Saturday Lagniappe: "Christians and Artificial Intelligence" and Much, Much More

Christians and Artificial Intelligence

How relevant is a 3,000-year-old board game to humanity’s future? More relevant than you might think, especially when a computer learns how to win. Read More

You Have God's Blessing to Say 'God Bless America'

Why a faith that transcends all nations leaves room for patriotic devotion. Read More

Religious Freedom Is for Non-Christians Too

Must a person who believes Jesus is the only way to God defend religious freedom for Christians and non-Christians alike? Read More

The Robust Faith of George III

The “mad” ruler of England during the American Revolution led a life of impressive personal piety. Read More

The Priority of Patience, Prayer, and Preaching in Church Planting

Church planter, before you do anything else, you must prioritize three things: patience, prayer, and preaching. Read More

Shepherd Where You Live, Live Where you Shepherd

“Location, location, location!” Anyone in the real estate business recognizes that mantra. When buying and selling a piece of property, location is the one thing that matters above all else. But for many pastors, it seems that this truism has been forgotten. Read More

13 Signs of Pastoral Fatigue - Rainer on Leadership #341 [Podcast]

There are danger signs in any vocation. But if you ignore these, it might be more than just your job that you lose—it could be your ministry that’s lost. Listen Now

13 Signs of Leadership Fatigue

I list these symptoms of “leadership fatigue” here not to discourage you, but instead to help you recognize them, address them, and move forward. Read More

Helpful Practices for Pastoral Revitalization

In my own experience, these things have contributed to personal revitalization. Perhaps they will help your own ministry. Read More

Is Genesis 1–11 a Derivation from Ancient Myths?

All over the world we find cultural legends and myths that closely resemble certain accounts in Scripture, such as the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel accounts. Read More

Five Reasons Lead Pastors Should Be Involved with VBS

If you’re a lead pastor, it’s tempting to take off that week because you’re not really needed to lead VBS. Many churches have longstanding volunteers and leaders who basically run with VBS every year. But the week of VBS is not the time to take a vacation. When your congregation is all-hands-on-deck, then you need to be there. The lead pastor should be an active and visible part of VBS. Here’s why. Read More

Buffet Discipleship: Picking and Choosing in Unbiblical Proportions

The root of being a disciple is discipline. Read More

China, House Churches, and the Growth of the Kingdom

Two-thirds of Chinese Christians attend a house church. Read More

Why Christians Must Avoid the Slippery Slope of Sexual Immorality

One of the more well-known ideas about cultural change is the “slippery slope.” The notion is that when you take a step down a slippery slope, you are at risk of losing your footing and can end up sliding all the way down. The term is often applied to first steps that seem innocent enough, or at least few would sensationalize, yet they are steps that put you at risk for sliding further than anyone would have envisioned. Read More

Trump Administration to Teachers: You Must Use a Transgender Student’s “Preferred Pronouns”

The Trump administration recently issued a letter stating that teachers and students could be investigated for a civil rights violation if they refuse to use the “preferred pronouns” of transgender students. Read More

Americans Keep Having Fewer Babies as U.S. Birthrates Hit Some Record Lows

For the second year in a row, the number of babies delivered in the U.S. fell in 2016, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics. For some groups of women, the birth rate reached record lows. Read More

Births: Provisional Data for 2016 [PDF]

This report presents provisional 2016 data on U.S. births. Births are shown by age and race and Hispanic origin of mother. Data on marital status, cesarean delivery, preterm births, and low birthweight are also presented. This report is the first in a new annual series replacing the preliminary report series. Read More