Tony Evans Shares His View on Vaccine Mandates, Says COVID Is About ‘Something Bigger’

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January 20, 2022

Dr. Tony Evans told his congregation earlier this month that while the COVID-19 vaccine is helpful, no one should be mandated to get it. More important, however, is for people to recognize that God is sovereign over every chaotic event that happens in the world.

“These variants aren’t just variants,” said Evans during a worship service on the morning of Jan. 9. “This is God showing medical science, politicians, people: ‘I don’t care what you come up with. I’m talking now.’” The pastor referenced 2 Chronicles 16:12, which recounts how King Asa became diseased in his feet and sought help from physicians, but not from God.

Evans’ implication was that God is allowing various difficulties in our lives, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to prompt us to turn to him for help. But the pastor was clear he is not telling people to discount science.

“Vaccines help,” he said, “vaccines stop things from being as bad as they could be. And you should have a choice, whether it’s natural immunity or whether it’s therapeutics. You shouldn’t be mandated to put chemicals in your body. But you should be free to if you choose to. So our issue is against mandates, not against vaccinations.”

Dr. Tony Evans: ‘Something Bigger’ Is Going On

Dr. Tony Evans is the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. During the Jan. 9 service, he explained that there are “biblical reasons” for his belief that people should be free to choose whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

To support this, he mentioned Romans 14, where Paul addresses whether or not believers should eat meat sacrificed to idols. Verse 23 says, “But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Evans said, “So whatever decision you make, be able to trust God with it. That’s the issue.”

Evans made his comments on the pandemic and the vaccine in the context of highlighting the fact that the past two years have been difficult for many people for various reasons. “In every direction you look in today, we are experiencing a hot mess,” he said. Examples include addiction, suicide, abuse, divorce, and the challenges many churches are facing.

Matt Walsh Debates Gender Identity on ‘Dr. Phil’; Other Guests Report Feeling Attacked

By

Dale Chamberlain

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January 20, 2022

Political commentator Matt Walsh has been making waves on social media for a recent appearance on the Dr. Phil show, wherein he debated gender identity with a couple who both identify as non-binary.

Since his appearance, Walsh has shared a number of tweets about his experience on the show and his interactions with the couple, named Addison and Ethan. Addison shared via Instagram that the couple felt attacked.

Walsh, who describes himself as a “theocratic fascist, bestselling children’s author,” is host of “The Matt Walsh Show” podcast on The Daily Wire and has authored three books, including “Johnny the Walrus,” a parable for children about gender identity wherein a child is pressured to go to extraordinary lengths to live out his fantasy of being a walrus.

During the panel discussion, Dr. Phil asked if Walsh thought there was a “construct” for those who identify with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth based on their genitalia.

“Well, that’s got nothing to do with the realities. You can feel however you want. I mean, I could sit here and say that I feel like a tomato plant, but that doesn’t actually mean that I am those things,” Walsh said as he sat opposite two people who identify as transgender and non-binary. “You can have whatever self-perceptions you want. But you can’t expect me to take part in that self-perception or to take part in this kind of charade, this theatrical production.”

“You don’t get your own pronouns, just like you don’t get your own prepositions or your own adjectives,” Walsh continued. “You know, it’s like if I were to tell you, ‘My adjectives are handsome and brilliant, and whenever you’re talking about me, you have to describe me as handsome and brilliant, because that’s how I identify.’ It makes no sense. You don’t get your own pronouns. That’s grammar; that’s language.”

Dr. Phil then asked if Walsh thought identifying as transgender was delusional, to which Walsh replied, “Yeah, I think it’s delusion. It could be mental illness. It’s a lot of different things.”

“Wow,” Addison interjected.

“When it’s with children, there’s also just a basic confusion that kids have,” Walsh went on to say. “That’s why when you hear someone, a parent, say, ‘Well, my four year-old son came to me and said that “I’m a girl now” and so I’m going to raise him as a girl.’ You’re a four year-old!”

Walsh went on to argue that when a young boy says that he identifies as a girl, what he really means is that he wants to do certain things that girls do, such as play with doll houses.

“That’s fine. Play with the doll house,” Walsh said. “But you’re still a boy.”

Then turning toward Addison and Ethan, Walsh said, “And that’s a question I’d like to throw out to other members of the panel actually, because, just like the four year-old can’t answer the question ‘what is a girl,’ well, this is one of the problems with this left wing gender ideology…no one who espouses it can even tell you what these words mean. It’s like, what is a woman? Can you tell me what a woman is?”

How Fighting the Marshall Fire Shaped the Way One Volunteer Chaplain Pastors

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ChurchLeaders

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January 20, 2022

scott ross — Photo courtesy of Scott Ross

On Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, the Marshall and Middle Fork wildfires devastated Boulder County in the state of Colorado. The fires spanned over 6,000 acres and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes. Scott Ross, who is a volunteer fire chaplain in Aurora, Colo., fought alongside the firefighters to put out the Marshall Fire and has been ministering to first responders in the aftermath.

Ross is also the Director of Church Partnerships for Trauma Healing at American Bible Society (ABS), and prior to joining ABS, he was a church planter and pastor for 25 years. He shared with ChurchLeaders what fighting the wildfire was like and how the experience has impacted the community and him personally.

Scott Ross: I Pastor People Who Don’t Know They Need a Pastor

ChurchLeaders: What do your duties as a volunteer fire chaplain typically entail?

Scott Ross: My official role is to provide prayers during formal events and to support the fire crew in times of grief—like after a line-of-duty death or injury. My chief is very open to my participation in all aspects of the department from firefighter support to sitting in on training classes. He calls on me from time to time when situations warrant—like when one shift experienced an unusual number of incidents in one night or another time when a crew encountered a difficult traumatic injury call. Other than being on call, I stay present by sending resources for counseling and other support, and when I hear of family issues that come up (like death, illness, or divorce) I reach out to the various firefighters to let them know I’m available.

ChurchLeaders: Why did you decide to volunteer as a fire chaplain?

Scott Ross: I believe it’s important to serve my community. I pastored for 25 years, and have always believed an important component of pastoring is serving the community at large, not just one local church. So, we served our neighbors by running a food pantry, cleaning up the neighborhood, being on the mayor’s clergy advisory board, etc. When I met the chief on a visit to the fire department with some of my grandkids and he asked if I’d consider being their chaplain, my wife and I prayed about it and after some time discerning, we felt it was a great way to serve those who serve. And, besides, riding in fire trucks is really cool.

ChurchLeaders: You were actually on the ground helping fight the Marshall fire, and that was your first time fighting a live fire, correct? Tell us about that experience.

Scott Ross: I have had some basic fire training in a controlled environment to help me understand fire and how important my equipment is for protection. But that was it. So, yes, this was my first time in a real fire event. As we left the department I was told by a lieutenant that I might not get out of the truck.

However, once we pulled into the first neighborhood it became clear we would need everyone to fight the fires. So I jumped out of the truck, put on my bunker gear and began responding to orders. Unfortunately, in a very short amount of time, because of the strength of the winds and burning embers flying around us we realized we’d have to leave. It was too dangerous.

Report on Sexual Abuse in German Diocese Faults Retired Pope

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AP News

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January 20, 2022

BERLIN (AP) — A long-awaited report on sexual abuse in Germany’s Munich diocese on Thursday faulted retired Pope Benedict XVI’s handling of four cases when he was archbishop in the 1970s and 1980s. The law firm that drew up the report said Benedict strongly denies any wrongdoing.

The findings, though, were sure to reignite criticism of Benedict’s record more than a decade after the first, and until Thursday only, known case involving him was made public.

The archdiocese commissioned the report from law firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl nearly two years ago, with a mandate to look into abuse between 1945 and 2019 and whether church officials handled allegations correctly. The law firm examined church files and spoke to witnesses.

The archdiocese and the law firm said top church officials weren’t informed of the results ahead of its publication. The current archbishop — Cardinal Reinhard Marx, a prominent reformist ally of Pope Francis — was faulted in two cases. Marx scheduled a statement later Thursday.

Marx’s predecessors include the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who served in Munich from 1977 to 1982 before becoming the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and later being elected as pope. Benedict gave extensive written testimony for the report.

“In a total of four cases, we came to the conclusion that the then-archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger, can be accused of misconduct,” said one of the reports’ authors, Martin Pusch.

Two of those cases, he said, involved perpetrators who offended while he was in office and were punished by the judicial system but were kept in pastoral work without express limits on what they were allowed to do. No action was ordered under canon law.

In a third case, a cleric who had been convicted by a court outside Germany was put into service in the Munich archdiocese and the circumstances speak for Ratzinger having known of the priest’s previous history, Pusch said.

When the church abuse scandal first flared in Germany in 2010, attention swirled around another case: that of a pedophile priest whose transfer to Munich to undergo therapy was approved under Ratzinger in 1980.

The priest was allowed to resume pastoral work, a decision that the church has said was made by a lower-ranking official without consulting the archbishop. In 1986, the priest received a suspended sentence for molesting a boy.

Another of the report’s authors, Ulrich Wastl, said Benedict’s claim not to have attended a meeting in 1980 in which the priest’s transfer to Munich was discussed lacks credibility.

“In all cases, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI strictly denies any wrongdoing on his part,” Pusch said, and the retired pontiff cites largely “lack of knowledge of the facts and a lack of relevance under canon and criminal law.” But he added that the assertions of lack of knowledge were sometimes “hard to reconcile” with the contents of church files.

Matthias Katsch of Eckiger Tisch, a group representing German clergy abuse survivors, spoke of a “historic” moment. “This building of lies that was constructed here in Munich to protect Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict, collapsed today,” he told German news agency dpa.

“To us, this is not shocking news,” SNAP, a network representing survivors of sex abuse by clergy, said in a statement. “Sadly, we see these unsavory actions and inactions surface years later after lengthy silence by church officials and painful memories harbored by victims.

The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said the Holy See would hold off comment until it had read the report in full and could give the contents “careful and detailed examination.”

“In reiterating shame and remorse for abuses committed by clerics against minors, the Holy See expresses its closeness to all victims and reaffirms the efforts undertaken to protect minors and ensure safe environments for them,” he said in an emailed statement.

Benedict’s former spokesman declined to comment in advance, deferring any response to the Munich archdiocese.

Benedict’s legacy as pope had already been colored by the global eruption in 2010 of the sex abuse scandal, even though as a Vatican cardinal he was responsible for turning around the Vatican’s approach to the issue.

Three Members of ACNA Response Team Resign From Overseeing Abuse Investigation

By

Kathryn Post

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January 20, 2022

ACNA — The Anglican Church in North America logo. Courtesy image

(RNS) — Three members of the group overseeing the investigation into sexual abuse allegations in the Anglican Church in North America’s Upper Midwest Diocese resigned Monday (Jan. 17), saying that the team “downplayed or ignored” abuse survivors’ needs.

The move comes days after the group, called the Provincial Response Team, named a firm to investigate how diocesan leadership handled the allegations.

“To the survivors on the outside, and to the three of us as their advocates on the inside, the entire process never felt survivor-centered,” wrote former team members Autumn Hanna VandeHei, the Rev. Gina Roes and Christen Price. “Instead, it seemed designed to think first and foremost about ACNA, a familiar yet fatal flaw in trying to balance protecting the institution and creating a process for real accountability.

The three cited the team’s failure to deliver promptly on promises of financial assistance to alleged victims, the team’s lack of clarity around decision-making processes and the lack of communication between members of the team.

“We hope that the public protests of the victims, amplified by our resignation, jars the Province into considering a truly trauma-informed and fully survivor-centered approach moving forward,” the three former team members wrote.

The investigation was already troubled by differences over the choice of a third-party investigator and the terms of that hiring.

On Jan. 5, the Provincial Response Team emailed some alleged survivors, inviting them to offer their preference of two possible investigative firms. Members of ACNAtoo, a group of both survivors and anti-abuse advocates, responded with a petition that expressed concerns about both of the firms. The petition asked for a “survivor-centric” investigation, in which the contract with the firm would be shared with ACNAtoo and the denomination would waive attorney-client privilege.

More than 600 people had signed the petition as of Wednesday, and 10 of the alleged survivors indicated that they would not participate in the investigation as it stood.

On Friday, denominational leaders announced that Husch Blackwell LLP had been selected by the combined votes of alleged survivors and the Provincial Response Team, and seemed to address several of the concerns outlined in the petition. Husch Blackwell “is trauma-informed,” the announcement said, and promised that the firm will not represent ACNA or anyone else connected with the allegations in future litigation. A public report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation, with redactions to protect survivors’ identities.

In response, ACNAtoo released a statement, saying that all the alleged survivors known to the group had declined to vote. But Andrew Gross, ACNA’s canon for communications and media relations, told Religion News Service that a majority of the survivors invited to vote did participate, and voted in favor of Husch Blackwell. Gross declined to say how many survivors were invited to vote.

Children’s Ministry: An Investment That Will Outlive You

By

Dale Hudson

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January 20, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

One of the awesome things about children’s ministry is this — the investment you make will outlive you.

Here’s an example.

I have a friend who lives in China. Born and raised there.

(not using his name for safety reasons) He is “the guy” when it comes to leading, coaching and training volunteers who serve in children’s ministry in China. And here’s the interesting part, all of the people he is training and providing resources for are in the underground churches.

Currently, he is helping over 83,000 children’s ministry volunteers in the underground churches. This translates into millions of kids in the underground churches.

I asked him how he became a follower of Christ. Especially growing up in an atheistic society?

Here’s what he said: “In the early 1900’s, a missionary from Houston, Texas came to China and led my great, great, great grandfather to Jesus. I am a fourth generation believer.”

Wow! I’m sure that missionary had no idea the impact his ministry would make then and after he went to Heaven. His investment has far outlived him. Think about it. Because of the seed he planted so long ago, there are thousands of people who are sharing the Gospel that he shared with that one person so long ago.

If you serve in children’s ministry, you know it is not an easy gig. It takes commitment, faithfulness and even perseverance at times. While others sit and soak in everything, you have answered the call to invest your time, talents and treasures to reaching and discipling the next generation. It is not for the faint on heart.

Are you like me? There have been times when I wondered if it was really worth it. Wondering if all the time, effort and labor was really making any difference at all. We’ll all been there, right?

I’m sending this word of encouragement to you today.

When you invest in children’s ministry, you are investing in a ministry that will outlive you. Long after you and I are in Heaven, the investment we made here on earth will continue to grow and reach people you won’t meet until they are in Heaven with you. You are sending a message into the future through the children you reach and disciple.

How Plans for Small Groups Are Now Like “Earthquake Plans”

By

Chet Gladkowski

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January 20, 2022

If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that we don’t know what’s next. So, your plans for small groups and preparations need to be like buildings made for an earthquake. The 2009 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy was devastating. It damaged thousands of buildings, both new and ancient, leaving 65,000 people homeless. The main reason for the extent of damage was not the earthquake itself, but poor construction standards that did not allow the buildings to “move” with the earthquake. One official from Italy’s Civil Protection Agency said, “In California, an earthquake like this one would not have killed a single person.” When the earthquake hit, these “stiff” buildings could not move, so they snapped and collapsed.

While we have not gone through a physical earthquake, the ground beneath our feet certainly has shaken when it comes to small group gatherings. Just when we thought we’re getting our arms around what to do, what not to do, a new surge appears, a new set of instructions come out. Just when the trends were moving in the right direction, there is a spike, causing concern and raising levels of fear and anxiety.

We’ve gone through outright cancellations. Then the rush to Zoom. As worship reopened, face-to-face small groups reemerged. As we carefully got together, did we shake hands? Bump fists or elbows? Hug? And as the pandemic seemed to be passing, so did our alertness to precaution and prevention.

Then came Omicron. And we’re back into isolation as it tears through every part of society. With all the sickness, many are struggling to fill leadership positions. And many leaders who have gone through these unprecedented times are worn out to the point of exhaustion.

And while Omicron looks like it is spiking, or soon will be, rumors of new variants are on the horizon. There are currently five variants moving through the world, with another two waiting in the wings. There are another five mutations that have been identified. So, no matter your feelings or theories, this thing could be with us for a while.

Therefore, we cannot build our plans for small groups like the “solid wall” plans of yesteryear. Plans for small groups that were built on predictable, solid data, availability of people and facilities. What we need is to build plans that have flexibility built right in. They need to be able to “sway” like earthquake buildings, instead of snapping.

3 Insights to Build Your Plans for Small Groups

1. YOUR PLANS.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV

Yes, you need to plans for small groups. You cannot just throw up your hands in frustration, or abandon planning with “God will lead us.” While you should learn from others and their planning, you need to MAKE your own plans. You cannot mindlessly “cut and paste” their plan into your location, your circumstances, where you live. You need to make them your plans, people should see your fingerprints all over your plans. And because they are your plans, you have to OWN your plans. You will certainly take the best advice available, seeking wisdom from many, in the creation of your plan. But at the end of the day, the plan is yours and yours alone. You need to take responsibility for it.

2. YOUR PEOPLE.

“Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands.” Micah 7:14 – NIV

The people you lead, and the people that follow in your small groups are unique. They belong to you. In a real sense, you are their shepherd, and they are your sheep. You have a responsibility to care for them, lead them, guide them. So, when change happens, and it will happen, there is no need to hide. You need to be in front: in front of the change as best you can, and in front of your people, communicating directly and personally with them. Yes, you should delegate, train, and disciple new leaders. But when it comes to developing plans for small groups and communicating change, that heavy mantle falls on you and you alone.

3.YOUR PRAYERS.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.“ Jeremiah 29:12 NIV

Perhaps there has never been a time that requires more prayer than today. The pressures are enormous, and so are the stakes. The future of our neighborhoods, cities, states, and nation may well hang in the balance. The best strategy for impacting our world does not lie in big events or programs, it’s not found in technology or social media. The absolutely best, most efficient, God-ordained way to reach the world for Jesus Christ rests in small groups. Period. You could not be in a more strategic position. So, pray like it is.

When it comes to your specific plans for small groups, you and you alone are in a most special position.

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b

God deeply desires to use people just like you and me, just where we are. Be a faithful small group leader, leaning on him and him alone. Through you, he can and will do great things, and teach you to develop plans for small groups during difficult times.

This article about flexible plans for small groups originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Youth Ministry Is Being Reshaped by These 10 Important Trends

By

Mark Oestreicher

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January 19, 2022

My friend Jim Candy wrote a fantastic, thought-provoking post about the future of youth ministry. With his permission, I’m reposting it here, from the parenteen blog.

Ten Trends Are Reshaping Youth Ministry

What will youth ministry look like in the years to come?

More studies of young people and their faith exist today than every before. Despite this wealth of information, our methods haven’t significantly changed since contemporary youth ministry began in the 1950s and ’60s. That will change in the coming years.

Here’s my best shot at how youth ministry is morphing:

10 Important Trends Reshaping Youth Ministry

1. “Missional Communities” are changing youth ministry relationships.

A movement is emerging in churches large and small across the U.S. It started in the U.K. as the church was forced to learn new strategies in an increasingly post-Christian culture. “Extended-family”-type groups of 20 to 70 people are emerging in churches with a very clear outward mission. Kids are part of this movement!

2. Intergenerational education programs for senior pastors are emerging.

Future senior pastors will increasingly be expected to understand the dynamics of today’s intergenerational movement. Seminaries and other entities will offer opportunities for senior pastors to be immersed in it.

3. Sunday morning programs are becoming history.

Congregations will become increasingly dissatisfied with the separation between adults and youth at services. Worship services will change to accommodate younger people. Otherwise, congregations will disappear.

YouTube Labels John MacArthur’s Latest Sermon ‘Hate Speech’

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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January 19, 2022

Journalist and author Todd Starnes revealed on Wednesday that YouTube has flagged John MacArthur’s sermon from this past Sunday at Grace Community Church regarding biblical sexuality as “Hate Speech.”

MacArthur’s sermon was part of a nationwide commitment on the part of thousands of pastors to preach on biblical sexuality. The event took place on Sunday, January 16 and was meant to bring awareness to a new Canadian law that bans the promotion and practice of conversion therapy.

On December 28, 2021, MacArthur released a statement titled “A Stand on Biblical Sexual Morality,” which called on pastors to take “a stand for the truth of the saving gospel” by preaching on biblical sexuality.

The event was not only to show support for Canadian pastors but also to put the “U.S. government on notice that they have attacked the Word of God” in regards to biblical sexuality.

MacArthur told Fox News earlier this week, “Ultimately, the dissenters, the ones who will not cave in, are going to be those who are faithful to the Bible. And that’s what’s already leading to laws made against doing what we are commanded to do in Scripture, which is to confront that sin. And that’s just going to escalate.”

Explaining that Canada’s new law could result in a five-year prison sentence for a pastor who counsels or preaches on biblical sexuality, MacArthur continued, “The fact that they identified it as criminal conduct that could give you as much as five years in prison takes it to a completely different level, because Canadian pastors have been put in jail for just having church services.”

“It’s coming fast,” MacArthur said. “I think it’s reached a level there in Canada that it hasn’t yet reached [in the United States], but it’s coming.” Similar legislation is being introduced in multiple states throughout the country.

The 82 year-old pastor didn’t know it at the time, but the cessationist’s prophetic warning became truth just hours after preaching on biblical sexuality.

Starnes posted a clip of MacArthur’s sermon on his website, in which the pastor explains God’s creation of male and female, saying, “There is no such thing as transgender. You are either XX or XY, that’s it. God made man male and female.”

“That is determined genetically, that is physiology, that is science, that is reality,” MacArthur continued. “This notion that you are something other than your biology is a cultural construct intended as an assault on God. The only way you can address it, honestly, is to say, ‘God made you and God made you exactly the way He wanted you to be.’”

2022 World Watch List: Afghanistan Is Now More Dangerous for Christians Than North Korea

By

Jessica Lea

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January 19, 2022

Afghanistan has replaced North Korea as the number one country in the world where Christians face the worst persecution, according to Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List. The news that North Korea is no longer in the top spot after holding that position for two decades is a key takeaway from the annual report.

“The 2022 World Watch List reveals the most seismic changes in the history of our research,” said Open Doors USA President and CEO David Curry in a press conference Wednesday. “For the first time ever, Afghanistan is the most dangerous place on the planet to be a Christian.”

Open Doors is an organization that supports persecuted Christians throughout the world. The group releases its World Watch List at the beginning of year, ranking the top 50 countries where Christians face the most oppression for their faith. North Korea has held the number one spot on the list for the past 20 years.

Curry emphasized that the 2022 World Watch List does not represent good news about North Korea. “I want to be absolutely clear,” he said. “North Korea has not gotten better. Afghanistan has gotten worse.”

2022 World Watch List: Notable Trends

Today, 360 million Christians—that is 1 in 7 believers—throughout the world “suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination,” said Curry. He identified two primary threats to religious freedom: religious extremism and totalitarian regimes. Regarding the first threat, Curry said, “Religious extremists and the governments they control lead the World Watch List for the first time.” Religious extremism is the source of persecution in 9 out of the top 10 countries on the 2022 World Watch List. North Korea, which is “run by a murderous dictator with a Communist ideology,” is the only exception.

“Islamic extremism around the world has been galvanized by the Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan,” said Curry. Events in the country have exacerbated instability in other countries, such as Somalia, Iran, and Pakistan.

Any Christian remaining in Afghanistan is on the run or in hiding. In an audio recording played during the press conference, an Afghan refugee described what it is like living as Christian in the country: “It’s really hard when you want to have freedom of faith and freely read our Bibles, freely share our faith, always fear of death…It’s really heavy. You know, like, you’re always living inside a cage.”

Online Game Wordle Has Taken Twitter by Storm and Christians Are Joining the Fun

By

Dale Chamberlain

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January 19, 2022

Wordle is a free online game that has exploded in popularity in recent weeks. The goal of the game is to correctly guess the “wordle” of the day from the available letters provided. The game affords six attempts, and each attempt will show you how close you were to guessing the correct word.

Once they have guessed the word of the day, gamers are then encouraged to share their score with others. And they have responded en masse, with many tweeting out the results of their guesses, which appear as colored boxes.

Wordle has become a talking point on Twitter for users of all stripes, including the Twitter-based Christian community that is sometimes referred to as “Weird Christian Twitter.”

Even the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention J.D. Greear has hopped on the trend.

Wordle 214 4/6

🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛🟨⬛
🟩🟨⬛🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 #Iamtrendy

— J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) January 19, 2022

Along with Land Center Director Dan Darling, Christian author and podcaster Skye Jethani, and the Twitter-infamous “Church Curmudgeon.”

Okay this is addicting Wordle 214 5/6

🟨🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

— Daniel Darling (@dandarling) January 19, 2022

Wordle 213 5/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

— Skye Jethani (@SkyeJethani) January 18, 2022

Wordle 214 2/6

⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) January 19, 2022

Wordle has also spurned theological reflection for some.

Man does not life by bread alone, but by every wordle that proceeds from the mouth of God

— Tyler (@tmmoser) January 19, 2022

Let Wordle mend together what Twitter hath torn asunder.

— Dr. Michael J. Svigel (@Svigel) January 19, 2022

Give us this day our daily Wordle

— Brad Y Sphygmia (@KevinDr_ver) January 14, 2022

Christian author and speaker Beth Moore admits that while she loves the game, it has begun to interfere with her daily productivity.

I have work to do, people! I have a dang job and a Bible study tomorrow night to get prepared for. I cannot just hang out here all day looking at your Wordle scores. Thing is, I want to. BUT I’M NOT GOING TO. Tweeting this for my own accountability. Later tonight, good people!

— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) January 19, 2022

Others are less enthusiastic, like Christian author Heather Thompson Day.

I am not playing wordle but if this is anything like how I feel every time Taylor Swift releases a track from the vault

I am so happy for you all!!!

— Heather Thompson Day (@HeatherTDay) January 19, 2022

And Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine Ed Stetzer.

Muted “wordle”

— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) January 19, 2022

Along with “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” podcast host Mike Cosper.

Wordle? More like Won’tle.

— Mike Cosper (@MikeCosper) January 19, 2022

Others, like Dallas Theological Seminary professor John Dyer, may have stumbled onto their church’s next big sermon series.

New sermon series:

⬜️⬜️⬜️🟨⬜️ MONEY
⬜️⬜️🟨🟨🟨 HOUSE
⬜️⬜️⬜️🟨⬜️ POWER
⬜️⬜️⬜️🟨⬜️ LOVER
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 JESUS

— ಠ_ಠ (@johndyer) January 19, 2022

At a time when the nation (and the Church) have experienced widespread division and turmoil, Wordle has been a welcomed, small distraction that has brought many together with jokes and friendly competition.

Try your hand at Wordle here.

GA ‘Pastor’ Arrested, Charged for Imprisoning Eight People in Basement

By

Stephanie Martin

-

January 19, 2022

A call for medical assistance last week led authorities in Griffin, Georgia, to a disturbing scene. When first responders had to break a window to reach a patient having a seizure, they discovered at least eight people “essentially imprisoned” in the basement. Curtis Bankston, 55, was charged with false imprisonment, and additional charges are pending. His wife, 56-year-old Sophia Simm-Bankston, also is expected to face charges.

False Imprisonment: What Authorities Found at the Home

When police executed a search warrant, they found eight people between ages 23 and 65, all of whom had mental or physical disabilities. Investigators say the Bankstons had been leasing the property for 14 months and were operating an unlicensed group home.

The Bankstons allegedly controlled the finances, benefits, and medications of the residents—and sometimes withheld medicine and health care. Residents were “locked in” at times, police say, and unable to exit in case of emergency.

In a statement, the Griffin Police Department says, “It is both frightening and disgusting to see the degree to which these individuals have been taken advantage of by people who were in a position of trust.” It adds, “The home was in disarray and not conducive to clean and sanitary living conditions.”

The state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) has found “suitable care and housing” for all the disabled residents. Five of the individuals are wards of the state. DHS is conducting its own investigation into the facility, focusing on “potential abuse and neglect,” police say.

False Imprisonment: Who Is Curtis Bankston?

According to reports, Curtis Bankston claims to be a pastor and runs the group home as One Step of Faith 2^nd Chance, an extension of his church. In his bio on the church website, Bankston is described as “a biblical scholar and arguably one of the greatest visionaries and orators of this generation.” The bio mentions a business degree but no theological training for Curtis. Sophia Bankston is identified as “a great visionary” who “launched an outreach foundation that helps the less fortunate.”

Sean Feucht Announces ‘God Is BIGGER Than Cancel Culture’ With New Book Deal

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

January 19, 2022

Less than a week after sharing that HarperCollins Publishing cancelled their agreement, Sean Feucht announced that he signed a book deal with Regnery Publishing.

Regnery Publishing was founded in 1947 and, according to their website, they are the country’s leading publisher of conservative books that focus on challenging the status quo, sparking debate, and igniting conversations regarding the issues and questions we face as a country.

Feucht slammed cancel culture as he posted on Instagram, saying, “God is BIGGER than cancel culture,” and sharing a screenshot from Amazon pre-order listing for his upcoming book “Bold: Moving Forward in Faith Not Fear.” The “Let Us Worship” singer’s book is slated to be released on July 26, 2022.

“Pleased to announce a new and more favorable book deal with Regnery Publishing! ONLY GOD COULD DO THIS,” Feucht wrote. “You can preorder my new book ‘BOLD: Moving Forward in Faith, Not Fear’ with the link in bio!!!! It would be the most AMAZING blessing!!!”

The Amazon description for Feucht’s upcoming book reads, “The Bible tells Christians to expect persecution—and those pressures are daily rising in our culture. How do we respond with faith rather than fear to cancel culture and weaponized media narratives?”

The description then gives the answer, saying, “Being filled with and following the Holy Spirit as the early Church did in the Book of Acts. This is the only force powerful enough to turn riots into revivals, darkness into light, hardship into triumph, and fear into bold faith.”

Feucht shared a video that included his excited family surrounding him near the ocean as he signed the Regnery Publishing book deal. Feucht called the moment a historic event for his family, because it was the largest book deal he’s ever signed. Feucht exclaimed, “God is faithful!”

In a different video, Feucht can be seen holding the newly signed contract while saying, “I want to dedicate this moment to HarperCollins.”

“I’m not trolling them—I’m dead serious,” Feucht said. “I want to thank them, because without their resistance to cancel this book, I would not have this renewed fire to really get this message out. I think that sometimes the resistance that we face only proves that what we’re carrying is really valuable. So, thank you for helping.”

In the caption of the Instagram post, Feucht wrote, “God will even use those who are against you to strengthen your message and resolve! It’s part of His process to refine us.”

Over the weekend, Feucht led worship at a church in Phoenix and told his followers on Instagram, “If you can go to Costco, you can go to Church. It’s time to get back together. It’s time to resist the fear. This is not political, it’s biblical. The future of the church is NOT online (although I love live-streaming).”

Congressman Dan Crenshaw Under Fire After Heated Exchange With Young Woman Who He Says Questioned His Faith

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

January 19, 2022

Republican Congressional Representative for Texas Dan Crenshaw has come under fire for an exchange he had with a young woman whom he felt was questioning his Christian faith during a Q&A session at a recent Tea Party fundraiser.

In a video tweeted by political lobbyist Scott Parkinson, the young woman can be seen addressing Crenshaw from a microphone positioned among the audience seating area.

“My most important value in life is my faith in Jesus Christ, and I heard you talking earlier about your most important thing as well. He’s my King who came down to earth to die for me and the rest of the world’s sin,” she said. “I’ve seen you claim to be a Christian. You talk about God. But when you claim Jesus to be a ‘hero archetype,’ you not only lied about Jesus not being real but you lied about being a Christian.”

The young questioner was referring to remarks Crenshaw made during a 2020 appearance on the Jocko Podcast, in which Crenshaw referred to Jesus as a “hero archetype” alongside Superman. To clarify for the rest of the audience what she was referring to, the young questioner read Crenshaw’s own words back to him.

“To give context to anyone who hasn’t heard, Crenshaw said, ‘The most important thing here is that we have important hero archetypes that we look up to. Jesus is a hero archetype. Superman is a hero archetype. Real characters too. I could name a thousand: Rosa Parks, Ronald Reagan,’” the questioner said.

“I can’t wrap my head around this,” she continued.

“Well, I’ll help you,” Crenshaw interjected, visibly agitated. “Put a period after the word ‘Jesus,’ and don’t question my faith.”

“Wow,” exclaimed someone in the audience as the crowd began to jeer at Crenshaw. Another person shouted, “To a 10 year-old girl! Way to go, guy!”

The name of the questioner has not been confirmed, but according to congressional candidate Jameson Ellis, who also tweeted a video of the incident, the questioner is 18 years old. Another person tweeted that the questioner is a volunteer for Ellis’ campaign with images of the young woman posing with other volunteers holding campaign signs for Ellis. Ellis is seeking to take Crenshaw’s congressional seat.

Amid continued heckling and booing, Crenshaw repeated in a softer tone, “Don’t question my faith.”

“You guys can ask questions about all of these things and I will answer them. But don’t question my faith,” the combat veteran turned congressman said.

The young questioner replied, “I didn’t question your faith if this is what you said.”

Jackie Hill Perry: Why We Have the Wrong Idea About God’s Holiness

By

Jessica Lea

-

January 19, 2022

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Jackie Hill Perry: Why We Have the Wrong Idea About God’s Holiness

Jackie Hill Perry is an author, poet, Bible teacher, and artist. Her latest album, “Crescendo,” released in May 2018. She is the author of “Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been,” as well as the Bible study “Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture.” Her latest book is entitled “Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him.”

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Jackie Hill Perry

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Key Questions for Jackie Hill Perry

-Why does the idea of “holiness” have so much baggage, and what can we do to fix that?

-What are some of the ways that Christians reveal they don’t actually believe that God is holy?

-How would you encourage pastors and church leaders to lean into the topic of God’s holiness, instead of shying away from it because it seems harsh?

-What are some of the things that we should learn about holiness from Jesus‘ life?

Key Quotes From Jackie Hill Perry

“To talk about holiness is to talk about God.”

“You might think of holiness as a person who doesn’t laugh at anything, doesn’t play games, doesn’t work, women that don’t wear pants or, you know, all kinds of things. But holiness is so much bigger than that and more beautiful than that.”

“Holiness has been hijacked not only by legalists, but also those who are the complete opposite, who say to be holy is not necessarily a requirement.”

“I think the helpful thing is that God has provided for us his Word, his Son and even people throughout centuries who have communicated about this theme and have helped us to see what it actually looks like to be holy.”

“When I started to meet holy people, they just were really regular, but different. They were gentle. They were kind. They were self-controlled. They had joy. They were consistent. All the fruit of the Spirit, which the Holy Ghost produces.”

“In both cases, Old and New Testament, we see God presenting his moral purity as the reason why he’s worthy to be trusted.”

Pope Francis Attacked Cancel Culture. It Sounds Better Than ‘Ideological Colonization.’

By

Claire Giangrave

-

January 19, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In his annual address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See this month, Pope Francis “hit out at ‘cancel culture,’” as one headline put it. But the pontiff wasn’t complaining about how the twitterverse had banished Ellen DeGeneres or urged a boycott of Dr. Seuss.

Francis was indeed talking about “the social process of lynching someone,” according to Juan Pablo Cannata, a sociology researcher at Universidad Austral in Argentina, who is writing his dissertation on cancel culture. But the pope has his own definition of cancel culture, one in which local voices, especially those in poorer nations, are quashed by powerful institutions.

In international relations today, Francis told the diplomats at the Vatican on Jan. 10, the elite global community’s agenda ”leaves no room for freedom of expression and is now taking the form of the ‘cancel culture’ invading many circles and public institutions.”

What the pope’s vision shares with social media-driven boycotts against casual racism or misogyny, Cannata said, is that both are born from people “trying to build a more inclusive society, to promote values of tolerance, acceptance, for different identities and groups.” But in doing so the elites cancel, rather than converse with, cultures that don’t conform to their values.

The pope calls this “ideological colonization,” because in forcing its worldview on the poorer nations, the elites erase local cultures and traditions.

“Pope Francis is concerned about the repeated imposition of power, especially by Northern American and European countries, in other parts of the globe,” said Cristina Traina, professor of Christian theology and ethics at Fordham University.

This “ideological imposition” often goes along “with economic and political leverage,” she added.

Francis’ thinking, experts say, can be traced back to his days in Argentina, where, as Jorge Bergoglio, he led the Archdiocese of Bueno Aires.

“We mustn’t forget that he’s a Latin American who has always experienced ideological colonization, from North America especially, as a problem,” said Massimo Borghesi, who teaches philosophy at the University of Perugia and is the author of “The Mind of Pope Francis: Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s Intellectual Journey.”

Borghesi explained that at the height of globalization efforts in the ’90s, economically developed nations adopted “a ruthless economic model” that connected financial assistance to beleaguered Latin America nations with the promotion of contraception and abortion. More recently, aid comes with ideas about gender, Borghesi said.

“Abortion is synonymous with the IMF,” said the Rev. José María “Pepe” Di Paola in 2018, referring to the International Monetary Fund. Di Paola, a Catholic priest known for ministering to the inhabitants of Argentina’s slums and a close acquaintance of Francis, was speaking as debate raged in Argentina over decriminalizing abortion. Argentina legalized abortion in 2020.

Francis advanced similar claims himself while answering questions aboard the papal plane when returning from a 2015 visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. He recalled an episode from 1995, when the Argentine minister for education was offered a loan to build schools for the poor only if she would accept a textbook that promoted gender theory.

As Congress Debates, Black Baptist Leader Calls Denial of Voting Rights ‘Evil’

By

Adelle M Banks

-

January 19, 2022

(RNS) — On the day of a major voting rights debate on Capitol Hill, a social justice coordinator for the Progressive National Baptist Convention said fighting for voting rights is an effort to conquer evil.

“This convention practices a ministry of erosion,” said the Rev. Willie D. Francois III, co-chair of its social justice arm, during a Tuesday (Jan. 18) news conference held in Atlanta and livestreamed on the denomination’s social media.

“What does that mean? We keep showing up so that we wear evil down. The denial of voting rights is evil. The protection of Senate rules over the protection of the public is evil.”

The news conference was held at the historically Black denomination’s midwinter board meeting, just as legislators on Capitol Hill debated voting rights bills that the PNBC, along with a number of other faith organizations, support. However, the bills are not expected to pass.

Francois said the PNBC would be working with Faiths United to Save Democracy, a new coalition that has urged the Senate to change its rule about the filibuster, a stalling technique that requires 60 votes to end it and which is often used by the minority party to stop a bill from passing with a simple majority vote.

“The filibuster that was used to block anti-lynching laws cannot be used right now to block voter expansion,” Francois said. “And so we’re calling on our Senate to reform its filibuster to ensure that we can actually pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and we can also pass the Freedom to Vote Act.”

Regardless of what happens during the current debate, the PNBC leaders said they intend to move ahead with plans to lobby members of Congress in March and register voters weekly in their congregations and communities, aiming to increase voter rolls by 500,000.

The Rev. Adolphus Lacey, a pastor in New York’s Brooklyn borough, said these efforts will continue despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“COVID is real; COVID is a threat,” said Lacey, a PNBC social justice commissioner. “But even more serious than COVID, as real and scary as it is, is to see thousands and thousands of thousands of voters not being able to vote, and it was on our watch. We refuse to stop. We refuse to turn around.”

Expected to Retire From NFL, Ben Roethlisberger Says He Wants to Help ‘Expand God’s Kingdom’

By

Joshua Doering

-

January 19, 2022

This article originally appeared at Sports Spectrum.

The final chapter of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s long and storied NFL career was likely written Sunday night when Pittsburgh fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.

Though Roethlisberger never explicitly announced he will retire, his postgame press conference implied he was not coming back for another season.

“It’s tough,” he said after the 42-21 loss. “But I’m proud to play with these guys. God has blessed me with an ability to throw a football and has blessed me to play in the greatest city, in Pittsburgh, with the greatest fans and the greatest football team and players. It’s just been truly a blessing and I’m so thankful to Him for the opportunity that He’s given me.”

When asked what was next for him, Roethlisberger did not hesitate with his answer.

“I’m going to do everything I can to be the best husband and father I can be, and try and expand God’s Kingdom,” he said.

Ben Roethlisberger walks off the field for what could be the final time in his #NFL career. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/L5JBc2dWyk

— #SuperWildCard Weekend on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 17, 2022

The Steelers’ offense struggled to get going in the first half, as Pittsburgh’s first touchdown was a fumble return by linebacker T.J. Watt. But Roethlisberger found some rhythm in the second half, connecting with Diontae Johnson and James Washington on a pair of touchdowns.

Diontae Johnson shakes free for the 13-yard TD. #HereWeGo

📺: #PITvsKC on NBC
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/UDnV7bHUF2

— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2022

James Washington rises up for the @Steelers TD! #HereWeGo #SuperWildCard

📺: #PITvsKC on NBC
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/yRnRgTWKtJ

— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2022

Big Ben finished the game 29-of-44 for 215 yards, passing Brett Favre for third place on the all-time postseason passing yards list with 5,972.

If Roethlisberger does retire, his last game at Heinz Field was a 26-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He thanked God for allowing him to make one final memory in Pittsburgh following the win.

“I’m just so thankful for the fans, my family obviously. The good Lord has blessed me in so many ways,” he told ESPN on the field right after the game.

Pittsburgh’s franchise leader in every major statistical category related to quarterbacks, Roethlisberger was drafted 11th overall in 2004 and went 13-0 as a starter during the regular season as a rookie.

The Steelers have made the playoffs 12 times with Roethlisberger under center, winning the Super Bowl in 2005 and 2008, and reaching it again in 2010. He led the NFL in passing yards twice (2014, 2018) and is a six-time Pro Bowler.

Ben Roethlisberger walks off the field for what could be the final time in his #NFL career. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/L5JBc2dWyk

— #SuperWildCard Weekend on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 17, 2022

The Steelers’ offense struggled to get going in the first half, as Pittsburgh’s first touchdown was a fumble return by linebacker T.J. Watt. But Roethlisberger found some rhythm in the second half, connecting with Diontae Johnson and James Washington on a pair of touchdowns.

Diontae Johnson shakes free for the 13-yard TD. #HereWeGo

📺: #PITvsKC on NBC
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/UDnV7bHUF2

— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2022

James Washington rises up for the @Steelers TD! #HereWeGo #SuperWildCard

📺: #PITvsKC on NBC
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/yRnRgTWKtJ

— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2022

Big Ben finished the game 29-of-44 for 215 yards, passing Brett Favre for third place on the all-time postseason passing yards list with 5,972.

If Roethlisberger does retire, his last game at Heinz Field was a 26-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He thanked God for allowing him to make one final memory in Pittsburgh following the win.

“I’m just so thankful for the fans, my family obviously. The good Lord has blessed me in so many ways,” he told ESPN on the field right after the game.

Pittsburgh’s franchise leader in every major statistical category related to quarterbacks, Roethlisberger was drafted 11th overall in 2004 and went 13-0 as a starter during the regular season as a rookie.

The Power of the Simple G.O.S.P.E.L.

By

Greg Stier

-

January 19, 2022

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16)

Just this morning I was reminded of the power of the simple message of Jesus. One of our Dare 2 Share team members, who had been praying for her father to come to Christ for years, met me at the door with a story.

She told me that she and her mom had been praying for her dad to come to Christ for years. Well, over the course of the last few days he read my new book, Unlikely Fighter: The Story of How a Fatherless Street Kid Overcame Violence, Chaos and Confusion to Become a Radical Christ Follower. This book chronicles the spiritual transformation of my very tough, very urban and very violent family.

Last night her dad, after reading the book, finally put his faith in Jesus!

We both wept as she told me the story of her father’s much prayed for conversion. One of the things she recounted to me that stuck in my brain was how her father was blown away by how simple the message of the Gospel was. But it was that simplicity that finally won him over.

As my book recounts, it was the simple Gospel that won over my fist-fighting, jail bird, Uncle Jack (who once went to jail for choking two cops unconscious at the same time!) When Jack heard the simple Gospel and was asked if it made sense, he answered “Hell yeah!” (Talk about a sinner’s prayer!) He then went on to share the Gospel with 250 of his rough-and-tumble friends and brought them all out to church over the course of just one month. Many of them understood the simple Gospel for the first time and put their faith in Jesus.

It was the simple Gospel that transformed my uncle Bob in the back of a squad car, right after he got done beating a guy to death (who, thankfully, was later resuscitated.) A year later Bob went to Florida Bible College where he learned to transform others with the simple Gospel!

It was the simple Gospel that transformed my hard-partying, hard-hitting ma (she was a street fighter too!) After three years of sharing the Gospel with her, she finally succumbed to the good news. After she put her faith in Jesus I asked her, “Where are you going to go when you die?” She said, “I’m going to heaven, cigarettes and all.” I gently reminded her that heaven was non-smoking. 🙂

I was fifteen years old when I led her to Christ but, even then, I knew the power of the simple Gospel to change lives. Because this message had already transformed me from a scared, scarred little kid into a radical follower of Jesus.

The simple Gospel turned my family from from street fighters into street preachers almost overnight. That simple message gave us a sense of identity (as children of God), belonging (as member of the family of God) and purpose (as advancers of the mission of God.) The simple Gospel gave us eternal life that started at the moment of salvation and stretched into eternity.

The simple Gospel changes everything.

How Can We Be Filled With the Holy Spirit?

By

John Piper

-

January 19, 2022

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can we experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our church and ourselves that fills us with indomitable joy and frees us, and empowers us, to love those around us in ways so authentic that they are won to Christ?

Answer: Meditate day and night upon the incomparable, hope-giving promises of God. As Romans 15:4 shows us, that’s the way Paul kept his heart full of hope and joy and love. “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

The full assurance of hope comes from meditating on the promises of God’s word. And this does not contradict the sentence nine verses later that says that the Holy Spirit gives us hope (Romans 15:13). This is because the Holy Spirit is the divine author of Scripture. His word is the means of his work. It is no contradiction that the way he fills us with hope is by filling us with his own word of promise.

Hope is not some vague emotion that comes out of nowhere, like a stomachache. Hope is the confidence that the stupendous future promised to us by the word of the Spirit is going to really come true. Therefore, the way to be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with his word. The way to have the power of the Spirit is to believe the promises of his word.

For it is the word of promise that fills us with hope, and hope fills us with joy, and joy overflows in the power and freedom to love our neighbor. And that is the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

For Further Study

Here is an entire message by John Piper that gets into the filling of the Spirit much more than this small excerpt.

These brief resources from Got Questions? are also helpful:

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

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Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Jackie Hill Perry

Key Questions for Jackie Hill Perry

Key Quotes From Jackie Hill Perry

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