EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the latest about the aftermath of the unexpected protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minn., here: "Bills criminalizing protests during worship services proceed through states" The Evangelical world was shocked on Jan. 18, 2026, when a group of roughly 30 protestors invaded Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., during a worship service. While Christians aren’t surprised when unbelievers sin, we were shocked to see the sacred space of religious worship attacked so blatantly. … [Read more...]
MBC’s Phillips sees third apologetics book translated into Iran’s Farsi language
JEFFERSON CITY – When Rob Phillips began writing books to help Christians defend their faith he never foresaw some of his titles being translated into Farsi, the modern Persian language of Iran. Following the publication last year of his first book into Farsi, a second is being finalized for publication, and a third – What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus – is being translated from English. The Apologist’s Tool Kit was Phillips’ first book to be translated and … [Read more...]
How should we respond when failure no longer surprises us?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeremy Plymale serves as pastor of Cross Haven Church in O'Fallon, Mo. Moral failure among pastors has become tragically familiar. What is perhaps most revealing is not that it continues to happen – Scripture already assumes the ongoing presence of sin – but that we still seem surprised when it does. Each new story is treated as an unthinkable collapse rather than a sober reminder of how fragile our assumptions about spiritual health can be. We are quick to express shock, … [Read more...]
Key truths about heaven
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. The New Testament reveals many truths about the so-called intermediate state – the time between physical death and future resurrection. Followers of Jesus enjoy face-to-face fellowship with him in heaven while we eagerly anticipate the day we accompany him in his triumphant and glorious return to earth. Let’s consider several … [Read more...]
Lifeway Research finds fewer than 1 in 3 churchgoers read the Bible daily
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) — Most churchgoers place a high value on the Bible, but only about a third commit to reading it every day. The Lifeway Research State of Discipleship study found Bible engagement to be one among eight signposts measuring distinct characteristics for believers progressing in their spiritual maturity. On a scale of 0 to 100, the average churchgoer scores 69.8 on Bible engagement, placing it fifth among the signposts. Among U.S. Protestant churchgoers, … [Read more...]
The renewal of all things
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. Works of art suffer the ravages of time. Museum curators and patrons go to great lengths to preserve masterpieces left in their care. When we see Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, or Michelangelo’s David, we appreciate the care with which these timeless treasures have been handled. At the same time, some classic paintings … [Read more...]
‘I can plod, I can persevere’: Pursue God’s call in 2026 with enthusiasm, courage
As a young boy, I dabbled for a few years in Scouting activities in the western Oklahoma town where I grew up. I remember, from one of my early years in the program, that my fellow Scouts and I had to dress up in do-it-yourself costumes of George Washington and re-enact scenes from his life during our troop meeting. Most memorable to me was when we crossed the Delaware River. I fear we didn’t do justice to the magnitude of that moment—250 years ago this coming December. It was a momentous … [Read more...]
Christmas carol recounts tragedy, encourages us to protect the innocents
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Francis is the minister of worship at Parkway Baptist Church, St. Louis, and an adjunct professor of music and worship at Missouri Baptist University. He also produces a weekly podcast, titled “The Monday Morning Worship Leader.” “Coventry Carol” is an odd little carol. Written by Robert Croo in the sixteenth century, it is found in less than twenty hymnals published within the last 100 years. In fact, to use a pun, it is almost as it were “sent to Coventry” as it … [Read more...]
Could Satan be saved?
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. There doesn’t appear to be any scriptural support for a reversal of fortune in hell. Once there, Satan, demons, and the unrepentant wicked spend eternity without a chance for redemption. Nevertheless, some in the early church took a different view. Clement of Alexandria, for example, thought there was hope for the devil based … [Read more...]
Underestimating Ordinary
Luke 2:8-14 reminds us of a well-known and incredibly interesting story used throughout the Christmas season. Take a moment and re-read the verses below: “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the … [Read more...]
This Christmas, remember hell’s horror, heaven’s glory
Actor Kirk Cameron stirred up debate earlier this month, arguing on his podcast that he no longer believes in hell as a place of “eternal conscious torment.” “Jesus died so that we could have eternal life,” said Cameron, who is known for his role in Christian films like Left Behind and Fireproof. “But do the wicked have eternal life in hell?” He answered “No,” apparently affirming some form of “annihilationism”—according to which unbelievers ultimately cease to exist, rather than spending … [Read more...]
Unreformed & undeterred
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. After Satan’s release from the abyss, which John depicts in Revelation 20:7, the evil one proves himself unreformed and undeterred. He immediately returns to his life of crime, setting out to deceive the nations once again and gather them for battle against Christ and his followers. As soldiers of this newly formed axis of evil … [Read more...]
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