Deconstruction is a spiritual journey during which a Christian examines his or her faith to release what's contrary to God's heart and embrace what's true.
To be clear, deconstruction done poorly can leave a wake of spiritual carnage. I have witnessed it personally. On the other hand, I have also seen that deconstruction done well can be spiritually beneficial. Not only do I think deconstruction can be positive; I'd offer that sometimes it's necessary. You could even make the case that, at times, Jesus was helping people deconstruct their faith. |
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Athletes know all about playing hurt. For preachers, it's preaching hurt — preaching in pain. Preach for any length of time and you'll face the challenge of preaching in pain. It's one of the unavoidable tests of a preacher's heart.
In spite of the aching in our souls, when the final song of the worship set finishes, we are expected to stand and deliver. But how?
In 1 Corinthians 2 and 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul provides at least four important lessons about proclaiming the gospel when you feel more like crying for help. |
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Bible News The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news |
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February 17 — It's not hard to imagine why the people of Jesus's Judaea disliked tax collectors — especially those serving their Roman rulers. But the discovery of a large Roman boundary stone in northern Israel adds context. Dating to the late 200s AD, the stone marked tax zones which were imposed on all lands, whether or not they were in use. This system likely strained small villages, leading to depopulation and abandonment of ancestral lands. (Biblical Archaeology Society) |
| February 19 — Historian Shannen Dee Williams shed light on the overlooked story of over 2,500 Black Catholic nuns in the U.S. — three of whom are on the road to sainthood. Key figures include Mother Mary Lange, founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, and Venerable Henriette DeLille, who created the Sisters of the Holy Family. They advanced Black education, antislavery, and desegregation, while championing obedience to Christ. (The Christian Century) |
| February 19 — A Pew Research study revealed five key shifts in U.S. religious life since 2020. Roughly 30% of Americans reported the pandemic impacted their spiritual lives. In-person church attendance has declined, offset by a roughly equal growth in online worship. In general, religious participation grew or remained steady across every demographic, with the largest growth among Jews (by far), Catholics, and Gen Z. (Lifeway, from Pew Research) |
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Sometime after God made us in his image, we began doing something that nothing else in the world does. We began longing.
There are several secular theories about how to find happiness and fulfillment and meaning as human beings, but none of them adequately answer the problem of our longings. A century after testing out the secular answers to those longings, we are more depressed, more suicidal, more anxious, and more lost than ever.
How then can we find our way home? |
| With the Gospel of Matthew — a book that relies heavily on Old Testament prophecies for the Messiah — we now move into the New Testament in our series of infographics on the books of the Bible. Here's your quick-reference guide to the gospel. |
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Across forty days of vivid storytelling, It Is Finished offers you a unique and vital roadmap to trace the power and necessity of the cross throughout the Bible, from the book of Genesis all the way to your present-day reality. |
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| On Calvary's Hill 5-Pack Bundle |
Looking for an affordable, inspirational Easter gift for friends and family? This 5-pack of Max Lucado's #1 bestselling Easter devotional On Calvary's Hill is the perfect gift to share the everlasting hope we have through Jesus' resurrection. Get 5 copies for only $7 each when you purchase this bundle! |
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Are You A Pastor or Church Leader? |
We're excited to bring you top stories, curated especially for pastors and church leaders like you. Each article has been chosen to inspire, inform, and support your mission. We hope these stories offer valuable insights and inspiration as you lead your community. |
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