Blessed in Persecution: The King’s Sermon on Standing Firm
In Luke 6:22-23 and 26, part of what we call “The King’s Sermon,” Jesus delivers a powerful message about the reality of persecution for His followers. This final beatitude and its corresponding woe address the cost of discipleship in a world that often rejects Christ. Through vivid contrasts, Jesus prepares His disciples—and us—for the inevitable hostility that comes with bearing His name, while promising a heavenly reward that far outweighs earthly trials.
Happiness or Holiness: Why We Don’t Have to Choose
Happiness and holiness get framed as opposites, like you must pick one and ditch the other. That's a false choice, a trap that leaves us either spiritually empty or burdened with unnecessary guilt. God doesn't set it up that way. Scripture connects them: holiness is the path to true happiness, the kind that lasts, not the end of joy. Christ didn't come to keep us dour or briefly amused. He came to bring us into His joy, the sort that stands forever. We miss it because we are afraid of feeling good or because we cling to false definitions.
True Generosity
Generosity is not about dollar signs. It’s about the heart. And in this passage, Paul offers us a stunning picture of what genuine Christian giving looks like. Let’s walk through it together.
The King’s Sermon: Blessed or Cursed?
In the heart of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:20-21 and 24-25, part of what we call “The King’s Sermon,” lies a profound contrast between two kinds of people: those who are blessed and those who face woe. This passage, often known as the Beatitudes and Woes, challenges our worldly notions of success and happiness. Jesus speaks directly to His disciples, urging them to see beyond temporary circumstances and embrace the eternal realities of God’s kingdom. His words resonate as much today as they did 2,000 years ago, offering hope to the struggling and a warning to the self-satisfied.
Early Motherhood Can Provide a Unique Window to the Cross– If We Let It
There’s a large group of people at church but not in church– Sunday after Sunday, for as long as church has been held, all across the globe.
These are the mothers.
Moms of little ones sneak out of sermons and slink out of sanctuaries to feed, comfort, and rock their restless babies. Moms haunt the hallways cradling overtired six-month-olds and guiding toddlers to the potty for the third time since service started.
The King’s Sermon: A Call to Transformative Faith
The Sermon on the Mount, or as I call it, “The King’s Sermon,” stands as one of Jesus’ most profound teachings, recorded in Luke 6:17-49 and Matthew 5-7. Often described as the pinnacle of Christian ethics, this sermon is majestic in its simplicity, ambition, and calling. It’s not just a set of moral guidelines but a manifesto for what it means to live as a citizen of Christ’s kingdom. As we embark on exploring this sermon, let’s consider its weight, its context, and its transformative power for our lives today.
Godly Grief
Godly Grief vs. Worldly Grief: The Kind of Sorrow That Leads to Life
At some point in life, we all feel the sting of shame. Maybe it comes after a heated argument, a failed relationship, or a moment when we let our integrity slip. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: Is this sorrow from God—or is it just from the world?
In 2 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul introduces us to two very different kinds of grief. One leads to life. The other leads to death.
Overwhelmed, Exhausted, and Always Behind: Could Your Phone Be the Problem?
Could our phones be subtly robbing us of focus, peace, contentment, and joy? They’re snatching away precious time. Are you a phone addict?
The Gift of Prayer in the Life of the Church
Prayer is one of the most powerful and neglected gifts God has given to His people. It's not just something we do in church—it's a direct line of communication with our Father in heaven. In 2 Corinthians 1:11, the Apostle Paul reminds us how critical prayer is, especially intercessory prayer—praying on behalf of others.
Sharing the Real Jesus with Jehovah Witnesses (Part 4)
This is the final article in our series on Jehovah’s Witnesses. To read the others click here, here, and here.
As we conclude our series on the JWs, let’s go to what truly matters — sharing Christ. That is the goal of why I wrote this series on this group. We desire all JWs to repent of their false doctrine and turn to the true Jesus. The Jesus they talk about is a false Jesus who cannot save them. We do so because those in the JW organization will wind up standing before the one whom they rejected as being divine. To them, he is just Michael the archangel — a created being of God. However, he is not as the Bible clearly depicts him as God.
Stop Spiritualizing People’s Pain Away
Toxic positivity has been an idea thrown around the media culture for nearly a decade now, and it is the idea that one can be so positive that it denies reality so much that it is toxic to individuals and groups. Very often in the “Reformed” world of Christianity, there is a hyper-critical milieu that flavors the air that simply should not occur, though the reason for much of it is that there is so much wrong with much of what is called “Evangelicalism” today.
Jehovah Witnesses and their Biased Bible (Part 3)
The New World Translation serves as the official sacred text of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. It was first published in 1950 as a way to give JWs a Bible that “honored God’s name.” However, it does anything but that as it is a perversion of what God originally said through His Spirit. The translation committee of the New World Translation is understandably anonymous. For not one reputable Greek or Hebrew scholar would substantiate their butchering of the text.
Peace in the Panic: How God Carried Us Through a Stroke
Have you ever felt alone in a situation—like God has hit the mute button on your life and isn’t paying attention to what you’re going through or what you’re asking of Him? If we’re being honest, most of us would have to admit that we’ve felt that way at some point during difficult times.
Jehovah’s Witnesses False Teachings (Part 2)
Some may ignorantly assume that Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) are just another Christian denomination. However, nothing could be further from the truth. JWs deny every key Christian doctrine related to Jesus, salvation, the authority of the Bible, and more. It is crucial for Christians to understand what they believe in order to effectively witness to them.
God with Us: Why Jesus Never Ceased to Be God
The Word Became Flesh—Not Less Than God
Recently, I was having a conversation with some ladies when it came up that I’m not a fan of a certain popular teacher. One of them asked me why, and we talked through some of the concerning doctrines this teacher has promoted—particularly one claim that stood out: that Jesus stopped being God when He became man. I’m not going to share the exact quote, because the point of this article is not to name names or stir controversy. It’s to gently and firmly shepherd God’s people away from a serious theological error. The focus here is on the teaching, not the teacher.
So let’s ask the question plainly: Did Jesus stop being God when He became man? And more importantly, what does Scripture say?
The Day I Saw Real Joy
If someone watched your life for a week, would they know you're a Christian—without you saying a word?
Back in 1989, I was a 21-year-old lost young woman. Having lived a very ungodly life as a teen model and actress in Japan, I was desperate for change—desperate to find something that would lift me out of the cycle of sin I was in, and the darkness that surrounded me.
God in the Workplace: Honoring Christ Through Our Work
Work is a fundamental part of human life, woven into the fabric of our daily existence. Whether we’re clocking into a 9-to-5 job, running a business, managing a household, or studying as a full-time student, work shapes much of our time and identity. In Ephesians 6:5-9, the Apostle Paul offers timeless guidance on how Christians should approach work, emphasizing that our labor is not just a means to a paycheck but an opportunity to honor God.
Raising Children with God’s Wisdom: A Reflection on Ephesians 6:4
Parenting is one of life’s most profound responsibilities, and Scripture offers timeless guidance for navigating its challenges. In Ephesians 6:4, Paul provides a concise yet powerful directive for parents: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
God’s Wisdom for Children: Obedience and Honor in the Parent-Child Relationship
In a world overflowing with parenting advice—over 80,000 books on Amazon, countless podcasts, blogs, and articles—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Each resource offers its own take on the “ultimate goal” of parenting, from fostering self-esteem to balancing discipline and play. Yet, amidst this noise, the Bible provides clear, timeless guidance. Ephesians 6:1-3 speaks directly to children, calling them to obey and honor their parents, a command rooted in God’s design for flourishing relationships.
How to Kill a Church: Lessons from Ephesians 6
The title “How to Kill a Church” may sound alarming, but it serves as a sobering reminder of the subtle ways a church can lose its vitality. Drawing from Ephesians 6:21-24 and Revelation 2:1-7, we uncover three critical missteps that can lead to a church’s demise: failing to prize others, neglecting to protect truth, and abandoning love for Jesus.