Legalism in religion is a tale as old as time. When Jesus walked this earth, he would often engage in discussions with religious leaders who very publicly spoke of just how good they were at following religious rules. But Jesus came preaching something new: being justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28).
Read MoreOne of the great benefits of being an elementary teacher is actually remembering all the slightly forget-able, yet helpful, knowledge you learned back in your early days...
Read MoreThe simple thought of introducing myself to a room full of people makes my heart race. Even though this is something I have done countless times, it never gets any easier. I usually go over what I’m going to say to introduce myself in my head, and it usually ends up being something short and sweet with the possibility of getting a bit awkward.
Read MoreAs I was writing out Scripture the other day, I settled in Philippians 2:12-18. I'm going to write it out for you because I love the passage in its entirety, but if you have a Bible, open up on your own and read it in your version. Any time we can open up the word of God on our own, we need to do that, even if it's on a screen in front of us. Here are some things the Holy Spirit taught me through the study of this passage.
Read MoreWe serve a God who is omnipotent. Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited or very great power. This means His power is unmatched - He created everything and everyone that previously existed and currently exists. This aspect of God's character is all over the pages of Scripture.
Read MoreI wrote in a previous article about acknowledging that there is a living and active God in our lives and learning to live with Him in our lives. But, practically, how do we go about living with God? Especially, if we are in seasons where it is easier to accept He’s not actually around. How do we live with a living God, when we still aren’t convinced He is living?
Read MoreThere’s a line in the famous hymn, ‘Come Thou Font’ that we sing, and for the longest time it made absolutely no sense to me: “Here I raise my ebenezer, hither by thy help I come.”
Read MoreHave you read the story of Caleb and Joshua and the other men from each tribe of Israel that Moses sent to spy out some land for the Israelites to enter into? This telling of events and what took place begins in the Old Testament book of Numbers, starting in chapter thirteen.
Read MoreAs humans, we try to avoid pain. We do everything we can to fill our soul’s aches and needs by self-medicating. Some turn to drugs and alcohol to cope; others fill our schedules with work 20 hours a day until we drop into bed exhausted; and yet others fill their minds with social media, television, friends, parties, travel, and any kind of noise or distraction just so we wouldn’t have to feel the depth of our pain and need. Because hurting sucks. Having a need only God can - but won’t - fill is really hard. It is the deep, personal, felt needs that maybe no one even knows about but we carry with us every day, year after year.
Read MorePersistent prayer doesn't change God. It changes us. Because it takes everything to keep showing up at His throne with the same request day after day, and more faith than you think you have to keep believing He will answer in His time.
Read MoreWait - is anyone here religious? It’s the follow-up to a slightly off-colored joke. But everyone is talking and the conversation has moved on. I shrug. I’m what most people would consider religious, but I’m not easily offended. It had become normal to “shrug off” my religion. I had left the comfort of the Bible belt and was making my own way in the world.
Read MoreDo you ever find yourself asking God what He wants you to go, and feel like you are not receiving a response? Do you ever pray through a monologue with all your requests to God, but never stop to listen to what He may need to say? Just me?
Read MoreAs a teenager and into my early twenties, I really didn’t like the marriage set up painted by the church and the Bible. I am not even going to the topic of submission. That’s a topic for another day. No, I want to start with the basics: being a helper to a man.
Read MoreAs we start our Theology Thursdays series, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite podcasts on theology.
Read MoreI was a young Christian and dutiful to follow the Christian checklist exactly. I glued my eyes to the page. I read this verse with all my might and slowly, so that I would not miss one single word of it. But however hard I tried to read and get it in my head, I could not seem to understand it with my heart.
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