A recent poll shows that public support for abortion is starting to shift and while this is laudable, there is still much work to be done. Specifically we each need to be equipped to share with our neighbors why abortion is wrong in a way they will understand without relying on the Bible which even a growing number of Christians don’t holding in very high regard anymore. To help with this task of defending the sanctity of human life in such a manner I want to mention two approaches that will help you easily defeat abortion arguments and, hopefully, help convince others of the evil of abortion. ...

In a recent conversation a few friends of mine were talking about their favorite preachers/teachers so we all compiled a list of (mostly) (I say mostly because there is an age gap in our group so some of the people listed I don’t really consider contemporary anymore :-P but I digress…) contemporary preachers and teachers we liked and admired. Here’s my reply: While I won’t dare to compile an exhaustive list, I will take my cue from Jeff and list a few favorite sermons by some guys I greatly admire (some of whom are pastors). Sorry, these guys aren’t as dynamic and energetic in most cases as Jeff’s list (Since Jeff’s a bit of a charismatic, his list included some pretty lively characters.) ;-) but I’m sure yall will enjoy them all the same. ...

One of the most misunderstood movies this year is bound to be " Where the Wild Things Are" ( Here’s the trailer in case you want to get a feel for the movie.). According to many reviews this movie has no plot, structure, and could be considered valuable for it’s artistic value if it weren’t for the ugly things it portrays and the fact the wild things speak in regular human voices. The sad reality is that this movie will be misunderstood and hated, not because it lacks anything, but because the large majority of it’s viewers do. ...

One of the greatest myths in modern Christianity, particularly in the South (Ironically the south is also commonly referred to as the Bible belt.), is that any attempts to discuss the sermon amounts to disapproval of either the pastor or his message, or both. Quite often those who dare to raise the question “What did you think about the sermon?” expecting anything other than the pat and unhelpful response of “I thought it was great!” are seen as gossips spreading discord and division. ...

Recently I was reminded of the importance of discipleship by a pastor in a small, rural church. While preaching on discipleship he made the observation that much of it (that is, discipleship) is done outside the walls of the Church building and accordingly, it is up to us, the congregation/body of Christ, to figure out and then live out what is commonly considered the great commission. Most think the great commission hinges on going and evangelizing. While these are indeed important, the text in Matthew 28:16-20 indicates that it is discipleship that is to be the primary mission and focus of God’s people. This makes sense, since evangelizing is only the beginning where as discipleship is a lengthy, ongoing process designed to be an integral part in our sanctification. ...

Daniel, Thanks for taking the time to ask to clairify my words from earlier, and I trust that you understand that because my statement was made to the general clergy/laity split it was not directed at you personally. At the outset I want to acknowledge that there are clergy like yourself and Christ Wyatt who There are three main reasons why I say that a clergy/laity split is unbiblical and harmful to the body of Christ. ...

I think that question really depends on how you define the phrase “meant to be”. If the question is whether every life is infinitely valuable to God and worth a chance at a full life then I would emphatically say yes, the Bible teaches that all life is precious. If you are asking whether God knows who will and won’t be borne then I would have to say that he does since it is clear in Scripture that he knows the end from the beginning. ...

A friend of mine recently asked, “What is simple church and how is it different than what we normally call ‘church’?” Simple church is a pretty broad term and is rather hard to nail down. I think the best place to begin is to say that the aim (at least in the one I am in) is to be as close to the model of a church as portrayed in the Bible as possible. ...

Many people were shocked after hearing of the exploits of football star, Michael Vick. At the time I remember hearing numerous discussions about why “people who do that sort of thing ought to be punished severely”. Interestingly enough, the debate over animal rights didn’t really subside when Vick went to prison and has only managed to grow and gain momentum like some sort of inescapable juggernaut. True, the saga of animal rights didn’t really begin (nor will it end) with Michael Vick, but I want to address one key flaw in the whole notion of animal rights that many people, even those who are not staunch supporters of PETA, often completely miss when it comes to the discussion of animal abuse. ...

One of the more interesting questions my wife and I get these days is “so, where do you go to church?”. This question is especially interesting when the person asking knows the depth of commitment we have to Christ and many expect the pat answer of “we attend such and such Baptist or Presbyterian” or, at the very least, “we are still ‘shopping’” (How this phrase ever came about I’ll never know.) ...