The Church Needs More Church History
Trevin Wax:After our visit, one question niggled at the back of my mind: How many Christians know the names and stories of countless Hollywood stars but remain unaware of the most important people and stories in church history? Hollywood cares about its history. Does the church?
Marvel at God’s Diverse Creation
Dorena Williamson:Something else stood out to me, plain as day. God must love variety. He must REALLY love diversity. Because if I were speaking creation into existence, I probably would have been cool with say, ten varieties of fish. One small spider variety would have been fascinating enough; a sprinkle of plants to fill a garden full of scent and color would have been simply beautiful. No, our God masterfully spoke into existence thousands upon thousands of varieties in creation. The swirling colors unique to certain bodies of water, the fish that teem in their depths, the birds flying overhead, the animals and plants inhabiting the earth. All of God’s creation is bursting with variety and uniqueness!
God Wants Your Heart, Not Your Religion
J. D. Greear:How to Sleep When You’re Afraid
Seth McDevitt:Most nights I fall blissfully into sleep lulled only by the din of Parks and Rec, but every few weeks I pray and it hits me: this might be the last time I get to hear her breathe, the last time I get to gently kiss her forehead and say, “I love you.”
When Disciplining Kids Doesn’t Seem to Make a Difference
Courtney Reissig:At the end of the day, discipline is often hard for me because I fail to see my children through humble eyes, and instead expect behavior that even I don’t exhibit. Discipline is hard because they’re stiff-necked sinners who need new hearts; they’re simply responding according to their nature. They disobey because it’s all sinful people know how to do (Rom. 8:5). They’re unkind because they don’t have new hearts (Ezek. 11:19; 36:26). They keep going back to their sin because it’s the only impulse anyone has apart from Christ (Rom. 1; Rom. 3:23).