Viewing entries tagged
gospel

Kacey Musgraves’ “The Architect” Asks 3 Unavoidable Questions

Kacey Musgraves’ “The Architect” Asks 3 Unavoidable Questions

“The Architect” is a song from Kacey Musgraves that was borne out of her musings about beauty in the face of a tragic event. The three questions it poses are ones that we've all felt but have often thought too casually about.

The Ending of the Book of Acts Is Disappointing but Just What We Need

The Ending of the Book of Acts Is Disappointing but Just What We Need

The Book of Acts reads like a novel. There’s drama, intrigue, death plots, and shipwrecks. The ending is disappointing though, right? As the book ends, Paul is under house arrest, awaiting a verdict from the emperor regarding false charges. But there’s no resolution. Not only is there no happily ever after but there isn’t even a conclusion to Paul’s story. Have you ever considered why?
[Please note: Due to technical difficulties, a video could not be recorded again this week.]

How Can I Tell if I Really Believe in Jesus?

How Can I Tell if I Really Believe in Jesus?

I would have said that I believed in Jesus long before I actually did. I believed in Him like I believed in Napoleon. In other words, I didn’t completely reject His existence. But surely there’s more to it than that.

Why All Religions Aren’t Basically the Same and Why We Wish They Were

Why All Religions Aren’t Basically the Same and Why We Wish They Were

Have you ever heard people arguing about whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie or not? Both sides dig in with their positions and disagree passionately, even though they usually agree that it’s a great movie. The debate never seems productive. We wish they’d just stop. I think it’s tempting to see various religions that way. They all seem to agree on things like kindness, honesty, and self-control. Do the other things really matter?

Do You Know the One Verse That Explains the Entire Bible?

Do You Know the One Verse That Explains the Entire Bible?

Many people have made up their minds about Christianity without ever having actually read any of the Bible. Other people have been exposed to bits and pieces but made their own assumptions about how it all fits together. While no one verse can adequately explain all the intricacies of a book that numbers more than a thousand pages, most Christians agree that John 3:16 summarizes the heart of its message.

Why God Won’t Just Forgive Everyone

Why God Won’t Just Forgive Everyone

“If there is a God, surely, He’ll just forgive everyone. The idea of judgment is just religion trying to scare people.” Ever heard that? Ever thought it yourself? It seems reasonable, right?  Or does it?

The Worst Sin You’ve Committed and What You Can Do About It

The Worst Sin You’ve Committed and What You Can Do About It

I’ve had people express to me the feeling that they could never be forgiven. As a result, they can’t forgive themselves, and their past continues to haunt them. There’s hope in the Bible but it comes as we confront an even greater sin that most people aren’t even conscious of.

Why Just Being a Good Person Won’t Get Anyone Into Heaven

Why Just Being a Good Person Won’t Get Anyone Into Heaven

When people say that they think they’ll go to heaven because they’re a good person, not only do they think they can define what good is, but they assume they know how good is good enough.

How To Avoid Being Unchristian in Your Parenting

How To Avoid Being Unchristian in Your Parenting

What do you do when your child has disobeyed you or broken your rules? The temptation is to play the part of a sentencing judge. Lying to your sister? Go to your room! Stayed out too late? You’re grounded. If all we do is hand out sentences and demand obedience, there is no good news in our parenting.

Where Do You Get Your Sense of Identity?

Where Do You Get Your Sense of Identity?

Different versions of the following quote are attributed to Henri Nouwen. “We are not what we do, we are not what we have, we are not what others think of us. Coming home is claiming the truth: I am the beloved child of a loving creator.” After almost two decades as a celebrated professor at universities like Yale and Harvard, he went to work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was only natural that he thought deeply about identity. I want to consider what we need to learn from this statement, what we need to clarify, and what’s wrong with the popular alternative to it.