Articles
How to Experience the Best Lent Ever
Lent often approaches us like a challenge to take on a Christianized form of New Year’s Resolutions, like it’s inviting us to a heroic stint of self-denial. But is that what Lent is about? Understanding the True Purpose of the Best Lent Ever I don’t think so. First of...
Creative Destruction: A Path to Church Renewal
Creative destruction is an act of dying so something new might emerge (Joshua Hayden, Creative Destruction: Towards a Theology of Institutions, 6). But how do we know what needs to die? Understanding Creative Destruction in the Life of the Church Central to our faith...
Embracing Childlike Faith in a Grown-Up World
If you’ve ever visited a playground to watch the sheer delight of children at play you might have observed the reality that a child’s joy isn’t centered on striving. Childlike joy flows from being present to the moment and simply receiving what is being given: a push...
Leading with God’s Timing
If we move fast enough and go hard enough, we just might reach the ridiculous goals we’ve set for ourselves. But just as New Coke didn’t win by getting out there fast and Jesus didn’t try to get there first, we won’t win with speed or haste if we are not anchored in...
The Power of Stewarding Resources Well
You have been given many wonderful resources—a spiritual health, mental health, physical health, meaningful work, financial resources, relationships, and more—all of which you are supposed to manage and steward. That process of taking control of your resources is what...
God’s Love Brings Hope in Pain
I am convinced that the greatest way to pour hope into your hurting heart is to sink deep into the love of God and to know—really know—the height, width, and depth of God’s tender love for you. When God’s love fills and overwhelms you, you know you are not alone and...
5 Mistakes Businesses Make When Marketing to Churches (And How to Avoid Them)
Churches play a major role in their communities, making them a valuable audience for businesses looking to connect with faith-based organizations. However, marketing to churches is not like marketing to businesses—many companies struggle to engage pastors and church...
Church Decision-Makers: Who They Are & How to Connect With Them
When businesses think about expanding into new markets, they often focus on industries like tech, healthcare, or retail—missing out on one of the most engaged and influential audiences: church decision-makers. Churches operate much like any other organization,...
Spiritual Growth: A Life of Fruitfulness
After years of apartment living, an overseas move, first jobs, two small children, and nearly ten years of marriage, we bought our first house. It was perfect: huge picture windows, original wood floors, a yard for our children to play in, and a front porch where we...
Servant Leadership: Leading by Example
My approach to leadership has always been comprehensive, which is why the C in chief executive officer (CEO) often represents more than just “chief” for me—it also implies the idea of “contractor” and “custodian.” This reflects my commitment to lead by example, never...
Savoring Scripture: A Feast for the Soul
Let’s consider this common analogy: the Bible is like an owner’s manual for life. What a pragmatic picture. What a joy-killing image. The owner’s manual for my car is hidden in the glove compartment along with napkins, the car registration, and ketchup packets. The...
Delighting in God’s Word: Cultivating a Life Rooted in Scripture
I am going to do better, I told myself. First thing tomorrow, it’s going to be different. The number of times I have had this exact conversation with myself regarding the conviction to be daily rooted in Scripture is too many to count. Can you relate? My spirit...
Prepare for Life’s Storms with Biblical Wisdom and Leadership
Forecasting the weather isn’t new. Jesus said as much in Matthew 16:3, “And in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” When we...
When Work Disappoints: Finding Biblical Wisdom in Setbacks
Disappointment at work is an everyday experience for most of us. It happens when work fails to live up to our hopes or expectations. We don’t finish everything on our to-do list. Only one person attends the online event we planned. Customers prefer our competitor’s...
Understanding the Parable of the Two Lost Sons
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable. —Luke 15:1–3 The Elder Brother and the Two Lost Sons...
Understanding the Gospel Mom: A Calling Rooted in Christ
Over the last decade, the two of us (Emily and Laura) have embarked on our own journeys to understand what a good mom really is. If you’re familiar with our ministry, Risen Motherhood, then you might know that as sisters-in-law and friends, we talked regularly in the...
What the Early Church Knew About Biblical Family
The Early Church’s View of Biblical Family When I was a kid growing up down South, my mom always referred to her in-laws as “Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard.” My parents both grew up in the small town of Talladega, Alabama, where every adult was a “Mr.” or “Mrs.” to anyone...
Miracles Lead to Worship
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. —Psalm 77:14 The Power of Biblical Miracles Miracles are hard to believe in, and they should be. In Matthew 28 we are told that the apostles met the risen Jesus on a mountainside in...
The Righteousness of Christ Transforms Your Life
Imagine that you are sitting in a chair in front of God the Father, and all his glory is blazing in unapproachable light, and Jesus, in his blood-soaked robe, is sitting in a chair next to you. An angel asks God the Father, “Who is more righteous, Jesus or this image...
When We Can’t, God Can: Surrendering Our Struggles to His Power
I can’t fix my family. I can’t keep my job. I can’t salvage my reputation. I can’t protect those I love. I can’t stand the pain. I can’t stop drinking. Can’t stop binge-eating, binge-watching, binge-spending, binge-working. Can’t stop looking at porn. I can’t find a...
