(This is a repost of an article I wrote for the Good Book Blog in 2011.) “It really doesn’t matter whether I go to church. I have Christian friends, Bible classes, and chapels at Biola; why do I need a church?” I’ve heard some version of this statement at least three times during the past week. Although … Continue reading Should Students at Christian Colleges go to Church?
Category: Church Life
What is My Calling?
I told Trudi this morning that one of the reasons I’m willing to work hard in ministry, lose sleep, and frequently end each day tired is because I have a strong sense of calling.[1] This has been true ever since God got a hold of my heart as a fourteen-year-old high school freshman. But after … Continue reading What is My Calling?
The Thirty-Minute Prayer Meeting
8 years 70 residential students More than 100 community dinners Hundreds of one-on-one meetings And approximately 350 morning prayer meetings Twice a week we have been praying with the college men and women who have shared life with us at the one-year residential discipleship program Trudi and I have led during these past eight years. … Continue reading The Thirty-Minute Prayer Meeting
Strategies to Memorize the Bible: An Interview with Josh Summers
A few weeks ago, I joined Josh Summers for an interview at Bible Memory Goal about my recently published book, The Bible by Heart: The Bible's Own Method for Scripture Memory. In the past few years, Josh has become an influential Bible-memory coach to lots of people through his online presence (HERE, HERE, and HERE) and … Continue reading Strategies to Memorize the Bible: An Interview with Josh Summers
What Greeting Should We Use on Good Friday?
I never know how to greet people on Good Friday, especially when I’m walking into a Good Friday church service. “Happy Good Friday!” That greeting doesn’t seem right. Good Friday is the day we remember Jesus’s death by crucifixion. The words “happy” and “good” when commemorating the darkest Friday in human history don’t seem appropriate. … Continue reading What Greeting Should We Use on Good Friday?
25 Questions a Christian Man Should Ask Himself When Interested in a Christian Woman
(Note: Trudi and I wrote this post together.) A couple years ago, Trudi and I posted a list of 25 questions that a Christian woman should ask when a man starts to express interest in her. After we published that list, we received dozens of requests to draw up a similar list for men. Since … Continue reading 25 Questions a Christian Man Should Ask Himself When Interested in a Christian Woman
Memorizing Scripture the ‘Bible Way’: An Interview with Ken Berding
Exciting Announcement: My newest book, The Bible by Heart: The Bible’s Own Method for Scripture Memory is launching today! I’d love for you to pick up a copy for yourself and for a friend! Here is an interview about memorizing Scripture and this book that will be posted in a few days on The Good … Continue reading Memorizing Scripture the ‘Bible Way’: An Interview with Ken Berding
How Does Observing the Night Sky Impact Our View of God? An Interview with Pastor Robert Bishop
Ken Berding (KB): So…you’re a pastor who’s really into astronomy. That’s not very common among pastors. How did a pastor like you get interested in astronomy? Robert Bishop (RB): Like a lot of people, my parents gave me a telescope for Christmas as a child. Shortly after that, we moved to Flagstaff, Arizona—which has amazing … Continue reading How Does Observing the Night Sky Impact Our View of God? An Interview with Pastor Robert Bishop
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Explained Line-by-Line
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is one of my favorite Christmas carols. But almost three centuries have passed since it was composed, and the meaning of some of its lines may not be immediately obvious to everyone who sings this fine song. What do these words actually signify? Here is a line-by-line brief commentary on … Continue reading Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Explained Line-by-Line
Living in Community with Students: Benefits and Challenges
This blog post is adapted from an article I wrote a few years ago for Didaktikos: Journal of Theological Education, a semi-academic journal for people teaching in the theological disciplines.[1] I have updated the article to reflect the fact that Trudi and I have now been living in community with students for the past eight … Continue reading Living in Community with Students: Benefits and Challenges
Kindle Afresh 