Gospel.com Blog

In a blog post from earlier this year, Pres Gillham of Lifetime Guarantee Ministries shares some thoughts about worry.

Why do we worry so much? Is it possible to overcome chronic worrying, or is it something we’re stuck with?

How many of your worries begin with the words, “what if?”

I probably have a bit more research to do yet, but thus far, all my worries begin, “What if,” and then proceed to contemplate various future scenarios, none of which I have any control over, and all of which entice me to live tomorrow before I have finished trusting Christ for today. Worry assumes responsibility for something that is expressly in God’s job jar.

So what is the balance between unhealthy worrying and responsible preparation for the future? Stop by, read what Pres has to say about approaching worry from a Biblical perspective, and leave a comment of your own!

In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul states that he is “not ashamed of the Gospel.” What sort of attitude is he talking about, and how can we achieve it? This week’s Words of Hope radio program is exploring this topic and discussing what “the Gospel” really is:

The gospel is not a general platitude about the love of God; the gospel is the very specific, particular message of the cross. It is the announcement of what God in Christ had to do to reconcile estranged sinners to himself by taking the penalty of their sin and exhausting the curse of his wrath upon it.

Read the full transcript online, or tune in to listen to the radio broadcast.

Have you ever “lost your balance” as a parent, by either being too authoritarian or too permissive with your kids? Establishing a healthy balance between “rules” and “freedom” is one of the greatest challenges a parent faces. Jim Boeck at the Winning at Home ministry writes about his own struggle to find that point of balance, and offers some advice for parents trying to get there themselves.

The Bible instructs us to pray continually. Sounds like good advice, but what does it actually mean? What does a good prayer look like, and if God is all-knowing and all-forgiving, what exactly is the purpose of prayer in the first place?

Kenneth Boa of Reflections Ministries takes a look at the important but often intimidating subject of prayer. Among the questions he answers are “What is prayer?” “Why should I pray?” and “How am I supposed to pray?” It’s a helpful look at one of the most important parts of the Christian life.

Are you “in charge” of a small group Bible study, and wondering how to make it work? What are the elements that transform an average Bible study group into something that has a positive spiritual impact on its participants?

Richard Bewes writes about this challenge in How to Lead a Bible Study, an article that looks at a wide range of things that make for a successful Bible study: the duties of the group leader, the physical environment in which the study takes place, and the attitude you should have towards the group. Lots of practical advice there–even if you’ve been running a successful Bible study group for some time, you might pick up a few worthwhile new ideas from the article.

While the rest of us were sitting down last February to watch the Winter Olympics unfold, AMG International was gearing up for something quite different: an outreach effort to bring the Gospel to the countless people packing the streets of Torino, Italy during Olympics season. In all, sixty missionaries from many different parts of the world converged on the Olympics to distribute Bibles and other materials. Read the full missions report at the AMG International website.

What’s the point of the Christian life? Is it to avoid sin, go to church, and steer clear of worldliness?

Those things might well be part of a well-lived Christian life, argues R.C. Sproul, Jr., but they aren’t the real point. What we’re really called to do, he argues, is live to glorify Christ in every respect, leading lives peculiar and distinct from the world around us:

…in the Old and New Testaments, believers are called to live distinctly from the people of the world. The result of such collective living produces an illumination that cannot go unnoticed by the darkness of our culture. This obvious distinction that is supposed to come from the teaching of Scripture, is to manifest itself in every area of the believers life.

Do you live a “peculiar” Chrisitan life, a life that calls attention to Christ alone? Is your life so distinct and remarkable that others look at you and see Christ himself reflected? Or have you allowed yourself to be worn down by consumerism, empty religiousity, and everyday routine? Read Sproul’s article (from the Highlands Study Center’s Every Thought Captive archives) and ask yourself how “peculiar” your Christian life really is!

What do we mean when we talk about Bible “stories”? How can the Bible be relevant to us if it’s a collection of stories written for other people who lived thousands of years ago? Is it even possible to draw spiritual lessons from a story, or should we focus on teaching doctrine and theology instead?

In his latest “Been Thinking About…” column, Mart De Haan talks about the “story” of the Bible, and about the challenge of using stories to communicate Gospel truths:

A growing number of scholars and church leaders believe that the unfolding drama of the Bible is at the heart of its life-changing power. Others, however, are convinced that focusing on stories, instead of teaching doctrine, has become a trend that is watering down the authority of the Bible.

So who’s right? De Haan’s analysis suggests that there’s truth in both arguments, and that we need to appreciate both the advantages and limitations of “storytelling” as a teaching tool. Read the whole thing and see if you agree with his reasoning.

If you follow Al Menconi’s family-focused ministry, you know that one of the most common questions he gets from frustrated parents is “how much is too much?” when it comes to pop culture and their kids. Are there reliable guidelines that parents can give to their kids–rules like “all PG-13 movies are off-limits” or “only Christian music is acceptable”–that will ensure your kids are raised with a Biblical worldview?

Al tackles this question in his latest blog post, and unfortunately for worried parents everywhere, it turns out that there aren’t any “magic rules” to help your kid get through childhood without being confronted by pop culture’s dark side. There are, however, some good Biblical principles you can follow as you set behavioral guidelines for your kids. Read the post for Al’s advice!

Who said science and Christianity were at odds with each other? The Science Devotionals ministry is proof that the Bible’s “scientific side” need not always be controversial. Each day, Science Devotionals takes a look at a scientific principle and at what it tells us about God’s will for our lives–what Science Devotionals calls “chemical illustrations of Biblical truths.”

It’s definitely a change of pace from your typical after-dinner devotions. If you’re looking for a devotional that appeals a bit more to the left side of your brain, swing by the Science Devotionals site and browse through their archive of scriptural science!