What would people in your church think of as the ministry that really counts—the ministry that brings real growth?
Classically in conservative evangelical churches, the answer is preaching, usually as part of a Sunday service. It’s true that preaching is essential to the health of a church and has a prime function in facilitating its growth. I do it most Sundays!... continue reading
When it comes to thinking about the environment, there are a few ways Christians tend to respond.... continue reading
Advent is about anticipation. As Christians approach the Christmas holiday, we use the preceding weeks to slow down and profoundly meditate on the staggering reality of the incarnation of the Son of God to deepen our sense of expectation and wonder—a sense undoubtedly felt by those who anticipated the Messiah’s first coming.... continue reading
I know it’s only October, but as a lot of us begin putting together our Christmas gift lists for loved ones, I think it’s worth asking: Do you remember what you got for Christmas last year? I don’t. Oh, I’m sure you remember if, for instance, you got engaged, your parents gave you some fantastic vacation, or like those lucky weirdos in the TV ads, you got a brand new luxury car in the driveway with one of those gigantic bows on top. (I bet you even remember where you put that bow.) But most of us receive a variety of thoughtful gifts from our loved ones that we appreciate and then tend to get used to and forget about twelve months later.... continue reading
Selected from Volume Two of Truth For Life: 365 Daily Devotions, these sixteen quotes by Alistair Begg reflect on the gospel. Each quote is from a daily devotion based on a selection of Scripture. ... continue reading
Paul and the Philippian believers enjoyed a partnership grounded in the gospel. Theirs wasn’t a static fellowship based on a little bit of common belief. Rather, it was a deepening friendship that blossomed as they continued “striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” and to “work out” their salvation “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 1:27; 2:12).... continue reading
Every part of our stories is something caught between poetry and passing comments. One moment, the sun is rising and the birds are welcoming a new day as the breeze floats across the marshes. The next, you drop the almost-ready avocado you found at the grocery store and lament that it’s probably ruined. (Spoiler alert: you just paid almost two dollars for a ruined avocado.)... continue reading
Kids love to dream about what they might do when they grow up. They dream of what jobs they might have, of places they might go to, of people they might meet. ... continue reading
The Puritans were people of prayer. Many Puritan pastors rose early to pray, like Joseph Alleine who spent the time between 4am and 8am in personal worship, and felt ashamed if he heard the blacksmith at work before he was at prayer. Each year Isaac Ambrose took himself off into the woods for a month to spend uninterrupted time alone in prayer and meditation. Puritan families were encouraged to read the Scriptures and pray together each morning and evening, with pastors providing model prayers for those who were unsure where to begin.... continue reading
Do you want to cultivate good spiritual habits but avoid soul-crushing guilt and shame when it all comes crashing down five days into your new plan?
Me too!
... continue reading
