Pastors

Galatians 5 doesn’t mince words when it comes to legalism. It happens when we get so tied to the letter of the law that we forget to incorporate God’s love, mercy, and grace. It’s far too easy to let legalistic thoughts slip into my mind. Even a tiny little bit of that destructive yeast can spread through the entire batch of dough.

Money itself is neutral, but Jesus was absolutely clear that money in people's lives is never neutral. All of us have to pick a side when it comes to money. This means that church leaders must have the same attitude as Jesus does when we learn about, have a relationship with, and teach on the subject of money.

I’m worried that life as we knew it is gone forever. I no longer read the news, because it seems that the same scary things are being repeated over and over. Everything seems to be in crisis. What are some practical ways to handle my stress?

There are specific moments when we encounter God in such an intimate way that our life is drastically altered. Consider one biblical senior citizen who had likely given up his youthful dreams and settled down to a quiet, nomadic life in the desert—until he had a life-changing encounter with God.

Here are five resources that can help you along your journey of following Jesus. They will support you as you study the Bible, develop your relationship with the Lord, strengthen your theology, and overall gain a fundamental understanding of Christianity.

If you’re considering launching a new group at your local church, or have already launched one but need a little refresher course on how to maintain a healthy ministry check out these three tips to keep your ministry grounded and goal-oriented.

There is a huge reason for not dwelling on our failures and mistakes: God works even in our mistakes and can make good emerge from them. On to my list of worst mistakes as a pastor.

God is constantly speaking to people. But too often, they miss out on hearing God’s messages because they seek His guidance only when they’re going through a crisis or facing a major decision.

The first thing to notice about a false prophet is they may look like you. They may sound legitimate and they may even use all the right lingo. In other words, they know how to look the part. Many times, this is why they are so deceptive. This article is about more than just answering a question. This is about arming yourself because what has happened in the past is happening now and you must be prepared so you don’t fall victim.

Surrendering to God transforms your life by replacing control with peace, deepening trust in Him, freeing you from anxiety and destructive patterns, and allowing spiritual growth through His better plans and refining process.

Being a mentor and having a mentee is one of the most spiritually satisfying ways of serving God and His children. The primary goal is to build a trusting relationship between two people.

I’ve heard some churchgoers push back against taking medication for mental health issues by saying that Jesus is enough. He’s all you need. And that’s true. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). He is our only hope in life and death. And yet, the Bible doesn’t command or condemn medical intervention when it comes to our physical or mental health. In other words, taking medication is a wisdom issue, not a sin issue.

We have sat with somber, heavy hearts after hearing the words of all Johnny Depp endured through his marriage to Amber Heard. The trial between him and Heard has been televised, which in many ways feels like a breach of privacy, but in other ways, has provided the wakeup call the world needs for those men who experience abuse as well.

The Bible teaches that the Book of Life is the register of everyone who is going to heaven. Very simply, if your name is not in the Book of Life then you’re not going to heaven.

Jesus did talk about the importance of church, that is, of gathering in His name and fanning out across the world to spread the Good News. When the apostles began to move throughout the region converting others to Christianity, they began gathering in groups that became called churches.

It’s often not the obvious sins but the subtle daily habits that quietly derail our spiritual growth without us even noticing.

The decline of church attendance today happens, in part, because we have chosen to believe the myth that the youth are our future. They are not. They are our present and as the church we have a responsibility to them.

Engaging in corporate worship seems boring compared to other entertainment or "fun" events. As with any part of walking with God, we must be intentional and disciplined about the things that are important. God acts with purpose from truth, and he leads us to do the same. We go to church not because it's fun in the immediate but because of the good it does us in the long term, both in this life and the next.

You can see how this topic creates many emotions. I hope you can also see how this topic reveals our self-focused nature. For some, Mother's Day is a day of joy; for others, it is a day of heartache. No church can possibly accommodate the feelings of every woman in the room and anticipate the reaction that this holiday might cause any given individual. Each of us must check our hearts on this matter and remember what this day is all about.

Needs abound today among the body of Christ and elsewhere. And because of that, everywhere we turn, people or organizations seem to be asking for our money. How can we know where we are supposed to give? And does it count as tithing if we don’t give directly to our church?