?
Posted: May 19, 2020
What does it mean to “follow” Jesus? We hear the language “follower of Jesus” all the time, but what does it mean to be a disciple, or apprentice, of the… Read More
Freedom in Christ: Uprooted, Blown Along, and Wandering
Posted: May 18, 2020
Message delivered to the Milwaukee Church of Christ on Sunday, May 17, 2020. This is a link to the service. Doug’s message begins at the 23:00 mark.
Home Alone: Surviving the Pandemic for Married Couples – Renew
Posted: May 15, 2020
Home Alone: Surviving the Pandemic for Married Couples
Creation Care IV, Global Warming, with John Clayton
Posted: May 13, 2020
Used with the permission of John Clayton, of Does God Exist?, who wrote this article Because we live in a time when virtually all of our information comes from news sources… Read More
In the Footsteps of Paul during Covid-19, by Dr. Mark Wilson
Posted: May 13, 2020
In the Footsteps of Paul during COVID-19 by Dr. Mark Wilson (markwilson@sevenchurches.org) (Mark is helping me lead the Biblical Study Tour to Turkey 5 months from now.) Each spring I… Read More
Where is God in a Pandemic? Francis Collins and Tim Keller
Posted: May 12, 2020
We’re thrilled to announce our next live stream event, featuring leading evangelical thinker Tim Keller and BioLogos founder Francis Collins, who heads our country’s biomedical research! On… Read More
Helping a Friend with Anxiety or Depression, Part 3
Posted: May 12, 2020
Helping a Friend with… Anxiety or Depression Part 3 This is the final blog on listening. We’ve covered ways to help your friend (or yourself) when you struggle with anxiety… Read More
The Twisted Scriptures?
Posted: May 11, 2020
The Twisted Scriptures? Sometimes my intent is well-meaning, and yet, my conclusions, actions, and/or attitudes are misguided. Someone said, “any logical deduction taken to its extreme becomes absurd.” For years,… Read More
A Letter from Catherine Keller – The Pandemic: What is God Doing?
Posted: May 9, 2020
Drew Theological School Apr 2 · 9 min read Dear Ones, Particularly, in this letter, ones who claim some seriously biblical, or explicitly theological, orientation. Amidst this pandemic, ones who may be wondering……. Read More
Helping a Friend with Anxiety or Depression Part 2
Posted: May 5, 2020
Helping a Friend with… Anxiety or Depression Part 2 Last week I shared three ways to help your friend (or yourself) when you struggle with anxiety or depression. They were:… Read More
La Reina Isabel II me inspiró, fortaleciendo liderazgo.
Posted: May 4, 2020
Webinar para fortalecer liderazgo. Iniciamos el 6 de Mayo 2020 En los momentos de crisis, es muy importante fortalecernos y crecer en nuestro liderazgo. ¿Cómo vas a verte este tiempo… Read More
Acts 2.38 and Greek Grammatical Structures
Posted: May 4, 2020
Acts 2.38 and Understanding Purpose examines whether complete cognizance is necessary for a valid baptism by identifying analogous grammatical structures in the Greek N.T.
Why Do Pastors Keep Getting Rehired After Abuse?
Posted: May 1, 2020
NEWS Why Do Pastors Keep Getting Rehired After Abuse? Victims’ advocates caution institutions against plans to “restore” fallen leaders. Kate Shellnutt Another case of a leader with an abusive… Read More
SIW: Don’t Miss What’s Coming Up, Video Series & Support Groups!
Posted: May 1, 2020
A Strength in Weakness Member’s Weekly Update New Perspectives From Strength in Weakness Ministries Volume 7; April 30, 2020 A SIW Member’s Weekly Update Coming Up: How to Break… Read More
CLEAN – podcast 21, Wealthy Shunammites’ Child (= OT character podcast 64)
Posted: May 1, 2020
To listen to CLEAN podcast 21, The Wealthy Shunammites’ Child (16 minutes), click on arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target as’ or ‘save link as’. Introduction CLEAN 21,… Read More
For Lessons On Closed Houses Of Worship, Look At 1918 Flu Pandemic
Posted: April 29, 2020
But not until the COVID-19 crisis hit did I learn about the global influenza pandemic of 1918 — known colloquially as the Spanish flu — and my family’s connection to… Read More
Helping a Friend with Anxiety or Depression
Posted: April 28, 2020
Helping a Friend with… Anxiety or Depression During this difficult time, we all know someone (or we struggle with ourselves) with anxiety or depression (or both). Eighty percent of all… Read More
Quarantine Church Con 2020 Video
Posted: April 22, 2020
Thank you for attending QCC2020! Quarantine Church Con 2020 Summary What an incredible time we had together last week! God brought together over 1,000 of his people to be equipped… Read More
How to Access the Abundance
Posted: April 17, 2020
How to access the abundance Access the podcast version of the newsletter by clicking here Abundance or scarcity? What is your outlook right now? I’ve been reading Dallas Willard’s book,… Read More
Voices only: Virtual choirs are a hit | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: April 14, 2020
Voices only: Virtual choirs are a hit
Are We Making Disciples or Church Members? A FREE Resource
Posted: April 14, 2020
Dear Discipleship-first Friends, I hope the subject line got your attention because it is a vitally important question for the North American Church. Most of us have been trained to… Read More
Trust, Die, Rise—by Malcolm Cox
Posted: April 10, 2020
“if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5 NIV11) Trust, Die,… Read More
Believing in the Resurrection of Jesus, by Sam Laing
Posted: April 9, 2020
Believing in the Resurrection of Jesus How can we be believers in Jesus if we were not there and did not see him after he was raised from the dead?… Read More
LISTEN: Francis Collins on the pandemic through the lens of his faith 📡
Posted: April 9, 2020
Notes: If you’ve been a regular listener to the Language of God podcast you’ve probably noticed our recent episodes have been a little different in attempt to respond to these times we’re… Read More
How Not to ‘Sink’, by Malcolm Cox
Posted: April 4, 2020
How not to ‘sink’ Access the podcast version of the newsletter by clicking here Thank you so much to everyone who gave me feedback on the topic of loneliness, especially… Read More
DISCIPLESHIP Bloom Where You’re Quarantined
Posted: April 3, 2020
DISCIPLESHIP Some of us were lonely well before the pandemic. How do we find God’s comfort now? Clarissa Moll This past Sunday, I took my children for a walk in… Read More
Playing God: Pandemic Brings Moral Dilemmas to US Hospitals
Posted: April 3, 2020
Two Christian bioethicists on life or death issues that American doctors may soon face. INTERVIEW BY KARA BETTIS March 31, 2020 Medical professionals across the US are preparing COVID-19 units… Read More
Live Stream: Science and Faith in Pandemic Times
Posted: April 1, 2020
Dear Douglas, I am delighted to invite you to a special live stream with Francis Collins on Monday, April 6 at 8 p.m. EST! Francis Collins is the founder of BioLogos… Read More
Compassion or Judgment?
Posted: April 1, 2020
Compassion or Judgment? Choose Today! You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. – John 8:15 Compassion or Judgment? Facing loss is never easy and suicide in particular, is… Read More
End-of-Life Care, by Dr. Penny Cox
Posted: March 29, 2020
Listen to Dr. Penny Cox, a follower of Christ and a general practitioner in Britain, as she speaks sensitively and compassionately about end-of-life issues.
“Washing with the Word,” with Malcolm Cox
Posted: March 23, 2020
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you….Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV11) Mar 23, 10:21 AM Access the… Read More
How Churches of Christ responded when the 1918 ‘Spanish flu’ killed millions
Posted: March 22, 2020
Many congregations canceled services, and some Christians focused on feeding and nursing the poor. By John Mark Hicks NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville saw its first case of the “Spanish flu” in… Read More
BBC News: Coronavirus: Creativity, kindness and canals offer hope amid outbreak
Posted: March 21, 2020
I saw this on the BBC News App and thought you should see it: From environmental improvements to acts of kindness, there are glimmers of light amid the crisis. Continue… Read More
“New Podcast Series for the Duration of Covid 19,” by Malcolm Cox
Posted: March 19, 2020
New Podcast Series Something to get you through the Covid 19 crisis with your spirit intact. Introducing the new daily podcast based on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) The… Read More
Viral Christianity, by Rob Krantz
Posted: March 16, 2020
Viral Christianity by Rob Kranz The beauty of a blog is that you are in full control of what you write about. Most of the time, I write about things I… Read More
Coronavirus (Covid-19): A Christian Response
Posted: March 13, 2020
LESSONS FOR YOU AND ME: Don’t over-react Trust the Lord Beware the real virus: sin Be excellent stewards of the time Don’t overanalyze Care deeply about others, not just ourselves… Read More
“Untangling Addiction,” by Marcus De Carvalho
Posted: March 12, 2020
Dr. Marcus De Carvalho is a world renown specialist in addictions and a great friend to SIW. In this e-book he introduces hope and the ability to overcome the “hijacking”… Read More
Down Syndrome and the Image of God
Posted: March 9, 2020
By Samuel L. Caraballo A biology teacher sees things with a new perspective when his own child is born with trisomy 21, and reflects on her life and what it… Read More
Can Your Church Thrive in Exile?
Posted: March 9, 2020
Can Your Church Thrive in Exile? A Conversation with Randy Gariss Randy Gariss was minister of Joplin’s College Heights Christian Church when a mile-wide F5 tornado mowed into Joplin. Randy… Read More
The Movie FINDING GUY Free on You Tube
Posted: March 5, 2020
Five Years in the Making & Nominated for Best Documentary & Best Director at the 2018 International Christian Film Festival in Miami Learn More
“The Importance of Joy”
Posted: March 3, 2020
I find it very significant that on the last night of His life Jesus talked a lot about joy. Not exactly the topic you would expect from somebody about to… Read More
Are You Creating Disciples or Consumers? Interview with Kelvin Teamer
Posted: March 2, 2020
What does revival look like in the 21st century? Are You Creating Disciples or Consumers? An Interview with Kelvin Teamer Church leaders often want to preach what feels good, and church people… Read More
CLEAN- podcast 20, Widow of Zarephath & Son (= OT character podcast 63)
Posted: March 1, 2020
We now begin CLEAN sub-series Reanimation. To listen to CLEAN podcast 20, The Widow of Zarephath & Son (17 minutes), click on the arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target… Read More
The tragedy of the even dumber church
Posted: February 29, 2020
Christian theologian Dr. William Lane Craig during debate at Purdue University, Feb. 1, 2013. | (Photo: Nicole Byrd) It’s true – time really does fly. Eight years ago, I wrote an article… Read More
The Golden Rule & the Silver Rule
Posted: February 29, 2020
Examples of the Silver & Golden Rules in the world’s philosophies and religions: Jainism: “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.” — Sutrakritanga, 1.11.33… Read More
Mental Health in the Church Setting 2020
Posted: February 26, 2020
Mental Health in the Church Setting Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. – 2 Thessalonians 1:4 I’ve… Read More
THE UNSURPRISING PUSH FOR POLYGAMY
Posted: February 22, 2020
Dear marriage supporter, If two men can marry one another, why not three? Or why not two men and a woman? What’s so special about the number two once it’s… Read More
Polyamory: Pastors’ Next Sexual Frontier
Posted: February 22, 2020
CT PASTORS Polyamory: Pastors’ Next Sexual Frontier These once-taboo relationships are showing up in churches across the US. Preston Sprinkle and Branson Parler A pastor recently told me (Preston)… Read More
Why a Contradiction Seems Convincing
Posted: February 21, 2020
Why a Contradiction Seems Convincing Click Here to Listen It’s easy to believe a lie when you haven’t heard the whole story. But have you ever wondered how people can… Read More
Father’s Day – Douglas Jacoby
Posted: February 20, 2020
Watch Doug’s sermon on Exodus 20 – “Honor Your Father”
“A Movement Divided” by Samuel Escobar
Posted: February 19, 2020
Three approaches to world evangelization stand in tension with one another. Samuel Escobar (Peru) is President of the Latin American Theological Fraternity and Professor at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia,… Read More
Delving into the history of black churches
Posted: February 18, 2020
Delving into the history of black churches | The Christian Chronicle Edward J. Robinson’s newest book, “Hard-Fighting Soldiers: A History of African American Churches of Christ,” takes its title from… Read More
“Can a Christian be an environmentalist?”
Posted: February 15, 2020
“Caring for Creation” Click here for the newsletter podcast version – with extra ‘bits’ We have seen what I would call “proper weather” this last week. Flights cancelled, trees felled,… Read More
Discipling Busy People Online (and More)
Posted: February 5, 2020
Discipleship-First Friends, I am just completing an experiment in disciple making with some current and future leaders in the staff at our church that I wanted to share with you…. Read More
Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong – Barna Group
Posted: January 17, 2020
Sharing one’s faith—evangelizing—is a core practice among many religions. For Christians, it’s viewed as a mandate from Jesus himself before he departed earth: commanding his disciples to “spread the good… Read More
Losing our Religion: Conservative churches grapple with gender issues in time of growth
Posted: January 15, 2020
www.washingtontimes.com 5 mins read Religious conservative leaders at the national level see the fight over gender issues as make-or-break. (Associated Press/File) U.S. church attendance is dropping, but Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee, is… Read More
125 Countries and 1 Core Mission – Interview with Douglas Jacoby
Posted: January 13, 2020
Renew.org If you had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a world traveling disciple maker, what questions would you ask? As for me, I was curious about what… Read More
Everyday Disciple Maker: Debbra Stephens
Posted: January 10, 2020
Everyday Disciple Maker: Debbra Stephens CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Whether you work in sales or in a school, whether a preacher or a plumber, there is one… Read More
Does Science Disprove Faith?
Posted: January 2, 2020
By John Ortberg on January 1, 2020 This piece has been adapted from the transcript of a sermon delivered by John Ortberg at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church on January 5, 2014, and has… Read More
6 Things to Avoid in Dating – Third Drive Faith
Posted: November 14, 2019
Do you have a friend who needs good dating advice? Send this to him or her! Click here for more.
Muscle and a Shovel | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: November 6, 2019
Muscle and a Shovel | The Christian Chronicle Muscle and a Shovel is a raw and gritty true story about a pair of young newly-weds who move to the city… Read More
David Young and Eric Metaxas? Say no more!
Posted: October 25, 2019
Our very own cofounder, David Young, was recently on The Eric Metaxas Show! Leaders are talking about A Grand Illusion, you can join the conversation. Friends, In case you don’t know, Eric Metaxas… Read More
Q&A 1565—Have any ideas for a personal spiritual retreat?
Posted: October 25, 2019
Q: Thanks for sharing about your personal spiritual retreat in Canada [October 2019]. This is making me curious (and I suspect that others might be wondering also) about what is… Read More
Church and Culture, with Christian Ray Flores
Posted: October 23, 2019
Recently I caught up with one of the workshop presenters at our November 6th Gathering, Christian Ray Flores. Christian is a Renew.org co-founder and has an interesting perspective on culture and… Read More
The Top 100 Verses on Money and Wealth
Posted: October 16, 2019
Bookmark the list for Bible study, reference, and sharing with others. Top 100 Bible Verses on Money and Wealth Also see the Topical Index of Money and Wealth Scriptures The latest… Read More
Outgrowing Facts – Tyndale House
Posted: October 16, 2019
Assyriologist George Heath-Whyte explains the errors in Richard Dawkins’ new book Richard Dawkins was asked by journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy in an interview recently, “If you could change the world, how would you change… Read More
SBC President: We Failed to Heed Victims’ Voices
Posted: October 15, 2019
SBC President J. D. Greear speaks at the ERLC’s Caring Well Conference on October 3.Southern Baptist Convention President J. D. Greear acknowledged that while sexual abuse survivors have pleaded with… Read More
CRISPR babies?
Posted: October 2, 2019
What should we think of DNA experiments and developments? Jim Stump ponders the most recent developments in the realm of gene editing, including CRISPR babies, the problem of chimeras, and more,… Read More
Online Bible Test—Am I a Student of the Word?
Posted: September 20, 2019
How well do we know God’s Word? Here’s a tool to evaluate our level of Bible knowledge. The diagnostic test at 3 levels has been constructed with the help of many around… Read More
Shared Church
Posted: September 19, 2019
“. . . members together of one body and sharers together . . .” (Eph. 3:6) Shared Church aims to encourage Christians and churches to practice participatory body life—the one-anothering… Read More
How a Gay Man and a Christian Minister Became Great Friends
Posted: September 18, 2019
Kidogo – Christian Practicals 2.67K subscribers Guy Hammond used to live a gay life before he became a Christian. Now, as Christian minister, he runs an international ministry dedicated to… Read More
Facts Concerning Social Media Use in 2019
Posted: September 16, 2019
Social Media – A powerful tool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k_G_h41ZaQ
Gauging The Health of Your Church Members
Posted: September 12, 2019
By CSN on Sep 05, 2019 01:00 pm There are many ways you can assess the spiritual health of your church members. Faith, regular church attendance, and engagement in community… Read More
Are Most Scientists Atheists?
Posted: September 7, 2019
ARE MOST SCIENTISTS ATHEISTS? Baruch Aba Shalev wrote a book titled 100 Years of Nobel Prizes. That book contains a report on Nobel prizes awarded between 1901 and 2000. During that period, when 423… Read More
Chik-fil-A – “Anti-equality giving”
Posted: September 7, 2019
CHICK-FIL-A GIVING. San Antonio, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, have kicked Chick-fil-A out of their airports for “aiding and abetting Christian organizations.” What is especially ironic is that it is the charity work of… Read More
Understanding Myths That May Hold Us Back
Posted: September 5, 2019
Don’t Be Fooled Into Believing These Final Two GRIEF MYTHS You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot… Read More
The Evolution of a Homeschooling Mom
Posted: August 29, 2019
By Kendra Terpstra on August 16, 2019 Whenever people ask me how I found out about BioLogos, I usually give them a quick elevator speech that begins with when I first read… Read More
Season 2 of Language of God
Posted: August 26, 2019
“One thing I see at the orthodox cores of our traditions is that at one and the same time we are to hold faithfully to truth as we know it… Read More
The Billy Graham Rule Goes to Court | News & Reporting | Christianity Today
Posted: August 23, 2019
A North Carolina sheriff’s deputy sues his former employer for religious discrimination after it wouldn’t accommodate his request to not train a female officer one-on-one. David Roach August 20, 2019… Read More
Searching for Disciple Making Churches and Movements in North America?
Posted: August 21, 2019
Dear Discipleship-First Tribe, We want you to become the disciple maker God intends you to be. For those of you who are church leaders, we also want you to develop… Read More
“Our Family Spent Too Much Money Last Year” by Patrick Blair
Posted: August 21, 2019
Late last year, I noticed our family checkbook was getting very light. Dread filled my mind as I realized that we would need to borrow money to pay our bills… Read More
Islam & Christianity (lesson from Azerbaijan)
Posted: August 6, 2019
The podcast Islam & Christianity (26 minutes) is intended to help the new student of world religions to develop a feel for how the two faiths connect. This is material I… Read More
Christian Cyborgs?!? A Serious Conversation About Science and Humanity
Posted: August 2, 2019
Man melding with machine. Anti-aging technology. Brain-computer interface. Gene-edited “designer” babies. Some scientific advances go beyond helping humanity overcome obstacles. They actually begin to help humanity overcome, well . …. Read More
Two Things to Know for Back-to-School Time
Posted: July 31, 2019
First – Learn from Disciple Making Leader: Small Circle Steve McCoy is the leader of Small Circle, one of our trusted disciple-making partners. Here’s what he told us about his ministry… Read More
Biblical Town of Ziklag May Have Been Discovered
Posted: July 24, 2019
Located between Kiryat Gat and Lachish in southern Israel, Khirbet a-Ra‘i has been the site of excavations since 2015. The researchers recently announced their belief that they have uncovered the… Read More
Más Allá de la Vida 1 & 2, por Arturo Elizarrarás
Posted: July 17, 2019
Podcast 1 Podcast 2 Más Allá de la Vida – Slides
Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary
Posted: July 16, 2019
FORT WORTH, Texas — Dr. Kent Brantly sat on his counselor’s couch and wept. The tears came last summer as the Christian physician visited with Dottie Schulz, a missionary care volunteer… Read More
Mark Moore on Life, Legacy and Core 52
Posted: July 15, 2019
I was recently able to catch up with Renew Gathering speaker Mark Moore. We talked about life transitions, creating a legacy, personal discipline, and a new book he has written… Read More
What is the Bible (Rob Bell), by Jon Sherwood
Posted: July 9, 2019
“Just let the Bible be whatever it is.”…But just what is the Bible? What is the Bible? This is a vitally important question. Rob Bell is a famous American author,… Read More
Tired of Living as Predictably as a Facebook Advertisement? – Renew.org
Posted: July 6, 2019
Headlines were buzzing with the announcement. Facebook had introduced a new metric that would significantly revamp their algorithms. Continue here.
Ancient DNA reveals the origins of the Philistines
Posted: July 5, 2019
FROM THE SEA DNA obtained from remains of people who inhabited an ancient city on Israel’s coast, including this child, indicate that the Philistines mentioned in the Hebrew Bible descended… Read More
These Guys Don’t Panic at Tough Questions
Posted: July 2, 2019
In his own words, comedian Ricky Gervais went “from Jesus-loving Christian to fun-loving infidel in one afternoon.” Ricky Gervais was 8 years old. He was drawing the Crucifixion as part… Read More
When the terrorists came for us | The Christian Chronicle
Posted: July 2, 2019
After his wife became Muslim to appease militant Islamists, he fled with their children — and found Christ. Erik Tryggestad President and CEO DONO-MANGA, Chad — In this rural African village,… Read More
What Does the Bible Say About Being Transgender?
Posted: July 1, 2019
Two New AMAZING Videos From SIW! P.S. Put your seat belt on! #1. What Does the Bible Say bout Being Transgender? By Brandon Redler 3.3 min #2. Why I Left My Transgender Life Behind … Read More
CLEAN – podcast 10, the Four Lepers (= OT Character podcast 59)
Posted: July 1, 2019
To listen to lesson 10 in the CLEAN series, The Four Samaritan Lepers (10 minutes), click on the play arrow. Or you can download the podcast by right clicking here and choosing ‘save… Read More
Is animal suffering part of God’s good creation? – Common-questions – BioLogos
Posted: June 28, 2019
If God is good, and loving, and powerful, how can we account for the enormous amount of animal (and human) suffering caused by predation, disease, and natural disasters? Traditionally, Christians… Read More
Who Are We? (What we Christ-followers prefer to be called)
Posted: June 26, 2019
WHO ARE WE? SELF-TEST: Rank the following terms in order of usage–what you usually call yourself. Christian Disciple Brother Saint Many of us answered 1-2-3-4, right? But in the New… Read More
Subject: 4 Things I Would Like to Say to Taylor Swift as a Pastor
Posted: June 25, 2019
Renew.org 4 Things I Would Like to Say to Taylor Swift as a Pastor June was a big month for Taylor Swift as she embraced LGBTQ month,… Read More
“We Are Church,” by Francis Chan
Posted: June 23, 2019
History — We Are Church A Brief History of We Are Church. Excerpt from Letters to the Church, by Francis Chan. Why I Left My Megachurch In 1994, when I… Read More
“Think about it…”
Posted: June 21, 2019
Two twin boys were raised by an alcoholic father. One grew up to be an alcoholic and when asked what happened he said “I watched my father”. The other grew… Read More
Opinion | The Day Christian Fundamentalism Was Born – The New York Times
Posted: June 18, 2019
How a meeting in Philadelphia changed American religion forever. By Matthew Avery Sutton Mr. Sutton, a professor of history at Washington State University, is the author of the forthcoming “Double… Read More
Church Intensive
Posted: June 18, 2019
LEARN CHURCH PLANTING FROM OUR PASTORS a note from francis Haven’t you always been a bit confused about Church? You read about the unstoppable power, miraculous love, and outrageous sacrifice… Read More
The 5 points that led me to leave Calvinism, by Dr. Leighton Flowers
Posted: June 17, 2019
Many have asked what specific points led me away from Calvinism. Being a Professor of Theology that once affirmed TULIP gives me a unique perspective on this subject. However, I… Read More
Our Manhood Crisis – An Interview with Robert Lewis
Posted: June 17, 2019
Something ominous is happening to young men today; it’s a crisis…and strangely, we are not talking about it. A recent USA Today article captured the essence of the crisis with the article “Boy Crisis Threatens America’s… Read More
Who Was? Series
Posted: June 16, 2019
With over 150 titles, Penguin’s Who Was? series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Play the Who Was Adventure game! Download the Who Was series app… Read More
Trent Butler on Judges
Posted: June 15, 2019
Excerpt from Trent Butler, The Word Biblical Commentary 8, Judges (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009), lxxx. ……”Three tribes… receive the brunt of the author’s judgment in Judges. Benjamin could not take… Read More
Father’s Day Challenge
Posted: June 14, 2019
Father’s Day is just around the corner. Covenant Eyes would love to see all the dads out there take the Dad Challenge. What better time to start this challenge but… Read More
Two New iFaith Videos from Hebrews
Posted: June 14, 2019
Two video sermons taken from the book of Hebrews: iFaith 19 (Heb A), “Christ is Supreme,” and iFaith 20 (Heb B), “The Truth about Falling Away”. Listen to either or… Read More
The Lost Interview with Cathy Hammond
Posted: June 14, 2019
My wife Cathy passed away on August 13, 2018. We were married for 28 incredible years. Through our Strength in Weakness ministry, we traveled the world telling our story and… Read More
Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds | The New Yorker
Posted: June 12, 2019
New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason. The vaunted human capacity for reason may have more to do with winning arguments than with thinking straight. Illustration… Read More
The preachers getting rich from poor Americans – BBC News
Posted: June 12, 2019
Televangelist Todd Coontz has a well-worn routine: he dresses in a suit, pulls out a Bible and urges viewers to pledge a very specific amount of money. “Don’t delay, don’t… Read More
Miracle Soul (John Clayton)
Posted: June 11, 2019
For over 200 years people have used soil from the churchyard of Sacred Heart Church in the Boho Highlands of rural Northern Ireland as a remedy for a variety of… Read More
A Discipleship Group You Can Start Tomorrow
Posted: June 10, 2019
Friends, As a Renew subscriber you likely aspire to be a disciple who makes disciples. We want to help make that as easy as possible for you. This is… Read More
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Posted: May 29, 2019
Like many of you, I enjoy a good book. Apart from occasional espionage novels, nearly all of my reading is Christian literature, theology, history, and science. Yet now and again,… Read More
Did the Samaritans Get a Bum Rap?
Posted: May 20, 2019
If you read the Bible—especially the New Testament—it’s pretty easy to come away with a bad impression of Samaritans. In fact, most of us would probably rank the Samaritans just… Read More
David & Bathsheba, by Sara Barton
Posted: May 13, 2019
Amazing keynote message given at the Harbor Pepperdine Bible Lectures on Thursday, May 2, 2019 in Malibu, CA. Click here to watch.
Gospel Alliance (book recommendation)
Posted: May 11, 2019
From the book: “I want to show that the gospel and our faith response must not be reduced to the cross, or even to the cross and resurrection. The gospel… Read More
Q&A 1553—Should scientists study prayer?
Posted: May 10, 2019
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Four in five Americans believe in the healing power of prayer, according to surveys, and even a majority of medical doctors say that miraculous healing sometimes occurs…. Read More
COC & ICOC: The Rift & The Repair-Audio & Notes
Posted: May 9, 2019
Two classes given by Douglas Jacoby & Nick Zola at “The Harbor” Pepperdine Bible Lectures, on May 3, 2019. The two audio lessons are followed by the Powerpoint presentation with… Read More