what is christmas?
Poem Submitted by Bernice Han, Malaysia “Dear all, people around the world today celebrate Christmas. But many do not know why they are really celebrating it. They celebrate it because everyone else is doing so. However, let this Christmas be a very special and precious occasion to those around us. This season is truly the [...]
God’s Protection of Women
Physical, emotional, and verbal abuse can do to a marriage what murder or rape does to a life. In this booklet, author Herb Vander Lugt shares insight from Scripture to reveal God’s compassion for and protection of women who are involved in abusive marriage relationships. You’ll discover that Moses, Jesus, and Paul all recognized that some marital conditions are worse than divorce.
Love And Support
I received this note from a friend serving in an orphanage in a developing country: “Yesterday, as I was sitting at my office desk, I noticed a trail of ants on the floor. As I followed it, I was shocked to see that thousands of ants had blanketed the walls of our office building—inside and out. They swarmed everything. Fortunately, one of the workers . . . set to work. Less than an hour later, the ants were gone.”
Let’s explore a section of the Sermon on the Mount talking about pearls and pigs
Occasionally, we may come up against a Scripture passage that is difficult to interpret. When that happens we say there are some practical steps we can follow to help us see the meaning clearly.
Living Backward
The Chicago River is unusual because it flows backward. Engineers reversed its direction over a century ago because city-dwellers were using it as a dump. Dishwater, sewage, and industrial waste all funneled into the river, which emptied into Lake Michigan. Since the lake supplied drinking water for the city, thousands grew sick and died before city authorities decided to redirect the river to flow backward, away from the lake.
Minister Mentor
In 1959, when Lee Kuan Yew assumed the position of Prime Minister of Singapore, his leadership began a long process of national transformation. Initially, disagreements between ethnic groups and a weak economic base made the future of this tiny nation uncertain. By 1990, when Lee stepped down from his position, Singapore had become a model country for ethnic harmony and a thriving economy. After serving as Senior Minister, Lee became Minister Mentor in 2004. Since then he has been an invaluable resource to Singapore’s cabinet and to other leaders around the world.
An Instrument of Peace
By Adebunmi Olajide, 22-year-old, Nigeria In a world where news of war and rumors of war are regular bulletins on our television, newspapers, magazines, and Internet, how can we as God’s children be His instruments of peace? We live in an era where we hear of war breaking out in some places around the world […]
Discover the meaning behind Jesus’ metaphors
In the middle of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus turned to His followers and gave them a seemingly odd piece of advice; “Don’t feed your pearls to your pigs.” We're putting the pieces together.
An Instrument of Peace
By Adebunmi Olajide, 22-year-old, Nigeria In a world where news of war and rumors of war are regular bulletins on our television, newspapers, magazines, and Internet, how can we as God’s children be His instruments of peace? We live in an era where we hear of war breaking out in some places around the world [...]
Canceled Christmas
We felt as if our Christmas was being canceled last year. Actually, our flight to see family in Missouri was canceled due to snow. It’s been our tradition for quite a few years to celebrate Christmas with them, so we were greatly disappointed when we only got as far as Minnesota and had to return home to Michigan.
On Sunday, in a message we would have missed, our pastor spoke about expectations for Christmas. He caught my attention when he said, “If our expectations for Christmas are gifts and time with family, we have set our expectations too low.
A New Force
When Matteo Ricci went to China in the 16th century, he took samples of religious art to illustrate the Christian story for people who had never heard it. They readily accepted portraits of Mary holding the baby Jesus, but when he produced paintings of the crucifixion and tried to explain that the God-child had come to be executed, his audience reacted with revulsion and horror. They couldn’t worship a crucified God.
Humility And Greatness
As a 7-year-old, Richard Bernstein admired Jackie Robinson’s athletic ability and courage as the first African-American man to play Major League baseball in the modern era. A few years later, while working at a small-town golf course, Bernstein was astonished to find himself carrying the bag of his hero, Jackie Robinson. When rain postponed the game, Robinson held an umbrella over the two of them and shared his chocolate bar with the young caddy. Writing in The International Herald Tribune, Bernstein cited that humble act of kindness as a mark of greatness he has never forgotten.
How Can I Share My Faith Without An Argument?
In this booklet, evangelist Bill Fay outlines a simple, step-by-step approach to effectively sharing your faith. Discover how you can avoid unnecessary arguments that often get in the way of a complete presentation of the gospel. Gain a better understanding of God’s direction and your part in reaching people for Christ.
Are You Having Difficulty Sharing Your Faith With Others?
Do you think Christian preachers are tempted to make the message more palatable or at least soften it, to make it more palatable? Is that necessarily wrong?
What might that legitimately involve?
Paul spelled out his philosophy of evangelism that describes the cultural adjustments he is willing to make to win people to Christ
(1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
The Church We Need
What should you expect of the church, and how can it be a meaningful influence in your life? In this booklet, author Mart De Haan considers the kinds of people who make up the church, their needs, and how to respond to them based on the history of the seven churches of Revelation 2-3. Gain a better understanding of the purpose of the church and how you can find the one that meets your needs.
