Watch the Trailer for The Christian Atheist “If you were to be put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Many believers have been challenged by this question. Do we know Christ well enough to walk in His footsteps? Perhaps the problem is that we believe in Him,…
How Happiness Happens: Accept One Another
It’s hard to know the best way to respond to people who represent your “opposite you.” Do you ignore them? Leave the room when they enter so you don’t say something you later will regret? Share a meal and discuss your differences? Dismiss your differences? How do you find and show acceptance toward someone when…
Guardrails: Direct and Protect
We’re all aware of the destructive consequences associated with poor decisions or lapses in judgment. We don’t plan to mess up. But it can easily happen if we try to navigate life without guardrails. It’s not enough to hope God will protect us. He doesn’t usually keep us from the consequences of decisions we make…
Boasting in Weakness
Editor’s note: Today’s reading comes from the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, a powerful tool for helping you understand the context in which Scripture takes place. When you understand the time and place in which events occur, you gain all new insight into the truths of God’s Word. Imagine reading the Bible with a behind-the-scenes…
Some Things Are Worth The Fight
If you were to write a list of things worth fighting for, what would that list include? We fight for our job. The fight may be to keep our job, or to advance to the next level. We fight for our wife and children. We are sensitive to criticism and insults, but if someone tries…
You Are Free Session One: To Be Free
We compete, and we compare, and we strive, and we put terrible pressure on ourselves to “keep up.” But the good news is that we were not made to keep up. We were made to be free… to be who we already are. ~ Rebekah Lyons Introduction Country music superstar Garth Brooks and Christian recording…
The Birthplace of Disappointment
Welcome! Welcome to Session 1 of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. Opening Discussion How would you define disappointment? Watch Session One: The Birthplace of Disappointment The Birthplace of Disappointment (28 minutes) This Week’s Statement to Hold Onto: What would happen in our lives if we really lived in the absolute assurance of God’s love…
Elizabeth: A Spiritual Mentor
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. – Luke 1:39-40 Elizabeth is described by Luke as a woman of integrity and obedience (Luke 1:6). As both the daughter and wife of a priest…
What Is Surrender Anyway?
Introduction Tisha is a cute baby girl. Curly jet-black hair, dimples, and a smile that lights up a room. She also has a grip like a bear trap, and when she gets hold of a toy, she won’t let go. Her young vocabulary is limited, but one word she has mastered is “Mine!” Daddy and…
Play With Fire: Crying Out
For our God is a consuming fire. — Hebrews 12:29 ESV During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and He remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac…