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This is a excerpt from an unpublished book by Brad Berglund. It imagines what the wise men would have encountered when they arrived at Bethlehem. The account is purely fictional, but it draws upon the promises that filled the hearts of all who believed when Jesus was born. Enjoy! That night, the Wise…

At a 1990 crusade in the United States, 600 “decisions for Christ” were obtained. No doubt, there was much rejoicing. However, ninety days later, follow-up workers could not find even one who was continuing in the faith. That crusade created 600 “backsliders”—or, to be more scriptural, false converts.…

In his sermon titled "Think Hard, Stay Humble," Francis Chan told the following story about a man named Vaughn who radiated the love of Christ to everyone around him: He said that a few years ago, a missionary came to his church and told a beautiful story about sharing the gospel with a remote tribe…

Back in October, James Forlines came and spoke in our Missions Conference. We went out for coffee on Saturday night and he was talking to me about his family. He mentioned that one of his children and their spouse had made an interesting decision. They had moved to Memphis and, instead of moving to the…

by Dr. Paul Chappell “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21–23 Everybody…

Ten years ago, Kirsten and Lee Hildebrand thought they knew where their lives were headed. They had just settled into their first home in a suburban community, where Kirsten practiced labor and employment law and Lee was working on a doctorate in counseling psychology. But when the couple attended Eastbrook…

I reject a politics that is based solely on racial identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or victimhood generally. I think much of what ails the inner city involves a breakdown in culture that will not be cured by money alone, and that our values and spiritual life matter at least as much as…

IDENTITY In the motion picture, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Chloe is a dog living the good life. Her days are filled with lounging by the pool, sunning herself, shopping, and trips to the beauty shop. She belongs to an owner who panders to her every need, so Chloe feels free to look down on others around…

In the September/October 2007 issue of Today's Christian, Shirley Shaw tells the story of how the sacrifices of a successful cabinet maker named Terry Lane continue to change a drug-riddled neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. My business had prospered to the point my 40-man staff needed more space…

FAITH The world is looking for a safe place to put their faith. Greed, power, the love of money and doubt destroy lives. The resulting hurt keeps people from trusting each other, and more importantly from trusting in God. The motion picture, “Miracle on 34th Street is a call to come back to a simple…

While working as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel was assigned to report on the struggles of an impoverished, inner-city family during the weeks leading up to Christmas. A devout atheist at the time, Strobel was mildly surprised by the family's attitude in spite of their circumstances:The…

Tony Campolo tells the story of a black Baptist preacher in the inner city of Philadelphia who preached a sermon Tony says he'll never forget. Tony preached first. He was "hot," so "hot" he says, that he even stopped and listened to himself. He sat down and said to his pastor: "Now see if you can top…

PROCLAMATION By the time the new Miss America, Erika Harold won the title of Miss Illinois; she had presented the abstinence message to more than 14,000 young people. Since 1900 Miss America and the affiliated state pageants have required contestants to adopt an official “platform” issue. As Miss Illinois,…

COMMUNITY “In April of 1999, Jeremy went to the beach with some friends from church, just hanging out. As usually happens with most people, he mentioned something that was worrying him—he couldn't make his rent that month. After communion the next evening, the church had an open microphone for anyone…

Jim Cymbala - The Brooklyn Tabernacle. WHO OWNS IT? "God normally calls us along the line of our gifted-ness, but the purpose of giftedness is stewardship and service, not selfishness." Os Guinness, 1971 The Brooklyn Tabernacle had 30 people The choir began with a group of 9 people in the early 1980’s…

Changing Culture- Tim Keller Some seem to have risen to the challenge of effective ministry in a changing culture. Who can we learn from? I am actually a bit reluctant to lift anyone up high as a shining example—including Redeemer Presbyterian. Let me put it like this: John Stott at All Souls Church…

Jesus has a very special love for you. [But] as for me- The silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see,-Listen and do not hear. -MOTHER TERESA TO THE REV. MICHAEL VAN DER PEET, SEPTEMBER 1979 Her Agony BY DAVID VAN BIEMA TIME September 3.2007 ON December 11, 1979, MOTHER Teresa,…

FINAL WORDS. Christ's Farewell to Those He Loved Part One Calming Troubled Hearts Don't you wish you could turn anxiety on and off like a faucet? Wouldn't it be great if you could worry from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and then shut it down so that you could get a good night's rest? Unfortunately, we cannot…

Kentucky Youth Ministries YOUTH MINISTRY MANUA | OUR MISSION: We Build Students OUR OBJECTIVES Win … Reach students to Christ Build … Teach / Disciple students Send … Mobilize students !!! Kentucky Teenagers … … our mission field | YOUTH MINISTRY MANUAL INDEX Letter from the District Youth Director page…

Lee Strobel Impressed by Impoverished Family's Example While working as a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel was assigned to report on the struggles of an impoverished, inner-city family during the weeks leading up to Christmas. A devout atheist at the time, Strobel was mildly surprised…

Matthew 23:29-33 Today you and I come together from many different places. I live a couple counties over, in Estill county, I was born and raised even farther east in Wolfe County on the far side of Powell County. Some of you were maybe born and raised in Fayette county, and likely others came from other…

For Your Sermon Illustration FileIllustrations for Preachingby Clyde W. Chesnutt* Much of the following material is copyrighted and is presented here for oral communication on­ly. Permission for reprinting must be secured from the publisher of the periodical from which the illustration is excerpted.…

COMPLETENESS OF JOY Allow me to illustrate. When an auto mechanic replaces the brakes on your car, the last thing he will do is to make sure the brakes are “bled” properly. This simple procedure involves one person applying pressure on the brake pedal in the car and one person opening the little valve…

The "Scholars' Translation" of the Gospel of Thomas by Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded. 1 And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death." 2 Jesus said, "Those who seek…

MOODY'S ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. RELATED IN HIS REVIVAL WORK BY THE GREAT EVANGELIST DWIGHT L. MOODY. FULLY ILLUSTRATED FROM GUSTAVE DORE REVISED EDITION. EDITED BY REV. J. B. McClure. CHICAGO: Rhodes & McClure Publishing Co. 1899 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1896 by the Rhodes…