How Do I Escape the Christmas Traps?

Introduction

Advent is about enjoying and admiring Jesus. It's a season we observe each year at this time, during which we endeavor to do something intentional: ...

The Breath of God

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis introduces us to four children who find their way into a wondrous land through the back of a wardrobe ...

Regaining Lost Joy

Introduction

I remember talking to a girl here in this church two or three years ago. She said, "Jill, I've lost my joy, I've lost my peace, ...

Why It's Hard to Worship

Introduction

A few years ago, songwriter Michael Card wrote a book and recorded an album focusing on the subject of lament. The project grew out of a series ...

God Is Strong—Am I?

From the editor:

Here's another great sermon from one of our featured preachers, Francis Chan. A few noteworthy items: Just below this editor's ...

When You Really Want to Quit

From the editor

We all struggle with the reality that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Adding to our inner turmoil is the reality that sometimes ...

I Will Build My Church

Introduction

I entered the ministry with my eyes wide open. Two great-grandfathers were preachers—one a circuit rider, the other a lay preacher. Both ...

Remember Me

Introduction

Several years after Jimmy Cagney had become famous portraying gangsters in Hollywood films, he and his wife were getting into a car in New ...

Who Can Take It?

Introduction

Ezekiel 2:2 says: "As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." The voice of this prophet, ...

An Attitude of Gratitude

Introduction

Not long ago, as I was talking with one of my teenage sons, he recounted an experience he had on a commuter train outside of New York City. ...

A Breath of Fresh Air

Focus: Sometimes the best way to build God's kingdom is to brace up his workers.

Introduction: I want to read three brief passages, first from 2 Corinthians ...

Great Expectations

Introduction

There is a lot of hype to the holidays. We buy presents; we attend countless parties and holiday events. We travel to see relatives. We ...

Work Hard, But …

Introduction

I first met Danny G. the Sunday morning he came down the aisle during decision time with his wife in tow. I had known he would probably ...

Dealing with Discouragement

I was eighteen when I got my first job in sales. It was a summer job; I was going to earn money for college. I was hired by a company who offered memberships ...

How to Beat the Holiday Blues

There's a myth that during the Christmas holiday season suicides increase. It's not really true. In fact, The Mayo Clinic reports that a recent 35-year ...

God's Cure for Loneliness

Illustration: Here is a story of a preacher who after 18 years of ministry quit and went into the business world lonely, discouraged, and defeated. ...

If at First You Don't Succeed

"If at first you don't succeed"—you know the rest—"try, try again." Now that's a maxim that we all grew up with. From time to time we are ...

Overcoming Discouragement

Life is hard. Life is a battle. Saint Paul says we struggle in life, not just against the world and the flesh, but against invisible powers that struggle ...

Dealing With Discouragement

As you review the great names and personalities of the Scriptures, you become aware very quickly of the fact that almost all of them knew, at one time ...

Life: Where's the Beef?

Introduction

Is there any cuter commercial than the one for Wendy's with the old lady who asks a simple question: "Where's the beef?" ...