Bible Study & Devotion Stories

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Reasons to Celebrate!

“In the past three years, baptisms have gone from 6,518 (2023) to 7,680 (2025)! This represents a 17.8% increase in just three years! I believe Missouri Baptists are sharing the gospel more often, freely and effectively with their lost friends and neighbors.”
Columnists

An email that should’ve been a meeting

We received Him by grace, through faith. And we live life through and for Him by grace, through faith. That’s gospel living. Gospel living keeps our faith grounded, built up, established. And gospel living very naturally leads us to a place of sweet thankfulness, a gratitude that goes beyond just us. It overflows and sloshes happiness on those around us.
Faith

Christ’s ascension ‘largely forgotten’ but recoverable this Easter, theologians say

Jesus’ ascension has been celebrated in various ways by different Christian denominations. Some remember the ascension with special prayers and Scripture readings. Many in the high church tradition observe Ascension Day annually 40 days after Easter by extinguishing a candle that symbolizes Jesus’ bodily presence on earth.
Ethics

Protesting: How should churches respond?

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. This remarkable action should lead Christians and churches to think clearly about what the Bible says regarding protesting and how churches should biblically respond.
International

MBC’s Phillips sees third apologetics book translated into Iran’s Farsi language

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.
Columnists

How should we respond when failure no longer surprises us?

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.
Faith

Key truths about heaven

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.
Faith

Lifeway Research finds fewer than 1 in 3 churchgoers read the Bible daily

Most churchgoers place a high value on the Bible, but only about a third commit to reading it every day.
Faith

The renewal of all things

Yes, Jesus is returning to create new heavens and a new earth. But we should not suppose that he is merely – if we may use that term – sending us back to the Garden of Eden. Rather, the creator causes the new heavens and earth to retain the qualities of creation as “very good indeed” (Gen. 1:31) and then goes beyond “good.” Only the God of creation can improve on perfection.
Columnists

‘I can plod, I can persevere’: Pursue God’s call in 2026 with enthusiasm, courage

Like Washington, Wilberforce and Carey, we would do well to plod and persevere in following God’s call, with enthusiasm and courage. As Scripture says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom 12:11 NIV). “And let us not grow weary while doing good.” (Gal 6:9 NKJV).
Ethics

Christmas carol recounts tragedy, encourages us to protect the innocents

“The Christmas story is a deeper and more complicated narrative than we often give it credit for.”
Faith

Could Satan be saved?

God designed hell as a final destination for Satan and rebellious angels. There is no hope of redemption for them. Not now. Not ever. But there is hope for us. Christ came in the likeness of sinful men and women, living a perfect life as the God-Man, and offering that life on the cross to the Father as an acceptable payment for our sin debt.

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