John pointed to Jesus and said, “Look—the Lamb of God!” He pointed to the one who actually takes away guilt and gives real hope. Through Jesus, God brings forgiveness, peace, and a future we can trust. This Christmas, our hearts are made ready ...

Zechariah’s voice had been silent for months, yet when he finally spoke, he celebrated God’s faithfulness. God had kept his promises and was bringing salvation to the world. His song reminds us that we don’t have to face life’s uncertainties al...

Mary wasn’t rich, powerful, or famous. She was an ordinary young woman. Yet through her, God brought his Savior into the world—the one who would lift up the humble and bring hope to all people. Mary’s story reminds us that Christmas isn’t about...

The Christmas season often leaves us feeling scattered and stretched thin. But what if the best preparation isn’t about doing more, but about coming home? John the Baptist’s birth was announced as part of God’s plan to turn people’s hearts back...

We come to the part of the story we have all been waiting for! It’s wedding bells for Boaz and Ruth. She is finally a bride and he is her redeemer. A redeemer is someone who does for us what we could not do ourselves. Pays a price we could not ...

How often have you been willing to use others for your advantage? How often have you tried to manipulate events and situations to benefit yourself? Without caring how it will impact others? It can be too easy to do this. The real test of faithf...

Today’s installment of our story is the heart-warming meeting of a girl and boy, Ruth and Boaz. God is bringing them together for a very important purpose. God has been bringing men and women together since the beginning of time… for very impor...

It’s a classic opening to a tragic short story… “It was a dark and stormy night.” That opening line usually leads to all the challenges and hardships that are making things “dark and stormy.” In the beginning of this story, death separates thre...

We all crave happiness—but what kind? The kind that fades the moment life gets hard? Or the kind that endures even in pain? This week, God challenges the popular belief that his highest goal is our short-term comfort. In Hebrews 11, we see an e...

We’re told from every angle—school, work, even church—that our worth depends on how we perform. But this Reformation Sunday, we remember the truth that set the Church free: you are saved not by performance, but by grace. As we celebrate 175 yea...

In a society that has almost tried to get the word “sin” out of circulation, it’s fascinating that self-loathing over unresolved guilt, anger over unexpressed forgiveness is still one of the largest drivers of behavior. This week, we look at th...

Modern America is what philosophers might call a “soft closed religious society.” What that means is that it’s technically not illegal to discuss matters of faith in public, but it’s considered socially inappropriate. Particularly inappropriate...

Modern Americans are very familiar with the practice of the privatization of faith. But if good news is, in fact, good, then how private can you truly keep it before you insinuate it’s not all that life-changing? This week, Jesus shows us that ...

“If your marriage isn’t happy, you should leave.” It sounds reasonable—even compassionate. But Jesus speaks a better word. In Matthew 19, he challenges not just our decisions, but the lies we believe about happiness, commitment, and love. This ...

Researcher Robert Bellah wrote in Habits of the Heart that 81% of Americans believe that you should come to religious conclusions APART from any religious organization. In other words, the majority of people believe you don’t find God in commun...

Most philosophers and religious leaders throughout history have suggested that contentment is the secret to happiness. And yet, modern research also seems to suggest that $34k/year income is a threshold, and $75k/year is another income threshol...

Unlike the fleeting hacks for lunches, cleaning, or relationships, there is a life hack that when we live it and strive to daily implement it, will radically change our lives. It will transform how you live, impact your health, wellness, emotio...

It is not a matter of “If suffering will happen… It’s a When?” The better question then is “how do you experience the suffering?” Do you throw pity parties and live as a victim moping around in the darkness? The final secret to a great life is ...

Are you choosing to follow influencers or leaders? We have the privilege of choosing those who will influence our world view, how we handle our emotions, morals, and values. We do this through the podcasts we listen to, the shows we stream, the...

Living for family, friends, our social media followers, or even just our own view of ourselves is overwhelming and leads to a constant fear of imposter syndrome and not good enough. Our second Biblical truth leading to a truly great life is liv...

It all starts with understanding your view and an understanding of your identity. Think about it, what type of mirror are you using? Are you using the carnival mirror which distorts your image? When I have a disordered understanding of my own i...

It's so exciting to receive a special invitation to celebrate. That's exactly what God's kingdom is - a celebration. You're invited. Jesus has personally extended you such an invitation - no matter your past, no matter your history, no matter y...

Small things can have a big impact. A simple "Hello" tied to a smile can change someone's day. A well-timed compliment or "Thank you" can encourage someone when their heart is feeling down. A small seed can grow into a flower, a bush, even a tr...

What's the cost of entry? Whether it's the theme park, ball park, or skate park - it likely isn't free to get in. What about the magnificent, marvelous kingdom of God? What would it cost us to get in? It's not a material amount, and it's not so...

As we live in the kingdom into which God has brought us through his forgiveness, we too demonstrate forgiveness to others. Though we often assume that we live autonomous lives, we are interconnected with our God and with others. Everything we h...