Articles
A Prayer Shaped by Bethlehem’s Humility
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 A Prayer Rooted in God’s Unexpected Ways Nicholas lived and served in...
Rest as a Spiritual Rhythm
As I mentioned earlier, most of us aren’t natural morning people. We’re wired to seek comfort and rest, gravitating toward the warmth of our blankets rather than the chill of early morning air. Perhaps this is part of our survival instinct as human beings. Why Rest...
Mental Health, Faith, and Compassion
Mental Health Myths in the Church “Just pray more.” “Just ask God for healing.” “If you had more faith, you’d get better.” Why Mental Health Is Not a Faith Failure These trite statements are common responses within the church to mental health challenges. Such...
Thirst, Vulnerability, and the Shepherd’s Way
How can the thirst of a Savior become the salvation of a sinner? The Meaning of Thirst in the Ministry of Jesus John’s gospel recounts the occasion of a thirsty Jesus sitting by a well. His lips dry, tongue sticking to the roof of His mouth. It’s hard to imagine God...
Women Leadership, Faith, and Calling
What Do Leadership, Women, and Work Have to Do with It? Some of you may remember the song “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” by Tina Turner. Tina was reflecting on an abusive relationship, noting that love wasn’t enough to keep things together. Tina was married to Ike...
How Stress Impacts the Body and Soul
Stress is ubiquitous in contemporary life,1 and the word gets tossed around as if we all understand what it means. Most of us routinely talk about the daily kinds of stress we experience—in our work, finances, parenting, commuting, and social concerns. Then there is...
Grace Receives Sinners and Reveals God’s Heart
Right in the middle of the gospel of Luke we step into some interesting family drama. Jesus tells a story about a father who has two sons. And what we find is God’s heart toward those in need of grace. Because this story in situated in the middle of the gospel (Luke...
Is God Good? Why Gen Z Is Asking Different Questions
I sent a text to a Gen Z young professional: “Do you think God is good? He works full time about a mile from my house and has battled cancer the last couple of years. We opted for a brief interview over text. He responded, “I would say, as a blanket statement, yes....
The Image of God and AI
Our task together is to establish a foundation upon which we can think on AI theologically, ethically, and missiologically. The eventual convergence of humanoid robots—such as NASA’s Valkyrie, designed for humanlike operations in space and on Earth—with AI is a...
Mental Health Ministry in the Church
There are many great movements of God’s Spirit happening around us. Clean water. Bible translation. Child sponsorship. Creation care. International promotions of peace. Racial justice. Evangelism and world missions. Among the most powerful movements in this second...
What Happens When a Deaf Person Comes to Church?
Growing up in a family of pastors—my father, my grandfathers, and brother all serving the local church—I’ve seen firsthand the power of a welcoming multicultural church community. Deaf Ministry Church Begins With a “Yes” So, what happens when a deaf person attends a...
Living as a Kingdom Influencer
You are a kingdom disciple living as a kingdom servant while making a kingdom impact that will resonate throughout all time. And you do this through what we read in 1 Peter, which says we are to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into...
Christian Weakness and Overlooked Greatness
Christian Weakness in Josh Gibson’s Story American history often gets things backwards. Nowhere is this clearer than in the case of Josh Gibson (1911–1947), known for years as “The Black Babe Ruth”—a nickname Josh should have been offended by. Gibson hit somewhere...
Why Young Adults Are Calling for a Public Church
Young adults believe in a public God, and they are not willing to wait for the church to become public. They are choosing to become deeply engaged in working for the common good in a variety of ways. Kristina Frugé, director of Congregational and Community Initiatives...
Young But Useful: Why Young Believers Matter
Spiritual Maturity Matters More Than Age In 1 Corinthians 13:11 Paul declared, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” Notice Paul did not say, “When I...
Living With Kingdom Influence
You are a kingdom disciple living as a kingdom servant while making a kingdom impact that will resonate throughout all time. And you do this through what we read in 1 Peter, which says we are to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into...
Understanding the Emptiness Crisis
For two decades Americans have become more unhappy, more discontented, and more depressed than ever before. This is not just empty rhetoric; the research is clear. Suicide has gone up every year in nearly every state for the last two decades (“Suicide Rates on the...
Living with Restoration Rhythms
Sustainable Activism Includes Rest I’ve come to recognize I am an exponentially more kind, patient, and attentive person after I have had a good night’s sleep. With every thirty minutes of uninterrupted shuteye, I become a better listener and more attuned to the...
Try God Breakthrough in Ministry
As I write this, our local church has been experiencing massive growth. Throughout this process, I’ve been asking and seeking God for a larger gathering place. On one particular blessed Sunday, as I noticed people walking down the street and being shuttled back and...
Walking in Freedom Through the Holy Spirit
Once, I went to an escape room with my mom and sisters. Oh, man, my blood was pumping the whole time! I felt anxious—the pressure to figure out the way to freedom while the clock was ticking. And sadly, we didn’t succeed. Why not? We didn’t ask for help. We were told...
