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Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-is-the-antichrist-in-the-bible/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ What comes to mind when you think of the Antichrist? In pop culture, whether movies or TV, the Antichrist has been pictured as a devil child or a devil-like person who embodies the height of evil. In popular Christian imagination, the Antichrist is often portrayed as a sinister but charismatic person who rises to a position of immense political power and leads the whole world astray, ushering in the Great Tribulation. This image has been popularized in movies and books about end times, such as Nicolae in the Left Behind series. He is a charismatic leader who eventually rises to rule the global community.[1] Here is how one popular Bible teacher describes the Antichrist. He will be a “global dictator,” the “most powerful dictator the world has ever seen.” This teacher contends that “the Bible is clear that one man, the Antichrist, will rise up to unite the world under one government during the Tribulation.”[2] Many Christians simply assume that such a portrayal is what the Bible teaches about the Antichrist. Much of this portrait of the Antichrist comes from combining various Bible passages together into a composite. Two of the key passages used for this composite are 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 which mentions the “man of lawlessness” and Revelation 13-14 which uses the image of a horrific beast, a beast which itself is an amalgamation of the beasts in the book of Daniel. The identity of the “Antichrist”—or even if there is a single future Antichrist—is up for debate among RENEW.org leaders. In humility, let’s try to untangle the concepts to arrive at a clearer biblical picture. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew-app-page.bolt.host/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/is-jesus-the-only-savior/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ In our deeply divided culture, where social media fuels endless debates and personal spiritual paths are celebrated as equally valid, one question persists: “Is Jesus really the only way to God?” This claim, rooted in Scripture, often provokes offense in a pluralistic age. Yet as Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9b, NIV). I know this tension intimately from my own journey. My Initial Offense and the Minister’s Direct Answer As a new Christian, I began reading the Gospel of John. When I reached chapter 14, Jesus’ words struck me forcefully: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV) Emerging from a secular worldview influenced by university lectures, popular atheism, and neo-paganism, I found this claim too narrow. How could one man from Nazareth hold a monopoly on eternity? I approached my minister with these questions: “Aren’t good intentions sufficient? If others follow a different god with sincerity, isn’t it all the same? Doesn’t God automatically save vast swaths of people?” His reply was direct: “No.” He pointed me to Acts 4:12 to ponder in prayer: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NIV) This launched me on a journey, revealing that exclusivity is not arrogance but logical necessity. Conflicting truth claims among world religions—from Buddhism’s self-enlightenment to Islam’s submission to Allah—cannot all coexist, just as opposing directions cannot lead to the same destination. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew-app-page.bolt.host/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/5-facts-about-st-patrick/ This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Many legends and stories have been created about Patrick, but very little about his life can actually be confirmed. The most reliable information about Patrick’s life comes from two of his writings that have survived down through the centuries. The first is his Letter to Coroticus, a letter written to condemn a British tyrant and his soldiers who had been abducting people from Patrick’s Christian community. The second document is Patrick’s Confession, which he wrote toward the end of his life as a spiritual biography to defend his ministry among the Irish people. From these documents there are at least five interesting facts about Patrick’s life that can be discovered. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/heart-is-deceitful/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ “We are never better deceived than when we deceive ourselves.”[1] “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal [but not equal to God], that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness [Not included is the right to run the cosmos or to even pretend that you can run the cosmos].” “Then the Lord said to Moses, Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then, Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 7:1-5, NLT) God insists that he defeat his enemies. He has plenty of them, more than the average guy, more than Moses, even more than Vladimir Putin. This is because every person in the human race is God’s enemy.[2] He clearly stated, “You must not have any other god but me.”[3] Let’s face it: we want to be God, at least to be our own gods, run our own show, and be free to remake the world our way. Down deep, we think we could do a better job. You don’t believe me? Read the story of the ten plagues. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/abiding-prayer/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Author’s note: This is my fifth article dealing with pastoral burnout. Recent Barna research revealed that 33% of ministers had given serious thought to quitting.[1] My own research for a graduate studies project showed 63% of those surveyed had given or were giving serious thought to quitting the ministry. Previous articles provide an overview to challenges ministers face and how key regular rhythms of renewal like silence and solitude and community can create resiliency. After being married for 31 years, I’ve realized something. (Yes, I’m a slow learner.) It’s this: I like simply being in my wife’s presence. When I was younger, I would see older couples eating at a restaurant or sitting on a park bench and they would just…be sitting there. Yes, in the restaurant they would be eating, but often they would not be talking. They would just be eating in one another’s presence. Or on the park bench, they would just be sitting there in one another’s presence and not be doing…anything. I understand it now. Sometimes I just want to be near my wife. We don’t have to talk or do anything for me to feel content in that moment. This is how I am coming to understand prayer. In my research on pastoral burnout, I saw this interesting dynamic at play. 73% of ministers were satisfied or very satisfied with their walk with God. 100% were engaging with God nearly every day. 73% of those surveyed had been serving in ministry for over 10 years. Yet 68% had given serious consideration to quitting ministry within the last 5 years. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/calvinism-irresistible-grace/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ The most well-known feature of Calvinism is its famous five points, often referred to by Calvinists as “the doctrines of grace” and represented by the acronym TULIP.[1] There is much more to Calvinist theology than this, of course, but TULIP is definitely the centerpiece. The acronym summarizes the Calvinist understanding of salvation like this: Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perseverance of the Saints Each of these points expresses a key component of Calvinism’s understanding of how God saves people. In this article, we’ll take a look at “irresistible grace.” Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/a-letter-to-my-fifteen-year-old-self/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Editor’s Note: If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? How would you advise your younger self in navigating the difficulties? What would you tell yourself to stop obsessing about, and what would you tell yourself to go all in with? Marcus Stenson is a preacher and founding member of the disciple making organization “Be1Make1.” In this letter, Marcus imagines what he might say to help his fifteen-year-old self hang in there when it gets tough and pursue what matters. How can a teenager handle tough identity questions and personal tragedies in ways that grow their faith in God stronger? As you read, let Marcus’s letter help you imagine how you might help guide younger people who could use wisdom and encouragement for what lies ahead.  Hey man, I’m writing to put you on game ahead of time. You don’t realize it yet, but I’m just one of a multitude of voices God has put in your life to guide you. Know this: none of this is by accident. Remember when Papaw passed away? How only then you realized then how lucky you were to have an example like him? Remember the dream he visited you in? I know it crushed you, but it also motivated you. Chase it down. I want you to know ahead of time that you’re incredibly gifted, but you owe all of what you will become to God and to the people He has given you. So cherish them. Realize that for every single person you know, some day you are going to talk to them for the last time, see them for the last time…and you never know when that is going to be. So make sure you live gratefully and graciously with them. Tell them how important they are, and most important of all, pay it forward. Be for others what they have been for you. Do this as often as you can, as deeply as you can, for every single person God brings across your path. You never know who needs your story. Speaking of that…I’m proud of you. You’re just starting to sense that there’s a larger story at work here. It’s confusing, I know. So far, you’ve spent most of your time trying to figure out where you belong. Growing up on both sides of the tracks has its benefits, but it’s true that you’ve never really “fit” in anywhere. Enjoy it! You’re never going to look back and regret your crisp J’s pulled up to a game of D&D with your guys. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/paul-the-missionary-how-gospel-preaching-fueled-his-mission/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Author’s Note: Paul’s encounter with Christ led him to a greater understanding of the faith, and from that encounter, Paul developed a theology of mission that affected everything about him, specifically in four areas: The nature of his call and conversion, and his role as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul’s gospel-centered preaching, building on Old Testament promises, fulfilled in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, Paul’s practice of contextualization, in both church planting and disciple making, and Paul’s experience of persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ, in which he chose to boast. Each of these contributes to the missiology of Paul, and from them, we can learn much about God’s missio Dei, his desire to reach all nations with the good news of Jesus Christ, and the offer of salvation he extends to each of us. In this article, we’ll explore the nature of Paul’s gospel-centered preaching, and how this formed Paul’s theology of mission. Paul was called to preach the gospel during his encounter with Christ on the Road to Damascus. In order to understand Paul’s missiology fully, we must examine the components of his message to all peoples, Jew and Gentile alike: It is a remarkable message, It is rooted in God’s promise to Abraham, It is realized in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, It offers reconciliation between humanity and God, and It is a rejection of idolatry and things that are not of God. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/a-case-for-bible-words/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Each culture develops its own language. This is true not only within ethnic cultures but within subcultures. Within the basketball culture there are words such as “cut,” “flare screen,” “zone,” “help-side,” and “pick-and-roll.” In the workout community I’m involved in, there are terms such as “merkin,” “DORA,” and “side straddle hop.” There are terms within the publishing community such as “galley,” “backlist,” and “Query Letter.” Or what about the music industry? “Tempo,” “pitch,” “timbre,” “in-the-pocket,” or “gig.” In the name of inclusion, church leaders have been instructed not to use Bible words anymore, so that we do not intimidate or isolate someone who is new to the faith, or searching out the faith. However, that was never my feeling when entering the basketball world or music world, etc. Hearing those new words inspired me to learn the language. We should clarify something: I’m not talking about “Church-ese.” (Okay, I think I just made up a word.) Church-ese is where a person gets on stage and says something like, “Faith Ninjas will be meeting in the 3D classroom during Afterglow to avoid the MOPS group to prepare for 5th quarter.” That kind of language is unnecessarily isolating. Rather, I am speaking of Bible words such as justification, sin, redemption, atonement, salvation, covenant, and propitiation—words that describe the depth and richness of the gospel. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/the-life-and-work-of-gregory-palamas-eastern-orthodox-theologian/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Gregory Palamas is a name that frequently appears in the study and reading of the history and doctrine of the Eastern Orthodox Church.* Multiple authors quote his writings, and others cite theologians who have used Palamas’s work to defend their theology. This oft-quoted theologian desired a life of quiet retirement for prayer, but his career as a monk and priest involved him beyond his desires into politics and intrigue. He would receive honors, but his teachings would also be condemned. His life was a series of ups and downs, with an imprisonment and capture by invaders.[1] Throughout his life, Gregory was writing. Through these diverse writings, readers can understand his theology, which made Gregory Palamas “as central a figure in the East as Thomas Aquinas is in the West,”[2] even acquiring the name “Palamism” to his theology. Gregory was influential during his time and Palamism continues to influence the Eastern Church. In order to understand the whole Eastern Church, it is essential to study the life, theology, and influence of Gregory Palamas. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org:  https://renew.org/who-is-the-beast-in-revelation/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Editor’s Note: There seem to be as many interpretations of the book of Revelation as there are readers. It’s true that we find core Christian truths in Revelation— truths which all Christians can agree on—but many questions fall more naturally into the agree-to-disagree, personal conviction category. The question of the Beast’s identity (e.g., Revelation 13) is one which faithful Christians will disagree on, and this article is not meant to provide “the” definitive answer to the question. Nonetheless, I commend this article as 1) being plausibly argued, and 2) providing a very helpful snapshot of how to read Revelation. Its author is Jonathan Young, author of the commentary on Revelation, The Song of the Lamb: The Beautiful and Powerful Art and Message of Revelation. Thoughtful readers will benefit from his inductive style.  The book of Revelation is a message, a sermon, which a reader would get up and read to a gathered church. Someone would read it out loud start to finish, straight through, no time to stop and analyze details. And yet it was meant to be clearly understood by John’s original audience. It was publicly sent out and filled with many commands to all the churches to obey the words of the prophecy. How is it that such a complicated book was meant to be understandable to a first-century church gathering? Through repeating themes throughout the book, Revelation invites us to focus on the broad message rather than on every detail. For example, Revelation sets up many of the issues provoking the letter’s writing in chapters 2-3 where Jesus directly addresses each of the seven churches with a crystal-clear message. And then every aspect and image in Revelation 2 and 3 will reappear throughout the rest of the book, fleshing out the same themes using details that resonated with their present situation. And the book is entirely, from start to finish, revolving around Hebrew scriptures, our Old Testament, known extremely well and even memorized by this audience. So let me give an example of how, if you focus on the message as a whole, it makes a lot more sense. Moreover, if you know about the historical and Old Testament background, you can really have even more confidence in its meaning. Let’s go through what we learn about “The Beast” in every appearance of it in Revelation, focusing on the broad message rather than every detail. By the end, you should have a good idea of the identity of the Beast in Revelation. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/5-ways-to-pray-with-your-kids/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ How do our children see God based on the way we pray? Do they picture Him as the almighty Creator of the universe, the Shepherd of their souls, the One who holds the galaxies in place and knows the number of hairs on their head? Or, if we’re honest, does He come across more like a fairy godmother who shows up at dinner and bedtime to bless the food and grant us a good night’s sleep? Prayer is one of the most formative practices in the Christian life, and yet it’s something many of us were never really taught—especially when it comes to praying with our kids. We know we should, but we’re unsure of what it should sound like, feel like, or how to make it a natural part of family life. If we want our children to know God, we must show them how to talk to Him. Below are five approachable ways to help our kids experience prayer in a way that is real, engaging, and deeply rooted in the character of God. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/just-over-the-horizon/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ When the apostle John was just a small child, he likely made his first pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem with his family. His father Zebedee, his mother Salome, John, and his older brother James all trudge south along the winding road through the Jordan Valley. To avoid crossing through Samaria, they take the traditional longer route to the ancient city of Jericho. From there, they follow the arduous Jericho Road. The dry, rocky, and dangerous road ascends 3,500 feet over 17 miles before arriving at Jerusalem. It is not hard to imagine the young John, weary and thirsty, asking his parents again and again, “How much farther?” Mile and mile, Zebedee might have answered, “It’s just over the horizon.” Finally, just before the end of the road, the caravan would have topped the ridge of Mount Scopus, singing the Psalms of Ascent joyfully as their destination broke into view. According to Jewish tradition, John would have climbed that ridge singing these words from Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Fast forward to the very end of John’s life. Now an old man, he has been exiled to a small rocky island in the Aegean Sea. John must be weary from his travels. For decades, he has been treading along the narrow way, the unpopular path of believers in Jesus Christ. Now, he is the last of the apostles still alive. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/has-worry-replaced-wonder/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Sometimes fear crushes our imagination. Nearly 130 years ago, two young dreamers named Wilbur and Orville Wright ran a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. They came from an influential and scholarly family. It appeared that books would be their future, maybe as lawyers, doctors, or scholars. But these siblings were more town than gown, and they couldn’t be pulled away from their shop at 22 South Williams Street. This was unimaginable because people in this era feared bicycles. Do you know how far a child could drift from home on a bike? Have you heard about the bad influences in the nearby town? Cyclists were perceived as unsafe, unwise, and possibly sinful. It was like Uber, AI, and vaping all in one. The Wrights were even more controversial for their second dream: this bicycle might fly. If someone was nervous about a kid traveling to another county, imagine what they would think about crossing the Atlantic Ocean by air. Not that this mattered, because it wasn’t like these men were actually going to create a contraption that could fly. Not only did most people find the project unlikely, they deemed it scientifically impossible. Birds fly; people do not. Yet Wilbur and Orville committed themselves to a dream that could change the course of history. One person said that they didn’t just invent flight; they opened up a door to the world. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-happens-when-churches-overemphasize-social-justice/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ We believe in the gospel. It is not just “good news”—it is the best news a human being can ever hear. It tells us about the greatest act of redemption that ever happened. The gospel addresses our biggest problem as human beings and our most tragic reality: we need the hope of the Messiah, we are separated from God because of our sin and, without rescue, we will face God’s judgment at the end of our lives. Through the good news of Jesus, God blesses us with forgiveness and present and future life in his kingdom. The gospel invites us to live as his kingdom citizens today, as we pass along the mercy and redemption and truth he gives us. And we will live in his consummated kingdom forever, fulfilling our ultimate purpose as human beings in the renewal of all things. What a privilege it is to share the gospel with others! Yet we have noticed a trend when it comes to the gospel. It concerns us. In many churches, we see leaders preferring acts of compassion and social service as a replacement for inviting people to embrace Jesus’ gospel. These acts are not merely a part of a holistic response to human need which includes sharing the gospel. Instead, these leaders are guiding their churches to serve the homeless, help the refugee, and meet the needs of the hurting…as the whole package. They intend to do nothing further. Caught up in an over-emphasis on social justice, they are not seeking a tasteful way or strategy to show the full love and salvation of God. The gospel story, which compels us to meet human needs, becomes eclipsed by its afterglow.  Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/summary-of-ezekiel/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ The book of Ezekiel is titled after the name of the prophet Ezekiel, son of Buzi who was among the exiles of Babylon. What do we know about this unusual book of prophetic signs and oracles? In this summary article, we’ll look at major questions regarding the book of Ezekiel, including its author, date, canonicity, and overview. Author of Ezekiel Since most of Ezekiel (other than 1:2-3) is in the first person, one would expect the assumption to be that Ezekiel is the author. However, Jewish tradition in the Babylonian Talmud held that the Great Synagogue led by Ezra was the compiler of the book, about a hundred years after Ezekiel’s time. Even if compiled by later scribes, it was assumed that the book’s teachings could be traced back to a prophet named Ezekiel. That is, until liberal scholarship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries tried to divide the book up only leaving a few verses to a historical Ezekiel. However, Ezekiel shows an exceptional literary unity that even liberals recognize, and so most suggest an author that, if not Ezekiel, was at least close to Ezekiel’s time. There is no real reason why Ezekiel could not have been the author. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/jesus-told-us-to-go-bird-watching/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ If I’m honest, I sometimes feel a little embarrassed going on walks with my parents. Why? Well…my mom and dad…are bird watchers. Mom, Dad, I know that you’re probably reading this, so, no hard feelings, but sometimes bird watchers can look…uh, a little dorky. I went home a few weeks ago to spend time with my family. One day, the weather was surprisingly good despite lots of recent cold weather. So, my mom, my dad, and I decided to head over to a local park to go for a stroll. My parents were fully equipped with binoculars, ready to stop and look at any and every bird we saw or heard. My dad is so good at bird watching (and listening) that he can pick out many bird species simply based on bird songs and calls. Apparently that’s a thing.[1] And so, while I may have been a little embarrassed walking on the trail each time the binoculars came out, I do have to admit that…well, maybe my mom and dad might actually be doing a better job obeying Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount than I am. The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus’ most famous teachings. It spans three chapters (5-7) of the Gospel of Matthew. In this sermon, Jesus gives his vision for the kingdom of God. It’s a summary of what it looks like for the kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-did-jesus-do/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ I was in middle school when I got my first WWJD bracelet. It was a black silicone band with white letters, and I can still remember how it felt on my wrist. I wore it every day like the moral compass that it was. Every time I was tempted to cheat on a test, I would look down and see it…What Would Jesus Do? When I saw someone sitting alone, there it was…What Would Jesus Do? When my teenage brain would snap with unreasonable anger…What Would Jesus Do? I wore it to help me follow Jesus. But over time, something weird began to happen. The question stopped challenging me. In fact, Jesus started sounding a lot like me. He’d say what I wanted to say, avoid what I would avoid, and get mad at all the same people I wanted to get mad at. I eventually discovered I wasn’t following Jesus. Rather, I was following a version of Jesus I had created. With that realization, I quit wearing the bracelet. And I’ve spent the ensuing 30 years searching for a better question. I was recently engaged in a conversation with people in my home, wrestling with this question: “How can we be sure we are loving people in the way Jesus intended for us to love them?” As that discussion unfolded, someone inevitably brought up a memory of wearing the WWJD bracelets. A spontaneous survey revealed that 19 of the 21 people present had worn a WWJD bracelet at some point in their life. And in fact, one of the men in the room was even wearing one at that very moment. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/once-saved-always-saved/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ The idea of “faithful faith” is a distinguishing mark of RENEW.org and historic Restoration Movement theology. Article 5 (Faithful Faith) of Renew’s Faith Statement for Leaders reads: “We believe that people are saved by grace through faith. The gospel of Jesus’ kingdom calls people to both salvation and discipleship—no exceptions, no excuses. Faith is more than mere intellectual agreement or emotional warmth toward God. It is living and active; faith is surrendering our self-rule to the rule of God through Jesus in the power of the Spirit. We surrender by trusting and following Jesus as both Savior and Lord in all things. Faith includes allegiance, loyalty, and faithfulness to him.” Someone unfamiliar with the debate may read that and ask, “As opposed to what?” The answer is this: as opposed to a theology that proposes that Christians can live their lives with no outward indication that they are actually followers of King Jesus. That is to say, a disciple of Jesus will continue to grow in maturity into the image of Jesus throughout their lives. A “Christian” who never grows into the image of Jesus needs to ask themselves whether they have truly committed themselves to Jesus and His kingdom. On the extreme other side of the theological fence are those that believe that salvation comes through a belief that doesn’t require faithful allegiance to King Jesus and His kingdom, and/or that they do not need to continue in faithful allegiance to remain in His kingdom. The terms “perseverance of the saints,” “eternal security,” and “once saved, always saved” have become synonymous with the theological idea that Christians cannot apostatize and thus will be saved in the end no matter what. And while these three terms have come to be synonyms, they are originally three distinct concepts. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/build-the-ark/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ One of the first things the Bible teaches us—right there in Genesis—is that God is a God of order. God separates: light from darkness, sea from sky, meaning from murk. God speaks, and the world takes shape. And when that order is rejected—as it was in Noah’s generation—judgment begins to flood in. And then God makes Adam. And what’s Adam’s job? He’s told to name the animals. That’s not just a fun afternoon of creative labeling. No—naming is an act of discernment. It’s how Adam participates in God’s ordering of creation. To name is to distinguish. To say, “This is not that.” And that’s the beginning of meaning. Without it, everything just melts into everything else. And when that naming breaks down—when people stop honoring the distinctions God made—you don’t just get confusion. You get collapse. That’s what happened in Noah’s day. Genesis 6, the beginning of the Noah cycle, opens with a strange little passage that’s puzzled people for a long time. It talks about the Nephilim—these so-called “sons of God” who took “daughters of men” and had children with them. Some rabbis believed these “sons of God” were fallen angels. There’s even an old Jewish book called The Book of Enoch—it’s not in our Bibles, but Jude actually quotes it—that builds out that whole story. Now, we don’t have to get lost in the weeds of exactly who the Nephilim were. Whatever the details, the message is clear: things were out of order. Boundaries were being crossed. The lines God had drawn between heaven and earth, divine and human, were being erased. That’s not how God designed things to work. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/communion-training-tools-we-use-at-our-church/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ When I was around twelve, I got swept up into a “Men’s Leadership” class at my suburban Detroit congregation. The class intended to prepare a new generation of young men to be able to lead in the worship assembly. The problem was that we never learned how actually to lead anything. We learned how to dress when called upon to serve. We learned what place on the front row to sit in, when to stand, and how many communion trays to take for our position. We learned to make sure our shirts were tucked in and our pants zipped before stepping up to lead a prayer. We learned how to hold doors and pass out bulletins as ushers. We learned all the physical duties associated with leading, but nothing about how to lead. Consequently, when the call came asking me to lead a communion devotional a few years later…I was terrified and unprepared. Today, as a church leader in the post-COVID era, not much of the pomp and circumstance I was taught remains. There is no need for a processional of servers when each person can just grab a “rip n’ sip” communion packet on their way to their seat. The atmosphere at our church is familial, comfortable, and relaxed. Even so, we face the same old problem: people being asked to lead the congregation into a deep and meaningful celebration together at God’s table who have had no real training on how to do that. So, we decided to do what “worked so well” years ago when I was a kid. We had a class! Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/chip-and-joanna-gaines-and-the-quiet-drift-of-the-church/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Chip and Joanna Gaines are a husband-and-wife duo best known for their hit series Fixer Upper, where they combined home renovation with warm, family-centered storytelling to win over audiences across North America. Their shows—especially through Magnolia Network—have resonated deeply, especially with Christian viewers, offering wholesome, values-driven content that many feel comfortable watching with their families. When the Gaineses launched their new show Back to the Frontier earlier this year, many Christians expected the same kind of faith-friendly programming the couple has long been known for. The reality series follows three modern families as they give up contemporary conveniences to live like 1880s pioneers, testing their resilience, faith, and relationships in a rugged, off-the-grid environment. So it was surprising—and for many, disappointing—when the show quietly included a same-sex couple raising twin sons as one of the families, without any theological framing, conversation, or acknowledgment that this portrayal runs counter to historic Christian teaching. The Gaineses have never positioned themselves as preachers, but their brand and platform have long reflected traditional values that resonate with many believers. For them to normalize same-sex relationships—without clarification—feels like more than just a casting decision. It signals a growing trend in the church: drifting from biblical truth not through loud rejection, but through quiet surrender. As someone who experiences same-sex attraction myself—and who leads a ministry that helps others navigate that reality while remaining faithful to God’s Word—I believe this moment says something important about where the church is heading. And it’s not a direction we should take lightly. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/jesus-and-the-buddha-how-did-they-help-people/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ When people spent time with Jesus, how was he able to help them? When people interacted with the Buddha, in what ways did the interaction benefit them? In this article, we will contrast the outcome of spending time with these two founders. One quick answer is that the eventual results of these interactions were heaven and nirvana, respectively. But what was the actual substance of these interactions; what was being accomplished in them? Let us reflect on three stories about grieving women, the first two of which would go on to become esteemed nuns.[1] Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/wild-at-heart-after-25-years/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Editor’s Note: How should Christians view masculinity? As something godly to be cultivated? As something toxic to be suppressed? John Eldredge’s 2001 New York Times bestseller Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul gave millions of young men permission to pursue adventurous, valiant masculinity. At the same time, some within evangelicalism accused the book of dangerous implications, even excusing violence and the viewing of women as commodities. In this article, Jeremy Bacon, author of Sermon on the Mount: 40 Days of Learning the Ways of the Kingdom, weighs in on what Eldredge’s landmark book says well—and what it could say better. I read Wild at Heart shortly after it came out almost 25 years ago. I hadn’t put much thought into what it means to be a man, so Eldredge’s analysis hit me like a lightning bolt. It resonated. I did see in myself a desire to fight a battle, to live an adventure, and to love a beauty. What stunned me and took the Christian world by storm was his argument that in Christianity these impulses find their deepest fulfillment. Now that I have sons on the cusp of manhood, I revisited the book (the expanded edition), and a lot has changed. Our old cultural scripts for masculinity and femininity are being revised. Unfortunately, the new script for women is about fifteen years ahead of the one for men. Never has masculinity been more homeless. This disorientation (“Where do we fit? What is our role?”) is causing a backlash as many men cling violently to the most oppressive and alienating features of the old model. Welcome to the age of “toxic masculinity.” Yet the counter-reaction to this backlash comes dangerously close to acting like all masculinity is toxic. You can’t tell half a society that they have no constructive role to play and expect that to end well. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/paul-the-missionary-how-contextualization-influenced-his-mission/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Author’s Note: Paul’s encounter with Christ led him to a greater understanding of the faith, and from that encounter, Paul developed a theology of mission that affected everything about him, specifically in four areas: The nature of his call and conversion, and his role as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul’s gospel-centered preaching, building on Old Testament promises, fulfilled in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, Paul’s practice of contextualization, in both church planting and disciple making, and Paul’s experience of persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ, in which he chose to boast. Each of these contributes to the missiology of Paul, and from them, we can learn much about God’s missio Dei, his desire to reach all nations with the good news of Jesus Christ, and the offer of salvation he extends to each of us. In this article, we’ll explore Paul’s practice of contextualization, and how this formed Paul’s theology of mission. Contextualization is the means of presenting the message in such a way that it is culturally relevant and understandable, without compromising the truth of the message (syncretism) or watering it down so much that it no longer matters (irrelevance). “In order for the Christian message to be meaningful to people it must come to them in language and categories that make sense within their particular culture and life situation. It must be contextualized.”[1] Paul’s efforts to spread the gospel took him into numerous different cultural, ethnic, and religious settings. In order to bridge such diverse differences effectively, Paul had to pay attention to three key areas: culture, language and communication, and worldview. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/is-discipleship-the-wrong-paradigm-for-the-church-today/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Editor’s Note: Is Jesus-style disciple making the core mission of the church today—or was it meant to be a pre-Pentecost paradigm? Does contemporary disciple making work? Or does it leave behind crucial areas of spiritual formation? Recently, New Testament theologian Dr. John Whittaker entered a dialogue with Dr. Kyle Strobel of Talbot School of Theology and the Institute for Spiritual Formation. Strobel argues that discipleship is the wrong paradigm for the church today. In interacting with Strobel, Whittaker offers a helpful perspective as both a theologian and disciple making practitioner. He explains what Strobel gets right and wrong about discipleship. Kyle Strobel is a theologian at Biola University focused on spiritual theology, and he is the head of the Institute of Spiritual Formation at Talbot School of Theology. He’s also a teaching elder at his church. He, along with John Coe, has written what I consider to be one of the best books on prayer titled Where Prayer Becomes Real, as well as several other very helpful books (if you’re a church leader in any capacity, you should check out The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb). Earlier this year via his Substack, he sent out a blog titled “Why Discipleship Doesn’t Work”, which pointed to the release of a mini-course on his Substack on “Reimagining Discipleship.” In it, Kyle questioned the entire discipleship framework that has been re-emphasized for the last 30+ years and is central to the ministry of RENEW.org. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/spiritual-blessings-seeing-the-gifts-weve-already-received/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ From AD 54-68, the Roman emperor was Nero. Here are some of the hallmarks of his reign: He married five people (three women and two men), having one of his wives killed in order to marry his friend’s wife. He had his mother killed in a power struggle. When much of Rome burned, he blamed it on the Christians and had some of them burned alive to light his gardens. It was under Nero that both Peter and Paul were killed (Peter by crucifixion and Paul by beheading). If you had been a Christian living during this time, can you imagine the relief and joy it must have been to know that the real king who would have the ultimate victory was Jesus? In our own time, we can find ourselves feeling lied to by people in power. Have you ever been disappointed when your candidate got elected and didn’t make good on their promises? Ever been disillusioned after your preferred political party got in power? Maybe they didn’t quite deliver on what they said they would do? Against this backdrop of disappointment, it’s a beautiful thing to know that Jesus is king. In his earthly ministry, Jesus showed us what his kingdom looks like: the sick are made well, the dead are raised, the downtrodden are lifted up, the lost are found. Captive to sin and death, our world is broken. We desperately need King Jesus. The gospel tells us that Jesus was crucified for our sins, raised to life, and that he now reigns as king and will return in glory. What better news could there possibly be? Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/when-to-teach-your-kids-about-sexuality-and-gender/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ When is the right time to teach kid(s) about sex, sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ+ topics? I wish it were as easy as offering a specific point in childhood development; unfortunately, it is not that simple. There is no particular age that applies to every child. Every youngster is different, which means that every child’s maturity level is unique. Also, the “right time” can depend on you and the values and culture you’ve instilled in your home. You are the expert on your own family and children. You must pray and seek advice to discern the right time for your child. Remember that this may even vary from child to child within your home. Just because you taught your oldest about sex at eight or nine does not mean your youngest will be ready at the same age. Be adaptable to meet your child’s specific needs. As you are determining the right time for your child, here are four things to keep in mind: Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/is-it-a-sin-to-be-a-billionaire/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ In this post, I’m going to do something very unpopular. I’m going to defend billionaires. Kind of. First, a little context. Recently, I’ve seen people—some who are Christians and some who are not—claim that it is inherently wrong or sinful for a person to be a billionaire. Some of these statements have been stirred by the election success of the totally-not-a-communist candidate for mayor of New York City who believes that billionaires shouldn’t exist (unless of course they are funding his or his friends’ politics). This is a statement that goes far beyond the typical political position that says billionaires need to pay “their fair share,” whatever that sentiment means in the moment. No, this isn’t an economic statement. He is assigning a moral judgment to the status of billionaire. He is implying that it is wrong to be a billionaire, which invites the question—is that correct? There are certain ideas in Scripture that are clear enough that everyone should be able to eagerly agree upon them. The idea that wealth presents a unique moral temptation is one of those ideas. It is true that Jesus has some harsh and radical things to say about wealth and the wealthy. We see some of these same themes carried over into the writings of Paul, James, and the author of Hebrews (Apollos). We see the language of judgment being applied to the wealthy throughout the New Testament in places like the Gospels and Revelation.  Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-books-are-in-the-apocrypha-a-summary-of-each-book/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ In an earlier article, we defined the Old Testament Apocrypha as a collection of Jewish books written from the fourth to the first centuries B.C., included in and apparently canonized in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint or LXX) of Alexandria, Egypt. This collection contains works of wisdom, legend, history, and at least one apocalypse. Though some of these works were originally written in Hebrew, others were written in Greek. Our best and most complete collections of these Apocryphal works today survive in Christian manuscripts of the Greek Old Testament dating from the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. The common theme of almost all the Apocryphal books is the need for Jews to survive as Jews in hostile cultures. The Apocryphal works describing earlier times, such as Judith, Tobit, and the additions to Daniel and Esther, speak of Jews during times of foreign conquest and captivity. The Apocryphal works describing life in Hellenistic times speak of Jews resisting Greek culture. Either way, one can read these works with a degree of sympathy, for it was difficult to remain faithful to Jewish life in a hostile world. So, what’s in the Apocrypha? In this article, we will give an overview of the eighteen most commonly included books of the Apocrypha (although not all of these make the cut in every list). We’ll list each with a brief description and then include a quote from each to give you just a taste. The order here is that found in the Common English Bible translation, which includes all eighteen books of the Apocrypha. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/perseverance-of-the-saints/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ The most well-known feature of Calvinism is its famous five points, often referred to by Calvinists as “the doctrines of grace” and represented by the acronym TULIP.[1] There is much more to Calvinist theology than this, of course, but TULIP is definitely the centerpiece. The acronym summarizes the Calvinist understanding of salvation like this: Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perseverance of the Saints Each of these points expresses a key component of Calvinism’s understanding of how God saves people. In this article, we’ll take a look at “perseverance of the saints.” Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/christformation-and-embracing-forgiveness/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ What is God up to in our lives? When we look throughout Scripture, we see that, above all, God is restoring his image in us so we can be fruitful members of his eternal community of love. Restoring God’s image is another way of saying “becoming like Christ,” or as I like to put it, “Christformation.” In this article, I would like to explore the importance of accepting our forgiveness in order to progress in Christformation. Throughout Scripture, we learn that God has forgiven our sins through the cross of Christ: “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3, NIV). I want to persuade you to fully believe in this forgiveness from God. In fact, I want us to believe in this forgiveness enough that we are not averse to discovering our weaknesses and faults and the roots behind them. Much of Christformation depends on our willingness to let God make us aware of our faults. If we resist this process, then we are resisting the restoration of the Christ-shaped image of God in our lives, which also means that we are resisting God’s mission to create his community of love with himself and his followers. If we embrace the process, we will experience steady progress in freedom from our corruption and freedom to abide in Christ. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/jesus-sends-out-the-seventy-two/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2, NIV) In Matthew 10, we read about Jesus sending out his twelve apostles to do ministry. In Luke 10, there is another sending out, this time of 72 who would go ahead of Jesus in pairs. Just as John preached repentance to pave the way for people to receive the Messiah, these 72 were specially given the ability to perform miracles in Jesus’ name through power he had given to them. Although our ministries will look different, Luke 10 gives us a great picture of the kingdom commission that we have been sent on today. We too are sent. How should we go? Jesus explained: Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/where-was-jesus-born/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Where was Jesus born? Let’s journey back over 2,000 years to explore the place where Jesus the Messiah was born. Jesus’ birth is literally the basis of the modern calendar that is used all over the world.[1] Currently, we are about to enter the year 2024. In many places the date is still abbreviated as A.D. based upon the Latin expression Anno Domini, which means “the year of our Lord” or, now, more commonly as C.E. (an abbreviation for “Common Era”). Everything before the birth of Jesus is considered B.C. (“Before Christ”) or, often now, B.C.E. (“Before the Common Era”). The calendar our world uses tells us that it has been roughly 2,024 years since his birth. But where was Jesus born? Historically, Christians have believed that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Not everyone is convinced, however. Some skeptics doubt or disbelieve that he was born there or that he even existed as a historical person. Mormons believe he was born in Jerusalem, for the Book of Mormon states that “he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers” (Alma 7:10). Yet there is good evidence that Jesus was a real person and that he was born in Bethlehem. Let’s review ten historical truths which provide support for the belief that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was an ancient town, still in existence, about five miles outside Jerusalem and located just inside the Palestinian West Bank. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/paul-the-missionary-how-suffering-propelled-his-mission/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Author’s Note: Paul’s encounter with Christ led him to a greater understanding of the faith, and from that encounter, Paul developed a theology of mission that affected everything about him, specifically in four areas: The nature of his call and conversion, and his role as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul’s gospel-centered preaching, building on Old Testament promises, fulfilled in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, Paul’s practice of contextualization, in both church planting and disciple making, and Paul’s experience of persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ, in which he chose to boast.  Each of these contributes to the missiology of Paul, and from them, we can learn much about God’s missio Dei, his desire to reach all nations with the good news of Jesus Christ, and the offer of salvation he extends to each of us. In this article, we’ll explore the nature of Paul’s experience of persecution and suffering, and how this formed Paul’s theology of mission. The topics of pain and suffering are a significant thread through Paul’s letters, and his experiences with them had a profound impact upon his ministry and his missiology. Not only did Paul teach that suffering would take place, but he lived it himself (Acts 20.22-24).[1] From Paul, we can gain insight into the nature of suffering, its redemptive purpose, and why Paul could use his afflictions as a basis for boasting. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/when-sports-conflict-with-sunday-worship/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ *Editor’s Note: In this article’s final paragraph, the author rightly calls this sports-church conflict an “elephant in the room.” As such, it’s an elephant that has plunked down in the middle of the room and seems to have no plans of exiting. “Blue laws” no longer make sporting events off limits on Sundays, and many churchgoing parents show no struggle when it comes to which event wins out. So in light of this reality, which is more problematic: for Christian families to continue to skip church for a kid’s sports event or for church leaders to confront these families’ decision as unwise or even immoral? While the following article makes room for multiple perspectives, it advocates for a more accommodating posture from church leaders. For another helpful, alternative position on this topic, I recommend this article. As a Christian, what should you do when an event for your kid’s sports league conflicts with Sunday worship? This topic has been on my heart for a while. I’ve encountered different views and been on both sides of the question—both as a Christian leader and as a parent of a young athlete. This topic touches thousands of us, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Before we delve into the topic, let me take a moment to give the context I’ll be writing from. This topic remains complicated but might be a bit easier for me and my wife Heather because our athlete daughter Noelle loves the Lord and wants to live for Him. (We got to lead her to faith, and I was blessed to baptize her a few years ago!) We want nothing more than to see her walk with Christ continue to grow as she transitions into adulthood. That is our utmost priority! Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/for-those-making-pilgrimage-through-spiritual-landscapes/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ I have always loved road trips. Mostly for the view and the scenery. It’s the adventure of discovering different landscapes I love most. That and traversing God’s good creation. On a recent day off, I took to the road and headed for the mountains. As I navigated the changing grades peppered with sharp curves, I reminisced on the ups and downs, twists and turns I’ve experienced in this spiritual life in Jesus. Winding my way around those blinding curves, not being able to see what lay ahead or when I would reach the summit (or valley), I reflected upon our pilgrimage with the Lord. Much of the journey often seems unforeseen and uncertain. Life, in general, takes us across various physical terrains which can map onto our spiritual lives. The spiritual journey of disciples crosses many metaphorical landscapes. Metaphors, like those of weather or seasons, help us gain a fuller meaning of the unseen spiritual life. You’ve likely heard it said that we “go through different seasons” and “weather many storms.” For this article, I’m exploring the symbolism of natural landscapes to our spiritual lives. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/how-to-prioritize-your-family/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ “Put me on the next flight. My son needs me.” In the middle of the 2008 NBA playoffs, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade received a call no parent wants to get—his 6-year-old son was in trouble. Wade was in the middle of a career-defining series, carrying the weight of his team and an entire city’s hopes. But that call changed everything. His son, Zaire, had been rushed to the hospital with a medical emergency. Without hesitation, Wade left his team, canceled media appearances, and told the airline: “Put me on the next flight. My son needs me.” He flew home, stayed by Zaire’s bedside, and didn’t leave until he was stable. Then he quietly returned to the court, picked up where he left off, and didn’t make a big deal of it in the press. Later, when asked about it, Wade simply said, “Basketball is what I do. But being a dad—that’s who I am.” Most of us won’t even decline a work call—let alone drop everything—to show up for our family. What are the moments that matter most to your kids? And what are you willing to do to be there? We say family is our top priority—but would our calendars, texts, and screen time agree? Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/in-ministry-beware-of-isolation/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Early on in ministry, one of my pastors sat me down to have a heart-to-heart about entering ministry. In this long conversation, my pastor imparted much of his own personal experiences into me. He shared about his ups and downs in ministry, his best learnings from years of experience, and his joy to continue to serve. Often this talk comes back to me during a ministry season, but one truth still rings the loudest from this. In one moment of the talk, he looked me square in the eyes and declared, “There are no lone rangers when it comes to ministry.” Essentially what my pastor was saying was that ministry was not meant to be done alone. When we are engaged in the eternal battle of ministry, we can often face decisions, situations, and places that can be very taxing on our soul. The “dark night” of the soul can keep us awake at night as we reflect on the questions of “What if?” “Did I do the right thing?” or “Could I have said this better?” We all have that nasty message in our inbox, that person that only sees the things that we are doing wrong, and even those meetings that seem to suck the life out of our soul. It is for this reason that the words of my pastor ring so true for us all. No one should carry the weight of ministry on their own. From the start of creation, even within the Godhead himself, we see that community is a central theme of God. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/healthy-church-messy-church/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Spend more than a few weeks in the heart of a church and you discover that church is messy. I can see it in the face of first-timers, that look of, “Wow, this is what we’ve been looking for!” You know, that euphoric, honeymoon, shiny-new-car feeling. “We finally found a clean, tidied-up, everyone-loves-each-other, there-are-no-problems church.” Then two months later, their faces look different. The shine has worn off. The realization came: “This is a messy church.” But even Paul had to deal with messy churches. No church is perfect, and if it’s growing and the Spirit is working, it’s messy. Here are three reasons why church gets messy, and why that’s a good thing. The Church is messy because I’m in it. As a matter of fact, the church is messy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I were to act like our church were not messy, I would be lying, because I am in it! I might be the messiest person in our church! I resonate with the apostle Paul when he said: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15, NIV) The messiness of the church has allowed me to fit right in. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-heaven/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Christians long for our eternal home in heaven. When we look at the scene of the final judgment in Revelation, we notice that the most important consideration that will determine our eternal destiny is whether our names are written in the lamb’s “book of life.” This is a record of all true Christians, those whose sins have been forgiven by Jesus, described in Revelation 20:12-15 (NIV). “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. . . . Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” The next thing God inspired John to write after those words is a description of the destination of those whose names are written in the book of life in Revelation 22:1 (NIV): “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” In this way, God paints a beautiful picture of what eternity will be like for those who have been saved by the grace of Jesus because of their faith in him. We were created for an eternal relationship with God. Our ultimate hopes, dreams, and desires can only find their true fulfillment in the eternal kingdom with God after death. When the Bible speaks of our lives in eternity after death, it speaks of a glorious existence—a close, intimate relationship with God. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/where-is-the-kingdom-of-god-in-the-old-testament/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ What Is God’s Kingdom in the Old Testament Story Eden introduces God’s kingdom as a space where his will is done on earth under his true rule. Israel later displays kingdom life as God reigns over his chosen people through covenant and obedience. Prophets and scriptures point forward to a coming King from David’s line who would reign forever and restore God’s rule. The kingdom of God is birthed in the creation story. The picture of Adam, Eve, and the garden are a microcosmic foreshadowing of the kingdom. As we imaginatively venture into the majestic garden, planted by God himself, we see everything that is good—a wonderful image of the kingdom. We know from Genesis that man and woman were formed and shaped by God and given the task to work, tend, and rule creation for God. While they were to rule over the garden for him, it was God who truly ruled. Everything was the way he designed it to be. His will had been done on earth as it was in heaven. I want you to breathe in that last statement and its context. God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven is a key point in understanding (and even witnessing) what the kingdom looks like, for it is what the very reign of God produces. Author and minister David Young wrote, “The Old Testament was written so that we could understand what the kingdom of God is.”[1] I agree. From Eden to Abraham, from Moses to David, from Isaiah to Malachi, we come face-to-face with the kingdom of God. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/review-of-joyful-outsiders/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ What Makes This Book Different “So do you want to know why you’re an outsider in this world? It’s not because the world is changing or because of a political agenda or because of a leader. It’s because you worship an outsider king who has invited you to glorify and enjoy him by becoming an outsider yourself.” This is from the opening chapter of Patrick Miller and Keith Simon’s book Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture. It is tempting for us to think that we are the first generation of “outsiders.” C. S. Lewis coined the phrase “chronological snobbery” to describe the mindset that assumes things have never been better or more enlightened than they are right now. Many of us are guilty of the inverse side of this snobbery. We struggle to think of a time when things have been worse, especially for the church. The wind of culture is in our face. Church attendance is down. All manner of debauchery is up. Faith, especially the public kind of faith that is anchored in tradition and Scripture, is at times mocked and at other times actively resisted. Even among the faithful, holiness has fallen on hard times, and many are struggling to merely persevere. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/who-were-the-twelve-apostles/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ During Jesus’ ministry, great crowds of people gathered around him to listen to his teaching. Some of those in the crowds committed themselves to him and became his disciples. Then, out of those disciples, he appointed twelve apostles. Luke recounts that moment like this: “Now it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer with God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles.” (Luke 6:12-13, NASB) First, we should observe how serious and significant this moment must have been since Jesus prepared for it by spending the entire night in prayer. Notice also that there is a difference between being a disciple and an apostle. The words are not synonymous or interchangeable. Jesus called all his disciples to himself and chose twelve men out from that larger group to have the specific role as apostles. What’s an apostle? The word referred to someone sent as an official representative bearing the authority of the one who sent them. So the twelve apostles are official ambassadors of King Jesus who are sent out by Him with his authority. To fulfill this role, the apostles had to be eyewitnesses to Jesus, especially his resurrection (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 9:1). So all the apostles were disciples, but most disciples were not apostles. Only the twelve plus Paul occupied that unique and important position. The uniqueness of their role is seen when they are described as the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles being authorized spokesmen for King Jesus, the church is built on their teaching and ministry. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/how-does-the-trinity-make-sense/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ How would you answer the question, “So, the Holy Spirit is God, but so is the Father and so is Jesus—and yet there’s one God? How does the Trinity make sense?” Here’s the answer we’ll explore: “The idea that God is a Trinity is unique, but it makes sense. The Bible teaches that the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are God. Yet the Bible is also clear that there’s one God. The Trinity is the idea of three different persons (or minds) in one Being who is God. The Trinity helps us see how God has always been loving.” Let’s walk through this answer . . . Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/beginning-with-the-beginning-in-mind/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ When I was a kid, my dad was a certified instructor for Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, primarily in corporate settings. As a result, nearly every car ride of my childhood was soundtracked by Covey’s measured voice via cassette tape. One of Covey’s central principles was this: Begin with the end in mind. It’s a solid rule for business and planning. Most Americans don’t. Retirement gets delayed. College tuition sneaks up. Health is postponed until it can’t be. We drift without design. That’s what Socrates spoke of as the “unexamined life.” And there is biblical wisdom in that instinct—to begin with a view to the end—but with a crucial difference. In Scripture, the “end” does not originate in our minds. It exists in God’s. He is the main character of the human story. We are not the authors; we are the supporting cast. Friends and villains alike, we are forever moving across the stage of His purposes. I think this is an important distinction. This afternoon, during an online RENEW.org Learning Community event, I heard Dr. Carl Williams of Harding University—co-author with Bobby Harrington of Trust and Follow Jesus—speak on discipleship. (If you’re unfamiliar with this simple, effective, reproducible disciple making guide, order a copy.) But in Dr. Williams’s presentation, he offered a perspective that lodged in me: focus on making your beginning. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/is-your-disciple-making-simple-effective-and-reproducible/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Every believer and every church needs a disciple making system that is simple, effective, and reproducible. Those three words are not trendy—they are essential. I once heard someone compare a particular church’s disciple making strategy to the way the Harvard basketball team plays. “It’s pretty complicated,” he said, “but it might work.” That’s the problem. Disciple making is not for experts. It’s for everyday disciples. We don’t need a Harvard system. If the average believer cannot understand it, practice it, and pass it on, it will not multiply. And churches don’t need three competing systems. They need a clear, unified pathway (with minor variations if necessary) that everyone can embrace. This is why the Discipleship.org pre-conference the day before the RENEW.org National Gathering will feature an afternoon with disciple making practitioners like Ralph Moore, Josh Howard, Carl and Alicia Williamson, Ashlee Catizon, and Kerry Cox. They are highly effective personal disciple makers with highly effective—and proven—tools. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hell/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ We live in a time when few people have difficulty believing in a God of love. Some central texts in Scripture emphasize this point. Here are a couple key passages emphasizing God’s love, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament: “[God] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’” (Exodus 34:6-7, NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV) The message of God’s mercy, grace, and loving kindness has been clearly taught in most churches and is emphasized by church leaders, writers, and podcasters. And yet, there is also clear teaching in Scripture that not everyone will turn from their sin and receive the grace of Jesus.[1] The destination of the unrepentant will be eternal separation from God. There are many aspects to the teaching of God’s Word on hell, but for our purposes, we will focus on five. We must understand God’s holiness to understand hell. Hell is the destination of those whose sin is not removed by Jesus’ sacrificial atonement. Hell will be worse than anything that can be experienced in this life. There will be different degrees of punishment in hell. Hell will be a final, irreversible punishment. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/masculinity-is-not-inherently-toxicand-neither-is-empathy/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ We don’t do nuance very well these days… We tend to take complex realities, find their absolute worst expressions, and then decide the whole thing must be the problem. If something has caused harm somewhere, the dominant instinct is to label it dangerous everywhere. That’s especially true in our current conversations around masculinity and empathy. In some cultural spaces, masculinity itself is treated as a liability—something that needs to be softened, restrained, or even apologized for. Can’t men be less driven, dominant, and competitive and more, say, cooperative and empathetic? In response to this—and other criticisms like it—some Christians have begun to push back, and in the process, empathy has come under suspicion. In certain corners of the church, empathy itself is now being described as toxic, corrosive, or incompatible with biblical faithfulness. As a minister/pastor—and as someone who has also worked in the mental health world—I sometimes find myself caught in the middle of this conversation. It’s increasingly frequent that I find myself talking with men who are unsure what strength is supposed to look like anymore. I also sit with people more often than I’d like who are deeply wounded and yet have learned that being honest about their pain will be met with correction not compassion. Something has gone sideways in both directions. Masculinity is not inherently toxic. Empathy is not inherently unbiblical. But both can become unhealthy when they are twisted into something God never intended them to be. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/finding-what-matters-its-different-in-retirement/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ If you have met me, chances are good that you also have met my ego. It’s hard to miss. It usually dominates conversations, going on and on about its accomplishments, its brilliance, and how adept it is at parallel parking. Since I retired, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my ego, an experience that is not always pleasant. My ego can be surly and petulant. And because retirement means my ego has lost access to so many things that typically fed it—job accolades, promotions, Marriott Hotel points—it is constantly looking for new forms of affirmation. I think it’s harder to find those things in retirement. Bragging about grocery store couponing pales in comparison to the glory days of brilliant workplace insights (which were legion, as I recall). Imposing a greater sense of discipline on my ego has become more urgent as I seek in retirement to worship God, grow my faith, and serve others. I had to put my foot down: God is number one and my ego is not. No matter how I describe my brilliant workplace insights, they don’t compare to what God can do. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/choosing-small-acts-of-courage/  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ Sometimes in life it only takes 20 seconds of insane courage to do something extraordinary. At least that is the way the movie We Bought a Zoo summarizes it. In a tearjerker of a scene, Matt Damon who plays the dad takes his two young kids to the diner where he met their now deceased mother. The family has been mourning for the past few months because of her passing, and in the meantime he bought a zoo in the middle of nowhere to help his family heal. Why should he buy something he’s never tried owning or operating before? “Why not?” he replied and went through with his plan. The story goes well; the family heals from the loss. The final scene ends with this moment in the movie with the whole family at the diner. The dad, who has used this line before in the movie, starts by saying, “It only takes 20 seconds of insane courage.” He runs outside the diner to recreate the moment when he first sees their mom from the outside window. Then he rushes into the diner while counting down the seconds and keeping his children engaged in the story. Then, he shares his 20 seconds of insane courage line that started their story: “Excuse me, why would an amazing woman like you even talk to someone like me?” All a sudden their mom becomes visible in the room. The camera then pans to her. Her response, “Why not?” Courage beckons the response of why not. It invites us to do exciting things. Neurologically speaking, the younger you are, the more wired you are to take risk. The older you get, the harder those risks become to take. But risk is what helps your brain to grow. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Get our Premium podcast feed featuring all the breakout sessions from the RENEW gathering early.  https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW