Saturday Lagniappe: A Little Extra for the First Weekend of the New Year

4 Assumptions Pastors Can No Longer Make About Church Giving Patterns

While it’s still true that people stop or slow their giving when they’re unhappy, that is no longer the only reason for a drop in giving. Read More

4 Problems with Downplaying God’s Wrath

Many people in our culture, both within and without the church, have trouble with the idea of an angry God. Many secular people look at Bible passages where God gets angry and judges people and think, That’s precisely why religion is so primitive and dangerous. And many Christians seem to want to tone down, or even excise completely from our creed, the doctrine of divine wrath. It is seen as an embarrassment—something to be ameliorated, qualified, explained, reconfigured. Read More

Faith & Repentance

When the gospel is proclaimed, it seems at first sight that two different, even alternative, responses are called for. Sometimes the summons is, “Repent!” ...Yet, on other occasions, the appropriate response to the gospel is, “Believe!” ...But there is no mystery or contradiction here. Read More

8 Footprint Tracks Toward Moral Failure

I love hiking and backpacking. Recently, I read an article about recognizing “critters” in an area by looking at footprint tracks in the dirt. Some tracks aren’t alarming, but others say, “Be careful. There could be trouble in the area.” Based on my knowledge of far too many moral failures among church leaders, here are some “footprint tracks” that could signal upcoming trouble.... Read More

Five Personal Reflection Questions to Evaluate Your Year and Start the New Year Right

I’m a reflective person. This time of year, when we start to see all the “best of” reflections online and in the news, I like to do my own personal reflection. How was the year? What can we learn from it? How can I do better next year? Read More

6 Marks of a Healthy Missions Partnership

This is an adapted excerpt from Andy Johnson’s book Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global (Crossway, 2017). Read More

Why We’re Using The Word One to One

The Minister of Emmanuel Church Wimbledon in south London, the Revd Robin Weekes, explains why his church is using The Word One to One evangelism resource. Read More

7 Practical Tips for Engaging Muslims with the Gospel

Here are a few principles and practices I’ve learned from others over the years about sharing the gospel tactfully with Muslims. These principles apply to evangelism in general, but they’re especially helpful in sharing the message of Christ with Muslim friends and acquaintances. Read More