July
Why ‘sorcery’ was the most searched-for Bible term in 2021
Online searches for “pharmakeia” in the Bible increased almost 200 per cent increase in 2021. But why?
The Christian faith of Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé has invested in and publicly endorsed Christian app Glorify. But what do we know of his relationship with Jesus?
Don't be offended by the M&S 'pigmas' cards. Get on with proclaiming the good news instead
We shouldn’t be taken aback that Christ is being airbrished out of Christmas, says James Mildred. But the future of Christianity is God’s business
People who don’t believe in God are tithing. That’s good news for the gospel
Society is turning to religious practices to help them deal with the pressures of modern life. Christians should see this as a great opportunity
God hasn’t promised to save you from Omicron. There’s something far better on offer instead
Opinions on the new Covid variant may leave us feeling anxious, angry or just plain weary. But we must do all we can to keep loving our neighbour, says Tim Farron
I’m a gay Christian. Here’s why banning conversion therapy won’t protect LGBT people
Changing the law will remove support for those who wish to live out the traditional Christian understanding of sexuality and marriage, says’ Andrew Bunt
Hoarding vaccines is not loving our neighbour. Christians must do more to ensure vaccine equity
Just seven per cent of the population of Africa have been vaccinated against Covid-19. The inaction of developed countries shows black lives do not matter, and will ultimately prevent us beating the virus, says Chine McDonald
Jayne Ozanne: The Christian campaigner explains why she wants to ban ‘hate prayer’
The Chair of Ban Conversion Therapy tells us why harmful prayer “must be banned, and will be banned”
‘There was such an atmosphere of joy and happiness’ says vicar who confirmed 59 people in one day
Despite having pre-pandemic congregations of less than 90, two churches in Wales recently held a bumper confirmation service that saw 59 people welcomed into their church family in one day
‘Faith is a gift I’ve yet to receive’ Hillsong worship leader confesses his doubts in brave new song
Benjamin Hastings is best known for writing popular Hillsong anthems ‘So Will I (100 Billion X)’ and ‘Seasons’. But his latest song approaches faith from a very different angle
It’s -5C and we have no heating or hot water. But even in the storms I know God is with me
Following Storm Arwen 13,000 homes in the north of England remain without electricity. But as advent begins, Rev Mike Slade reflects on being thankful that God is with us, even when things are hard (and cold!)
Why ‘A Christmas Carol’ is shot through with Gospel truth
At the heart of Dickens’ festive classic is a powerful redemption story. No wonder it’s one of the most adapted works of fiction ever written
A debt crisis is coming. But Christians Against Poverty is here to help you
The number of households on low incomes in arrears has tripled since the pandemic began. But Christians are on the front line in helping families get back in the black
Jesus wept. But his followers don’t
There are eleven different types of tears in the Bible. But today’s Christians often minimise the importance of lament. Do we need to think again?
8 festive songs-a-playing to listen to this Christmas
The award-winning comedian, writer and broadcaster who has worked on TV shows such as Miranda, Top Gear and Not Going Out shares his top tunes
The Family Business: A modern parable about identity, evangelism and the Trinity
Do you ever wonder why God put you on earth? This is the question that readers of The Family Business are prompted to ask of themselves as they encounter characters who wrestle with finding their true identity, having been invited to embrace their role within their family’s business.
If anyone can explain spiritual warfare to millennials, John Mark Comer can
John Mark Comer’s teaching gift is unquestioned. His previous book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (Hodder & Stoughton) was written pre-Covid but became a Christian bestseller throughout the pandemic months, as the lockdowns prompted reflection on how over-busy many of our lives had become. Before that, Garden City helped a ...
Avoid this banal re-write of the Bible's greatest stories. It contains as much truth as Buffy the Vampire Slayer
In one way, the writings of Robin Bennett and Eugene Peterson are similar: both have rewritten the Bible into everyday speech. But there the similarity ends.
Why Christians should oppose a ‘gay conversion therapy’ ban
Pastoral ministry is a private consensual conversation, but activists are seeking to criminalise it, says the chief executive of Christian Concern
Did God give Britain victory in past wars because we prayed? This book says so, but its sources are flawed
Britain fought amazingly well in the great wars of the twentieth century. In Beyond the Odds, John Scriven provide engaging and detailed accounts of incredible bravery, luck, and courage by British soldiers and generals during the First and Second World Wars and the Falklands War.
Philip Yancey's memoir is a fascinating read - put it on your Christmas list now!
The American author Philip Yancey is well known for wrestling with some of the toughest questions in Christianity and writing about them in a relatable way. He’s also no stranger to mining his own life for lessons to share with others. In his bestselling titles What’s So Amazing About Grace? ...
Aled Jones: ‘I’m not a perfect Christian, but I don’t know what one of those is’
The chorister-turned-TV-presenter on counting his blessings and why he decided to try his hand at writing Christmas stories
Jeff Lucas on the day his house nearly burned down
A couple of weeks ago, two nice chaps stopped by our home and promptly set fire to it. Which was rude.
We used to hate the cringey gospel appeal. But now Rend Collective does it at every show
Chris Llewellyn remembers cringing backstage as bandmate Gareth was sent out to give a ‘gospel appeal’. But what happened next took everyone by surprise…
What retracing Jesus’ desert trek taught me about the kindness of strangers
After Jesus’ birth came a dramatic journey through a hostile wilderness. As Dan Morrice follows in Christ’s footsteps he considers how the lessons Jesus learned in the Negev desert shaped the man he became
‘Losing my husband to cancer led to us both finding Jesus’
Louise Blyth was just 33 when her husband, George, died of bowel cancer. For many people, experiencing such a tragedy would cause them to question the existence of a good and loving God. But for Louise and George, it was the beginning of a miraculous journey to faith
Carl Beech: 'There is endemic alcohol dependency in the Church'
The church planter explains why reaching the forgotten places of the UK has resulted in him giving up alcohol, and cancelling Sunday services
How Jesus rescued me from a life in porn
Brittni De La Mora was one of the porn industry’s biggest stars. Through a series of divine events, she began to encounter the love of God and now leads a ministry to the sex industry
Exclusive preview: Inside the world’s largest civilian hospital ship
The Global Mercy will offer lifesaving surgery to some of the world’s poorest communities and state of the art training for underprivileged doctors. And it’s doing it in the name of Jesus
Finding the missing pieces of the Christmas puzzle
If you read the Christmas story in isolation, you will miss the beauty of the Bible’s bigger picture, says Jo Swinney
Campaigners want to ban ‘non-affirming’ prayers for gay people. Here’s why that would be disastrous for Christian freedom
If prayer is banned, the Christian Institute say they’ll take the Government to court.
Why the Genesis flood was global - and why it matters
Following David Instone Brewer’s column which presented evidence for why the flood could have been local, Jonathan Sarfati shares an alternative perspective
Cathedrals are where heaven and earth meet. We must protect them
When I walked into Liverpool Cathedral a few weeks ago, I audibly gasped. Stepping inside the magnificent building, I was taken aback by its awesomeness. Built between 1904 and 1978, it is the largest cathedral in Britain and the eighth largest church in the world.
Why Noah's flood may not have been global
Was it a global flood, or local flood? David Instone-Brewer explains why he (reluctantly) changed his mind
Politics in the Church: Row breaks out over evangelical ‘elites’
Leaders are being accused of selling out their Christian beliefs in order to curry favour with the secular liberal majority
The surprise of Christmas
Into the darkness of Galilee a great light came. RT Kendall wonders if we could be on the cusp of our own revival this Christmas
Despite everything, Christmas endures. But don’t take this tradition for granted. Christians must live it out
The Christmas message of hope is more relevant today than ever, and the Church should not be afraid of proclaiming it, says Tim Stanley
Can fashion be sustainable, ethical and affordable? Oh yes, say these Christian entrepreneurs
Meet the Christians who are determined to prove that affordable fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth
Priti Patel is wrong. The Church must keep sharing the good news with refugees
The Home Office’s criticism of the Church welcoming refugees is racist and religiously illiterate, says Tim Farron
The kind of faith that Jesus loves
Christians have traditionally understood faith to mean trust in God. But there's another vital aspect to faith that we often overlook
Melvin Tinker (1955-2021): A consummate pastor-theologian who was valiant for gospel truth
The prolific author and church planter was well respected among conservative evangelicals, having overseen the growth of one of the largest Anglican churches in northern England. He later made an “orderly exit” from the Church of England, believing it had "gone adrift from its biblical moorings." His friends remember him as a gospel-centred man who wanted Jesus to be glorified
5 reasons why you need to read more Christian books
Reading has been in decline for decades, with social media, Netflix and video games competing for our attention. There’s also a gender divide. The Telegraph recently reported that men are twice as likely not to read books at all. Krish Kandiah explains why he believes reading good books should be a priority for every Christian
I would be imprisoned if I spoke about Jesus in Iran. Thank you for welcoming me to the UK
Ghazal is an Iranian convert to Christianity who recently received her ‘leave to remain’ from the Home Office. She explains why thousands of Iranians like her are turning to Christ
3 ways Harry Potter echoes the gospel
The first Harry Potter film has just turned 20 years old. But did you know one of the most important lines in the entire series is actually a quote from the Bible?
The Liverpool terror attack will not deter churches from offering a welcome to all
Is there really a “merry-go-round” of failed asylum seekers changing religion in order to further their appeals?
The petitions and prayer vigils worked. Julius Jones is saved from death row
After 20 years of campaigning, which included prayer vigils and singing worship songs outside the prison, the Christian family and friends of Julius Jones are celebrating a huge answer to prayer
As another sleaze scandal engulfs Parliament, we must pray for leaders to be above reproach
Should MPs have second jobs? Tim Farron gives his view
You may have heard China has ‘banned’ the Bible app. But the truth is more complicated
Last week, Apple removed the Bible and Quran from their Chinese app store in response to government pressure. Many have seen this as yet another restriction of religious freedom in China, but Dr Alexander Chow says such a concept never existed in the first place
Franklin Graham is back. But does the UK want him?
Those who believe the nation needs to hear a strong gospel message about repentance and faith in Jesus are excited to welcome the evangelist. But others aren’t so sure…
Grave sucking and gold dust: I spent 10 years at Bethel. Here’s the truth behind the wild rumours
Heard about the Bethel Church ‘signs and wonders’ rumours? Carrie Lloyd sets the record straight
Atheism is trying to undermine these 7 biblical concepts. But it will fail
In re-defining Christian concepts of morality, the soul, free will and more, atheism is leaving our society hollow and directionless. By contrast, it is belief in the God of scripture which upholds and strengthens our understanding of meaning, truth and freedom, argues Alistair McKitterick
How 750 persecuted Christians were rescued from Afghanistan
The evacuation was nearly thwarted, but God had a plan, reports a Christian charity helping to rescue Christians from the Taliban
This documentary contains evidence for healing miracles. So we asked an agnostic to watch it
Does God heal today? We asked a former Christian to watch a new film which examines the evidence. Here's what he made of it
Franklin Graham is speculating in his end times tweet to Boris Johnson. No one knows when Jesus will return
Caution is needed. Christians have got their end times theology badly wrong in the past, says evangelical historian Martyn Whittock
Can I swear at God?
A strict upbringing taught Ruth Leigh to repress her emotions and, ultimately, turned her away from faith. But God is more interested in authentic relationships than perfect Christians, she says
I’ve seen the devastation caused by climate change, and Christians must act now
Rich Smith has travelled to some of the poorest regions on earth and seen the most severe effects of global warming with his own eyes. Here in the UK, we may still be able to feed our families, he says, but, make no mistake, climate change will affect us all
Another In the Fire: The meaning behind the worship song that's getting Chris Pratt through
Actor Chris Pratt recently took to Instagram to thank God for helping him through tough times, saying the Hillsong United anthem had deeply impacted him. But what was the inspiration behind the song? Music journalist Tony Cummings explores
What the Bieber’s marriage podcast teaches us about the importance of Christian community
They may be mega stars, but Justin and Hailey Bieber need the support of their church family as much as the next couple, says Philippa Hanna
What matters most: sin or climate change?
Dr Ian Paul asks: does it have to be an either/or choice?
The Church has benefited from Facebook. But should we embrace Zuckerberg’s Metaverse?
Is the recent Facebook rebrand just a business decision? And what exactly is a metaverse anyway? Our head of digital theology answers your questions
Adele’s new song suggests marriage won’t fulfil you. I think St Paul would agree
'Easy on me’ comes in the aftermath of Adele's marriage breakdown. Chris Follett has been taking a closer look at the lyrics
Communion, silence and Armistice Day: Why remembrance matters
Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Caroline Pattenden considers the significance of the God-given directive to remember Jesus during Communion
Today is International Day of Prayer for the persecuted Church. Here are 3 ways you can pray
340 million Christians experience systematic discrimination, unfair treatment and persecution for following Jesus. Here’s how you can pray for them today
3 lessons for the Church after the Yorkshire Cricket racism scandal
Jon Kuhrt reflects on the lessons for both sporting and Christian institutions, following the racist bullying of Azeem Rafiq
6 reasons why most Christians are failing to take the gospel to the nations
As Premier's Missions Week begins, Geoff Peters points out that the current statistics on Christian engagement in mission make for depressing reading. If we're to obey the Great Commission, we need to overcome fear, he says
The untold story of C.S Lewis’ conversion to Christianity is a must-watch
The new C.S. Lewis biopic is in selected cinemas now
It’s unacceptable this politician couldn’t get into COP. But how accessible is your church?
The failure to provide an accessible entrance for Israeli minister Karine Elharrar at COP26 has been roundly condemned. But Lucy Khoneizer, who is mother to a wheelchair using son, wonders if we’re actually all guilty of making similar mistakes
What is a pagan goddess doing in a place of Christian worship?
Everyone agrees that looking after the planet is important, but the “Gaia” exhibition touring UK churches crosses a line into pagan idolatry, argues Dave Brennan
The Bible doesn’t condemn assisted dying. But changing the law would still be wrong
Christians need compassion when debating assisted dying. But legalising it sets us on a slippery slope, says Chris Goswami
Don’t throw away original sin. This controversial doctrine underpins our entire justice system
“If your objection to the notion of original sin is that you think humanity is basically good, then I admire your optimism but I doubt that you’ve ever stepped outside your own front door,” says Tim Farron MP
The Church must preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not climate change
As world leaders descend on Glasgow for COP26, one church has displayed a controversial banner. Find out why they did it…
Covid has changed how Christians are viewed, and that’s a good thing
The pandemic has shone a spotlight on churches and Christian charities working hard to be Christ’s hands and feet across the UK. Tim Farron says governments, and ordinary people, are noticing
Why ‘being yourself’ is a bad idea
Following your heart won’t lead you to fulfilment, but denying yourself might, argues Bishop Graham Tomlin
Following Jesus has taken me to the Afghan border. Today I met a mother and baby who have fled the Taliban
Much of the media attention on Afghanistan has subsided since the summer, but the need is still great. Becky Murray is the founder of Christian charity One by One and has been visiting the region this week. Here’s her report
Evil spirits used to terrorise me. I know what Halloween is really all about
Laura Maxwell shares her testimony and explains why Halloween is best avoided
The 4 major lies of Halloween
We should be asking big questions such as: 'What does happen after death?' and 'Where does evil come from?'. But the answers Halloween provides are lies, says J. John.
Why Christians who reject Halloween are missing a trick
Baptist minister Rev Peter Laws explains why he believes Christians should embrace Halloween and the opportunities it provides
Evangelistic courses have their place. But nothing beats relationship
During lockdown, with church programmes on pause and people confined to their homes, many Christians found new opportunities to build relationships with those around them. Maybe it’s the start of a new era of friendship evangelism, says Carl Knightly
8 black theologians you should know about
If we only read theology through the lens of white males, we only ever see God from one angle, says Chine McDonald. This Black History Month, here’s eight black theologians who have - or are - shaping our faith
Dismantling Lord Vinson’s bizarre claim that Jesus’ death was assisted suicide
As peers debated assisted suicide in the House of Lords last week, one Lord’s contribution jumped out as particularly remarkable
Why Christians should ditch the concept of original sin
It might be commonly taught, but Augustine's concept of original sin doesn't have scriptural support, argues David Instone-Brewer
Midnight Mass: The Christian horror series with a challenging message for the Church
Midnight Mass contains some of the fairest treatments of Christian characters ever seen, says our reviewer
‘My child is encountering transgender ideas at school. What are my rights as a Christian?’
What happens when there’s a clash of rights between transgender people and Christians?
Why confessing your sins should be a joyful experience
Confessing our sins doesn’t sound like a barrel of laughs. But if we don’t give it the attention it deserves, we miss the joy that God wants for us, says Howard and Holly Satterthwaite
Jordan Peterson’s daughter say she’s ‘found God’. Let’s keep praying for her
The 29 year old daughter of controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson is reading the Bible, praying and experiencing a peace she’s never felt before.
What will we look like in heaven?
Have you ever wondered, ‘What will I look like in heaven?’ The issue of the afterlife is a complicated one, but we can be sure of what the Bible tells us about certain aspects of heaven, says evangelist and author J.John
Upping foreign aid won’t necessarily solve poverty. A more Christ-like response is required
When it comes to helping the hurting, Jesus modelled a unique approach. This story from Bolivia shows how Christians today are making a real difference
Meet the Scottish church leader who wants to decriminalise drugs
Scotland has the highest drug death rate in Europe. The new Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rev Iain Greenshields, tells us that ending the criminalisation of drug possession could help solve the problem
Why the Last Rites matter
Following reports that Sir David Amess was denied access to the Last Rites, Peter D Williams explains why the ritual is so important for Catholics
Growing strong roots: 5 ways the pandemic is changing spiritual formation
Following Jesus in a post-Christian culture takes courage. But a stronger type of discipleship is now emerging, says Rick Hill
Kate Forbes: The rising political star on glorifying God and aiming for excellence
When she stepped in to deliver the Scottish budget with just two hours’ notice, Kate Forbes was thrust into the political spotlight
‘Have it your way’ just about works at breakfast time, but it’s a terrible way of running a church
Want to confuse Jeff Lucas? Just offer him six different options for how he’d like his eggs done
Tony Cummings: My top 8 songs
The man with an encyclopedic knowledge of Christian music shares his favourite tunes right now
I find most Christian leadership books dull. But this one won me over
We review Justyn Terry’s ‘The Five Phases of Leadership’
Reviewed: The book that promises to help you become a wholehearted disciple
Do you want your heart to be changed? Try this book, says our reviewer
Heavy Burdens: What the Church gets wrong in its treatment of LGBTQ people, and how we can fix it
Many will read this book’s title and make up their minds before turning a page. But this is why 'Heavy Burdens: 7 ways LGBTQ Christians experience harm in the Church’ is desperately needed, says our reviewer
Do you become a Christian by believing a list of doctrines, or is there more to it?
The biblical writers instructed us to believe in the name of Jesus. But what does that mean? Lois Tverberg explains
‘Build Your Kingdom Here’ - How our cry for Christian unity was born out of the Troubles
Growing up in Northern Ireland, the effects of Christian disunity were everywhere, remembers Rend Collective’s Chris Llewellyn
How do you explain polygamy in the Bible?
Tom Wright gives his answer
Sojourner Truth: The slave who became a gospel preacher
This inspiring preacher confounded the expectations of her day for both women and black people
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