The Grim Picture of the Past For the last 10–20 years, we have read statistic after statistic of increasing numbers of students graduating from church as they graduate high school. When I was a youth pastor, I would gather every year with new 6th-grade students and parents as they were transitioning into the youth ministry. […]| D6 Family Ministry
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1) Genesis 16:16 concluded by specifically stating that Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bore Abram’s child Ishmael. Now the very next verse, in Genesis 17:1, frankly dates the next narrative as being when Abram was 99 years old — a period of 13 years! Did Abram go 13 years without even hearing from God? It certainly seems possible. Abram ...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
…I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits (1 Corinthians 16:7). Even the best of desires may not be brought to fruition here on earth. Even our best kingdom visions may never be fulfilled. And even our best plans may never come to pass. Here even the apostle Paul himself admits that his plans are fallible and must therefore be flexible. “I have made my very best plans,” Paul says, “and am operating according to them to the best of my ability—but all the while in the r...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting (1 Corinthians 9:15). What is the ground for Paul’s boasting? It is the “gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12). The gospel of Christ is centered on Jesus Himself—His perfect humanity, His full deity, the salvation that He perf| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Who got to decide what books would be in the Bible? What is the canon and how was it determined? And why do other churches have different books?| Thomas Nelson Bibles
Our days overflow with countless gifts we easily overlook.| DashHouse.com
In today’s world, submission is almost seen as a dirty word. We celebrate independence, cheer on those who “stand their ground,” and promote the right...| Calvary Chapel
The most important thing in the Christian life and ministry is not knowledge, zeal, or giftedness. It is love. Without love, Paul says, we are nothing. With love, even the weakest Christian can reflect Christ. When I first came into Calvary Chapel, what struck me was not polished programs or impressive preaching—it was love. I...| Calvary Chapel
For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart (Ecc 5:20). I remember reading a verse in my Bible a few years back and thinking, “Wow! I feel …| Aliens and Pilgrims
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. Psa 65:8 Purple. There’s always so much purple. …| Aliens and Pilgrims
“I just don’t want to be a Pharisee.” This is normally how it starts. There is a good impulse to want to avoid self-righteousness or gospel-less obedience. But this good impulse quickly gets co-opted by the devil. Whether it is …| Aliens and Pilgrims
The Burger King slogan, “Have it your way,” is great for a restaurant, but is a plague in the human mind. The Burger King mentality too easily creeps into the subconscious, and moves way beyond pickles and onions. The folks …| Aliens and Pilgrims
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) When we open the door of communication with Jesus, Jesus himself describes this event as being like dinner with a dear friend. Do you come to your dinner table with a to-do list of things to cover in conversation? Are you nervous or hurried when you sit down to have dinner in your home with a dear friend? We do not come to dinner with ou...| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Hard to forgive? “I won’t forgive. And I won’t forget.” Like hot lava spewing from a live volcano, those confessions usually flow from a heart that’s been broken or crushed. Victims of violence, hatred, or even life’s accidental losses often have difficulty seeing beyond the hurt or the pain. Who can blame them? No one wants to walk in their shoes. And no one wants to make heartache their best friend. But what if that’s you? You’ve been wounded beyond repair, but the scars beg...| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
The day my life changed, I was only eight. I didn't know everything--nothing, really--but I was old enough for my life to be changed forever.| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
The Bible is how we learn about God, but it is so much more than that. Here is what the Bible is and why it is so important.| Thomas Nelson Bibles
This is probably the most ignored section of the Bible. This section of the Bible is called the Torah, also commonly called the Books of Law; or Old Testament| Rethink
Ingratitude reflects unbelief, but practicing thankfulness strengthens faith.| DashHouse.com
Sometimes God grows us most in the hard times.| DashHouse.com
Resilience in prayer is the ability to continue engaging with God, even when we don’t feel like it or it seems like our prayers are going unanswered. Resilience is us showing up with an open heart – waiting, wrestling, or simply sitting in stillness. Resilience in prayer means we embrace God in the process because […]| Strength with Dignity
The world clamors for us to worry, strive, and focus on its chaos, but God calls us to trust Him, rest, and dwell in His Presence – a place of peace. How do we breakthrough the chaos into peaceful rest? We “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” By turning our gaze […]| Strength with Dignity
Thesis: One of the great catalysts for faith and growth in Christ is personal experience with God. Consider Paul on the Damascus Road (Acts 9),...| Calvary Chapel
Before we talk about what went wrong, we need to hear what was right. You and I were made in the image of God. Not to resemble Him physically, but to reflect His likeness and carry His authority into the world He made. Like royal images set across a realm, humanity was meant to announce...| Calvary Chapel
“Love one another” (John 13:34)”Pray for one another” (James 5:16)”Bearing with one another… forgiving each other” (Col 3:13) God commands us to proactivel…| Aliens and Pilgrims
This Bible Reading Plan will take you through the entire New Testament in just 180 days. Download the free printable checklist to track your daily progress. Have you ever had a morning that you sit down, ready to dig into God’s Word, and you have no clue what you should read? Maybe you’ve had a... The post Free Printable New Testament Bible Reading Plan appeared first on .|
Fallen humanity has always fallen short when it comes to bringing together people who are different from one another. That’s why a diverse and faithful church can function as a powerful defense of God’s presence among His people. When a faithful church unites people from different ethnic, economic, and generational backgrounds, that congregation provides a […]| D6 Family Ministry
We’re thankful for the resource providers who stand with us in generational discipleship. Enjoy this message from our friends at Samaritan’s Purse: Receiving a gift-filled shoebox fills a child with joy. Operation Christmas Child has delivered over 232 million shoeboxes since 1993 in more than 170 countries and territories. The Gospel is shared with the […]| D6 Family Ministry
We don’t like pain. In fact, most of us will go out of our way to avoid it. Yet pain in life is inevitable. While most of us would prefer a physical ailment ...| d6family.com
We have done our part. For the third time, we got out the vote. Republicans now control every branch of government. After nine months of their rule, many look around and ask: where is the deliverance? Our daily lives do not seem better. In fact, for many, things feel worse. Leftist radicals have declared open season on our people. In broad daylight, they murder men like Charlie Kirk. They snipe at ICE agents. Two weeks have passed since Charlie’s killing and the Republican response has been...| Gab News
Along with so many other "small" sins in our lives, self-pity is actually very dangerous and self-destructive. The good news, however, is that the Bible gives us some very insightful help regarding this age-old sin. Some time ago I preached a message on self-pity, as part of a series "Beware of Smal| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Imagine you are about to move to a new area. Not just a new location, but a whole new part of the world—surrounded by a new culture and new faces, and without any familiar friends or contacts. Besides the personal, emotional challenges of such a move there would obviously be some significant spiritu| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
The apostle Peter writes to hurting and persecuted Christian believers, who have been "scattered" from their homes and familiar surroundings, and tells them to cast all their anxieties on God knowing that God cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). This is not some puff piece, or academic lecture, or thoughtl| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Not long ago our church studied through the Ten Commandments together. In preparation for considering this formidable and famous piece of Old Testament law, it was helpful for me to consider, or reconsider, the goodness of God in all that he does, including giving us the law. More than just a list o| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). God is faithful. What a wonderful reminder! God| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
We know that “an idol has no real existence" (1 Corinthians 8:4). Paul, while addressing an immediate problem related to Christian liberty, simultaneously addresses a vital overarching point regarding idolatry. Idols are nothing; they are not just false gods, they are no gods at all. Of course the m| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Have you ever needed prayer for comfort? We all have, at one time or another. And we all know someone or have heard of others who desperately need peace and comfort in their lives right now. We do what we can to help others, using both the natural and spiritual gifts God has given us. All of us give what we have. We stay in touch, and we share our love. But our hearts ache to do more to ease the excruciating pain and discomfort of broken lives and interrupted dreams. You may be cleaning up th...| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Lessons from 9/11 remind us that we will never be the same. But here are ten positive lessons we can still learn from this tragedy:| Rebecca Barlow Jordan
In today's world of business and hurry it can be hard to find rest. Read God's purpose for rest and how you might be able to rest well The post How You Can Find True Rest appeared first on Thomas Nelson Bibles.| Thomas Nelson Bibles
Tools can be very useful for Bible Study. Here are five great tools you can use to start studying the Bible more effectively The post What Should You Use to Study the Bible? appeared first on Thomas Nelson Bibles.| Thomas Nelson Bibles
Have you ever heard the idea that “God is sovereign and doesn’t need you”? In one sense, yes, it’s true that God is holy, set...| Calvary Chapel
People often wonder what eternal life is like. What will we do in eternity and where will we be? When Jesus prayed for His disciples, He told us plainly what eternal life is. He said, “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John...| Calvary Chapel
While we run this race, we are commanded to have our eyes trained on a single place. We are to be looking to Jesus. Don’t Look There! I know what you’re thinking. “I’ve read…| Aliens and Pilgrims
This is my latest article for Evangelicals Now Gossip is no longer just local – it’s global The woman was horrified… “You wouldn’t dare do that”. She was a member in the church and had just been to…| TheWeeFlea.com
Todd Hains is an editor with Lexham Press and author of Keep Us This Day, Keep Us This Night. This colorfully illustrated “flip” book gives parents and children words to thank God for his presence and protection each day and night. In our interview below, Hains reflects on the inspiration behind| Lexham Press
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 soun| 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,| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Do you know how to read the Bible correctly, humbly taking into account the fantastic resources and knowledge available to you?| Thomas Nelson Bibles
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
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 u…| 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| 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 swe| 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| 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 bel| 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| 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
(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
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
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 what another person wants or, more specifically, making them happy by doing their will. Like in Acts 6:5, when […]| The Cripplegate
Discover four powerful truths about spiritual warfare every believer—especially teens—needs to know to stand strong in their faith.| Greg Stier
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
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
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
Choose from two different prayer request trackers so you can consistently pray for those in need. Download the free PDF's today!| humblyrootedhome.com
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
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 of my passport country for 14 years. I am married to a person from the country I live in, making us a bilingual, bicultural family. We have a six-year-old son....| 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
