category
Search by topic, scripture, category etc..
114 Results in 924ms
Display
Sorted By
-
Quote
Leadership is often a matter of failing people’s expectations at a rate they can stand. -
illustration
Al Capone's Vault
Do you remember Geraldo Rivera's most famous fiasco? In 1986 he broadcast a television special entitled The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault. In the publicity leading up to the live opening of Capon... -
illustration
Winner and Loser Lane
Back in 1958, a baby boy was born into the Lane family. The father, a man named Robert, chose to name his boy Winner. How could the young man fell to succeed with a name like Winner Lane? Several yea... -
Quote
But what seems to happen in our lived practice of worship is that we don’t simply enjoy the stimulation; we expect it from God. We don’t just value “positive” emotions, but in our lived experience and... -
Quote
You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would a... -
illustration
Stories We Tell Ourselves
A man named Jack was driving on a dark country road one night when he got a flat tire. He saw a cabin in the woods and began to walk towards it. He told himself that the person who answered the door w... -
illustration
The Perfect (Mythical) Woman
In her excellent little book (Mythical Me), Richella Parham begins by describing a single event that led to a personal journey into addressing her struggles with comparison. Having recently moved to a... -
illustration
The Dart-Board
The Benedictine nun Joan Chittister recounts a story she once heard by a communications professor, which she said fundamentally changed the way she thought about success and failure: A young boy was... -
illustration
A Surprise Performance
One summer, the composer Edvard Grieg stayed at a small Norwegian hotel. A restless child also resided there, constantly annoying the guests by attempting to play the piano, producing nothing but disc... -
illustration
Giotto’s Children
When the renowned writer and poet Dante Alighieri first saw the painter Giotto’s children, he was startled by their ugliness. “My friend,” Dante remarked, “you create such lovely figures in your art—w... -
illustration
Entertainment vs. Hospitality
The entertaining host seeks to elevate herself. And as Martha mentions, it’s a bit selfish. When the guest arrives, the entertainer announces, “Here I am. Come into my beautiful abode and have the hon... -
illustration
The Happiness Effect
After surveying an incredibly diverse cross section of college students across America, Donna Freitas found “the most pressing social media issues students face: the importance of appearing happy”—and... -
illustration
Understanding Expressive Individualism
A survey in 2015 found that 91 percent of adults in the United States agreed that the best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself. Everything else flows from this conviction. The thinking ... -
illustration
Expressive Individualism Today
You don’t need to look far today to notice that personal identity is a do-it-yourself project. A gym near where I live advertises itself with the slogan: “Be Fit. Be Well. Be You.” A new apartment com... -
liturgy
Gracious God, in six days you created
Gracious God, in six days you created all things. On the seventh day you finished your work by resting. You also blessed and hallowed the seventh day, setting it aside as a day of rest. Teach me, Lord... -
illustration
The Guise of Connection
As the speed and choices of the digital age send us hurling toward impatience and shallowness, they culminate in its most damaging consequence: isolation. Social media, in particular, lures us in unde... -
illustration
Institutional Racism: The Byproduct of Historical Racism
The ways that social structures and institutions systematically work against the interest of people of color is called institutional racism. Institutional racism and historic racism are not unrelated ... -
illustration
The Test of Spiritual Integrity
The infallible test of spiritual integrity, Jesus says, is your private prayer life. Many people will pray when they are required by cultural or social expectations, or perhaps by the anxiety caused b... -
illustration
Mastering our Craft
The wonderful word master used to describe the person who is at the top of his or her craft, whatever the profession. It was a title that one could work toward and with some degree of confidence ascri... -
illustration
The Dickensian Approach to Storytelling (Or, Rather, the Biblical Approach)
Sometimes great stories introduce the protagonist in the very first paragraph. In Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, for example, we are immediately introduced to Pip, the central figure of the nov... -
illustration
Not Holding on as Tightly
Here’s a story about tithing - giving away 10% of one’s income, from of all places, Forbes magazine. In the article, the writer tells the story of Greg Gianforte, the founder, chairman and CEO of Rig... -
Quote
I am programmed to expect that the world is what I can see, touch, and measure. -
liturgy
Gracious God, you love us deeply yet we
Gracious God, you love us deeply yet we take your love for granted. Rather than trusting you, we trust the gifts you have given us. We confess that our misplaced hope and reliance is on money, intelli... -
illustration
Expecting Guests
Andy Stanley has said, “The Church is a family expecting guests.” Is your family ready? Have you prepared for the arrival of guests and all that is to follow? Let’s say I’ve invited you into my home f... -
Quote
The attentions of others matter to us because we are afflicted by a congenital uncertainty as to our own value, as a result of which affliction we tend to allow others’ appraisals to play a determinin... -
Quote
Promise, large promise, is the soul of an advertisement. -
Quote
The human ego prefers anything, just about anything, to falling or changing or dying. The ego is that part of you that loves the status quo, even when it is not working. It attaches to past and presen... -
liturgy
A Prayer for the Future
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too pleased with ourselves; when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little; when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lo... -
Quote
Money exerts a certain control over us because it seems to hold out so much (false) promise of happiness. It whispers with great force, "Think and act so as to get into a position to enjoy my ben... -
Quote
Aren’t you like me, hoping that some person, thing, or event will come along to give you that final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don’t you often hope: “May this book, idea, course, trip, jo...
Page 1 of 4
Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- Abandonment
- Abiding in Christ
- Ability
- Abolition of Slavery
- Abraham
- Abundance
- Abuse
- Acceptance
- Accidents
- Accountability
- Achievement
- Actions
- Activities
- Adaptability
- Addiction
- Advent
- Adventure
- Advertisements
- Advertising
- Advice
- Affairs
- Affection
- Affirmation
- Affluence
- Aging
- Agriculture
- Aim
- Alcohol
- Alcoholism
- All Saints' Day
- Allegiance
- Alone
- Ambassadors
- Ambition
- America
- Anger
- Animals
- Anonymity
- Anti-Intellectualism
- Antinomianism
- Anxiety
- Apathy
- Appearances
- Architecture
- Arrested
- Arrogance
- Art
- Arts
- Assimilation
- Assumptions
- Atheism
- Athletics
- Attacks
- Attention
- Attention-Spans
- Authenticity
- Authority
- Avoidance
- Awareness
- Awe
- The American Dream
- The Ancient World
B
- Balance
- Baptism
- Barriers
- Baseball
- Bearing Fruit
- Beauty
- Beginnings
- Behavior
- Behavior Modification
- Being A Child Of God
- Being Humbled
- Being Lost
- Being Right
- Being Stuck
- Belief
- Beliefs
- Believing in God
- Believing in Jesus
- Belonging
- Beloved
- Beyond Understanding
- Bias
- Bible Interpretation
- Birth
- Blame
- Blessing
- Blessings
- Blind Spots
- Blinded by Sin
- Blindness
- Boasting
- Body Image
- Book Reviews
- Boredom
- Brain
- Bread
- Broken Families
- Brokenness
- Bullying
- Burnout
- Business
- Busyness
- The Bible
- The Biblical Story
- The Body
- The Body of Christ
- The Bread of Life
C
- Called by God
- Calling
- Cancer
- Captives
- Care
- Career
- Caregivers
- Cars
- Causes
- Celebrities
- Celebrity
- Ceremonies
- Certainty
- Challenges
- Change
- Change the World
- Changing World
- Chaos
- Character
- Character Formation
- Charity
- Cheating
- Childlikeness
- Children
- Children of God
- Children's Imagination
- Choices
- Christ and Culture
- Christ the King
- Christ The King Sunday
- Christ's Death
- Christ's Resurrection
- Christendom
- Christian Community
- Christian Culture
- Christian Identity
- Christian Love
- Christian Tradition
- Christianity
- Christians
- Christmas
- Christmas Gift-Giving
- Church
- Church and Politics
- Church and State
- Church Attendance
- Church Culture
- Church Growth
- Church Health
- Church History
- Church Leaders
- Church Membership
- Churches
- Circumstances
- Citizens (secular)
- Citizens of the Kingdom
- Civilization
- Cleansing
- Climbing the Ladder of Success
- Clothing
- Coffee
- College Students
- Comfort
- Comfort Zone
- Comforter
- Coming of the Kingdom
- Commandments
- Common Good
- Communication
- Communion
- Communion of Saints
- Community
- Comparative Religion
- Comparison
- Compassion
- Competition
- Complacency
- Complaining
- Complaints
- Complexity
- Conflict
- Conformity
- Confrontation
- Confusion
- Connection
- Conscience
- Conservation
- Consumer Christianity
- Consumer Culture
- Consumerism
- Contempt
- Contentment
- Context
- Control
- Controversy
- Conversation
- Conversion
- Corruption
- Courage
- Covetousness
- Covid Pandemic
- Craftsmanship
- Creation
- Creation (Human)
- Creation Care/The Environment
- Creation of Humanity
- Creativity
- Crises
- Criticism
- Cross-Cultural Church
- Cross-Cultural Experience
- Crowds
- Crucifixion
- Crucifixion Of Jesus
- Cultivation
- Cultural Assumptions
- Cultural Christianity
- Culture
- Curiosity
- The Christian Faith
- The Christian Life
- The City
- The Cross
D
- Dancing
- Danger
- Dangers of Success
- Dangers of Technology
- Darkness
- Deacons
- Death
- Death of a Loved One
- Debt
- Deception
- Decision-Making
- Delight
- Deliverance
- Depression
- Desire
- Desires
- Despair
- Devotion
- Digital Age
- Dignity
- Direction
- Discernment
- Discipleship
- Discipline
- Disciplines
- Discouragement
- Disease
- Dishonesty
- Distraction
- Diversity
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Divine Love
- Divinity of Jesus
- Division
- Divorce
- Domestic Abuse
- Doubt
- Dreams
- Drifting
- Driving
- Drugs
- Dying to Self
- The Digital World
- The Dying
E
- Easter
- Eating
- Economics
- Eden
- Education
- Elderly People
- Elders
- Elections (Political)
- Emotions
- Empowerment
- Emptiness
- Encouragement
- Endurance
- Enemies
- Energy
- Enlightenment
- Entertainment
- Entitlement
- Environment
- Envy
- Equality
- Eschatology (End Times)
- Eternal Life
- Eternity
- Eternity of God
- Ethics
- Evangelism
- Evil
- Evolution
- Example
- Excellence
- Exclusion
- Exhaustion
- Expectations
- Expectations of Children
- Experience
- Exploitation
- Eyes
- The Early Church
- The Earth
- The Epiphany
F
- Face of God
- Failure
- Fairy Tales
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faithfulness
- Falling Short
- Fame
- Family
- Family Discipleship
- Family Dysfunction
- Farming
- Fashion
- Fatherhood of God
- Fathers
- Fatigue
- Favor of God
- Fear
- Feedback
- Fellowship
- Fiction
- Fire
- Five Senses
- Flesh
- Flourishing
- Focus
- Following
- Following Jesus
- Food
- Foolishness
- Football (American)
- Forgetfulness
- Forgiveness
- Foundations
- Four Gospels
- Free Will
- Freedom
- Friends
- Friendship
- Fruit
- Fulfillment
- Fun
- Funerals
- Future
- The Fear of God
G
- Games
- Garden of Eden
- Gardening
- Gardens
- Gathering
- Generations
- Generosity
- Genesis
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving God the Glory
- Gladness
- Global Christianity
- Global Church
- Glorifying God
- Glory
- Goals
- God
- God Seeking Us
- God the Creator
- God's Anger
- God's Character
- God's Faithfulness
- God's Gifts
- God's Goodness
- God's Judgment
- God's Justice
- God's Law
- God's Love
- God's Name
- God's Nearness
- God's Omniscience
- God's Plans
- God's Power (Omnipotence)
- God's Protection
- God's Provision
- God's Pursuit
- God's Reign
- God's Sovereignty
- God's Story
- God's Sufficiency
- God's Throne
- God's Voice
- God's Will
- God's Word
- God's Works
- Good and Evil
- Good Life
- Good News
- Good Works
- Goodness
- Goodness of God
- Gospel
- Government
- Grace
- Grandparents
- Gratitude
- Greatness of God
- Greed
- Grief
- Growth
- Guidance
- Guilt
- The Glory of God
H
- Habits
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Harmony
- Harvest
- Hatred
- Healing
- Health
- Healthcare
- Hearing God
- Heart
- Heart Change
- Heaven
- Hell
- Help
- Helping our Neighbors
- Helping the Poor
- Heroes
- High Performance
- History
- Hobbies
- Holiness
- Holiness of God
- Home
- Home Ownership
- Homelessness
- Honor
- Hope
- Hopelessness
- Hospitality
- Human Condition
- Human History
- Human Nature
- Human Sexuality
- Humanity
- Humble Living
- Humility
- Humor
- Hunger
- Hurry
- Hypocrisy
- The Holy Land
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Ideas
- Identity
- Identity in Christ
- Idolatry
- Ignorance
- Ignoring God
- Illness
- Image
- Image Bearers
- Images
- Imagination
- Immigrants
- Impact
- Impatience
- Independence Day
- Indifference
- Individualism
- Inequality
- Influence
- Information
- Ingratitude
- Inheritance
- Injury
- Injustice
- Inner Peace
- Innovation
- Insanity
- Insecurity
- Inspiration
- Instant Gratification
- Integrity
- Intelligence
- Interdependence
- Invitation
- Irony
- Irresistible
- Isolation
- Israel
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
K
L
- Labor
- Labor Day
- Lack of Presence
- Language
- Laughter
- Law (Torah)
- Laziness
- Leaders
- Leadership
- Learning
- Legacy
- Leisure
- Lent
- Lies
- Life
- Life after Death
- Life Story
- Light
- Light of the World
- Limitations
- Listening
- Listening to God
- Liturgy
- Living Life
- Living Water
- Loneliness
- Longing
- Lord of Lords
- Loss
- Love
- Love of God and Neighbor
- Love of Money
- Loving Kindness
- Loving Other Christians
- Loving your Neighbor
- Lying
- The Lord's Supper
M
- Magnificat
- Manipulation
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Masks
- Materialism
- Meals
- Media
- Medicine
- Meditation
- Meekness
- Mental Health
- Mental Illness
- Mercy
- Military Service
- Millenials
- Mind
- Ministry
- Minorities
- Miracles
- Mission
- Missionaries
- Missions
- Mistaken Identity
- Mistakes
- Misunderstanding
- Mobility
- Modern Life
- Monasticism
- Money
- Moral Relativism
- Morality
- Moses
- Mothers
- Motivations
- Motives
- Mountains
- Mourning
- Music
- Mystery
- Mythology
- Myths
- The Military
- The Mind of Christ
- The Missional Church
- The Morning
N
O
P
- Pace
- Pain
- Palm Sunday
- Parables
- Parenting
- Parents
- Passion
- Past
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Peace
- Pentecost
- Perfection
- Perfectionism
- Persecution
- Perseverance
- Persistence
- Personal
- Personality
- Perspective
- Phones
- Photographs
- Place
- Play
- Pleasure
- Poetry
- Political Freedom
- Political Leaders
- Politicians
- Politics
- Poor
- Pop Culture
- Popularity
- Possessions
- Postmodernism
- Poverty
- Power
- Praise
- Praise Music
- Prayer
- Prayers for Funerals
- Preaching
- Prejudice
- Presence
- President
- Pressure
- Price
- Pride
- Priorities
- Prisoners
- Private Faith
- Privilege
- Problems
- Productivity
- Progress
- Prosperity
- Protection
- Proud
- Providence
- Provision
- Pruning
- Public Faith
- Purpose
- The Passing of Time
- The Prophets
- The Psalms
R
- Race
- Race (Running)
- Race and Reconciliation
- Racial Reconciliation
- Racism
- Rationality
- Reading
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Reason
- Rebellion
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving Grace
- Receiving Love
- Receiving the Word
- Reconciliation
- Recovery
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Reformation Sunday
- Rehab
- Rejection
- Relationship with God
- Relationships
- Relaxation
- Relevance
- Religion
- Religion and Politics
- Religion and Public Life
- Religions
- Religious Pluralism
- Renewal
- Repentance
- Repetition
- Reputation
- Rescue
- Resilience
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Restlessness
- Restoration
- Resurrection
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Resurrection to New Life
- Retreat
- Revelation
- Revival
- Rewards
- Rhythms
- Rhythms of Rest
- Riches
- Righteousness
- Risks
- Rituals
- Romantic Love
- Romantic Relationships
- Rootedness
- Routines
- Rules
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
- The Rock
- The Roman Empire
S
- Sabbath
- Sacred vs. Secular
- Sacrifice
- Safety
- Salt and Light
- Salt of the Earth
- Salvation
- Sanctification
- Satan
- Satisfaction
- Savior
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Scripture
- Sea
- Searching
- Second Chances
- Secularism
- Security
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Segregation
- Self-Absorption
- Self-Acceptance
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Consciousness
- Self-Control
- Self-Deception
- Self-Destruction
- Self-Discipline
- Self-Expression
- Self-Help
- Self-Image
- Self-Improvement
- Self-Interest
- Self-Knowledge
- Self-Love
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Renunciation
- Self-Righteousness
- Self-Sufficiency
- Selfishness
- Selflessness
- Servanthood
- Service
- Settling
- Sex
- Shallowness
- Shalom
- Shame
- Sheep
- Shelter
- Shepherds
- Sickness
- Silence
- Simplicity
- Sin
- Sinfulness
- Singing
- Sins of the Church
- Skepticism
- Slavery
- Slowing Down
- Smart Phones
- Social Media
- Social Status
- Society
- Soil
- Solitude
- Songs
- Sorrow
- Spectacle
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Hunger
- Spirituality
- Sports
- Spring (Season)
- Standards
- Stars
- Status Quo
- Staying Humble
- Steadfast Love
- Stealing
- Stereotypes
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Stories
- Storms
- Storytelling
- Stranger
- Strength
- Stress
- Structures
- Stuff
- Stupidity
- Submission
- Suburbs
- Success
- Suffering
- Suicide
- Summer
- Sun
- Supernatural
- Surgery
- Surprise
- Surrender
- Suspicion of Authority
- Sustainer
- Sweetness
- The Sacraments
- The Saints
- The Sick
- The Soul
T
- Talents
- Talking
- Targets
- Tears
- Technology
- Teenagers
- Television
- Temptation
- Terrorism
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- The Temple
- The Trinity
- Theology
- Therapy
- Things
- Third Third of Life
- Thought
- Threats
- Time
- Tired
- Tongue
- Town
- Tradition
- Training
- Transformation
- Translation
- Travel
- Treasure
- Trees
- Trouble
- True Self
- Trust
- Truth
- Turning a Blind Eye
U
W
- The Way
- The Weak
- The Wild
- Waiting
- Wandering
- Wants
- War
- Water
- Ways
- Weakness
- Wealth
- Weariness
- Weather
- Weeping
- Western Culture
- Wickedness
- Wilderness
- Wisdom
- Wisdom of God
- Witnesses
- Wittiness
- Women
- Women Changing the World
- Wonder
- Words
- Work
- Work and Rest
- Work-Life Balance
- Workaholism
- Workmanship
- World
- World Leaders
- World Peace
- Worldliness
- Worldview
- Worry
- Worship
- Worth
- Writing
Y
Top_level_categories by Reference
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
2 Samuel
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Esther
Job
Psalm
- Ps 1 (5)
- Ps 2 (1)
- Ps 6 (1)
- Ps 8 (5)
- Ps 9 (2)
- Ps 10 (1)
- Ps 12 (1)
- Ps 14 (1)
- Ps 15 (1)
- Ps 16 (1)
- Ps 18 (1)
- Ps 19 (10)
- Ps 20 (1)
- Ps 22 (4)
- Ps 23 (16)
- Ps 24 (9)
- Ps 25 (1)
- Ps 27 (8)
- Ps 30 (4)
- Ps 32 (6)
- Ps 33 (5)
- Ps 34 (19)
- Ps 36 (1)
- Ps 37 (4)
- Ps 39 (2)
- Ps 40 (2)
- Ps 42 (6)
- Ps 46 (21)
- Ps 47 (1)
- Ps 48 (1)
- Ps 51 (18)
- Ps 52 (1)
- Ps 55 (1)
- Ps 56 (1)
- Ps 57 (2)
- Ps 62 (2)
- Ps 63 (2)
- Ps 65 (2)
- Ps 67 (1)
- Ps 68 (2)
- Ps 71 (1)
- Ps 72 (4)
- Ps 73 (3)
- Ps 78 (2)
- Ps 80 (2)
- Ps 82 (6)
- Ps 84 (2)
- Ps 85 (3)
- Ps 86 (3)
- Ps 88 (1)
- Ps 89 (1)
- Ps 90 (8)
- Ps 92 (2)
- Ps 94 (1)
- Ps 95 (4)
- Ps 96 (2)
- Ps 98 (6)
- Ps 100 (5)
- Ps 103 (9)
- Ps 104 (4)
- Ps 105 (1)
- Ps 107 (1)
- Ps 111 (1)
- Ps 112 (2)
- Ps 113 (2)
- Ps 115 (2)
- Ps 117 (1)
- Ps 118 (2)
- Ps 119 (9)
- Ps 121 (1)
- Ps 122 (1)
- Ps 124 (1)
- Ps 126 (2)
- Ps 127 (5)
- Ps 128 (1)
- Ps 133 (5)
- Ps 135 (1)
- Ps 136 (2)
- Ps 139 (16)
- Ps 141 (2)
- Ps 143 (1)
- Ps 145 (4)
- Ps 147 (6)
- Ps 148 (1)
- Ps 150 (1)
Proverbs
- Prov 1 (1)
- Prov 2 (1)
- Prov 3 (19)
- Prov 4 (7)
- Prov 5 (1)
- Prov 6 (1)
- Prov 9 (1)
- Prov 10 (2)
- Prov 11 (5)
- Prov 12 (6)
- Prov 13 (4)
- Prov 14 (9)
- Prov 15 (4)
- Prov 16 (10)
- Prov 17 (6)
- Prov 18 (8)
- Prov 19 (9)
- Prov 20 (2)
- Prov 21 (7)
- Prov 22 (7)
- Prov 23 (3)
- Prov 24 (2)
- Prov 25 (1)
- Prov 26 (1)
- Prov 27 (7)
- Prov 28 (2)
- Prov 29 (7)
- Prov 30 (2)
- Prov 31 (11)
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
- Isa 1 (13)
- Isa 2 (4)
- Isa 5 (4)
- Isa 6 (3)
- Isa 7 (1)
- Isa 9 (14)
- Isa 11 (2)
- Isa 12 (1)
- Isa 25 (1)
- Isa 26 (5)
- Isa 28 (4)
- Isa 30 (7)
- Isa 32 (1)
- Isa 35 (1)
- Isa 40 (26)
- Isa 41 (11)
- Isa 42 (2)
- Isa 43 (10)
- Isa 44 (2)
- Isa 45 (1)
- Isa 47 (2)
- Isa 49 (3)
- Isa 51 (1)
- Isa 53 (11)
- Isa 55 (13)
- Isa 56 (1)
- Isa 57 (4)
- Isa 58 (7)
- Isa 60 (6)
- Isa 61 (16)
- Isa 64 (2)
- Isa 66 (2)