Church & Ministry
A good shepherd protects the flock from wolves, and feeds them good food. What does it look like when we conduct our churches and ministries in a biblical way? What happens when churches stop protecting, and become interested in selfish gain? Is it even okay to ask these questions?
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Handed over to Satan | Jul 10, 2017 In 1 Corinthians, Paul orders an extreme level of church discipline — to hand the offender over to Satan. How such a horrible punishment is actually an act of grace. Read more... | Fredric A. Carlson |
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Altar Calls | May 15, 2017 Altar calls are common in evangelical churches. But are they biblical? Or do they teach bad theology about salvation? Read more... | Bill Brenner |
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The Girls in the Striped Dresses | May 8, 2017 Their smiles grace fridge doors all over the world. A Compassion International sponsorship provides a child with food, healthcare, and education. And offers you a refrigerator kid to call your own. Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Christ Ed. | Apr 24, 2017 Christian education covers Sunday school, Bible studies, VBS, and much more. But the most important thing it must cover is Christ. Our Need for Jesus Christ The Importance of Scriptural Teaching Teaching Adults in Church Start Here | Jerry Smith |
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The Persecuted Church | Apr 24, 2017 There are places where prayer, reading the Bible, and sharing your faith are crimes against the government. How can we support brothers and sisters in the persecuted church? Read more... | Jim Allen |
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Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Church Discipline | Mar 6, 2017 Second Timothy mentions two men whom Paul told Timothy to hand over to Satan so their flesh may be destroyed. In doing so, he showed the grace in church discipline. Read more... | Tim White |
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Evangelism is a Joint Effort | Feb 20, 2017 Evangelism isn't solitary work. It requires many believers, obeying God as He leads them in seemingly small and insignificant tasks. Read more... | Mark King |
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Happy New Year! | Jan 2, 2017 Greetings in the new year and notes on how you can support Blogos in 2017. (No, we're not asking for money!) Read more... |
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Confrontations in Witnessing | Jan 2, 2017 Jesus said we should expect persecution, but that doesn't always mean beatings and prison. How should we react when persecution is just confrontations when we're witnessing? Read more... | Denise Baum |
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A Very GotQuestions Thanksgiving | Nov 21, 2016 2016 has seen significant changes for GotQuestions.org and even more significant blessings. Thank you for being a part of our great year! Read more... | |
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"Whatever is true..." | Oct 26, 2016 It is good to expose false-teaching. But there are better ways to spend our time than condemning every specific error like some theological whack-a-mole. Focus on what is true. Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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Peace over Preparations | Oct 24, 2016 It's good to be "sold out for Jesus." But when we're faced with school, jobs, friends, family — life — we need to find balance to our spiritual life. Bring church into your life; don't make it your whole life. Read more... | Rhonda Maydwell |
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Sermonizing | Oct 17, 2016 The early church established sermons as a major way for more educated believers to teach younger Christ-followers. Sermonizing well takes hard work and help from the Holy Spirit. Read more... | Steve Webb |
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InterVarsity's LGBTQ Policy | Oct 10, 2016 InterVarsity has requested employees who support LGBTQ rights step down. Is this discriminatory hiring practices or freedom of religion? Read more... | Jeff Laird |
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Witnessing in the Den of Iniquity | Oct 4, 2016 Jesus told us to go through all the world and preach the gospel; does this include dens of iniquity? Should we meet people where they are geographically as well as spiritually? Read more... | Lesley Mitchell |
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Discipleship Looks Different for Everyone | Sep 26, 2016 Jesus called us to go, preach the gospel, baptize, and make disciples. Sometimes the "make disciples" part seems too intimidating. What does it really entail? Read more... | Denise M. Kohlmeyer |
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Advice for Answering Questions from GotQuestions Writers | Jul, 2016 Got Questions has over 200 volunteer writers who answer theological and personal questions from all over the world. Here are some notes on what they do to prepare. Part 1: The Word Part 2: The Questioner Part 3: The Writer Start Here |
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BibleRef.com | Jun 27, 2016 New from GotQuestions, a verse-by-verse commentary of the Bible; easily understandable, literally translated, context-informed, and free. Read more... |
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The Seven Churches of Revelation | May 16, 2016 Today, seeker-friendly mega-churches seem to be the goal. But Jesus had very different standards for the seven churches of Revelation — and for the modern church. Read more... | Bill Brenner |
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The Hands and Feet of Jesus — and the Mouth! | May 2, 2016 What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus? Is a ministry truly Christian if the Gospel is never proclaimed? Read more... | S. Michael Houdmann |
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Confession | May 2, 2015 Confession is one of the must underappreciated discipline in the church today. There is a reason we are called to confess our sins to one another; why don't we do it? Read more... | John Ruiz-Bueno |
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Boring Sermons | Mar 14, 2015 We try to be holy and respectful and good examples in church. But sometimes sermons are just downright boring. Fortunately, there's an app for that... Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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GotQuestions.org FAQs | Jan 2016 Why does GotQuestions.org give recommended resources with its articles? Why does GotQuestions.org allow women writers to answer men's questions? Why doesn't GotQuestions.org give different interpretations of Scripture passages? How does GotQuestions follow up with new believers? How is GotQuestions funded? Start Here | S. Michael Houdmann |
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Gather in His Name | Feb 22, 2016 Going to church doesn't make you a Christian and avoiding a church doesn't make you an unbeliever. But God does give us very specific instructions to gather together in His name. Read more... | Laurel J. Davis |
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Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, 1925-2016 | Feb 18, 2016 Dr. Charles C. Ryrie has left us, but his works remain. Few have made such a great and lasting impact on Christian theology. He will be missed. Read more... | KJM |
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The Roles of Churches and Bible Studies | Dec 21, 2015 Churches and Bible studies fill very specific roles, and the two are not interchangeable. Why we need both in our lives. Read more... | Tim White |
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Movie Review: Spotlight | Dec 14, 2015 Abuse of children by clergy leaves unique and horrible scars. The movie Spotlight reveals what happens when a religious organization protects its clergy at the expense of its children. Read more... | KJM |
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Ministry Highlight: Global Action | Nov, 2015 A behind-the-scenes look at Global Action, a ministry dedicated to empowering and equiping local pastors and church leaders in developing nations. Part 1: Ministry Highlights Part 2: Social Justice and the Great Commission Start Here... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Sexual Sin in the Congregation | Nov 16, 2015 Sexual sin within a church congregation is, sadly, not uncommon. How should church leadership react? And how should other members respond when their leadership ignores the issue? Read more... | Tim White |
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Sojourns of the Children of Abraham | Oct 28, 2015 Three children of Abraham meet in a clinic in a train station. One has nothing, one has shoes, and one has God's promise to Abraham. When Middle East refugees need more than shoes, God is there. Read more... |
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Appointed to His Service | Oct 28, 2015 How do we serve God? Through the church. When we show up to the church, the Word of God will show us how God can use us to serve Him and others. Read more... | Laurel J. Davis |
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C.T. Studd: Cannibals need Missionaries, too | Oct 20, 2015 C.T. Studd gave up a professional athletic career, a large inheritance, and his health for one reason: to reach the lost for Christ. And to be an example for us. Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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7 Issues the Modern Evangelical Church must Face | Sep 28, 2015 The world is changing fast, and the evangelical church needs to keep up. What are the serious issues the church must face? Read more... | Robin Vinz Salvador |
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A Personal Perspective on "First Lady" of the Church | Sep 15, 2015 What is the "first lady" of the church? Is it biblical for the pastor's wife to receive special honor? Read more... | Laurel J. Davis |
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The Gospel Does Not Need Our Help | Aug 20, 2015 Why do preachers feel the need to embellish the Gospel? Why do churches over-dramatize, exaggerate, and over-emphasize their role in the ministry of the Gospel? Read more... | Laurel J. Davis |
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Davidic Worship | Aug 11, 2015 What is Davidic worship? Did King David establish the way we are to worship? Read more... | Fredric A. Carlson |
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The Lutheran Church | Jul 27, 2015 What are the beliefs of the Lutheran Church? Is Lutheran theology biblical? Read more... | Gary Meredith |
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Detecting False Prophets | Jul 20, 2015 What differentiates a false prophet from a prophet sent by God? A case study, using the Nigerian "prophet" TB Joshua. Read more... | Gary Meredith |
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Art: Of Worship and Memory | Jun 15, 2015 What is the role of art in church? How does art relate to memory and worship? Read more... | T. Jaden Ozwell |
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The Least of These | May 25, 2015 Who are "the least of these"? Do we serve the needy or those who we relate to? Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Loving God — Hurtful Church | Jun 1, 2015 God seems to act less directly in the world today, instead choosing to work through His church. So how can we think of God as loving if His church is hurtful Read more... | Christopher Schwinger |
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Are faith healings real or phony? | May 18, 2015 Jesus performed healings to prove he was Messiah and gifted the Apostles to heal as well. If healings were never the focus of his ministry, should they be ours? Read more... | Jim Allen |
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And the Pendulum Swings... | Apr 13, 2015 We naturally react to beliefs that are false or non-relatable by moving away from them, like a pendulum. How does the movement of the church toward relevancy relate to the truth? Read more... | Jordan Walker |
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Anderson | Mar 25, 2015 An orphaned 10-year-old boy has a decision: the streets and drugs or the love of God. Compassion International made that choice possible. Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Sanctuary | Mar 18, 2015 Compassion International provides meals, education, healthcare, and Jesus' love. But in the darkest parts of Brazil, they also bring sanctuary. Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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What is true poverty? | Apr 28, 2014; Revised Mar 18, 2015 What is true poverty? What is mental poverty? What is spiritual poverty? Is poverty much more than the absence of money? Read more... | S. Michael Houdmann |
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Age 10: The Crucial Year | Dec 3, 2014 Studies are showing what youth workers have known for a long time — age 10 is a crucial year for influencing kids. How are we reaching our fifth graders? Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Nephews, Play-Doh Fun Factories, and the Church Body | Oct 29, 2014 When God gives gifts to others in the church body, do we thank Him? We should be grateful to others and give honor where honor is due. But we must not forget the Source. Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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The Purpose of the Congregation | Oct 15, 2014 When a believer doesn't regularly assemble together in God-fearing fellowship with other members of the family of Christ, not only does he close off other people whom he can help, he also closes himself off to all of the benefits that a close spiritual family offers — a family he can rely on, stand up for and share in God's blessings with. Read more... | Laurel J. Davis |
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Abusing the Sheeple: The despicable 1st Class people of the church | Sep 3, 2014 Spiritual abuse by church leaders is a continuing problem. How should believers respond to abusers living among us? Read more... | Jim Allen |
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Lifeboats and the Fear of Witnessing | Aug 25, 2014 Most believers do not bother sharing the gospel with their neighbor for a variety of reasons. Why do believers have a fear of witnessing? Read more... | Jim Allen |
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Spiritual Abuse is Alive and Well | Jun 17, 2014 The Bible has strong warnings for church leaders who engage in spiritual abuse, the mistreatment of innocent souls. What is this warning to the abuser? What and how should the church handle the abusive brethern among us? Read more... | Jim Allen |
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Compassion International in the Dominican Republic | Apr/May, 2014 Compassion International has served children in the Dominican Republic since 1970. Learn more about how they 'release children from poverty in Jesus' name.' Context and Overview | Kersley Fitzgerald The Child Sponsorship Program | MeLissa LeFleur What is true poverty? | S. Michael Houdmann The Complementary Intervention Program | Gwen Sellers The Leadership Development Program | Gwen Sellers |
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Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven: Loving without Borders | Apr 30, 2014 The world tells us to take care of needs at home before we worry about others. But is that what Jesus taught? What are the practical implications of being a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Thanks for the Decade! | Apr 9, 2014 Jeff Laird looks back over ten years as a volunteer writer for Got Questions. Read more... | Jeff Laird |
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Missionary Support | Mar 17, 2014 Missionaries work long hours in often dangerous circumstances. They have to raise their own tenuous support. All to fill a calling God has given them. How can we take better care of our missionaries? Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Children's Ministry | Mar 12, 2014 We have these children for a very short time. What can God do during this time to change the course of their lives? Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Disagreeing with Church Leadership | Feb 7, 2014 What should we do if we disagree with decisions made by church leadership? What is the difference between unbiblical direction and decisions that are that are inefficient or based on personal preference? Read more... | Tim White |
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On Worship and Work | Feb 7, 2014 What do we do when we realize we don't actually like worship services? Should we skip? Or is the effort in itself a form of worship? Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Are you ready for the call? | Feb 3, 2014 Do we receive our calling by personal message? Or by being so close to God we overhear His still, small voice? Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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Counseling and the Church | Jan 28, 2014 Christian counseling is good and needed, but where is the church? Couldn't the church provide much of the support now left to professional counseling? Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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Ministry and Social Media: Share Good Content Well | Jan 21, 2014 Very few of us, including ministries, can escape the social media vortex. How can we use social media to share good content well? Read more... | KJM |
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You want to give me money to do what I love to do? What?!? | Jan 15, 2014 The fact that people donate to GotQuestions.org continues to amaze and encourage us. We love what we do and are therefore tremendously blessed to be able to serve God and earn a living at the same time. Read more... | S. Michael Houdmann |
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The Trials and Blessings of a Church Elder | Jan 14, 2014 A pastor's kid thinks back to her own childhood when her husband is asked to become an elder. Are the trials, hard work, and lack of appreciation really worth it? Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Helping the Homeless | Dec 31, 2013 The raggedy man stands on the corner with a dog and a sign begging for money. Do we roll down the window and give him a few bucks? What if there was a way we could know we were really helping? Read more... | Michael Blunk |
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How to Witness to Atheists | Nov 18, 2013 How do you witness to atheists? With love, humility, patience, and prayer. In short, with the same attitude we should have in all our encounters. Part 1: Attitude Part 2: Resources Start Here | Maggie Peil |
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And the answer is... | Oct 11, 2013 Having all the answers isn't all it's cracked up to be, or at least not all I have previously cracked it up to be. The truth of the matter is there just isn't always black-and-white. In my opinion, accepting that reality opens us up to enjoy life more fully. Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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Neediness and Love | Oct 2, 2013 Neediness and love. We tend to think of these as a bad combination. But, sometimes neediness and love are a beautiful combination, an opportunity to practice deep, godly love. Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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Holy Jeans | Sep 9, 2013 What is appropriate attire for church? Should we dress up for church? Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Ten Questions to Help You Identify Your Calling/Vocation | Sep 3, 2013 Every Christian has a unique vocation. But, how do we know what it is? Here are ten questions to answer that will help you find out your calling in ministry. Read more... | Alan Cross |
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Deepening the Soul for Justice by Bethany Hoang | Aug 26, 2013 Passion, righteous anger, and human energy are not enough to fight injustice in the world. We must be equipped by the God of justice. 'Deepening the Soul for Justice' explains how. Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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The Essentials of Apologetics Slideshow 1: Why Apologetics? | Jul 29, 2013 In collaboration with apologetics315.com, Robin Schumacher presents a series of slideshows for churches and teachers on Christian apologetics. Read more... | Robin Schumacher |
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Works Gift-Wrapped in Love | Jul 15, 2013 Pride can make us hide from our spiritual gifts; narrow-mindedness can make us hoard them. Only love can turn a work into a gift. Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Intra-Cultural Christian | Jun 27, 2013 We are called to live in the world, not be of it. But we can't do that unless we're actually living in the world. Read more... | Rebekah Largent |
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Walking with a Friend through the Valley of Depression | Jun 13, 2013 Most of us know someone who has suffered from depression. Knowing what to do about it is another matter. What do our depressed friends need? And how can we love and support them while still acknowledging their pain? Read more... | Gwen Sellers |
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The Grace of Church Discipline | May 24, 2013 Jesus laid out exactly how we are to confront another believer with sin. It's a system designed to create healing and restoration. Abusive or ignored church discipline humiliates and shames the innocent and forsakes the guilty. Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Watching the Mighty Fall: Jason Russell, Greg Mortenson, Ted Haggard | May 3, 2013 Jason Russell, Greg Mortenson, and Ted Haggard claimed to dedicate their lives to helping others but lost credibility when the truth came to light. What happened and how should we respond? Read more... | Kersley Fitzgerald |
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Igniting Passion for Ministry | Mar 21, 2013 God's word tells us that a people without vision will perish. However, the problem is that those with the vision are waiting for someone else to act upon them, leaving these good ideas unrealized. The church has a great deal of vision, but what it is lacking is passion. Read more... | Jeff Reiter |
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Does the Local Church Still Matter? | Feb 18, 2013 A growing number of Western Christians have dropped out of local church life, claiming their disdain for organized religion has caused them to love Jesus but also want to leave the church. In a day and age when believers can download the world's top sermons and songs at will, does the local church still matter? Read more... | Dillon Burroughs |
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My Refrigerator Kid | Jan 28, 2013 Several years ago, my husband and I changed our perspective on children. We haven’t been able to have kids of our own, but we decided that instead of moping around and bemoaning our lack, we would enjoy life and serve others. One of our greatest joys is being able to invest in the lives of other people’s children. One way we have done this is through Compassion International. Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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Ministry is More Than Treating Symptoms | Jan 15, 2013 God is never more glorified than when His servants loosen the bonds, undo the yoke, set the captive free, and break every yoke. Ministry is a process that takes time and the sufficiency of God’s grace flowing through our lives on a consistent basis—not have-it-your-way, consumerism church. Read more... | Jeff Reiter |
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The Solas of the Reformation (And Why They Matter Today) | Oct 2012 During the Protestant Reformation, leaders developed a list of five “solas” to define the differences between their movement and what they perceived as the unbiblical excesses of the Roman Catholic Church. A quick look at this list of solas reveals that their influence has been great. Part 1: Sola Scriptura Part 2: Sola Fide Part 3: Sola Gratia Part 4: Solo Christo & Soli Deo Gloria Start here... | Dillon Burroughs |
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Mercy To The Least Of These | Jun 28, 2012 One of the greatest forms of spiritual warfare that we can wage is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and to look for opportunities to bless "the least of these." Read more... | Jonathan Fashbaugh |
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Hypocrisy in the Black Church? A Same-Sex Marriage Debate | May 16, 2012 The black church is the center of same sex marriage debate in a recent article. Is it hypocrisy for the black church to denounce homosexuality, in light of slavery? Read more... | Robin Schumacher |
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A Letter to Infertile Women on Mother's Day | May 9, 2012 Infertility can be very difficult for women who desire children, and Mother's Day can be a painful reminder. Here are a few tips for surviving Mother's Day with your heart intact. If you're a woman struggling with infertility, this letter is for you. Read more... | MeLissa LeFleur |
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The Love Of The Father | May 9, 2012 The Bible is filled with great pictures of the love of the Father. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 Read more... | Jonathan Fashbaugh |
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An Unfamiliar Pastor | Apr 25, 2012 As we read about the pastor in Pilgrim's Progress, some thought it was the Apostle Paul, others thought a good teacher and still others, a "spiritual person." Why, I wondered, did not one person see in this description a portrait of their, or anyone's, pastor? Read more... | Dolores Kimball |
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The Bible Verses Women Hate | Apr 11, 2012 Bible verses about submission and not speaking in church can be difficult for women to accept. Those same verses have been skewed by some scholars to eliminate conflict. However, it can't be denied that God means what He says. Read more... | Dolores Kimball |
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The Parachurch Paradox | Mar 19, 2012 Some may argue that the good parachurch ministries do far outweighs the dangers inherent in the system. But are we becoming too pragmatic? What is the guiding principle that Christians follow, and how are we tempted to depart from it? Read more... | Dolores Kimball |
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Jesus, Not Religion | Feb 28, 2012 Rituals and religion can make people feel good. The dedication of time and observing strict guidelines gives people a sense that they are reaching out to a higher power. But what does Jesus have to do with any of that? Read more... | Jonathan Fashbaugh |
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The Spirit and the Body of Christ | Feb 21, 2012 As the human spirit inhabits the human body, so the Holy Spirit inhabits the Body of Christ, the Church. How does this work? How is the human body like the church, and what does this analogy mean? Read more... | Kevin Stone |
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Why Is There So Much Violence in the Old Testament? | Feb 7, 2012 How could the same God who said "love your enemies" and to "do good to those who hate you" also order the Israelite people to engage in violent warfare? Read more... | Dan Barkman |
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Is the Bible Corrupted? | Jan 31, 2012 Is the Bible corrupted, or changed? How can we be certain that we have the same words written down by the original authors? How can we be sure that we are reading what they wrote? Read more... | Dillon Burroughs |
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What Makes Tim Tebow a Christian | Jan 24, 2012 What makes Tim Tebow Christian? Is it 'tebowing' in prayer? Is it charity for others? Or is it something else? Read an amazing story about Tebow's love for hurting people, and the work he does for others off the field. Read more... |
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The Ceiling Fan Podcast: A New & Authentic Voice in Youth Ministry | Jan 07, 2012 The Ceiling Fan podcast uses silly humor and engaging audio production to connect with kids and teens, and adds a refreshingly authentic voice to the world of Christian youth ministry. Read more... |
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Sermon Humor: Beware the Clown in the Pulpit | Oct 26, 2011 What feelings should be induced by listening to a sermon? Humor is often used to produce a light-hearted antidote to heavy convictions. But does it go too far and erase them entirely? Read more... | Robin Schumacher |
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Down with Dufflepudism! | May/Jun, 2011 Dufflepudism is rampant in the evangelical world today as Christians are buying into every new fad that comes along, and blindly accepting each new philosophy. Just like the Dufflepuds in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we cry "Yes! That sounds good!" Down with Dufflepudism! The Dufflepuds and Miss California Angelica Zambrano and the Christian Dufflepuds Start here... | Dolores Kimball |
Image: PublicDomainPictures; Untitled; Creative Commons
