Salvation Is So Much More than Forgiveness
God has adopted us so that we’re in his family, we’re known by his name, and we’re loved and totally accepted. ...
Keep ReadingThe Biggest Obstacle to Daily Bible Reading
Many Christians have never learned to push through the initial sluggishness they feel and lay hold of Christ on a daily basis. ...
Why We Have Community Groups
Community Groups are the place where we try to cultivate authentic Christian community with one another. That involves pursuing close relationships, meaningful conversations, and deep-rooted commitment....
A New and Vastly Superior Freedom
If we want to be free, we have to embrace the right limitations. ...
The Hidden Satisfaction of a God-Centered Life
The more you become captivated by God’s beauty, supremacy, and love, the more joy you’ll experience as you live for his glory....
Heaven Is Better Than You Think
When the Bible about the new creation in Revelation 21:1-8, it’s a lot different than the way we typically think about heaven....
Do You Worship the Jesus of the Bible?
So often, the "Jesus" we worship isn't the Jesus of the Bible but rather "Jesus" as we've re-created him to be....
What Purposes Does Fasting Serve in the Christian Life?
I’ve understood that fasting is an important part of the Christian life. However, I’ve always wondered why. ...
An Essential Component of Growth To Christian Maturity
We don't acquire the characteristics of a mature disciple simply by gaining Bible knowledge. In order to grow to Christian maturity, we also have to spend time with people who are spiritually mature themselves, observing their life and having formative conversations with them on a regular basis....
What Does It Mean To Be a Mature Christian?
Christian maturity is a lot more than Bible knowledge. It's about growing to resemble Jesus in five areas....
Will Christianity Be a Relic of the Past?
Don’t let the empty church buildings around Pittsburgh fool you. God is on the move, and he’s truly unstoppable as he works to accomplish his mission....
Keep ReadingTelling Your Story with Jesus at the Center
Sharing the gospel can be as simple as telling your story with Jesus at the center....
Keep ReadingHow to View Life's Detours
What happens when life doesn’t turn out the way we want it to? How do we respond to the disappointments, the inconveniences, the heartaches, the suffering, and the unexpected detours that invariably come with life? ...
Keep ReadingA Full and Abundant Life: What It Really Means to Be "Spiritual"
It seems like many peopleChristians and non-Christians alikehave an incredibly misguided view of what it means to be "spiritual." A truly spiritual person is seen as someone who renounces earthly enjoyments in order to devote themselves to higher, more spiritual pursuits. For example, a spiritual person will be careful not to have too much fun. That would be worldly. Inst...
Keep ReadingThe Key to Gospel Impact: Being “A City Set on a Hill”
In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says that his followers should function as “a city set on a hill”...
Keep ReadingGod's Call to "Be Yourself"
You’ve probably heard the advice people sometimes give to “be yourself.” It’s commonly given if someone is going in for a job interview, a first date, or something else they’re fretting about. Interestingly, God instructs Christians to do the same thing. “Be yourselves.”...
Keep ReadingHave You Ever Been Baffled by God?
If you’ve never been baffled by God, you should. So often, we treat God as if he’s basically like us humans, just a few notches better or higher. But according to the Bible, God is holy. In other words, you can’t compare God with anything else because he’s not like anything else. He’s in a category all his own....
Keep ReadingDirecting Our Gaze Toward a Great and Glorious God
If you’re a Christian, it’s likely that there are a number of things God calls you to do that may sometimes overwhelm you. Whether it’s sharing the gospel with someone or helping a fellow Christian through a hard time, you may sometimes feel inadequate, under-equipped, or possibly even tempted to disengage. But think about this: whenever you feel that way, where is y...
Keep ReadingJoy That Can't Be Taken Away
Think back to the last time you lost your cool. What were the circumstances? What did you say? What did you do? What was going through your mind? Acts 16 records how Paul and were able to rejoice even in the midst of frustrating circumstancescircumstance that were, quite frankly, unjust. After being beaten and thrown into prison without legitimate reason, we read how Paul...
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