What Was Jesus’s Relationship with Joseph Like?
Dear Roger, My wife and I were discussing Jesus and his earthly father. Joseph did a tremendous job of parenting Jesus during his most formative years. What do you think?…
Dear Roger, My wife and I were discussing Jesus and his earthly father. Joseph did a tremendous job of parenting Jesus during his most formative years. What do you think?…
Dear Roger, Economists tell us that we are on the verge of a recession. Some say that it’s 50-50 that we will or won’t have one. I’ve noticed that…
I was in Starbucks a few hours ago, getting coffee for the weekend and getting some beans, and I heard something that I guess I didn’t expect. It was busy,…
The Festival of Lights For many people in the diaspora – both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration – Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. However, if…
The joy of giving is something we can instill in the hearts of our children and grandchildren from a young age. I learned of a family sponsoring a child whose…
Pandemics and crises feels a little bit like the GRINCH that stole Christmas for some of us, but we made a decision at the beginning of this ADVENT series—CHOOSE HOPE.…
Dear Roger, The holidays are here! Joy and excitement are everywhere! Well, not everywhere. You and I both know that there are a lot of hurting people at Christmas time. A lot of…
Dear Roger, I have so many questions about Mary. Why is it important that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born? Why do some people worship Mary? Can you…
Dear Roger, I seldom hear Christmas carols anymore. Lyrics are adjusted to leave out Jesus, manger, even the word “Christmas.” Is it important to teach these songs to our children?…
Dear Roger, I love the story of Jesus’ birth. But how does Jesus’ first coming differ from the Rapture or His Second Coming? Sincerely, Andrea Dear Andrea, Jesus will come…
In this series of advent posts, I will share the words of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and birth. The words that follow are from the gospels and are combined,…
So, you’ve made it to Thanksgiving, and Christmas is just around the corner. What are the holidays like, when you’re single? Is it family time, or lonely time? What about…
Christmas is inundated with some rich wonderful holiday music that lends a profound fullness to the holiday season. The messages in this music are far different than most of the…
Even when they’ve been on the calendar all year, the holidays can sometimes take us by surprise. In fact, even the first Christmas started with a change of plans. No…
Dear Roger, From your perspective, what is the real meaning of Christmas? Sincerely, Esther Dear Esther, When I think of the real meaning of Christmas, I always think of…
Dr. Randy Carlson and our friends at Family Life Radio share a message of hope in Jesus. Support their ministry today! www.theintentionallife.com.
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to…
As you know, we’ve been in a series in Galatians, and we’ll hold off on that until next Lord’s Day. And this morning, just to think a little bit about…
If you find yourself in a dark place, Pastor Mark shares four helpful hacks:1) It’s always darkest before dawn2) Widen your aperture3) Live in day-tight compartments4) Let your light shine…
“Mild He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.” “Praise be to the…
“Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy Do you hear what I hear? Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy Do you hear what I hear?” He said to them,…
“Away in a manger, no crib for His bed; the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.” While they were there, the time came for the baby to be…
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel. “…and they will call him Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23 NIV84 O Come, O Come Emmanuel Time after…
“Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you…
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14 KJV Angels We Have Heard On High What gives you awe? What things cause…
Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NIV Isaac Watts wrote “Joy…
A great author tells the beginning of the story to prepare the hearer for the end of the story. Charles Dickens famously starts A Tale of Two Cities with the…
The end of Jesus’ story is found in the beginning. Every detail of God-made-flesh in the manger points to the crucified Savior on the cross. Today, we consider Herod and…
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, may God give us eyes to see the beauty of the Christmas story in a fresh way. Every figure we meet at Jesus’ birth…
“Gabriel.” Just the sound of my King’s voice stirred my heart. I left my post at the entryway and stepped into the throne room. To my left was the desk…
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 When the time was just right–being fulfilled according to God’s Divine decree–God sent His Son…
Jesus came to the earth three times: He came humbly as a baby, He came secretly at the Rapture and He came victoriously as King and Judge. Examine these three…
Did you know that one of the biggest challenges to Christianity comes during the Christmas season? It is centered on who Jesus’ family was. In our day when people challenge…
The very message of Christmas is the message of salvation.
Mary embodies the faith in God we all need. How did she cope with her challenges? How did she face the future?
Christmas is full of cozy thoughts: a sleeping Jesus, wide-eyed shepherds, a soft-faced Mary. The nativity sentiment is warm, the emotion is joy, and the feeling is peace. Such is…
Introduction Favorite Christmas Song “White Christmas” – best-selling Christmas song of all time Guinness Book of World Records – over 50 million sales Written in 1940 by Irving Berlin Popularized…
A great author tells the beginning of the story to prepare the hearer for the end of the story. Charles Dickens famously starts A Tale of Two Cities with the…
Do we choose to be Herod, cling to our power, and our glory, and our sin, and ourselves? Or do we willingly humble ourselves before Jesus and find that in…
The innkeeper had no room; and the question is, do you have any room? Is there any space to give Jesus Christ his due? Just like us, many who lived…
Peter Stoner, in his classic book Science Speaks, calculated the chance of any man fulfilling these prophecies, even down to the present time, to be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the…
Don’t you? Don’t you need some Peace On Earth and Goodwill to Mankind? Don’t you need some Silent Night, Holy Night? Don’t you need the appearance of angels, the…
Introduction Gold: emblematic of Jesus coming to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Matthew 2:2 A metal fit for a king Frankincense: emblematic of the priesthood and…
God’s glory shows us who we are in relation to a glorious God. His glory drives out fear and replaces it with joy. God’s glory reassures us of the power…
The Festival of Lights For many people in the diaspora – both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration – Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. However, if…
God created us to love people and use things, but materialists love things and use people. Materialism drives not just the “bad apples” of society; it drives “the best and…
Christmas is inundated with some rich wonderful holiday music that lends a profound fullness to the holiday season. The messages in this music are far different than most of the…
It’s that wonderful time of the year! Or is it? Many people are deeply lonely during the holiday season. This is what Dr. Deb Waterbury advises: “It’s simply amazing to…
Do you dread Christmas? Or love it? Some people dread the holidays because family feuds abound. Is it “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” Well, it should be, and…
It isn’t hard for kids to be happy around Christmas, especially if they think there’s going to be a pile of gifts waiting for them on December 25th. But this kind…
Any idea what the best outreach opportunity of the year at your church might be? You might think it’s an event you do, or perhaps it’s Easter. But whether Christmas has…
How do you know if your “first love” for Jesus is fading? Here are a few significant indicators that your love for Jesus may be waning, and an encouragement to…
Dear Roger, What can we do about the person in our small group who talks too much? He has a know it all attitude and tries to dominate every conversation.…
A conscience is that pressing sense that unerringly guides our choices and pricks us when we don’t heed it’s prompting. It’s that mysteriously universal compass that relentlessly points true north…
Christmas presents piled high….how many toys do our children need? How do we make our Christmas less about money and more about Jesus? Randy Alcorn writes: “An alarming number of…
When families come together for Christmas, they bring their values and routines with them as well. Increasingly—perhaps even unconsciously—those are shaped by a relationship to technology. Everything from gift lists and free…
How would Christ celebrate Christmas? It seems like a difficult question to answer. Author Erin Davis pens her thoughts: “Most years I tend to lose sight of Jesus somewhere between…
Dear Roger, How could Herod miss Christmas? How could he hear the Wise Men coming so far to find this baby, and not recognize the signs? I don’t want to…
Dear Roger, I’d like to understand more about the … Christmas Star. Sincerely, G Dear G, Let’s talk about the Star itself and what it might be. Then, let me…
Dear Roger, What do we really know about angels, and how do they reveal themselves to us? How do angels appear to people in the Bible? Angels appeared to people…
Most times the reason we don’t let go of worldly things is that we don’t seem to realize that there is something better and more important than what the world…
A war will be waged again this Christmas, a battle far more pressing than whether to say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas.” For believers, the real challenge is something entirely…
Who was the Innkeeper in Bethlehem who cruelly turned Mary and Joseph away? We’ll never know his name. Pastor John Beeson decries him as one of the Christmas villains: “Every…
Dear Roger, Thanksgiving and Christmas are tough times for me. I really don’t want to spend any time with my family. It’s like when we get together the pain and…
King David had no reason to invite Saul’s crippled grandson, Mephibosheth, to sit at his royal table. But David had made a covenant with Jonathan. Jesus has made a permanent…
What does God want us to wear for the holidays? Forgiveness, acceptance, love and godliness. His clothes are pure and perfect. They never go out of style. Preached at North…
The Advent Conspiracy calls us toward some beautiful, simple and significantly life-giving truths. Lean in with us. Here are 4 key expressions that enable us to “worship fully” in this…
Dear Roger, I’d love to understand more about the Magi and the star – what made them think this star would lead them to a king? Is there anything…
Dear Roger, I’ve celebrated Christmas more than 70 times in my lifetime. Tell me something I probably haven’t heard about the Christmas story, something I can apply to my life. …
Christmas may be celebrated around the world, but many people find it a lonely time. Dr. Deb Waterbury suggests ten ways you can avoid loneliness this Christmas: “It’s simply amazing…
The Festival of Lights For many people in the diaspora – both Jews celebrating Hanukkah and Gentiles observing this celebration – Hanukkah is all about dreidels and latkes. However, if…
The majority of people in the world will miss the next Christmas. But how can that be? How can anyone miss Christmas, given the amount of advertising, publicity, and promotion…
Christmas is not always a time of joy. Randy Alcorn shows us five ways to rejoice this holy season. He writes: “Family tensions (whose house do we go to when?),…
When my children were young, one of my sons came into the kitchen while I was doing the dishes, and nonchalantly asked me, “Mom, do you know how to tell…
It’s rather shocking to examine the history of Jesus’ family tree- a lineage of prostitutes, scandal, adultery, murder, and idolatry– but all to prove that it doesn’t matter who you…
Grace really is, relationally speaking, it really is the unsettling solution for just about everything. Jesus was full of grace. He extended it to people who were nothing like him,…
Dear Roger, I hear people talking about praise and worship. Are they the same? If not, how are they related? What is the difference between them? Sincerely, Liz …
According to Luke 1:1–4, the Gospel of Luke and its sequel the Acts of the Apostles were written to help Theophilus (and all subsequent readers) know the truth of the Christian…
One wonders why there are so many people in America who seem so offended at a simple greeting like, “Merry Christmas.” While talk show hosts rant about the “Attack on Christmas,” by…
How would you feel if distant relatives showed up unannounced on your doorstep with plans to stay for a week and were eager to take a tour of your house?…
God is above but He is not pushed up; He is beneath but He is not pressed down. He is outside but He is not excluded. He is inside but…
What are those things upon which we wage war? There are those completely virtuous and entirely untainted causes that are birthed at those seminal moments when the very foundation of…
Merry Christmas! Oh, excuse me! Seasons Greetings. Happy Holidays. Finding Jesus at Christmas is just like playing “Where’s Waldo.” Look hard. He’s nowhere to be found! I attended a middle school “Christmas”…
God has blessings for you in categories that you don’t even know exist. Preached at National Community Church.
We naturally drift towards isolation and a lack of intimacy, but Jesus’ incarnation proves his desire to share his heart with us, step into our seclusion, break us out of…
The Book of Zephaniah contains a wonderful and moving description of God’s love. We don’t deserve God’s love, but He offers it to us in the gift of Jesus Christ.…
What do you do when you are feeling blue? You don’t need to feel helpless! Many of us experience depression at a significant holiday like Christmas. Especially this year….Sometimes it’s…
Reconciling with someone who has wronged us or wronged someone we love is not intuitive or comfortable. But sometimes it’s necessary . . . for our sakes because resentment takes…
How can we honor the Lord on his Birthday according to the Bible? In Philippians 2:5-7, Jesus came down to earth and made himself nothing, and became a servant. How…
A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends. —Proverbs 16:28 Jesus made a remarkable statement concerning Judas. He said, “‘Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve,…
Are you a control freak? It’s easy to do, whether you are a leader of a large organization or the mother of small children. It’s amazing to me how many…
Can America (and the world) achieve racial reconciliation? Can our multicolored, multi-tongued society find common ground for communication? For peace? For cooperation in meeting head-on the great needs of our…
At our church, Redeemer we often speak of serving, strengthening, and “renewing” New York City. When we talk like this, we must be careful not to deny “common grace.” We…
Kneel in pursuit of God’s presence. Don’t bow down to something else. Kneel in repentance. Jesus never turns away from a sinner with a repentant heart. Kneel in submission. You can…
The Prince of Peace (Shar Shalom) declared that his mission was to restore shalom — to bring freedom to the prisoner, recovery of sight to the blind. And how did…
Wise Men followed the star. They jumped for joy, and they came bringing gifts. Mary and Joseph needed a miracle and it was provided by someone that God sent from…
Thank Goodness. Christmas Doesn’t Make Sense Through the power of the Internet, I am often able to look like I have my life all together. I know the things to…
Children swarm the stage as Francis Chan teaches about the Creator and His creation in a humorous, profound and engaging way. He teaches about the fullness of the God-man residing…
You are hurting, aren’t you? You are stressed. I know I am. How do you know you are worried and stressed? 42% of Americans experience these stress symptoms: anger, irritability,…
THE NINE POINTS OF CHRIST’S STAR From the Biblical account in Matthew, unpacking it verse by verse, we can compile a list of nine qualities that must be present before…
Russell Moore shares his insights about tension during the holiday season. Here are his wise suggestions: “We tend to idealize holidays, but human depravity doesn’t go into hibernation between Thanksgiving…
Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. The Great Physician has a good prescription. Gain His perspective. Even in sorrow, take heart and wear a cheerful…
We, the church, are the bridge God created to impart grace to the world. We must appropriate the grace God has given us. We don’t go to church, we are…
Jon Acuff’s best-selling book provides unique insights for you to progress from average to awesome. Here are some of his thoughts: Over the last 100 years, the road to success…
Dear Roger, Hello, I date a minister and he smokes pot and drinks beer on daily basis and on Sundays he’s in the pulpit, calling people to the altar,…
The greatest seasons of faith in our lives don’t occur when we’re on the mountain top, when life is going as planned and God’s favor is most tangible. In reality,…
Whether you are a control freak like Augustus, panicking because your plans aren’t coming together like you had hoped, or whether you are confused by life circumstances that don’t make…
I’m thankful for warning systems. The dashboard lights in my car, smoke detectors in my home, even the little bumps in the road that let me know when I’m crossing…
How could I be so blind? Why did I not see the signs? Everyone around me knew I was in over my head, and they were plotting an intervention. Cults…
Neil Anderson’s Freedom in Christ Ministry provides powerful, relevant resources for fighting spiritual battles. One of the chief battles every Christian faces is the struggle with fear. “Courage is…
Dear Roger, Is it OK for Christians to take anti-depressants? Sincerely, Roger Dear Roger, I used to tell people that if Job had been a better Christian he would never…
The heart of God working in the heart of man doesn’t look the same on everyone when it happens. But whether in the quiet stirrings of our spirit or in…
by Dr. Randy Carlson Clutter is the enemy of intention. Without a sense of order in your life, your marriage relationship will never reach its potential. You probably…
A man’s life is a series of transitions. As he moves from one stage to the next, he often passes through a liminal state – no longer his old self…
Sin hurts ourselves and others, but through confession, we can have a new start. Let’s talk about how we can find freedom, forgiveness and restoration with God and others. Let’s…
Who is the Christ Child? Paul in Philippians 2 teaches the amazing condescension of God coming in human form to die. Secondly, Isaiah teaches the baby would be Messiah, the…
The Kingdom of God sits above and judges the conservative and liberal orientations of men, because God is concerned about accomplishing His agenda, not mine or yours or anyone else.…
What changes in the world if you and I had never been born? What if Jesus had never come to earth? Isaiah 9 and Luke 4 tell us who Jesus…
When I was a young man, it was widely believed the world would end in a thermonuclear fireball. The Civil Defense was everywhere. The “fallout shelter” logo was posted on…
Twice the Apostle John tells us that Christmas happened: the Son of God became a human being to take away sin, or to destroy the works of the devil, namely,…
Man’s condition before Christ came was hopeless. Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God came to save mankind. Nicodemus, the curious Jewish leader, was told by Christ to be…
Why shouldn’t we worry? Because if we knew the big picture like Jesus does, we’d realize that worry is not rational. God really has promised to take care of us,…
Who are angels and what do we know about them? The Bible has answers, especially from verses about Christ’s birth.
Jesus was unrecognizable to his world because He had a simple birth to a poor family, a scary sojourn in a foreign land and a quiet upbringing in an obscure…
Overflow with hope, the word overflow means to super-abound, to be filled to the brim, it would speak of a container that is filled where you can’t pick it up,…
Why do we become tight-fisted during the holidays? The whole message of God is about generosity and grace. He showed unconditional grace to the laborers in the field, regardless of…
The man with the withered hand had to step out on faith and trust Jesus amidst great opposition. When we take that simple step of faith, Christ can radically transform…
In this passage about Elizabeth’s unborn child, John the Baptist, the word “baby” is used to describe Jesus while He was still in His mother’s womb. What Luke is doing…
A Good Dad Makes Godly Decisions The Lord made an agreement with Jacob and gave the teachings to Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children. Then…
How can declining birth rates impact the unique Christian view of the family? This is a pressing issue, because we need to get a handle on this complex phenomenon. In…
Choosing not to be afraid or not to lose heart is less about the feeling and more about about how we open our hearts and minds. This happens in a…
“We preach against sin, but have we ever developed the anger of God when it related to lost human potential? Have we ever looked at human lives and felt our…
Winning a revolution can be dangerous. A victorious revolution faces the prospect of becoming a lifeless institution. No better example of this exists than when Constantine began mandating national baptisms.…
I’m wondering how much of the creation/evolution debate is caught up in the labels of “Evolution,” “Creation,” and “Intelligent Design.” I say this because of the popularly understood notions of…
No matter how you look at it, King Ahab’s marriage to Queen Jezebel was no match made in Heaven. When he chose her as his bride, he was seemingly entering…
Christians often justify their decisions by saying, “I have a peace about it.” Is that a cop-out? Is God’s peace subjective? “Peace” is one of those Christianese terms that is sometimes used in…
Over the past ten years, I’ve fought an ongoing battle with depression. I go through seasons of life in which it is only barely present: a dull hum beneath a…
Over the past ten years, I’ve fought an ongoing battle with depression. I go through seasons of life in which it is only barely present: a dull hum beneath a…
Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit An Geadh-Glas or the Wild Goose. A wild goose can’t be tracked or tamed. Unpredictability or a hint of mystery or an element of…
The psalmist writes of Israel’s expectation of God’s Messiah, and the preservation of God’s plan who produced the incarnation of God’s Son.
Our culture is so busy we are quickly replacing face to face time with texting, tweeting, voice mail, email and other forms of technology. Especially at Christmas, let’s make sure we give…
Gratitude is the overwhelming response to God’s love and compassion. Our undeniable guilt plus God’s undeserved grace equals unbridled gratitude.
It is hard for a rich person to be godly, but not impossible. According to Agur’s prayer in Proverbs 30, we should avoid traps of distraction, arrogance and worry. If…
The prophet Isaiah told Israel of a Messiah who was not only God, but He was their Prince of Peace and their Counselor. He walked in their shoes and was…
Here’s a creative way to help your children participate in a week of prayer! Make a chart with a big square for every day of the week. Choose a category…
Recharging is something we can do, and it’s necessary. But renewing is something only God can do-it speaks of HIs work, His power alone.
Dear Roger, How many times must I pray for someone to be healed? I have friends who want me to pray again and again for their healing. The call goes…
Mary asked the angel two questions: Is this Jesus worth it, and can God do this? We ask the same questions every day. Is following God worth the sacrifice, and…
Christmas is one of those holidays that is often misunderstood. Perhaps it’s because of the way that we have trivialized what the holiday represents. We hang stockings, decorate trees, arrange…
If God, Joseph and Mary went to such great lengths to bring salvation to us, so should we take the trouble to share the gospel with those around us.
Peace is not found in circumstances, material possessions, status or popularity. Peace finds its source in God alone and we are clothed with His gifts of peace and grace.
Christ, the Anointed One, brings “shalom” peace. He alone can free you from sin and its hold upon your life. He gave His life to bring you into God’s presence…
Pastors, worship leaders, creative teams and volunteers should collaborate to produce fresh, worshipful seasonal services. Emotional and spiritual needs of the congregation should be addressed. Planning, resource allocation and recruiting…
Two messengers–Isaiah and John the Baptist–prophesied the coming of the Messiah. For those who had ears to hear, their lives were transformed even in the midst of captivity and uncertainty.…