How Anxiety Can Be Good for Us

November 7, 2022

As I sat staring at the menu, I wondered why I even bothered to look it over. My anxiety had consumed my appetite. Eating felt like a chore and nothing could satisfy the insatiable hunger of my fears.

Across from me sat a trusted pastor and friend. We breezed through the typical small talk, and dove straight into the deep-end of our conversation. I plunged beneath the surface and divulged to him the recent struggles I’d been having in my life and how almost every aspect of it had been conquered by fear.

“I’ve been there too, more than I want to admit,” he assured me.

After lunch, we went out outside for a walk. As we took laps around the block for the next half hour, he began to share how his own anxiety had also gotten the best of him. The parts of his story that he was sharing were painfully similar to what I was going through. I breathed a deep sigh of relief knowing that I wasn’t alone in my struggles.

I also couldn’t help but think, But we’re pastors…we are supposed to be helping anxious people, not being plagued by our own debilitating fears.

The truth is anxiety doesn’t discriminate. No matter how spiritually mature or how well versed one is in scripture. Fear can strike anyone at any given time without regard for who they are or what they do.

More Common Than We Want to Admit

In recent years, it has become much more normalized to talk about feelings of being overwhelmed. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America says that anxiety affects one out of five of us at a crippling level. Normal everyday tasks like breathing and eating can feel impossible to do. Past mistakes can hinder us from making decisions for our future. Relationships can bring us sadness rather than joy. Many of us experience some degree of anxiety regularly — whether we want to admit it or not.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” This verse suggests that even Jesus Himself possibly experienced anxiety. And yet, it never got in the way of Him placing His trust in God. We see a glimpse of the fear that gripped Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, just before His death. It was there that He begged the Father to take the cup of wrath from Him. He was so overwhelmed that His sweat was becoming like drops of blood (Luke 22:39-46). And though we see that Jesus was suffering in agony and stress with the looming thought of His death on the cross, He still trusted in the sovereignty of God.

In that moment when circumstances felt worrisome, fearful, and debilitating, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but your will be done.” It was as if to say, “I don’t know how I will make it through this, but I trust you are in control.”

Free Welcome Slide for Sunday Morning

Daniel So

November 7, 2022

Outreach can begin with something as simple as the word “Welcome!” Welcome people to your church’s worship service using this graphic welcome slide. You can also use this welcome slide on your church’s website or Facebook page.

Free Welcome Slide

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Resource provided by CreationSwap

Download Instructions: Click on the blue Download button and then click on the blue Agree button to download these resources.

ChurchLeaders can help you find plenty of free resources for your ministry here.

About Creation Swap

Growing a church takes more than just faith and dedication – it also takes a smart approach to presentation and communication. However, many churches struggle with design and media. That’s why we put together CreationSwap® – to serve as a creative hub where churches everywhere can access high quality visual and audio content ready to be utilized for any purpose.

CreationSwap®’s professional resources have already helped thousands of churches around the world. Allow us to supply you with professional, easy-to-use media and transform the way you communicate your messages.

Making Disciples: 3 Texts You Must Preach

Ray Hollenbach

November 7, 2022

Preaching is neither education nor entertainment. We’re called to fulfill the Great Commission, which means making disciples. Here are three foundational passages for anyone who longs to preach about something more than a fire-insurance relationship with Jesus:

His Command: Making Disciples

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

1. If heaven is the ultimate goal of the gospel, then discipleship is merely an option, like a choice in the cafeteria. But making disciples is not a choice; it’s the mission. There is something lacking in each one of us until we become disciples and until we make disciples of others.

2. Discipleship is open to anyone willing to worship Jesus. Intellectual curiosity is not the ticket in, nor are good works. And here is the really good news: Doubt does not disqualify you from worship.

3. At the place of worship, we discover that Jesus considers us partners in his mission. He never intended the original 12 disciples to be the only ones; he intended they would reproduce themselves. Amazingly, he intends the same for us as well.

Our Destiny: Conformed to His Image

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29)

1. The good news is better than we think: Making disciples means that the Father intends that each of us become conformed to the image of his Son. This is staggering: If we are disciples of Jesus, the Father has set a destination for each of us—Christlikeness!

2. Jesus is unique: the only begotten of the Father. Yet that same Father is determined to have a large family. He sends a spirit of adoption into our hearts. We see him as our true Father, and we discover our older brother is none other than the Lord of glory.

3. When we first heard the gospel presented as Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf—how many of us imagined the Father had a destination in mind better than Heaven itself?

The Entire Family Is Affected

Dale Hudson

November 6, 2022

This morning I was reading Deuteronomy 5. Some of the verses popped out at me as I read them. Check it out.

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love Me and obey My commands.

We often talk about reaching parents. We know if we can reach the parents, then there is a high probability that their children will be reached as well. As this verse says…

…the entire family is affected.

No one has more influence in a child’s life than his or her parents. You could say “as it goes with the parents, so it will go with their children.”

If you want to reach children and see them follow Jesus for a lifetime, then you must reach and influence their parents. You influence children by influencing their parents.

These verses even say if parents will love God and follow His commands, that He will pour down His love upon them and their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren and beyond.

When you reach children you change a life. When you reach parents, you change an entire family.

I am an example of this. Our family knew nothing about God. My great, great grandfather was a criminal. One day he got into a fight with another man who was a criminal. My great, great grandfather ended up murdering the man by stabbing him. He was convicted of the crime and was sent to prison. He was given a life sentence with no parole.

The entire family was affected. My grandfather followed in his footsteps and became the manager at a local bar. He was a violent man and had his nose broken five times in bar fights. Christmas time usually turned into a drunken brawl. My grandfather would get drunk and would fight his family members. Still our family knew nothing about Jesus and had yet to experience His love and forgiveness.

That all changed one day when a neighbor saw how messed up our family was. He came to our house and knocked on the door. He told my grandmother and father how Christ had changed his life. We said “no” at first and told him we wanted nothing to do with God. But the neighbor wouldn’t give up. He kept coming and inviting us to church. Finally my grandmother told him if he would come by on Sunday and pick us up, we would go to church with them.

My dad and grandmother stepped into a church for the very first time. They found out there was a better life. They entered a relationship with Jesus. Fast forward. My dad is now 16. He was called to preach and is pursuing that call. When it was announced that he would preach at our church, my grandfather, the drunkard, said he would come and hear his son preach.

The Golden Rule Pastors Should Practice

Brian Dodd

November 6, 2022

The simplest of scriptures can be the hardest to live out.

Take Luke 6:31 for example.

We heard it in Sunday School. Our parents beat it into our heads. We were even taught it in public school.

The “Golden Rule.”

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Can we be honest?

There seems to be a breakdown in the golden rule in our culture. And, honestly, there seems to be a breakdown of the golden rule among many church leaders.

Churches, at their best, can be exactly what Christ made them to be. At worst, they can be unhealthy, manipulative, and degrading.

(Just look at some of the recent headlines of church abuse and leadership failure).

I don’t want to be over-simplistic. But consider this: most unhealthy church scenarios can be healed (or at least made better), even in the short-term, if those in charge followed Luke 6:31.

It’s hard for abusive and sinful behavior to run rampant when Luke 6:31 is in play.

We expect everyone else to invoke Luke 6:31 in their relationships with us. But if we’re not careful, we can easily forget our end of the bargain with them.

As pastors and church leaders, let’s get back to the basics.

Here’s a quick outline of what this might look like for you as a pastor or a church leader this week.

The Golden Rule Pastors Should Practice

It all starts at home.

1. Treat your spouse like you would want to be treated. Take out the trash without being asked. Do something nice and unexpected. Love unconditionally.

2. Treat your kids like you would want to be treated. This may mean holding your tongue at times. (HINT: This most probably means holding your tongue at times.)

It continues at the workplace.

3. Treat your staff the way you would want to be treated. Be fair. Communicate often. Give honest feedback. Be generous. Show concern.

4. Treat your board the way you would want to be treated. Work with them rather than against them. Give them the whole story without hold back crucial details. Pray for them. Be proactive rather than reactive.

5. Treat your members the way you would want to be treated. Pastor them. Connect with them one-on-one, not just from the platform. Make the tough phone call. Love them.

Every Good Leader Has a Leadership Vocabulary – Do You?

Ron Edmondson

November 5, 2022

The best leaders I know are always learning.Part of my growth as a leader has been developing of a leadership vocabulary. It’s something I try to monitor and continually be aware of as I attempt to lead others.

I once sat in on a leadership meeting for another organization. I didn’t feel I had the relationship to do so, but I left sincerely hoping someone would speak into this leader’s life and that he would be willing to learn.

The problem? This leader had a terrible leadership vocabulary. Part of maturing as a leader is developing a language which will help the organization and it’s team members achieve greatest success.

Examples of a Good Leadership Vocabulary:

“Why not?” more than “I don’t think so”.

“Our” more than “My”.

“We” more than “I”.

“Thank you” more than “You’re welcome”.

“Let’s do it” more than “We’ve never done it that way before”.

“I believe in you” more than “Prove yourself”.

“Here’s something to think about” more than “I command you to”.

“What do you think?” more than “Let me think about it”.

“How can we?” more than “This is the way”.

“We are a team” more than “my team”.

“Yes” when empowering other people’s ideas – more than shutting them down.

“I take full responsibility” more than “I’m not responsible”.

“They work with me” more than “They work for me”.

Great leaders understand the power of their words. The things they say develop the culture of the organization, team member’s perceptions of their individual roles, and the overall health and direction of the organization. Great leaders, therefore, choose their words carefully and develop a leadership vocabulary.

Have you ever thought about or examined the words you use? It might make a huge difference in how people feel about following your leadership.

This article about leadership vocabulary originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Sean McDowell, Alisa Childers and Jeremiah Johnston Take Part in Apologetics Conference at Jack Graham’s Church

Jesse T. Jackson

November 4, 2022

anchored_bwi — Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Johnston

Earlier this week (Nov. 1 and 2), Prestonwood Baptist Church, Christian Thinkers Society, and Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, joined forces to host “Anchored,” a two-day conference that witnessed over 3,000 gather to be equipped by the school’s Biblical Worldview Institute (BWI).

The conference, which started in 2005, aims to instill a Christ-centered worldview in the youth of today. BWI says that a “growing number of young people in the United States are walking away from their faith. The list of ‘former Christians’ is growing as is their influence.” The conference is designed to “equip students, educators, and parents to navigate these crucial culture conversations and anchor in the faith.”

This year’s “Anchored” conference focused on the topic of deconstruction and featured well-known speakers Dr. Sean McDowell, Alisa Childers, Dr. Scott Stripling, Dr. Craig Evans, Dr. Randy Guliuzza, Allen Parr, and Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston.

ChurchLeaders spoke with Prestonwood Baptist Church Pastor of Apologetics and Cultural Engagement and Dean of Spiritual Development at Prestonwood Christian Academy, Jeremiah Johnston, at the conference.

The intent of the conference was to tackle issues of deconstruction head on rather than to hide from them, Johnston shared, adding that thousands heard from a diverse group of godly men and women who are scholars and specialist in their own fields.

The conference’s speakers “discussed from their Biblio-centric positions, what deconstruction is, but how the scales of truth tip in our favor—and how we have nothing to be afraid of when it relates to deconstruction,” Johnston said. “People in our churches have always had the issue of ‘they went out from us but they were never among us.'”

As a historian, Johnston argued that liberalism always rebrands itself. Johnston cited the example that society doesn’t use the term “occult” anymore, instead using the term “paranormal” because it sounds “cooler.” He explained, “It’s not liberalism anymore. It’s progressive Christianity. Liberalism has a really funny way of constantly refreshing and rebranding itself, but the cool thing about truth is the truth never has to be rebranded.”

“The goal of this conference was to show how we are anchored in the truth, but not shying away from those difficult questions,” Johnston continued.

Johnston said in Wednesday’s morning session with Dr. Evans, “Unlike any other religion in the world, Christianity puts itself to the historical test and says, ‘Hey, you can test our belief against history,’ where every other belief system consciously avoids interaction with evidence and with history.”

The Pastor of Apologetics and Cultural Engagement shared that he believes that the attendance at this year’s conference makes this the largest apologetics conference in North America, as far as people in the same room together.

This was a successful conference because of the amount of young faces in the room, Johnston said. Almost all apologetics-focused events Johnston speaks at or attends have an average age of 60, which he says concerns him.

“What blew me away about this conference was we have the young generations. This year, we even brought in fifth graders. Now some of our readers might think, ‘Wait a minute, you brought in fifth and sixth graders?’ Yes. And they were blown away,” Johnston said. “I had fifth and sixth grade teachers stopping me at the door saying, ‘Thank you so much. I can’t wait to send you the pictures of the notes our fifth and sixth graders were taking.’ And that was a first.”

New Lecrae Song ‘Deconstruction’ Mentions John Piper, Voddie Baucham, Tim Keller, Tony Evans, and Judah Smith

Jesse T. Jackson

November 4, 2022

On Nov. 4, Grammy award winning rapper Lecrae released his highly anticipated Christian Hip Hop (CHH) mixtape, “Church Clothes 4.”

The final mixtape in the Church Clothes series features 13 songs and includes collaborations with Andy Mineo, nobigdyl, WHATUPRG, The Anomaly, Jon Keith, A.I., and Jordan L’Oreal.

Lecrae, who has been open about his faith journey in recent years, shares in his lyrics that he “still believes in the Church, but it’s gon’ take us to put in some work.”

Lecrae openly discusses his deconstruction journey, giving listeners and fans a better understanding of what he went through. The lyrics are similar to some of what he has shared in recent interviews, but with fresh vulnerability. He also mentions well-known pastors and church leaders who lent to some of his deconstruction.

In his track titled “Deconstruction,” which is also an ever-growing topic in Christian circles and a journey Lecrae has been on long before people knew of the Christian buzzword, Lecrae names Judah Smith, John Piper, Tim Keller, Tony Evans, and Voddie Baucham as influential figures he spent time with and looked up to.

“I would speak at churches, hang with leaders and such. You know, Judah, Piper, and Keller, Tony Evans was clutch,” Lecrae raps. “I was so involved, never thought that I could fall, y’all. Right before the fall of 2015, I was all off. It involved killing Michael Brown, had me feeling down. Tweeted ‘bout it, Christians call me clown, I was losing ground. And Voddie was a hero of mine, met with him plenty of times. This time, when he spoke, it cut me deeper than I realized. Doubled-down, spoke about my pain, I was met with blame. ‘Shame on you, ‘Crae, stop crying, get back to Jesus’ name.’”

Lecrae shares that Baucham’s words cut him deeply, which led to him losing sleep. The CHH icon asks God why his people were hating him because he wasn’t saying what they wanted him to say regarding race relations.

His lyrics then paint a picture of a Christ follower questioning whether God really exists because of the hate he is witnessing around him, especially within the church.

“Everyday we gettin’ killed, and I can’t deal no mo’; I started slipping in the darkness, I’m feeling heartless. Christians got me traumatized, I’on know who God is; Drinking liquor for my therapy, and smoking Mary’s tree,” Lecrae raps. In the song, he questions everything, including his marriage, saying, “Maybe I should get divorced, I don’t know why she married me. What’s the purpose? What’s the point? Nothing matters, I’m just matter, I’m just atoms. Ain’t no Eve, and ain’t no Adam. Where the Xanies? Let me at ‘em.”

In the song, Lecrae says that he got to a point of clinical depression until God spoke to him, saying, “‘Crae I know you love me, I need you to feed my sheep.”

Lecrae realized that God never hurt him, but he allowed church trauma to turn into a “God wound.” It was then that he came to the realization that “the western world has twisted up the Scriptures.” He says, “So when I re-enlisted, I learned the eastern context, the way that Jesus meant it.”

Matthew Perry’s ‘Dumb Prayer’ for Fame Failed To ‘Heal the Hole Inside’

Stephanie Martin

November 4, 2022

In a revealing new memoir, actor Matthew Perry admits that his first-ever prayer was a request to become a celebrity. “You can do whatever you want with me,” he told God, “just please make me famous.” That fame, by contributing to Perry’s escalating addictions, almost cost him his life.

The actor, who played Chandler Bing for 10 seasons on the NBC sitcom “Friends,” is opening up about his struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs. While promoting his book Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry, 53, recently spoke to Diane Sawyer about his near-death experiences. They’re “not fun to talk about” but might help other people, he says.

Matthew Perry: My First-Ever Prayer Was for Fame

Matthew Perry, who’s from Canada, describes a childhood marked by his parents’ divorce and an early exposure to alcohol. Drinking a bottle of wine at age 14 made him feel “euphoric” and “in heaven,” he recalls. When he moved to Hollywood a few years later, he thought stardom might replace his daily drinking habit and “heal the hole inside” him.

Instead, the addiction struggles grew—and expanded into painkillers. At one point, Perry tells Sawyer, he was taking 55 Vicodin pills per day. Although he didn’t imbibe while on set, the actor describes showing up to work “blindly hungover” and shaking. Co-star Jennifer Aniston confronted Perry about the drinking, he says, but he “wasn’t in a position to stop.”

Perry, who says he’s now sober, went to rehab 15 times. Three years ago, he almost died as a result of drug use. His heart stopped, his colon burst, and he spent two weeks in a coma and five months in the hospital. Doctors gave him a two percent chance to live.

Perry needed a colostomy bag for a year and has had 14 stomach operations. Those scars serve as “a lot of reminders to stay sober,” he says.

Matthew Perry Wants to Offer Fellow Addicts Hope

On “Friends,” Perry was known for playing a sarcastic wit. Now he wants to be known as a grateful, resilient person whose struggles offer addicts hope for recovery.

The actor tells People magazine that his memoir was on hold until he was “safe” from returning to “the dark side” of addiction. “I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober…to write it all down,” he says. “And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people.”

‘Another Little Miracle’—Sadie Robertson Huff Expecting Second Baby With Husband, Christian

Jessica Mouser

November 4, 2022

Sadie Robertson Huff and her husband, Christian Huff, have announced that they are expecting their second child. The former “Duck Dynasty” star and her husband each posted a photo of themselves on Instagram yesterday with their first child, Honey James Huff, and ultrasound pictures of their second.

“Another little miracle is in motion,” said Sadie in the caption.

Sadie Robertson Huff, Christian Huff Announce Second Child

Friends, family and church leaders commented on the Huffs’ photo, congratulating the happy couple. “Amazing,” said author and speaker Lisa Bevere, “and may this one astound you!” Life.Church pastor Craig Groeschel said, “Oh come on! Let’s celebrate and give God some praise!”

Passion Movement founder and pastor Louie Giglio simply responded with a red heart emoji. The pro-life group Live Action, founded by Lila Rose, commented, “A precious life ❤️ congratulations!!”

Others who commented with their congratulations were Sadie’s mother, Korie Robertson, and her sister, Rebecca Robertson Loflin; Tim Tebow’s wife, Demi-Leigh Tebow; Bible teacher, author and podcaster, Jennie Allen; former cohosts of “The View,” Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Paula Faris; and Candace Cameron Bure’s daughter, Natasha Bure.

Earlier this week, a number of Instagram users inquired about a second pregnancy after Christian posted a picture of himself and Honey in shark outfits with Sadie holding a Squatty Potty in front of her stomach. “Maybe that’s why she was off of insta for a while,” said one user. That first trimester is roughhhh!”

Sadie indicated in her Instagram stories that her due date is in May.

Sadie Robertson Huff Puts God First

Sadie Robertson Huff is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who formerly starred in the hit reality series, “Duck Dynasty.” She and her husband, Christian, welcomed their first child, Honey, in May 2021. In a post the day after the birth, Sadie said, “We saw a million little miracles yesterday – the best one being this girl right here.”

Church Elder Sentenced to Life for Murder of Wife, Who Was Associate Pastor

Dale Chamberlain

November 4, 2022

Robert Lee Harris has received a life sentence for the first-degree murder of his wife, Tanisha Harris, who was 38.

Robert was an elder of Repairers of The Breach Christian Center, a nondenominational church in Kansas City, Missouri, at the time of the murder. Tanisha was an associate pastor. The couple had been married for 18 months.

In August, Harris was found guilty of the premeditated murder of his wife, which took place in 2018.

In January of that year, police responded to a domestic dispute call regarding an argument between Robert and Tanisha. A few hours after officers left the couple’s apartment, Robert called to report that Tanisha was missing. After being questioned by police, Robert eventually confessed his involvement in her disappearance. Tanisha’s body was recovered the next day 20 miles away in Raymore, Missouri, and her death was eventually ruled a homicide.

When Harris was arrested, Hopelizzette, a minister at Repairers of The Breach, expressed shock and disbelief.

“It’s beyond unreal because I knew Elder Robert Harris,” she told a local Fox affiliate at the time. “He was my spiritual counselor. He was our go-to man when we couldn’t reach our pastor. He loved her.”

Hopelizzette went on to say, “[Tanisha] was loving and kind, and she would do anything for you. And she was very soft spoken and sweet but powerful, and she was a loving mother and a devoted, caring wife. She had a daughter and he had a daughter, but they were a family. They had just come back from taking his daughter home. She was with them for the whole Christmas holiday.”

Senior pastor Carlton Funderburke also expressed “Utter shock, anguish, confusion and questions,” adding, “I was privileged to perform their wedding ceremony in July of 2016. They were just good, solid people and outstanding members of their community.”

Notably, Funderburke recently made headlines of his own after calling congregants at the Church of the Well in Kansas City, Missouri, another church he now currently pastors, that they were “poor, broke, busted, and disgusted,” because they had been honoring him with their “McDonald’s money” and not their “Red Lobster money.”

Funderburke later publicly apologized for those comments.

‘The Chosen’ To Debut Much-Anticipated Third Season on the Big Screen

Kathryn Post

November 4, 2022

(RNS) — “The honeymoon phase is over.”

That’s how director and creator Dallas Jenkins describes season three of “The Chosen,” a TV show about the life of Jesus. During the first two seasons of the wildly popular show, viewers watched Jesus and his disciples come to life, not as holier-than-thou stock characters, but as authentic people with conflicts, quirks and humor.

More than a year after the season two finale debuted in July 2021, season three begins as the disciples embrace their 12th member, Judas, and face a new era, where the cost of following Jesus crystalizes. Now, starting on Nov. 18, “The Chosen” fans can view the first two episodes of the new season in more than 2,000 movie theaters across the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom. Funds from the ticket sales will allow the show to continue to be free to all viewers, according to Jenkins. In December, the episodes will be available free to all on The Chosen app, website and other streaming platforms.

The fan-funded series has more than 420 million episode views and a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has also been translated into 62 languages and counting. Last month, the show was recognized at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards, the contemporary Christian music honors, where it won for inspirational film/series of the year. This fall’s theater release is the second time the show will be seen on the silver screen, following its record-breaking Christmas special hit theaters last December.

Religion News Service spoke to Jenkins about what fans can expect in the show’s much-anticipated third season. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

A scene from “Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers." Photo © AAPROPHOTO

A scene from “Christmas with the Chosen: The Messengers.” Photo © AAPROPHOTO

Last year’s Christmas special was the first time “The Chosen” was seen in theaters. How is this season three theater release building on last year’s success?

Last year’s Christmas special sold out in about two hours. It just kept expanding and ended up doing more than $14 million at the box office without us spending barely any money on advertising. So that was really exciting for us. I think we learned a lot from that release, and so did Fathom Events, which is our distribution partner on this. They changed their old model to accommodate the fact that this could clearly become more than just a singular event. It could become even more of a traditional theater release with multiple screenings, multiple theaters. I think the biggest thing is just recognizing there is an appetite for this. People do want to go see it in theaters; how can we give them that opportunity and maximize this potential?

Where was season three filmed?

A fan told us to check out a Salvation Army campsite in Texas. I was kind of skeptical because it wasn’t something we could own ourselves. But they have hundreds and hundreds of unused acres and have a similar mission to us. And so we went and visited and it just looked beautiful. We decided to partner with them and to use the land but then also to build a first century set and a soundstage. Salvation Army has been supremely cooperative and are also going to get to use the set for first century biblical education for people who come for conferences and for underprivileged kids who are using their camp. It’s going to be a great opportunity to be more than just a set for “The Chosen.” I think when viewers see season three, they’re going to see the fruits of our labor, for sure.

Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of “The Chosen." Photo by Zoe Rain

Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of “The Chosen.” Photo by Zoe Rain

Season three will include the story of the feeding of the five thousand. What did it take to film that ambitious scene?

Oh, gosh, it took everything. We were filming out in the 100-degree heat in the middle of the Texas field with thousands of people we had to take care of. It was without a close second the most challenging thing I’ve ever been a part of in my career. Most of the cast and crew would agree. It was exhilarating because the people were so excited to be there. We had approximately 4,200 to 4,300 extras per day over the course of three days, so over 10,000 people showed up to our set. My wife commented, “It’s hitting me that we have to feed 5,000 people today.” Without Jesus doing a miracle, that alone is pretty challenging.

We filmed the scene over the course of a couple of weeks. The situation that Jesus was walking into, the emotional and spiritual circumstances the disciples were facing, all of that took place over the course of an episode and a half. So it took us weeks to film it, and every single day it was painful. So that was extraordinarily challenging, but I do believe it’s ultimately going to be worth it because the scene is turning out even better and more impactful than I anticipated.

You’ve said that in season three, the honeymoon phase is over. What do you mean by that?

So Jesus has gathered the 12 apostles now, and they’re all excited. They’re with the Messiah, they believe, they’ve seen the miracles. This is going to be awesome. And then it’s not awesome. They’re still oppressed by the Romans, Simon and Eden are having a marital crisis. Little James hasn’t been healed, and yet he’s being asked by Jesus to go heal people. These are all compelling but also confusing places for them to be in. And so we don’t shy away from that in season three. ‘Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ That’s the theme of the season. So the fun part of being chosen when you didn’t feel like you deserved it by the savior of the universe is very exciting, but walking with him is not always fun. And I think that’s going to resonate with viewers.

Jonathan Roumie, second from right, portrays Jesus Christ in the series “The Chosen.” Photo courtesy of Angel Studios

Kentucky Church Presents the Gospel to Hundreds Halloween Night

Scott Barkley

November 4, 2022

A group of trick-or-treaters listen to a three-minute Gospel presentation at a Halloween night event hosted by First Baptist Church Fulton, Ky. Courtesy of Baptist Press.

FULTON, Ky. (BP) – It’s a rule any seasoned trick-or-treater knows: Go for the big bars.

First Baptist Church took that desire for non-miniature candies and paired it with nearly 400 Gospel presentations over two-and-a-half hours. The number of hearers was significantly more when adding accompanying parents, grandparents and older siblings.

“It happened so fast and groups would show up in waves,” said Stephen Cavness, pastor. “You would look up and there would be more standing in line. It’s pretty amazing that people would do that for a few minutes at the chance for a full-sized candy bar.”

First Baptist has had community events on Halloween before. Before last year’s though, Cavness decided it needed to set itself apart a little more from others not at a church. First Baptist’s location near a popular area for trick-or-treating guaranteed a crowd.

“It was always well-attended,” he said. “But people were playing games, getting candy and moving on. We wanted to make it more distinctly Christian.”

They added stations where participants could make a bracelet with beads explaining salvation through Christ as church members used the 3 Circles method to present the Gospel. A full-sized candy bar waited at the end.

It drew a crowd, but the time it took to make the bracelets while presenting the Gospel slowed things down.

This year they used 3 Circles again, but included 500 ready-made bracelets from the North American Mission Board. Six tables with two stations at each consisted of some 16 church members rotating in and out to share the Gospel. Others helped direct foot traffic or in other ways.

3 Circles training had taken place each Sunday night of October. During that time church members were also asked to donate candy bars. More than 700 ended up being delivered, including Snickers, Milky Ways, M&Ms, Reese’s Cups. Even Zeros.

“I don’t know if they were on sale or what, but we got some and laughed about it,” Cavness said. “But some people were really fond of them and took them.”

Attendees may have been as surprised at their response to the Gospel being presented. Cavness said several gave “thoughtful responses” and expressed appreciation.

At the end of Monday evening, 381 bracelets had been given out. Presentations were kept to around three minutes in order to work everyone in.

“We didn’t want people to walk off,” said Cavness. “Our goal was to share the Gospel with as many people who would give us their time and attention. We also gave them other resources and New Testaments.”

The original plan was to keep the candy bar-to-bracelet ratio 1:1, but at least a few other bars were slipped to siblings tagging along. The church also handed out 500 bags of popcorn.

Those from the student ministry joined church members into their 60s and 70s at the event. One recently baptized elementary school student joined her dad in giving the presentation.

“It was a good cross-section of our church participating,” Cavness said. “From a pastor’s standpoint, that’s a blessing to see.”

Would he prefer 15 minutes as opposed to three in explaining the Gospel? Sure. But on this night, the neighborhood literally came to First Baptist’s front door.

“We wanted to make the best of that opportunity,” Cavness said. “We’re praying for God to work. This wasn’t about selling a product, but planting a seed.”

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.

Major Christian Leaders Asked Jan. 6 Committee To Investigate Christian Nationalism

Jack Jenkins

November 4, 2022

Jan. 6 committee — Supporters of President Donald Trump overtake the inauguration stage in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A group of prominent Christian leaders, including the heads of major denominations, say they submitted a letter earlier this year to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, urging members to examine Christian nationalism and arguing the ideology played a crucial role in the insurrection.

Organizers of the letter, which has not previously been disclosed, told Religion News Service they were approached by a committee investigator on the topic. The resulting statement, dated June 2, was facilitated by Christians Against Christian Nationalism, an effort orchestrated by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

“The ideology of Christian nationalism helped motivate and intensify the insurrection,” the letter reads in part. “We ask the Committee to thoroughly investigate the role that Christian nationalism played in the attack. This investigation into Christian nationalism is important so that history does not repeat itself and so that we understand this threat to our country’s historic commitment to religious liberty and the importance of defeating it.”

Representatives for the House committee did not immediately respond to requests to confirm the faith leaders’ account of why the letter was drafted, or to clarify whether the committee pursued their request and investigated Christian nationalism specifically.

The letter notes the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign began at least 18 months before the insurrection took place. That is why, signatories argued, they “recognized the presence of Christian nationalism at the Capitol on that fateful day.” The letter also referenced a report published in February by the BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation detailing the role Christian nationalism played in the attack.

“As Christian leaders who are deeply concerned about Christian nationalism and its danger not only to our constitutional democracy but in its distortion of Christianity, we urge you to focus questioning and discussion on Christian nationalism and the role it played in bolstering, justifying and intensifying the January 6 attack,” the letter reads.

In addition to BJC head Amanda Tyler, signers of the letter included prominent faith leaders such as the heads of mainline and historically Black denominations. Among the signatories is the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church; the Rev. David Peoples, president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention; the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, director of multiple Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) advocacy offices; Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches; the Rev. John C. Dorhauer, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ; and the Rev. Paul Baxley, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Activists and scholars who have been outspoken about Christian nationalism also signed on, such as Shane Claiborne, head of Red Letter Christians; the Rev. Jennifer Butler, founder of Faith in Public Life; scholar and author Jemar Tisby; Mary J. Novak, head of the Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; Anthea Butler, chair of the department of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania; and Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and director of the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University.

The letter speaks to increasingly vocal criticism of Christian nationalism among faith leaders, often led by mainline Christian and Black Protestant voices. The Christians Against Christian Nationalism statement alone has accrued more than 30,000 signatures. Institutions such as Georgetown have hosted events condemning the ideology, and a recent effort spearheaded by activist group Faithful America decried various public figures and activists who espouse iterations of Christian nationalism as “false prophets.”

Religious leaders have also protested near stops along the ReAwaken America tour, a traveling event known for controversial right-wing speakers who fuse conspiracy theories with fervent Christian nationalism. A group organized by Faithful America and Word and Way is planning to stage another such protest when the tour arrives in Missouri this weekend.

Many evangelical leaders condemned Christian nationalism in the wake of the insurrection, as did Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian leaders as well as secular groups.

‘Calling Out the Called’ Talks Raising up Next Generation of Ministry Leaders

Timothy Cockes

November 4, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) – “Calling Out the Called,” a new book written by SBC leaders Shane Pruitt and Scott Pace, discusses the importance of raising up the next generation of ministry leaders.

The book, released Tuesday (Nov. 1) is already one of Amazon’s best sellers in the Christian Church Leadership category, currently ranking No. 2.

Pruitt serves as the national next gen director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), and Pace is an associate professor and dean of The College at Southeastern.

In a series of videos released on the book’s webpage, Pruitt says he hopes the book will serve as a way to guide and encourage ministry leaders to raise up those who will one day replace them.

“My hope behind writing this book is I believe God has not stopped calling people to ministry leadership,” Pruitt said in a video.

“As leaders, one of our primary focuses has to be calling out those whom God has called to ministry leadership, and to equip them, empower them and disciple them.”

He added the book is for more than just current ministry leaders.

“The book is for everybody,” he said, “but practically we had three people in mind – current leaders calling out the younger generation, those who believe God is calling them to ministry leadership and family and friends of those called.”

Pruitt cited research which suggests there are more protestant ministry leaders over the age of 65 than there are under the age of 40. Additional research he mentioned indicates there may be more people leaving the ministry than people entering the ministry.

The need for a new generation of ministry leaders has not been lost on Southern Baptists, and the book’s title is reminiscent of the third point of Vision 2025, which calls on the Southern Baptist Convention to “increase the total amount of workers in the field though a new emphasis on ‘calling out the called.’”

The six points of Vision 2025 were adopted by messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville.

As the need for new ministry leaders continues to grow, Pruitt recalled the beginning of his own ministry journey. When he was in his early 20s, he felt a call toward ministry leadership, particularly through preaching and teaching.

His first sermon was delivered in front of a small crowd in a small church. He remembers most of the crowd of 30 or so being made up of his friends and family.

As he stumbled through a 14-minute exposition of Psalm 23, Pruitt said he remembers asking for an affirmatory “amen” constantly.

Even though the sermon was not his best work, Pruitt is thankful that it illustrates how far he has come through the influence of the ministry mentors in his life.

“My sermon was terrible, but I am so thankful for a leader who saw a calling of God in my life, and who invested in me and discipled me to be the leader I am today,” Pruitt said.

“Now, I am personally praying for a whole new generation of ministry leaders.”

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.

Leaders: Make Decisions and Commit to Them

Phil Cooke

November 4, 2022

Over the years, one of the biggest mistakes I’ve encountered with leaders is the inability to commit – or put another way, the inability to make a decision.

I understand. After all, for many decisions a great deal of money is hanging in the balance. In other cases, the wrong decision might damage a relationship. But the truth is, not making a decision is actually making a decision.

With our team at Cooke Media Group, we’ve done presentations to churches, ministry organizations, and nonprofits. Those presentations were usually received very well, and the potential client was very excited at the possibilities of us working together.

But the leader just couldn’t make a decision, and we never heard from him or her again.

Sometimes, the leader is distracted. Other times, there are dissenting voices in the organization. But usually, it’s simply a leader who can’t make a decision. I actually had one CEO tell me privately, “When I make a decision, I feel guilty.”

Whatever the decision is about, if that’s ever happened to you, here’s a few things to consider.

What To Consider Before Making Decisions

1. Delaying the decision won’t make it easier.

The budget rarely changes, the timing gets worse, and the pressure grows. Pull off the bandaid quickly. It may hurt, but progress will happen.

2. How bad can it be?

Most decisions aren’t rocket science, and even if it involves significant money, there can be off-ramps in the agreement. At least give it a shot. The vast majority of these decisions won’t crash the company, and who knows how positive it could be?

3. In today’s fast moving world, the ability to make immediate decisions matters more than ever.

I believe that one of the core competencies of future leadership will be the ability to make a decision under pressure. It’s one of the reasons I wrote my book, “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When The Clock Is Ticking.” So order the book and start practicing.

The bottom line? Go ahead.

Commit. Make the decision.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Pastor – Take This Sleep Deprived Quiz

Charles Stone

November 4, 2022

Ministry demands never seem to end. There’s always one more person to serve and reach. If you’re a pastor or work in a church in any capacity, our days often don’t end at 5 pm. Meetings and emergencies can take us into the late hours. Even if nothing specific demands our attention, in our off hours our minds often ruminate about the church. Unfortunately, this causes many pastors to be sleep deprived. In fact 1/3 of all Americans are sleep deprived. I imagine pastors exceed that percentage. Take this sleep deprived quiz. Mentally check below the statements that apply to you and in case you require some help sleeping, experts now recommend these CBD gummies for sleep.

Sleep Deprived Quiz:

After I get up I feel tired most of the day.
I often hit the snooze button in the morning.
I wake up a lot at night.
I often feel mentally sluggish during the day.
On weekends and vacations I sleep a lot longer than I normally do to “catch up.”
I tend to load up on caffeine through coffee, energy drinks, or sodas to “keep me going.”
Within a couple of hours before I go to bed I exercise or spend a lot of time in front of my computer monitor or my iPad.

If you checked at least three from this sleep deprived quiz there’s a good chance you’re not getting enough sleep.

And when you don’t, your brain doesn’t work at its peak. You increase the stress hormone cortisol in your body which damages it you’re more likely to react and be less self controlled when under stress.

Sleep deprivation does NOT help us become more productive pastors, even though we may think that extra hour of work that we get each day from sleeping an hour less helps. This Harvard Business Review article paints a compelling tie between decreased job performance and sleep deprivation.

So why is it such a problem for pastors?

Perhaps we’ve over emphasized productivity. What pastor hasn’t read or memorized Proverbs 6.10. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. (NIV)
Perhaps we’ve too often compared ourselves with uber-successful pastors or famous leaders and have heard how they got by on little sleep.
Perhaps we’ve gotten used to being sleep deprived and don’t know what it’s like to get adequate sleep.

What can we do about it?

If you are sleep deprived, admit it. Admitting a problem is the first step toward victory.
Realize that sleep and rest is biblical. We see this in the creation account and God’s establishing Sabbath rest as a principle. We see this in Jesus telling His disciples to pull away from ministry and rest (Matt. 6.31). And we see Jesus sleeping, even in a storm (Matt 4.38).
Re-adjust your schedule to get more sleep. Get an accountability partner to hold you accountable. It may not be easy.
Go to bed earlier. This is a very effective way to regain that sleep.
Ask your leadership to limit evening meetings.
Give yourself some grace if you are in a season with a new baby. Most babies don’t respect your need for sleep. Give it time and this will pass.

This sleep deprived quiz originally appeared here, and is used by permission

3 Reasons I Preach With a Table

Josh Weidmann

November 4, 2022

“Let’s get rid of the pulpit,” were some of my first words when starting my first senior pastor role in 2009. I was preparing to preach every week, which was different than what I had done in the past. I knew I quickly had to find what was comfortable for me. Sunday comes with amazing regularity, so finding a setup that allowed for me to preach the Word of God unhindered was of first importance. I had been preaching for nearly 15 years by that point, but most of the time I preached without a pulpit. When I arrived at a venue to guest preach I would have them remove the pulpit; I would just stand with Bible in hand to speak. The weekly regime of preaching was going to require more notes than I preached with prior to that point. I had to have space to lay out my notes, Bible, clock, and iPad (for control of my slides). I also wanted a space that I could call my own. So I decided to make the stage feel more like a comfortable coffee shop than a lecture hall or old church (hence the high-top table and chair). I have spent many hours in a coffee shops, and I wanted the stage to feel as comfortable as I was in those places. I wanted to invite others to join me for a proverbial warm beverage and heartfelt conversation. With those things in mind, I decided that I would preach with a table and chair ongoing.

Though I have people question this from time-to-time, I have had many people tell me how comfortable they feel with my preaching. I’ve had people say, “It was like we were in my kitchen…” or “… it was like we were just having coffee…”. While the work in their lives can only be attributed to the Holy Spirit, the setting is an important environment for God to work without hindrance.

3 Reasons I Preach With a Table

1. It conveys authenticity.

I want people to know that I am just like them, striving to sit with God’s Word and apply it to my life. This can be done with a pulpit (my favorite preachers use pulpits) but I believe that for me, it is best if I have a place to sit with my Bible open in front of me. I also want it to feel like they could grab a chair and sit down with me, and nothing would change. We are just real people seeking out a real God.

2. It conveys approachability.

I also use a table to clearly demonstrate an attitude of “Come join me in life as we find God’s will and voice on how to live.” I want people to be able to come meet with me, talk to me in the grocery store, or counsel in my office. For my life, the image of approachability can be greatly supported by preaching without a pulpit but having a “pull up a chair and stay awhile” look.

3. It conveys humility.

I have had some people tell me I lose power and authority when I sit at the table. I disagree. If I have to show power and authority by body language or not sitting, then I have not correctly understood how Jesus showed power and authority. I believe a table can convey a humility that is necessary—to God and toward others. We are here to serve, not be King (that position is already taken).

There is a lot of thought which has gone into where my table is placed, what kind of table I use, the height and look of the chairs. I also practice (and sometimes mark in my notes) when I stand and sit in the sermon. Choosing to preach with a table and chair was not a “one-time decision and call it good” but it is a constant awareness of how to use this personal preaching space for the greatest effort.

If you preach or teach in any way or at any frequency, I recommend that you find the setup that is best for you. Think through what you are trying to convey, what your pulpit or table says about you and how you will best use it ongoing.

This article about how to preach with a table originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Praying in Crisis: Asking God for Deliverance – Or Going Deeper WIth God?

Daniel Henderson

November 4, 2022

When crisis hits, our immediate instinct is to turn to asking God for deliverance, to praying to God as a way of escaping our difficulty. Yet God is often calling us to a way up in fresh pursuit of Him. We typically want deliverance from the pain, but God may be calling us to go deeper through the perplexity.

Instead of asking God for deliverance, what are the depths to which God may be calling you today as you navigate uncertain and hard times such as these?

Asking God for Deliverance, or Going Deeper WIth God?

Too often, we are content to simply seek God’s hand: what He can do for us. To go deeper, we must set our hearts to seek God’s face and the wonder and beauty of who He is to us. Jesus commanded us to follow a particular pattern of prayer. (See Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4.) The first movement in that model is worship, seeking God’s face before entreating Him for our personal needs. If all we ever do is seek God’s hand by asking God for deliverance, we may miss His face. But if we seek His face, He will graciously open His hand. Deeper prayer seeks God’s face first, simply because He is worthy of being sought.

Praying to God: A Deeper Purpose

When it comes to prayer, our definition tends to set our destination. Commonly, people define prayer as simply talking to God, or telling Him about their needs.

I like to define prayer as intimacy with God that leads us to the fulfillment of His purposes. This definition is truly life-changing. To experience this intimacy in prayer, we must pray with an open Bible.

Calvin Miller wrote, “Too often, we go into God’s presence with a list of pleas, trying to talk God into granting our desire. But this kind of praying makes us ‘one big mouth’ and God ‘one grand ear.’ But when we pray the Scriptures, it makes God the voice and leaves us as the ear. In short, God gets His turn at getting a word in edgewise.”[1]

When two people are talking, the one who starts the conversation tends to guide it. The same is true in our communion with God. Over the years, I’ve known the joy of experiencing—and coached hundreds of pastors to embrace—“Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based” prayer. We go deeper when we pray with an open Bible and let God’s Word give language to our prayers.

John Piper notes, “I have seen that those whose prayers are most saturated with Scripture are generally most fervent and most effective in prayer. And where the mind isn’t brimming with the Bible, the heart is not generally brimming with prayer.”[2]

A heart brimming with the Word and prayer is a heart that goes deeper.

Praying to God: A Deeper Reality

If you were to ask, “Which is more important, private prayer or corporate prayer?” my answer will always be, “Yes!” That is like asking which leg is more crucial to walking, the right or the left. The early church understood the value of community, meeting together daily in prayer and the other vital disciplines for spiritual growth. In Acts 2:42, we see the discipleship patterns that emerged immediately in the Jerusalem church, comprised almost entirely of new believers. It says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (nkjv).

8 Significant Tips To Improve Your Worship

Philip Nation

November 4, 2022

In John 7:1-24, Jesus makes a significant and well-timed appearance at the Festival of Shelters. It is known by a few different names such as Feast of Tabernacles or Festival of Booths. No matter the particular English translation, it was one of the Jewish ways to worship, where they would remember what God had done in the past and what they were waiting for Him to do in the future.

At the time of Jesus’ arrival, the Jews had celebrated the festival for over 1,400 years. The Hebrews began celebrating this festival when they entered the Promised Land after the Exodus from Egypt and the wanderings for 40 years in the wilderness. The festival involved leaving your home for eight days to camp out in tents as a time to remember God’s provisions in the wilderness and His promise to send the Messiah. Essentially, it was an eight-day worship service.

However, when Jesus showed up, the Jews griped rather than worshiped. We think, “Amazing! Jesus is in front of them. The One foretold in God’s provisions from ancient times and promised to them but they just don’t get it.” Yet, even with our ways to worship, we do the same. God provides and fulfills His promise but we still gripe. For some painful reason, the presence of Jesus is not enough. It is an important lesson we should learn: Complaining eliminates your ability to worship. But the work and presence of Jesus destroys your reasons to complain.

What is it that you find yourself complaining about? The list for any of us could be lengthy. Everything from personal pain to cultural injustices. We don’t get our way and others are bullies. The mysteries are too big and our desires are too small. But there are ways to worship that move from a complaint-driven life to a worship-filled life.

Recently, my friend David Platt delivered a message to a group of college students about giving your life to the mission of God. Learning from his message, I adapted a bit of his applications for my own list—and life—to move toward being more focused on always worshiping Christ. Here are eight ideas to help out.

8 Ways to Worship Better

1. God-centered view of God.

We dare not think that God exists to simply please us like some sanctified Santa Claus. Live with the mindset that God’s glory is more important than anything on our wish list.

2. Life-changing understanding of the gospel.

It is not about rules and regulations. It is about a rescue by our King. The gospel has been, is and always will be enough to move us from death to life.

More Common Than We Want to Admit

Free Welcome Slide

About Creation Swap

His Command: Making Disciples

Our Destiny: Conformed to His Image

Here’s a quick outline of what this might look like for you as a pastor or a church leader this week.

The Golden Rule Pastors Should Practice

Examples of a Good Leadership Vocabulary:

Matthew Perry: My First-Ever Prayer Was for Fame

Matthew Perry Wants to Offer Fellow Addicts Hope

Sadie Robertson Huff, Christian Huff Announce Second Child

Sadie Robertson Huff Puts God First

Last year’s Christmas special was the first time “The Chosen” was seen in theaters. How is this season three theater release building on last year’s success?

Where was season three filmed?

Season three will include the story of the feeding of the five thousand. What did it take to film that ambitious scene?

You’ve said that in season three, the honeymoon phase is over. What do you mean by that?

What To Consider Before Making Decisions

1. Delaying the decision won’t make it easier.

2. How bad can it be?

3. In today’s fast moving world, the ability to make immediate decisions matters more than ever.

Sleep Deprived Quiz:

So why is it such a problem for pastors?

What can we do about it?

3 Reasons I Preach With a Table

1. It conveys authenticity.

2. It conveys approachability.

3. It conveys humility.

Asking God for Deliverance, or Going Deeper WIth God?

Praying to God: A Deeper Purpose

Praying to God: A Deeper Reality

8 Ways to Worship Better

1. God-centered view of God.

2. Life-changing understanding of the gospel.

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