What does the church of Jesus Christ really look like? Of course, I am not talking about the architectural style of the building in which it meets, but what a local body of believers looks like. We know the church should be sound in doctrine and zealous in proclaiming the gospel. But how does a sound church really function? Some think of it as a haven of rest where God’s people find refuge from the daily pressures of life. And indeed, there is a rest found in hearing the Word of God proclai...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
In Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul gives us four specific prayer requests he had for the people of God. And all of them center around the person and work of Jesus Christ: that Christ’s Spirit give you strength, as Christ lives in you by faith, giving you an ever-deepening, familiar knowledge of Christ-love, that you may enjoy the very best, the fullness, of what God has to offer: Jesus! All this, Paul says, so that you and I will experience—along with every child of God—the infinite love of Chr...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!“ (Psalm 40:17). I am poor and needy. Is that your self-description today? It is the reality, whether we recognize it or not. No matter how strong, healthy, or financially secure we may feel at the moment, we are poor and needy because we have nothing in ourselves. But at times we feel it much more keenly than at other seasons, don’t we? There are times when we mi...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Marcos Hernandez says he has spent most of his life running. Mostly trying to get away from God. “I’ve been running from him — running with the devil,” says Hernandez, a resident of Wayside Cross, a Christian recovery center and shelter in the Chicago suburbs. These days, Hernandez, who says he is four years sober, is running for a different reason. If all goes to plan, he and seven other Wayside Cross residents will toe the line at the Fox Valley half-marathon in St.| The Roys Report
If you were to tour Martin Luther’s house in Wittenberg today, you would see a dark spot on the wall of his study. The docents of the property attribute this spot to a famous incident in which Luther, awakened in the night by Satan, grabbed an inkwell and threw it at the Tempter. Whether or […]| The Cripplegate
Do you know how to read the Bible correctly, humbly taking into account the fantastic resources and knowledge available to you?| Thomas Nelson Bibles
Being open to correction from others is essential for spiritual and personal growth.| DashHouse.com
Christ is the Good Shepherd who faithfully gave His life for us. But when He [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. ~Matthew 9:36 WEB I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and I’m known by My own, […]| Strength with Dignity
Three years ago, my inbox exploded with church planting visions from places as diverse as a bustling city in Pakistan and remote villages in East...| Calvary Chapel
One of the great distinctives of Calvary Chapel is our conviction that the Holy Spirit still leads His people. We talk about being “led by...| Calvary Chapel
Maintaining good relationships is a priority for us in ministry. Our vocation is peculiar in that we work with people, and that gets messy. Like social media, there was a time of innocence when I’d connect with friends I hadn’t seen in a long time, perhaps share a quote or a special moment with my...| Calvary Chapel
There are multiple parallels between being married and being a person of faith. One we seldom talk about is that both relationships bring us face-to-face with disappointment. Though marital disappointments look and feel different from those we experience with God, the church, or fellow believers, they share the same common denominator: expectations. All of us Read more... The post Faith Crises Feel Urgent. But They Shouldn’t Be Rushed. appeared first on Christianity Today.| Christianity Today
Lay aside every weight, every sin, and run the race with endurance. We are called to run! Not lollygag to the finish line, but to give all our mind, and soul, and strength to the race. Paul says to run …| Aliens and Pilgrims
The writer of Hebrews commands us to lay aside sin if we ever want to run the race with endurance. But is that all? Every Weight It’s not just sin that keeps us from running well. We are called to …| Aliens and Pilgrims
An exhortation taken from a sermon on Hebrews 12:1-2 To the suffering saints: Some of you are going through terrible difficulties. Trials in the home. Trials in health. Trials in your marriage. I’ve been praying for you that God would …| Aliens and Pilgrims
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to …| Aliens and Pilgrims
Our house is full of music. We listen to music. We play music. We sing. And not just songs. We sing sentences to each other. (Don’t judge me). We just love music in our home. When my oldest was little …| Aliens and Pilgrims
There seems to be an unwritten rule among some Christian households that there must be a separation between church and home. We do church on Sunday, but the rest of the week, we move and act as though those things …| Aliens and Pilgrims
I remember thinking, “There’s no way I could love my wife more than I love her right now.” The idea of growing in love for my wife seemed ridiculous. How do you love more than com…| Aliens and Pilgrims
Anxiety is striking Gen Z at unprecedented levels, fueled by academic pressure, social media, and shifting family dynamics. Without urgent intervention, this generation risks being defined by its distress more than its potential, according to research findings available through PubMed Central (PMC). Even though it’s true anxiety has significantly increased in our society in the […]| D6 Family Ministry
That spirit inside you is the spark of hope that remains when every other hope dies| Justin N. Poythress
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 – April 9, 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and a participant in the German resistance movement against Nazism. He was involved in plots planned by members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Adolf Hitler. He was arrested in March 1943, imprisoned and eventually hanged, just before the end of the Second World War in Europe. Bonhoeffer’s classic work The Cost of Discipleship was written at the height of ...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? … And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Such were some of you. On one hand, what sweet words these are to believers! The church is not for perfect people but for sin-scarred, once-blind, still struggling people. Look at this list! Individuals who once were sexually immoral, idolat...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh” (Jonah 1:1-2). God spoke plainly to Jonah and instructed him to visit the capital city of Israel’s enemies with a message of repentance and, ultimately, grace. Yet Jonah refused. Why did Jonah — and why do we still today, as recipients of the Great Commission — disobey God? We might summarize Jonah’s problems as flowing from: 1) his character (and that of national Israel’s) which was proud ...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
This beautiful, biblical description of a Christian comes from James Smith in 1856. As you read this pastor’s wise and insightful summary of the Christian life, prayerfully consider — not only whether these words describe you, but — how they may better describe you. May each of us as Christian believers learn Christ’s doctrines better, trust his promises better, and do his will better. If anyone is in Christ — he is a new creature: He is convinced of sin — and mourns over it; he h...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity (1 Corinthians 16:12). Even our very best plans often meet with significant snags. Many variables can conspire to derail our plans, but one in particular often proves a great help or hindrance in our efforts: people. Planning would be so easy if it weren’t for other people with other opinions! Pastoring, marriage, chi...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Prayers for students need our high priority, especially as they head back to school. Our college, high school, and younger age students all face a multitude of challenges daily, and they depend on our encouragement and prayers more than ever to help them succeed. Friends, faith, and schoolwork consume a large portion of our students’ time and concerns. Whether they are studying at home or in a classroom, they will need our prayers. The situations may change, but the truths will remain. If y...| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Back to school prayers - It's one of the best ways you can prepare your children each year as they head back to school, especially as you pray Scripture.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
“What is it that keeps you from looking for God?” When I heard this question in a sermon last week, I had just seen an excellent live performance of Dear Evan Hansen a mere 12 hours before. If you’…| Great and Noble Tasks
Are you fulfilling the Great Commission? Are you listening to the Bible just to receive God's Word or are you reproducing it? The post Are You Fulfilling the Great Commission? appeared first on Thomas Nelson Bibles.| Thomas Nelson Bibles
I’ve read thousands of blog posts, but these are the ones that shaped me most.| DashHouse.com
Marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, established before God and recognized by society, meant to reflect Christ’s faithful relationship with the church.| DashHouse.com
(Read articles one, two, and three here.) Charlotte Brontë said, “The trouble is not that I am single and likely to stay single, but that...| Calvary Chapel
One of the unique and fascinating aspects of Jewish hymnody recorded for us in the Psalms of lament are the communal laments. Most of the Psalms of lament are individual and we treat them accordingly as personal prayers and devotions. But recorded for us are communal laments that were sung by the Jewish community as...| Calvary Chapel
Explore 10 Bible verses about the fear of God to discover how reverent awe leads to wisdom, peace, and deeper trust in Him.| Esther Press
Losing a baby in the womb is common, but that doesn't make it any less painful. The grief of losing any child feels unbearable. Lost Gifts: Miscarriage, Grief, and the God of All Comfort laments the grief of miscarriage, discovers God’s gifts in spite of loss, and remembers our Good Shepherd, who we| Lexham Press
Our convictions will be tested, and our faith will be sifted in times of difficulty. But God wants to give us courage and help us reach beyond ourselves to a strength that is greater than our own - moving from fear to faith.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Doing so might help them survive an era of school closures, but at what cost to the mission they profess?| Christianity Today
Should you read your Bible every day? Are the benefits to daily Bible reading that we might not realize? Yes! Here are some of them| Thomas Nelson Bibles
Don't be anxious about anything; pray about everything.| DashHouse.com
Our hope is rooted in quiet confidence in God’s character, because He is Faithful to redeem and restore us to Himself. Our hope isn’t based on what He has done, is doing, or will do, but on who He is. Whether we see the manifestation of our hope now or later, our hope remains steadfast […]| Strength with Dignity
(This article is part three in a four-part series on legalism and grace. Read articles one and two here.) It was 5pm the night before an important meeting, and of all nights, our dryer had abruptly stopped producing heat. Aware of the urgency of the moment, I texted a friend who knew all things appliances,...| Calvary Chapel
Free printable Bible verse bookmarks designed in cozy fall colors, each featuring a scripture on thankfulness.| humblyrootedhome.com
Sometimes we can’t find the right words to express our grief, longings, or even our joy. But in the Psalms, God gives us words to give back to him. In When You Don’t Have the Words: Praying the Psalms, Reed S. Dunn shows how the Psalms enrich our prayer lives. In our interview below, Dunn discuss| Lexham Press
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). Paul's exhortation to be regularly testing the sincerity and purity of your own faith is not given in order to make you doubt your salvation every other day. Faith in Christ is exactly that: faith in Jesu| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Most of us celebrate our country's birthday and freedom watching fireworks. Here's something more we can do to make a lasting difference in others.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Are you being the church?| Rambling Ever On
How do we breakthrough the chaos into peaceful rest? By turning our gaze from chaos to the Lord.| Strength with Dignity
I was saved at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa (CCCM), and learned to serve at CCCM. Pastor Chuck was my pastor, and I had the...| Calvary Chapel
We have been packing the ultimate missionary care package together. The first step was learning what to pack in your heart. The next section is going to be much more practical as you see what is helpful to pack in your suitcase. What to Pack in Your Suitcase: 1. Treats This is a non-essential, but...| Calvary Chapel
Give us each day our daily bread (Luke 11:3). (We continue today in our brief series on the Lord's Prayer.) The opening requests that Jesus models for us are about God -- so like God they are majestic, huge, and inspiring. A lesson Jesus clearly means for us to learn in this prayer is that God come| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Prayer can make a difference, including when we're traveling. Here are five things to remember, five ways prayer can make a difference on your vacation:| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
God doesn’t want you to be a man-pleaser. But he wants you to be a man-pleaser. Let me explain. In the New Testament, the word for “pleasing” another person means exactly what you’d think – doing w…| The Cripplegate
We’ll never fully understand the mystery of the Trinity, but we can still grasp it and enjoy it.| DashHouse.com
Discover four powerful truths about spiritual warfare every believer—especially teens—needs to know to stand strong in their faith.| Greg Stier
Christian publishing has existed since the dawn of the church and it is still as important now as ever. Here are eight reasons why.| Thomas Nelson Bibles
I woke up this morning with this heavy on my heart and I just wrote this from the heart. I am so grateful to Christian Today for publishing it….you can get the original here… The quiet…| TheWeeFlea.com
Paul in Ephesians 1:23 describes the church as the body of Christ. And in Ephesians 2:20 Paul goes on to explain that Jesus Christ himself is the cornerstone of the church. As if this were not enough, Paul further insists in Ephesians 3:10 that the manifold wisdom of God is being made known, through| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Don't make a deal with someone who's plotting your destruction.| DashHouse.com
Grab these free daily devotional printables to help you draw closer to God through scripture reading, thanksgiving and prayer.| humblyrootedhome.com
"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it" (1 Corinthians 3:10). Paul emphasizes over and over again that his labors were "according to the grace of God." In other| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Here is a prayer for fathers and grandfathers to bless you for every good work and every act of love you have ever offered on behalf of the ones you love.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
With so many opinions, motherhood can feel divisive. But being a mother is best done in community. Help encourage other mothers.| Thomas Nelson Bibles
As a Calvary Chapel, our family of churches was at the center of the Jesus Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s, the last great...| Calvary Chapel
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. (Proverbs 9:6) It is interesting how these two things go together: 1) forsaking foolishness, and 2) living wisely. In order to pursue the way of truth, the way of understanding, you must forsake the company of foolish companions. You| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
David Brainerd observed, "The idea that everything would happen exactly as it does regardless of whether we pray or not is a specter that haunts the minds of many who sincerely profess belief in God. It makes prayer psychologically impossible, replacing it with dead ritual at best." The answer to th| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Looking for a way to keep up with all the prayer requests you receive? Use these free prayer request trackers to help you out! Let’s be honest—life gets busy. Between homeschooling, laundry, meals, and everything in between, it’s so easy for prayer requests to slip through the cracks. You hear a need from a friend... The post Printable Prayer Request Tracker (Free PDF Downloads) appeared first on .|
When you close the door to granting forgiveness, you discover that no one is asking for it.| Justin N. Poythress
You want to study the Bible because you want to know God better. Yet it is not always easy to understand, and it is not always easy to see how some passages connect to others. So you turn to devotional materials. But where do you begin? There is a wide variety of devotionals out there, with some org| Lexham Press
Paul briefly exhorts in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 for believers to "Pray without ceasing." Yet some of us might ask the question: "Why?" Why pray without ceasing? That seems a tall order for busy people who have many life obligations on their plate already. But consider the biblical inducements to prayer| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). In less than ten words the psalmist David expresses the great confidence and sweet security of every believer: first, that Yahweh alone is Lord; second, that he guides and provides for those who put their trust in him; and, finally, that those| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you ... your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Paul, writing to the church at Thessalonica, commends them for their "acoustics." The message they had received was being reverberate| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Pain and suffering can shape our character, but they do not define us—God’s love defines us. God strengthens us when we are weak, gives us rest when we are weary, comforts us in our grief, and walks with us through every pain-filled valley, comforting our hearts with His Presence. Strength in Weakness When we are […]| Strength with Dignity
As Christian writers, we desire to honor the Lord and encourage others with our writings. We can face the ebb and flow in our creativity, the blank page writer’s block, and stewardship issues that every writer faces. Let us pray these ten prayers to encourage and empower us in our writing journey. #1 – Acknowledge […]| Strength with Dignity
A Memorial Day tribute to remember those who have given their lives for freedom in service for our country--and for all those who have ever served.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
My wife and I know a couple who often tell their children that people matter more than things. I remember the first time I heard them say it. Almost intuitively, I knew it was right and good. Over …| Daniel Seabaugh
This topic requires me to put all my cards on the table right from the get-go. I am a missionary. I have been living outside...| Calvary Chapel
This is the second article of a series. Click here to read the first article. On the night of January 13, 2012, the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a reef off the coast of an island in Italy, resulting in a catastrophic shipwreck that claimed 32 lives. Mediterranean shipwrecks are nothing new, but what...| Calvary Chapel
Let us look at the Biblical passages on the two greatest commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].” ~Deuteronomy 6:5 AMP “And [Jesus] replied to him, ‘You shall love the lord your God with all […]| Strength with Dignity
Repentance is a sorrow over any word or deed we have done that grieves the heart of God. The Apostle Paul speaks of a godly sorrow and a worldly sorrow. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.” ~2 Corinthians 7:10 WEB Godly […]| Strength with Dignity
Prayer is communing with God, aligning our hearts with His heart, and seeking His guidance. Reflecting on this led me to Isaiah 11. “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” ~Isaiah […]| Strength with Dignity
We sometimes think it’s just our kids who have a problem with using their phones too much, but we adults struggle, too. I remember the man who came up to me after a speaking event. He confessed, “It’s not my kids that I have a problem with. It’s my wife.” What had begun as a […]| D6 Family Ministry
Here is a prayer especially for mothers and grandmothers to honor them for all the love and prayers they have offered on behalf of those who love them.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
“I’ll be sixty in a couple of months.” At the present time, I can say this casually and effortlessly, without cringing, whispering, or grimacing. It was not always this way.| Great and Noble Tasks
There are truths worth repeating to ourselves, particularly when life is difficult or feels like it’s imploding upon us. Such truths can lift our heads when we’re drowning, fill our hearts with hope when things look hopeless, and stir up joy in our lives in times of despair. Perhaps more than any other truth, Jesus […]| Daniel Seabaugh
Something special happens when people gather around a dinner table. Laughter is heard. Hospitality is practiced. Friendships are born. I never get tired of seeing these dynamics at play during Alph…| Daniel Seabaugh
Motherhood is a noble ministry and the Bible has much to say about the characteristics and duties of mothers| Thomas Nelson Bibles
Some thoughts about choosing and choices: Many verses and passages in the Bible demand of us humans a decision as| Rambling Ever On
If gender is a social construct, why not everything? What is a penguin? What is Scottish person? What is a red dwarf star?| Justin N. Poythress
I remember it like it was yesterday. The offering plate came down my row and my 5-year-old fist held tightly onto the quarter in my pocket that my parents had given me to put into the offering. My older brother saw it all happen and reported it to my parents the second we got into the car after church.| He Must Become Greater
Do you ever struggle to feel that God's love is for you? Do you ever wonder if God is paying attention when bad things happen?| He Must Become Greater
The gospel tells us that God is love, but putting our faith in Jesus means that we believe His love is for us. Know it. Believe it. Feel it. God loves you.| He Must Become Greater
The cross and resurrection don't change the past, but they do change today and our forever. Because of the gospel, I can move forward in hope.| He Must Become Greater
No matter what it is that is causing fear in your life, the resurrection speaks hope into that situation.| He Must Become Greater
Christ is still risen. He is still risen indeed!| He Must Become Greater
Do you need encouragement and assurance? May this Easter prayer of hope and encouragement usher in a new sense of God’s love and presence for you.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
If you’re reading this, you’re the recipient of someone else’s creative gift. Somebody, somewhere, decided to come up with a written alphabet. Somebody, somewhere, taught me to write it and you to read it. Somebody, somewhere, got really into numbers and came up with a system for language comprised of 1s and 0s and somebody […] The post You Have Creative Gifts: Here’s How to Find Them appeared first on Clarity Life Consulting.| Clarity Life Consulting
There were some days, back when I had several small children, that I truly wondered if I was going to make it through. Then my mother-in-law would say to me in her calm, gentle, non-judgmental way,…| Great and Noble Tasks
I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27). Paul, writing to the church at Corinth to correct their problems, confesses that he himself has to be careful to avoid sin. In fact Paul intimates he goes to great le| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Paul tells Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12) and to "wage the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18). Clearly conflict is to be part of our Christian life -- but conflict with whom or what? We will search the Scriptures in vain for the idea that the conflict is supposed to be with| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman