If you spend much time online, you've probably heard someone say, "I don't need to go to church to be a Christian." They're right — as far as that sentence goes. Going to church doesn't make someone a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes someone a car. But that misses a much… Continue reading Sunday Is a Weekly Recalibration
I'll keep this short. Yesterday I heard a strong sermon from my friend and fellow pastor, Dennis Nealy. Reflecting on the Apostle Paul's life, Pastor Dennis said something powerful: The more closely we follow Jesus, the more our lives should look like his. There's been something bothering me lately. I love being a pastor. I… Continue reading Has following Jesus really changed you?
If you've never read the book of Acts, here's the first thing you need to know: it is one of the most important books in the Bible. Not just for historians. Not just for theologians. For you. Acts is the story of what happened after Jesus rose from the dead — how a small group… Continue reading The Book of Acts in 7 Movements
Somewhere along the way, we lowered the bar. Being a Christian got reduced to something like this: you believe certain things are true about Jesus, you try to be a decent person, you show up to church when it's convenient — and that's pretty much it. But that's not what the Bible says a Christian… Continue reading You’re Not Just a Believer
Few questions are as universal—or as personal—as this one: Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s not a question we ask in the abstract. We ask it in hospital rooms. At gravesides. In the silence of unanswered prayers. And for many people, this question isn’t theoretical—it's a devastating reality. The suffering we see… Continue reading Where Is God When It Hurts?
Joshua Wester 