One More Surprise
Christmas is a time for family, presents, dinners... and a time of sharing. Share your faith with loved ones with our Christmas-themed leaflets. [Read online] or [Request printed copies].
The Unopened Gift
Every Christmas, there remains that one gift that many people don't open. Find out more about this surprise Christmas gift in The Unopened Gift. [Read online] [Printed copies out of stocks].
God Knows
When Denise met a hurting young woman in her church, her heart went out to her and she decided to see if she could help. Every week she spent time counseling her and praying with her. Denise became her mentor. However, some church leaders didn’t notice Denise’s efforts and decided to assign a church staff member to mentor the woman. No one, they commented, seemed to be taking care of her.
While she was not expecting any credit, Denise couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. “It’s as if I wasn’t doing anything all,” she told me.
One day, however, the young…
Ozark and dealing with the consequences
What if you make choices based on your own personal gratification, but never stop to consider the consequences of your actions? Ozark, a popular crime thriller series that’s now showing on Netflix
Justice League: Heroes & Insecurities
What makes a person a superhero? Would it be his superpowers? Or a track record of being undefeated?
Being Human Beings
When asked to define his role in a community sometimes uncooperative with law enforcement, a sheriff didn’t flash his badge or respond with the rank of his office. Rather he offered, “We are human beings who work with human beings in crisis.”
His humility—his stated equality with his fellow human beings—reminds me of Peter’s words when writing to first century Christians suffering under Roman persecution. Peter directs: “All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” Perhaps Peter was saying that the best response to humans in crisis is to be human, to be aware that…
How did Peter influence the author of Mark
Forensic detectives might search a crime scene for fingerprints. But today on Discover the Word, when the team searches the gospel of Mark, they find a set of fingerprints that don’t belong to the author, the fingerprints belong to the apostle Peter. Find how the author of Mark was influenced by Peter when you tune […]
5 Things I Dislike But I’m Thankful For
If I asked you to name right now five things you are grateful for, I’m sure you can rattle off more than that—family, friends, food, a home, a car, a job, sunshine, snow, coffee, and so on.
The Heart’s True Home
We had a West Highland Terrier for a number of years. “Westies” are tough little dogs, bred to tunnel into badger holes and engage the “enemy” in its lair. Our Westie was many generations removed from her origins, but she still retained that instinct, put into her through years of breeding. On one occasion she became obsessed by some “critter” under a rock in our back yard. Nothing could dissuade her. She dug and dug until she tunneled several feet under the rock.
Now consider this question: Why do we as humans pursue, pursue, pursue? Why must we climb unclimbed mountains,…
The messy, imperfect life of John Mark
Besides death and taxes, the only thing we can count on for sure is that life is going to get messy! Today on Discover the Word, we invite you to join the group at the table, as they dig into the imperfect life of John Mark, the author of the gospel of Mark. Find out how […]
Harvest and Thanksgiving
Several thousand years ago, God spoke directly to Moses and instituted a new festival for His people. In Exodus 23:16, according to Moses’s record, God said, “Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.”
Today countries around the world do something similar by celebrating the land’s bounty. In Ghana, the people celebrate the Yam Festival as a harvest event. In Brazil, Dia de Acao de Gracas is a time to be grateful for the crops that yielded their food. In China, there is the Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival. In the United States and Canada: Thanksgiving.
To…
I Was Wrong About Thanksgiving
I used to think Thanksgiving was cute, like little handprint turkey art projects from third graders. Thanksgiving was mildly entertaining, like whatever football game is on TV when you fall asleep after too much turkey.
3 Faulty Thoughts Believers Have about Same-Sex Attraction
“I completely disagree with what the pastor said about homosexuality,” Jenny* blurted out as we warmed our seats while awaiting the arrival of our pre-lunch dessert.
Who would you say has been your greatest mentor in life?
Who would you say has been your greatest mentor in life? If you were the author of the gospel of Mark, you’d probably have said the apostle Peter. Today on Discover the Word, the team will examine how the special relationship between John Mark and Simon Peter gives us insight into what the writer of the gospel […]
Make a Joyful Noise
Back when I was searching for a church to attend regularly, a friend invited me to a service at her church. The worship leaders led the congregation in a song I particularly loved. So I sang with gusto, remembering my college choir director’s advice to “Project!”
After the song, my friend’s husband turned to me and said, “You really sang loud.” This remark was not intended as a compliment! After that, I self-consciously monitored my singing, making sure I sang softer than those around me, and always wondering if the people around me judged my singing.
But one Sunday, I noticed the…
