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As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, half of pastors say their churches will join in the festivities. According to a Lifeway Research study, 50 percent of U.S. Protestant pastors believe their church should do something... Continue Reading »
Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley urged messengers to live with doctrinal clarity, gospel conviction, humility, patience and unity, saying Southern Baptists must “walk worthy” of the calling they have received if they are to remain faithful to the... Continue Reading »
Have you ever counted yourself out of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 because you can’t relate to being the lost sheep? You admire God’s welcoming, loving heart toward the prodigal son, but you wonder if... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: this article was originally published at The Pillar Network) If you’d asked me 20 years ago, I would have told you that you would be wasting your breath speaking to me on the subject of zeal. An... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: this article was adapted from the commencement address at Bethlehem College and Seminary, originally published at Desiring God) Fifty-five years ago this month, I was sitting in a seminary commencement service like this one, ready to receive... Continue Reading »
Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure (Crossway, 2026) by John Piper No one sins out of duty. We sin because it offers some promise of happiness. That promise enslaves us until we believe that God is more desirable... Continue Reading »
Geraldo Ortiz grew up in a loving home. He went to work. He paid his bills. He seemed to be an unlikely candidate for alcoholism. But emotions are either dealt with or numbed. Ortiz lived in Puerto Rico until... Continue Reading »
Christians often hear statements like, “I hope the car doesn’t run out of gas,” or “I hope he shows up for the appointment.” In everyday speech, “hope” carries no guarantee — it expresses a desire, not a certainty. So... Continue Reading »
You could hear a pin drop if weren’t for the subtle sound of weeping from the pulpit. The room was on edge, waiting to hear a single word from the preacher. It was hard to breathe. The weight of... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: this article was originally published at 9Marks) For many Christians, corporate worship and discipleship appear to have little connection. Though it’s called corporate worship, many churchgoers think of it in individualistic terms—“Sure, there are other people... Continue Reading »
(Editor’s note: This is Chapter 14 of an excerpt from What Is a Pastor?, recently released by Courier Publishing. To order, visit CourierPublishing.com.) By Nate Akin To answer the question, “What is a pastor?” it’s helpful to set... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: My son, Jake Robinson, graduates high school on May 22. He is the youngest of our four children and is the final Robinson child to bid farewell to high school and begin the tricky launch into adulthood.... Continue Reading »
Peter or Peter’s Confession? Imagine the scene—a group of rough-and-tumble guys living in first-century Palestine following another guy claiming to be the central figure of human history. Oh, to be a fly on some of those walls! One day,... Continue Reading »
As Artemis II completed its recent 10-day mission that included traveling to the far side of the moon, retired NASA rocket scientist Clifton Arnold reflected about his part in helping make the journey a success. “Seeing the takeoff, landing... Continue Reading »
The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving — Revised and Updated (Multnomah, 2012) by Randy Alcorn Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle... Continue Reading »
Let’s start with a statement I think every Christian will agree with: God intends for us to use our five senses (sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing) to engage with him. I hope this is not controversial. Yet there are... Continue Reading »
Richard Blackaby suggests pairing what he calls “godly habits” with daily routines. The firstborn son of Southern Baptist Convention elder statesman Henry Blackaby spoke May 18–20 at the Billy Graham Conference Center, two miles northeast of Asheville, about the... Continue Reading »
The Bible is not simply a guide to reaching heaven; it also reveals how God intends life to be lived along the way. Naturally, it speaks extensively about wealth and the accumulation of material riches. Foundational to understanding a... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: This article was originally published at Christ Over All) Like many parents throughout the centuries, we used catechisms to instruct our children in basic Christian doctrine. As a result of catechesis, our children were well-prepared to... Continue Reading »
I assume I’m not alone when I say that I don’t like to wait. At the store, I’m the guy scanning for the shortest checkout line, only to somehow end up in the longest one. At a fast-food restaurant... Continue Reading »
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). A few verses prior, Paul rhetorically asks, “Do... Continue Reading »
Many think believers in Christ should tithe (defined as giving 10 percent of one’s income), and many use the language of “tithes and offerings” in worship services. Others are equally convinced tithing is not required for believers. Which view... Continue Reading »
Does the Bible command Christians to tithe and, if so, is the baseline 10 percent as expressed in the Old Testament? I believe the answer is yes. The tithe is essential for holiness, vital for the ongoing work of... Continue Reading »
While some Americans show up to church on Sunday morning, those in their lives Monday through Saturday may never hear about it. Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship revealed many U.S. Protestant churchgoers don’t see their faith as pervasive throughout... Continue Reading »
Nothing provides as clear and painful an X-ray of our hearts quite like money. The 2008 stock market crash and resulting recession demonstrated this notion shockingly: According to researchers in the UK, more than 10,000 people committed suicide after... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: This article was originally published at 9Marks) I hadn’t seen him in years. After small talk, he asked the question many pastors dread: “So, how big is your church?” If you pastor a small church, you... Continue Reading »
What comes to mind when you think of a homemaker? Maybe it’s a 1950s housewife with bouffant hair and an apron, happily washing windows. Maybe it’s the modern social media “trad wife” baking sourdough in her prairie dress. While... Continue Reading »
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from “Mercy in the Margin,” a devotional book by Chelsey DeMatteis, coming from B&H Publishing in August. “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: This article is an excerpt from Tony Wolfe’s new book: Baptism: A Solemn and Beautiful Emblem of Our Faith). God is holy, just, perfect, righteous, and true. Every one of us is broken and scarred by sin.... Continue Reading »
The Fullest Old Testament Expression of Resurrection Hope (Editors’ note: this article was originally published at Christ Over All) Like an oak tree develops from an acorn, and like a vine comes from a grape seed, the hope... Continue Reading »
(Editors’ note: This article was originally published at Reformation21) In the early 2000s, I had the privilege to teach at Delaware County Christian School, in Newtown Square, Pa., 10 miles outside of Philadelphia. I taught a variety of theology... Continue Reading »
My Catholic Upbringing “Woah, what was that like?” is usually what people say when they hear that I was raised Roman Catholic. I attended Mass every Sunday (even midnight Mass every Christmas Eve!), served as an altar boy, went... Continue Reading »
Last year, I had the opportunity to go to Tokyo with a small group of pastors and future missionaries. At this moment, conservative estimates note that less than 1 percent of the Japanese people consider themselves to be evangelical... Continue Reading »
Disclaimers and Definitions I would like to say two things from the outset of this post. First, the question in this post’s subtitle is massively important. It is essentially asking if anything besides the Bible can inform our thinking,... Continue Reading »
By this point, tears failed the faithful few; twin ducts in many pairs reached deep within their wells, but not a drop was to be discovered. All tears had been shed. What remained was merely the want of a... Continue Reading »
If you watched any of the winter Olympics this year, you may have seen the commercial that stated, “For two weeks, we’re all on the same team: Team USA.” The commercial showed people wearing opposing team jerseys of their... Continue Reading »
As Artemis II captured the nation and world during its journey toward the moon, Andrew Riddle, an engineer contracted by NASA and a member of First Baptist Church, New Orleans, said the lunar orbit highlighted God’s creation. After graduating... Continue Reading »
An increase in personal Bible use in the U.S. in 2025 was short-lived, the American Bible Society said in its latest State of the Bible release, with newest engagement numbers receding to 2024 levels. But ABS isn’t ready to... Continue Reading »
Faithful Endurance: The Joy of Shepherding People for a Lifetime (Crossway/TGC, 2019), edited by Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson Sr. This book offers pastors examples of long-term faithfulness in ministry and practical wisdom from veteran pastors for real-life issues.... Continue Reading »
Evan Lenow was unanimously confirmed as the new president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission at a special-called trustees meeting Monday, April 13. Lenow, 47, has served as the director of the Institute for Christian Leadership, director of... Continue Reading »
The New Testament frequently speaks of the reward that awaits followers of Jesus Christ. In the fullest sense, heaven itself is the believer’s great reward (Col. 1:12, 3:24). Yet heaven is not wages earned for good works; it is... Continue Reading »
Evangelical giving has stabilized after several years of significant decline, but almost no one gives a biblical tithe to the church, a new study from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts found. Ron Sellers, Grey Matter Research president, said... Continue Reading »
Editor’s note: Several years ago, Founders Ministries published Dear Timothy, an excellent multi-author work (see New & Noteworthy Books in this issue) that quickly rose to the top of my list among books on pastoral/local church ministry. That work... Continue Reading »
How does your church measure success? For many churches, the ABCs of success are attendance, buildings and cash. While these are the easiest things to measure, pastors know they aren’t the best. There has to be a better way... Continue Reading »
Empty – it’s not one of our favorite terms. It’s not one of our preferred greetings. When someone asks you, “How are you doing?” you probably don’t respond by saying, “Empty, thanks for asking!” Many popular songs through the... Continue Reading »
When facing difficult circumstances, most churchgoers still trust in God’s love and provision. Some, however, begin to question God’s character and involvement in their lives, and their number has grown in recent years. Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship revealed... Continue Reading »
When I was training for ministry in college, while I would never have said it like this, the thought was there, buried deep within, surrounded by good motives: I’ll be a successful pastor if I’m a famous pastor. And... Continue Reading »
My feet plod along with growing unease And a sense that something is wrong. A feeling that lurks though never quite placed – My companion as day’s shadows grow long. Something amiss but more than amiss – That must... Continue Reading »
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s presidential search team has announced Mississippi College academic administrator and longtime ERLC research fellow Evan Lenow as its candidate to lead the entity. The announcement follows a seven-month search. Search team chair Mitch... Continue Reading »
You have probably heard some of the troubling statistics about teens and young adults. The data points are piling up like symptoms for a very ill patient. Since 2010: Anxiety is up 139 percent among 18-25-year-olds. Depression is up... Continue Reading »
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