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Spiritual Life

Resources to help you plan the year God is giving you

Posted: January 6, 2021

Click here for the podcast version “Happy New Year!” I hope you had a cracking Christmas, but also a wonderful New Year. It’s two days into 2021, the sun is… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 17, The Crazy Man in the Synagogue (= NT character podcast 61)

Posted: January 5, 2021

To listen to CLEAN podcast 17, The Synagogue Demoniac (11 minutes), click on arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target as’ or ‘save link as’. Scriptural study: Mark 1:21-28 Jesus… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 16, Father & Son (= NT character podcast 60)

Posted: December 29, 2020

To listen to CLEAN podcast 16, Father & Son (14 minutes), click on arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target as’ or ‘save link as’. Introduction Yesterday: mother/daughter;… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 15, Mother & Daughter (= NT character podcast 59)

Posted: December 22, 2020

To listen to CLEAN podcast 15, Mother & Daughter (14 minutes), click on arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target as’ or ‘save link as’. Introduction Some of those… Read More

Let There be Peace on Earth!, by John Teal

Posted: December 19, 2020

Let There be Peace on Earth! And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 14, the Gerasene Demoniac (= NT character podcast 58)

Posted: December 15, 2020

To listen to CLEAN podcast 14, The Gerasene Demoniac (14 minutes), click on arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target as’ or ‘save link as’. Scriptural study: Mark 5:1-18… Read More

How to turn a blue Christmas red!

Posted: December 9, 2020

A you celebrating a Blue Christmas? Are you celebrating a Blue Christmas? Childhood memories linger from years past: eager anticipation, a shiny new red bicycle, new clothes, or that unexpected… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 13, Mary Magdalene (= NT character study 57)

Posted: December 8, 2020

To listen to CLEAN podcast 13, Mary Magdalene (13 minutes), click on arrow. To download and listen later, right click here and choose ‘save target as’ or ‘save link as’. Introduction Demons are never explicitly… Read More

My Child Just Came Out, What Do I Do?

Posted: November 21, 2020

New Perspectives From Strength in Weakness Ministries Volume 24 | November 13, 2020 A SIW Member’s Bi-Weekly Update Video Series for Parents Watch Part 4 of this AMAZING  Video Series… Read More

Who Will Have Your Attention? Clinging to Christ in the Digital Age | Desiring God

Posted: November 21, 2020

Who Will Have Your Attention? Clinging to Christ in the Digital Age Scripture: Proverbs 27:20, Mark 9:7, Colossians 3:1–3, and Hebrews 2:1 As you know, our world offers us a feast of new multimedia… Read More

“From Me to We” – Nadine Templer

Posted: November 21, 2020

“From Me to We” – Nadine Templer A couple of months ago our family moved from the suburbs of Washington DC to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal – places with… Read More

Here’s why believers NEED false teaching

Posted: November 18, 2020

Christians have been caught off guard. The current revolution sweeping society today was largely unexpected by most believers. That’s understandable in one sense. Who knows what new philosophy will capture… Read More

Solitude Shapes Community and Mission, Brandon Bradley

Posted: November 11, 2020

Can We Begin With Solitude? I am honored that John Teal, one of my former students at CCCB, asked me to contribute to the Common Grounds discussion. He asked me… Read More

Age of Opportunity Series – Moral Boundaries – Dr. Douglas Jacoby

Posted: November 10, 2020

This double presentation was given to the Winnipeg Church of Christ Campus & Teens on November 7, 2020. Moral Boundaries Presentation: Click HERE OT Class Presentation: Click HERE

Unity & Relationships in the Church

Posted: November 9, 2020

Watch this workshop, “Unity & Relationships in the Church” sponsored by Women of Worth in Bangalore, India. The file begins with an interview, the lesson following at about 11 minutes… Read More

Tips for Living a Life of Daily Peace, by Guy Hammond

Posted: November 5, 2020

Treating Every Person with Dignity, Kindness and Respect, While Standing for Biblical Truth Live a Life  of Daily PEACE John 14:27  

Standing at the Crossroads

Posted: October 31, 2020

Standing at the Crossroads One Sunday in the 1980s, serving as a campus minister, I found myself standing at the crossroads in front of our church building. I was debating… Read More

Teleios: A Journal of Holistic Christian Spirituality

Posted: October 29, 2020

Teleios is the journal of the Teleios Society. The Teleios Society exists to promote holistic Christian spirituality in the lives of disciples of Jesus. The editors believe the Christian community… Read More

The Unity of the Spirit and “Lines of Fellowship”

Posted: October 26, 2020

  Unity of the Spirit and “Lines of Fellowship” – Matt Dabbs Paul was much more ecumenical than I was growing up. The more I read Paul the more divisive… Read More

Resources to handle isolation – with faith, Malcolm Cox

Posted: October 12, 2020

  Click here for the podcast version Inspiration in isolation I have been thinking a lot this week about the difference our faith can make to a sense of isolation… Read More

The Scourge of Suicide – Part 3, by Tim Sumerlin

Posted: October 8, 2020

The Scourge of Suicide – Part Three Resources His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by… Read More

Q&A 1590—Smoking mushrooms, the spiritual world, and marijuana

Posted: October 8, 2020

Douglas and John, would you please address the issue of Christians smoking mushrooms, especially for healing, from an eastern medical perspective? What about the spirit world? I know some believers who… Read More

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

How to Invite a Transgender Person to Church, by Brandon Redler

Posted: August 2, 2019

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Video 2: Can You Be Gay and a Christian?

Posted: May 6, 2019

Can You Be Gay and a Christian? See why over 100,000 people have attended a Strength in Weakness workshop!   SIW HITS  THE ROAD   Madrid, Spain Guy Hammond May… Read More

How a U.S. Church Baptized 3729 People in One Year

Posted: May 4, 2019

  Friends,   Many Renew leaders have success stories to share. We want God to get the credit in these stories. We also want to learn from these stories how… Read More

May News from Tyndale House

Posted: May 3, 2019

May News from Tyndale House Dear friends, At Tyndale House we are passionate about supporting evangelical biblical scholars, and ensuring that Christians across the world benefit from their work. In… Read More

Video 3: When Your Kids Tell You They Are Gay

Posted: May 1, 2019

#3. “When Your Kids Tell You They Are Gay” Steve Bowen 4 min #1. “Is It a Sin If You Feel Gay?” Guy Hammond 3.5 min #2. “Can You Be… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 9 (= OT Character Podcast 58, Uzziah pt. II)

Posted: May 1, 2019

To listen to lesson 9 in the CLEAN series, The Leprosy of Uzziah (9 minutes), click on the play arrow. Or you can download the podcast by right clicking here and choosing… Read More

Tolerant, Non-judgmental, and Loving: What Do These Have to Do With Discipling Relationships?

Posted: April 24, 2019

Dear Discipleship-first Tribe, Disciples of Jesus are facing a subtle but pervasive challenge in North America right now. Left unchecked, this challenge erodes the convictions of everyday disciples, leaders, and… Read More

State of the Bible 2019: Trends in Engagement

Posted: April 19, 2019

Each year, Barna examines behaviors and beliefs related to the Bible among American adults, a study conducted in partnership with American Bible Society. In the 2019 “State of the Bible” report,… Read More

Is It a Sin if You Are Homosexually Attracted?

Posted: April 18, 2019

See why over 100,000 people have attended a Strength in Weakness workshop!   SIW HITS  THE ROAD   Madrid, Spain Guy Hammond May 5, 2019 La Iglesia de los Disćipulos… Read More

5 Ways to Disciple People in Light of Easter Weekend

Posted: April 17, 2019

I am a senior pastor; I have been one for more than 30 years. So, I know the subtle pressure that can sneak in: to produce, provide and program for… Read More

Stress Mess: 3 In 5 Millennials Say Life More Stressful Now Than Ever Before

Posted: April 9, 2019

From slow WiFi to broken phone screens to zero “likes” on social media, everyday stressors are causing young adults to have struggles falling asleep 138 nights each year, researchers say…. Read More

Conversion is not your mission, pope tells Catholics in Morocco

Posted: April 1, 2019

From Reuters News: Conversion is not your mission, pope tells Catholics in Morocco http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pope-morocco/conversion-is-not-your-mission-pope-tells-catholics-in-morocco-idUKKCN1RC0FJ Pope Francis told the tiny Catholic community in predominantly Muslim Morocco on Sunday that their mission… Read More

Why I am NOT a Gay Christian, by Guy Hammond

Posted: March 29, 2019

Why I am NOT a Gay Christian By Guy Hammond Executive Director, Strength in Weakness Ministries “You are not being your authentic self, you’re a liar and a fraud.” “You… Read More

Responses to Ezekiel series

Posted: March 29, 2019

The following are responses to the Ezekiel series (10 installments), which appears in the newsletters of 20 & 27 Feb; 6, 13, 20, and 27 Mar; and 3, 10, 17,… Read More

Scriptures that Prove God Condones Homosexuality, by Guy Hammond

Posted: March 22, 2019

A List of All Scriptures that Proves God Condones Homosexuality By Guy Hammond Executive Director; Strength in Weakness Ministries Does God love homosexuals? Of course, God loves everyone! But where… Read More

The Burden-Free Step in Discussing Christian Beliefs, by Greg Koukl

Posted: March 21, 2019

Greg explains the importance of listening and encourages Christians to remember that the one who makes the claim bears the burden. Play the 3-minute video by clicking here, and/or read… Read More

How Universalism, ‘the Opiate of the Theologians,’ Went Mainstream

Posted: March 20, 2019

Image: Illustration by Rick Szuecs / Source image: Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group Michael McClymond decries the rising popularity of an idea Christians have rejected for most of church history…. Read More

Modern-day ‘sticks and stones’ | The Christian Chronicle

Posted: March 20, 2019

Photo from Pixabay.com Feb. 28, 2019 Modern-day ‘sticks and stones’ Before you type, maybe you should ask, ‘What would Jesus tweet?’ By  Chellie Ison ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones,… Read More

Why Is the Culture of a Disciple Making Church So Important?, by Bobby Harrington

Posted: March 13, 2019

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” That statement, attributed to the most influential management guru of our time, Peter Drucker, describes a reality church leaders must face in the pursuit of… Read More

The Benefits of a Stiff Neck?, by Rob Kranz

Posted: March 11, 2019

The Benefits of a Stiff Neck? by Rob Kranz This is my first post since arriving back in Jerusalem. The time is flying by at blazing fast speed. As I write this,… Read More

Abandoning Outcomes, by Bill Gaultiere

Posted: March 8, 2019

How do you react when things go wrong? Your e-mail or Twitter gets hacked and people send you unkind messages… You’re stuck in traffic and late for an important meeting…… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 8 (= OT Character Podcast 57, Gehazi pt. II)

Posted: March 1, 2019

To listen to lesson 8 in the CLEAN series, The Leprosy of Gehazi (13 minutes), click on the play arrow. Or you can download the podcast by right clicking here and choosing… Read More

Art for the Glory of God, by Jennifer Francis

Posted: February 27, 2019

Art For The Glory Of God “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” This was the counsel of King Solomon, as chronicled in Proverbs 18:16…. Read More

Are You Ready to Respond to Pro-Abortion Arguments?

Posted: February 26, 2019

Are You Ready to Respond to Pro-Abortion Arguments? The message being given to us by our culture has moved from the regretful necessity of abortion to the goodness of abortion…. Read More

Disciple Making Movements – a History and a Definition

Posted: February 8, 2019

Discipleship-First Tribe, Discipleship·org asked Roy Moran to write a two-part blog on Disciple Making Movements. We asked Roy to do this because he’s an expert on Disciple Making Movements and… Read More

A Prayer Space, by Jennifer Francis

Posted: January 28, 2019

Make Your Prayer Space Ready For God Jesus notoriously went off into the garden of Gethsemane to pray before he was betrayed and eventually hung on the cross. What most… Read More

4 Things I’d Say To My 30 Year Old Self

Posted: January 24, 2019

by Steve Staten | Jan 23, 2019 At age thirty I had been in technology for nine years and fulltime ministry for just over a year.  My wife and I had three little… Read More

Jesus spent most of the time doing this…

Posted: January 22, 2019

Dear Renew Subscribers, I was recently in a theology class where the teacher made this point: anyone wanting to be like Jesus should try doing what he did. What did… Read More

No Sign Language in the World Has Its Own Bible Translation

Posted: January 19, 2019

Deaf communities around the world are still waiting to experience God’s Word in their first language. How much longer will it be? Donations from the 40,000 attendees at this year’s… Read More

Large Numbers of Young Adults Dropping Out of Church

Posted: January 17, 2019

Young adults are dropping out of church in large numbers, survey finds. This is why. www.usatoday.com 3 mins read ASHVILLE, Tenn. —Large numbers of young adults who frequently attended Protestant worship services in… Read More

Churches & Race

Posted: January 17, 2019

Christian churches still struggle with race, how to discuss it, what to do www.usatoday.com 10 mins read CINCINNATI — On a Wednesday night at Crossroads Church in the Cincinnati neighborhood Corryville,… Read More

Focus on Gardening, by Greg Koukl

Posted: January 16, 2019

Greg encourages Christians for whom evangelism seems overwhelming to focus on small opportunities of influence rather than “sealing the deal.” Look forward to more Mentoring Moments from Greg in the… Read More

New Book: When God Is Silent

Posted: January 14, 2019

The Problem of Human Suffering We inhabit the same world Jesus did—one of pain, joy, surprise, suffering, and wonder. At times life is good, joyous, and fair. At other times… Read More

Free Download: Christianity Today’s 2019 Christian College Guide

Posted: January 1, 2019

Check out the 2019 Christian College Guide from Christianity Today. Inside, you’ll hear what other students wish they knew before attending college, learn more about featured schools with stand-out programs and resources, and… Read More

CLEAN – podcast 7 (= OT character podcast 56, Naaman)

Posted: January 1, 2019

To listen to lesson 7 in the CLEAN series, The Leprosy of Naaman (14 minutes), click on the play arrow. Or you can download the podcast by right clicking here and choosing ‘save target… Read More

No Shame These Holidays

Posted: December 31, 2018

Why Medicating Shame’s Pain with Porn Never Works Dan Wobschall • Pornography is a pain medication for the shame many men and women experience. For the sex or porn addict, acting… Read More

Free new eBook on marijuana – What does the Bible teach?

Posted: December 17, 2018

With 10 U.S. states allowing recreational use and 33 legalizing the medical use of cannabis, it is important for Christians to know how Jesus’ teachings apply to the use of… Read More

Training to be a better disciple maker

Posted: December 10, 2018

Do you know a church or ministry leader who would benefit from personalized disciple making training? At Renew, we want to raise up an army of disciple makers. We are… Read More

Two Common Mistakes Preachers Make (by John Piper)

Posted: December 10, 2018

Two Common Mistakes Preachers Make: Searching for Reality in Sermons John Piper takes one simple verse in Romans and shows two major and prevalent mistakes preachers make today. www.desiringgod.org

CLEAN – podcast 6 (= OT character podcast 55, Miriam pt. II)

Posted: November 1, 2018

To listen to lesson 6 in the CLEAN series, The Leprosy of Miriam (17 minutes), click on the play arrow. Or you can download the podcast by right clicking here and… Read More

On the Mount of Olives: David & the Son of David

Posted: October 31, 2018

Christians are familiar with the story of Jesus’ last night on earth: the Last Supper, Gethsemane prayer, betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion the following morning. But Jesus isn’t the only… Read More

Three Great Opportunities for Members of SIW

Posted: October 30, 2018

#1: SIW Support Groups One of the biggest challenges that same-gender attracted Christians face is that they often feel alone, as if they are the only one going through these… Read More

It’s Getting Harder to Talk About God

Posted: October 16, 2018

Here’s an interesting piece from The New York Times. The decline in our spiritual vocabulary has many real-world consequences. More than 70 percent of Americans identify as Christian, but you… Read More

Outreach Tools for a Mobile Generation

Posted: October 11, 2018

Wycliffe translators utilize cartoon animation to produce films in remote parts of the world—to communicate the gospel. http://www.indigitube.tv/

Untangling Addiction – a free download

Posted: October 10, 2018

Dr. De Carvalho is passionate about helping people regain their lives and become “unstuck” from the addictions and mental illnesses that have kept them in the darkness. In his new… Read More

Renew.org – video 2 (check this out)

Posted: October 9, 2018

Watch this Renew.org video by clicking here.

Are Rich People More Immoral?

Posted: October 8, 2018

  Money is the Root of all Evil. Aphorisms have rarely been factual. The oldest ones, at least, are based on opinions, and opinions change. Not more than 500 years… Read More

Most people don’t know this about addiction…

Posted: October 8, 2018

Dear Renew Subscriber, We would like to ask you to make time for a special webinar. It will focus on two of the seven key elements of renewal – Surrendering… Read More

Renew.org – video 1 (check this out)

Posted: October 6, 2018

Watch by clicking on this link: Renew video 1  

How Can You Invest in a Few to Build a Disciple Making Culture in Your Church?

Posted: October 5, 2018

To the Discipleship-First Community, There is a good deal of literature today on the subject of corporate culture. Culture shapes behavior Culture defines priorities Culture determines outcomes Every organization has… Read More

When Christians Forget They’re Christians on FB

Posted: September 25, 2018

By Guy Hammond Executive Director; Strength in Weakness Ministries Often when I speak publicly on the issues of homosexuality and the church, Christian family values and Biblical sexual ethics, I… Read More

How should you respond to men and women who are transgender?

Posted: September 24, 2018

Dear Renew Network Subscriber, We are sending out the Renew Newsletter earlier this week so that you can make time for a special webinar. It will focus on two of… Read More

PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER, by Bob Koivisto

Posted: September 24, 2018

Jesus spoke out often about the very things which lead to a misguided understanding of God’s revealed truth in the Scriptures. Those influences are ignorance, apathy, religion, tradition and open… Read More

The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel – response by Michael Burns

Posted: September 18, 2018

Note: the smaller navy blue text is Michael Burns’s response. Recently a group of American evangelical leaders signed and released a statement on social justice to voice concerns that they have over… Read More

What is Progressive Christianity and Why is it Dangerous?

Posted: September 18, 2018

Dear Renew Network Subscribers, Would you be interested in some really great Biblical teaching this week? We have two opportunities for you and one other upcoming event that is sure… Read More

Thoughts on Holiness, by Alberto Schirmer

Posted: September 13, 2018

Hagiasmos [Greek}: Separated unto God. Hagios [Greek}: Separated from sin, and therefore consecrated to God. Qôdesh [Hebrew]: A sacred, consecrated, dedicated, hallowed thing or place. Qȃdȃsh [Hebrew]: To appoint, bid,… Read More

Why America’s ‘nones’ don’t identify with a religion

Posted: September 11, 2018

By Becka A. Alper, www.pewresearch.org A growing share of Americans are religiously unaffiliated. We recently asked a representative sample of more than 1,300 of these “nones” why they choose not to identify with a religion. Out… Read More

How Do You Resist Culture?

Posted: September 5, 2018

Dear Renew Network Subscriber, We are all being discipled. We are all being influenced by the many voices of culture around us every day. It is hard to resist. But… Read More

How to Ruin Your Life in Your Twenties

Posted: September 5, 2018

The choices we make in our twenties set a trajectory for our entire lives. Here are seven tested ways young adults often ruin their lives. Read article here. www.desiringgod.org

Preferring Infertility, by Abigail Dodds

Posted: August 29, 2018

How We Worship the Queen of Heaven What must God think of a society that has made child sacrifice normal for the sake of elective infertility? Read here.

Storyline: Strength in Weakness

Posted: August 29, 2018

Christian Ray Flores tells the story of Max Agapitov – weightlifting world champion. Watch video here.

Recording of the Webinar on Marijuana and other Updates …

Posted: August 29, 2018

Good morning Renew Network subscribers, Would you join us as we seek to renew the teachings of King Jesus in our day? It is a bold aspiration. It will require… Read More

Wanna see Robby Gallaty’s disciple making blueprint?

Posted: August 26, 2018

The #1 question I’ve gotten since launching Discipleship.Org is this: You’re telling me that there’s a REAL way you can make disciples that make disciples— how is that even possible?… Read More