User:Conservative/Christianity

And He said to them, 'Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." - Jesus, (Matthew 17:20 NASB)

Spiritual disciplines

• Bible reading schedule

• Breviary

• Daily reading and devotional

• Liturgy of the hours

Divine office

• Lutheran divine office

Lutheranism

• Lutheran Catechism

Lent

• Lent - 2026

• Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

Bible reading

• Bible reading schedule

• My Favorite Bible in a Year Reading Plan, The Gospel Coalition website

• Saint Thecla Catholic Church

• Consistent Bible reading

"The Bible contains a total of 1,189 chapters divided between the Old Testament and the New Testament — plus additional chapters in the Apocrypha... Catholic Bibles, which include the Deuterocanonical Books as part of the Old Testament, contain an additional 145 chapters over Protestant Bibles (plus the addition to Daniel 3), for a total of 1,074."

If one were to read 5 chapters of the Bible per day in a year that has 365 days, one would read 1,825 chapters of the Bible per year.

"Reading a single chapter of the Bible typically takes between 3 and 4 minutes at an average reading speed. However, the exact time can vary based on several factors." - How long does it take to read a chapter of the Bible?, Google AI

Early church fathers commentary on various Bible verses

• Early church fathers commentary on various Bible verses

Bible commentary

• Catenable Bible, Early church fathers

Daily Scripture and meditation

• Daily Scripture and meditation

Apocrypha

• Luther and the Apocrypha

Best value on NRSV large font Bible

• Cambridge NRSV Bible, Evangelicalbible.com (Virginia). Cambridge NRSV Large‑Print Text Edition (ISBN‑13: 978‑0521508810)

Scripture memorization

• Bible memorization

• Has anyone ever memorized the entire Bible?

• How to Memorize the Bible: (Illustrated) by William Evans (Free versions of How to Memorize the Bible by William Evans)

Benefits of memorizing Scripture

• Benefits of memorizing Scripture

• Scripture memory box

"Scripture Memorization Works:

Every time we think a thought, including when we memorize and meditate on scripture, our brains are changed. Dr. Amen, a clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist and author of Making a Good Brain Great, says, “Every time you have a thought your brain releases chemicals. ... Your thoughts ... positive or negative ... make you feel good or they make you feel bad.” What you read and what you say to yourself, changes ever so slightly the neuropathways of your brain and that, in turn, influences your attitudes, behaviors, and emotions. Scripture memorization allows you to choose words and images that shape your mind and heart. It works in us even when we are not conscious of its doing so." For more information please see: SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION by By Pastor Jerry Truex

Improving one's knowledge of grammar and writing abilities and improving one's Bible memorization skills

• Statistically, how much does one improving one's knowledge of grammar and increasing one's writing abilities increase one's ability in Bible memorization?, AI

Memorize the names of the Bible books

• How to Memorize the Books of the Bible in Order (in Less than 1 Hour)

Bible memorization books based on the phonetic system of mnemonics

• Over Easy: Amazing Puzzle Games for Bible Memory, by Ernest L. Weckbaugh, Paperback – January 1, 1988

• He Is Enough (Amazing Puzzle Games For Bible Memory) Paperback – January 1, 1988 by Ernest Weckbaugh (Author)

How to memorize entire books of the Bible

• How to memorize entire books of the Bible

Academic study on Bible memorization: Topical Bible study vs. memorizing entire books of the Bible

• A mixed-methods study comparing the perceived spiritual benefits of topical and extended Scripture memorization by Johnson, Andy, Ed.D., SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 2010

Creating new behaviors to replace habitual thinking

"A saying among scientists who study the human brain is “Use it before you lose it.” We have the power to help keep our brain fit and working well. Dr. Lawrence Katz, a neurologist at Duke University, urges people to perform daily mental exercises such as brushing your teeth with the non-dominant hand or taking a new route to work to help stimulate the brain and keep it healthy. The goal is to replace unthinking routine with fresh awareness and new focus.

There’s a lesson here for us as followers of Jesus Christ. Even the most valuable spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and prayer can become so habitual that our minds are not fully engaged.

To avoid slipping into a spiritual rut, why not add Scripture memory to your daily devotional time? It’s a mental effort designed to produce spiritual change. The psalmist wrote, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Paul said, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Ro 12:2-note).

It’s more than a brain game to memorize and meditate on the powerful Word of God. —David C. McCasland (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)" Source: MEMORIZING AND MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD: INTRODUCTION

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." - Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9

Benefits of learning biblical Greek/Hebrew

• Is Learning Greek and Hebrew Really Worth It?
• Is it important to know Greek and Hebrew when studying the Bible?
• Why Study Greek
• D.A. Carson on "The Benefits of Learning a Biblical Language"

Learning Koine Greek

• How Long, O Lord, Until I Know Greek? (Basics of Greek Pedagogy, pt. 5)

• Basics of Biblical Greek Pack By: William D. Mounce

Fundamentals first

For more information, please see: Vince Lombardi on the Hidden Power of Mastering the Fundamentals.

Research related to Christianity

Identity, personality and motivation:

• Find peer‑reviewed studies, meta‑analyses, or reputable research that supports the idea that a Christian religion or a Christian religious conversion positively affects one's identity, personality or motivation.

Christian websites

• http://www.struggletovictory.com/
• https://www.preceptaustin.org

Video

• Godlife TV

Prayer, Bible reading and Christian conduct

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." - Solomon, (Proverbs 3:3, NASB)

Prayer

• Consistent prayer life

• How I Have Stayed Committed to My Devotional Life

Bible reading

• Bible reading schedule

Importance consistent Bible reading:

• Five reasons why the Bible is the most important book on earth

• 14 Reasons to Read the Bible

• Why is the Bible important?, Biblica.com

• Consistent Bible reading

Journal articles

• Assessing the Link Between Bible Reading and Flourishing Among Military Families: Preliminary Findings

• Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College

Faith without works is dead

• What are the most important things to do in the Christian life? (the two most important commandments)
• Having love and demonstrating love

Church attendance

• Christians who attend church have more flourishing relationships than non-churchgoers

Discipleship

• Creating a discipleship culture, and why it is so important for mission in Europe today

Christian thoughtlife, conduct and encouragement

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:2

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3 ES

"Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." - Proverbs 2:2-5

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." - James 1:19-20

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 ESV

"The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." - Exodus 15:2

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." - Ephesians 6:10

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." - Colossians 2:6-8

Self-sacrifice, self-denial and love

• Self-sacrifice, self-denial and love

Jesus on self-denial/self-sacrifice: "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)

Protestant work ethic

• Work ethic

• Christian work ethic

• Protestant work ethic

• Toward a biblical understanding of the work ethic

• Hours of work U.S. history

Cost of discipleship

Saint Stephen was one of the first seven deacons in the Christian Church. The portrait features Stephen holding a Gospel Book in a 1601 painting by Giacomo Cavedone.

St. Stephen was the first martyr of the Christian church.

• Adrian Rogers: How to Be a Fully Committed Disciple of Jesus

Rewards for good works

• Merit and reward

Inspirational Christian stories

Nick Vujicic

• Nick Vujicic - Christian born without arms and legs - Married with kids, Financial planner with 2 homes, 2 million people have become Christians via his testimonies

Disciplines of Lent

• Disciplines of Lent (Fasting 8,9)

Lutheran websites or YouTube

• Jordon B. Cooper - YouTube

Liturgical worship

• Why I love liturgical worship

Catholic organizations

• Word on Fire and Word of Fire - YouTube channel and Bishop Barron - YouTube
• St. Paul Street Evangelism

Christian liberty

• Slavery and True Liberty, John MacArthur

• Christian liberty – what does the Bible say?, Gotquestions.org

• 4 Principles for the Exercise of Christian Liberty, Ligonier Ministries

• Christian liberty

• Christian liberty, Tabletalk Magazine

Preachers

• Finny Kuruvilla

• B.H. Clendennen

• Adrian Rogers

• Adrian Rogers - Love Worth Finding Ministries

• Paul Washer

• Tim Conway

• Leonard Ravenhill

Famous sermons

John Wesley:

• John Wesley's sermons

Charles Spurgeon:

• Charles Spurgeon sermons - playlist

• Charles Spurgeon Sermons

F.F. Bosworth:

• FF Bosworth Christ The Healer

Jonathon Edwards:

• Sinners in the hand of an angry God

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

• Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Futility of life/thinking without God

• Futility of life/thinking without God - playlist

How Oxford and atheist Peter Singer drove me from atheism to Jesus

• How Oxford and Peter Singer drove me from atheism to Jesus, Veritas Forum

Christian apologetics and the Christian life

And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)

Christian apologetics/cultural blogs:

• C.S. Lewis Society of California

• John Piipo

• Albert Mohler's blog

• Bill Muehlenberg

Benefits of Christianity upon a culture

• Why Western Civilization Needs Christianity: Part I

• Why Western Civilization Needs Christianity: Part II

• How Christianity Benefits Society, Even “Angry Humanists”

• Christian Tradition Benefits All

• Religion and crime reduction

Religion and culture blogs

• Peter Berger Religion & Other Curiosities

Christian apologetics video series

• Christian apologetics series

Sean McDowell

• Sean McDowell

Christian apologetics videos

• Acts17Apologetics - videos
• Dr Peter Williams - New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts
• Dr Peter Williams - New Evidences that the Gospels Were Written by Eyewitnesses
• Can We Trust the Gospels (Lecture Only) - Dr Peter Williams - Second Baptist Church, Woodway
• Lecture - Dr Peter Williams - Things Which Ought To Be Better Known About The Resurrection Of Jesus
• Can the Old Testament be Trusted Historically? - Peter J. Williams
• The Resurrection with Dr. Peter Williams

How to graduate with your faith intact

• https://www.youtube.com/embed/AFNc85Us4G0?start=1511 How to graduate with your faith intact]

Christian character

"How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver, And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast." - Solomon, (Proverbs 3:13-18 NASB)

• Christian character

Forgiveness

• Forgiveness, Christianity.org.uk

Four R's of forgiveness

Christian concepts

• Four R's of forgiveness

1) Remorse • 2 Corinthians 7:8–11

2) Repentance: • Matthew 21:28–31

3) Reformation: • Mt. 3:8; • Jer. 18:11 • Heb. 9:9-12

4) Restoration: • Mt. 27:3; • Lk. 23:34 • Ac. 26:17–18; • Ro. 5:12

See also:

• 2 Co. 2:5–8; 10–11 • Pr. 28:13; • Dan. 9:4–12 • Mt. 14:all; • Mt. 19:22 • Hebrews 12:17

Non-Christian source

• The 4 R's of forgiveness - Non-Christian source (related for forgiving others or yourself) - Responsibility, Remorse, Restoration, Renewal[1]

Sermon on "winning without fighting"

• Winning Without Fighting - Archbishop Benson Idahosa

Jesus Christ: His sacrificial love

• 8 Ways Jesus Suffered for You

• The Crucifixion of Jesus (the) Christ From A Medical Perspective

Garden of Gethsemane

• Garden Of Gethsemane - Paul Begley

Developing good habits and breaking bad habits

Monastery of St. Nektarios. Aegina, Greece

• Breaking Bad Habits & Developing Good Habits – a Christian Perspective

• Habit making, habit breaking

• How to Break Bad Habits

See also: Developing good habits

Quote: A Christian must be courteous to all

See also: Saint Nektarios of Aegina

“A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.” – Saint Nektarios of Aegina

Greek icon of Saint Nektarios of Aegina

Quote from Saint Nektarios of Aegina's book Know Thyself

Church in Santorini Greece.

"If you wish to know God you must first know yourself." - Saint Nektarios of Aegina

God is not mocked - Modern cases

• God is not mocked - modern cases

Biblical passages on gender roles

Role of women:

• The BIBLICAL Role Of A Woman - The BIBLE Truth - PART I

• The BIBLICAL Role Of A Woman - The BIBLE Truth - PART II

Christian worldview

• Christian worldview: A rational model

Growth of Christianity

• Christian population growth

Evangelism

• When Did Evangelicals Stop Caring About Missions?

Internet evangelism

• Internet evangelism

• Not ashamed of the gospel blog

Christianity articles

• Christianity articles

History of Christianity

St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine.

See also: Famous Cathedrals

Free online book on the history of Christianity:

The History of the Christianity by Philip Schaff was an 8 volume work. Philip Schaff was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian, who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States.

• History of the Christian Church, Volume I by Philip Schaff

• History of the Christian Church, Volume II Ante-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 100-325 by Philip Schaff

• History of the Christian Church, Volume III by Philip Schaff: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity. A.D. 311-600

• History of the Christian Church, Volume IV: Mediaeval Christianity. A.D. 590-1073 by Philip Schaff

• History of the Christian Church, Volume V: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1049-1294 by Philip Schaff

• History of the Christian Church, Volume VI: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1294-1517 by Philip Schaff

• History of the Christian Church, Volume VII. Modern Christianity. The German Reformation by Philip Schaff

• History of the Christian Church, Volume VIII: Modern Christianity. The Swiss Reformation by Philip Schaff

History of Christianity, BBC documentary by Diarmaid McCullough (English academic and historian, specialising in ecclesiastical history and the history of Christianity):

• A History of Christianity 2009 Season 1 Episode 1

• Christianity episode 2

• Christianity episode 3

• Christianity episode 4

• History of Christianity, Episode 5 - Evangelical Protestantism (Diarmaid McCullough)

• A History Of Christianity Episode 6 (Documentary)

Miscellaneous history of Christianity resources:

• Pentarchy

• First Council of Nicaea

• Council of Chalcedon

• Historical Theology for Everyone, YouTube channel by Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

• Council of Chalcedon, Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

• Ambrose and Jerome, Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge) is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

• Church of the East

What happened to the 12 apostles

• What happened to the 12 apostles (Archive)

Church services and the early church

• What Was a Church Service Like in the Second Century? (Mass/service lasted 3 hours and congregants stood most of the service)

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the mass/service is called the Divine Liturgy.

"In the Orthodox tradition, the faithful stand up for nearly the entire service."[2]

"The original liturgy lasted something over five hours; those people must have been on fire for God. The Liturgy of St. Basil edited this down to about two and a half, and later (around 400 A.D.) the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom further reduced it to about one and a half. Most Sundays we use the St. John Chrysostom liturgy, although for some services (e.g., Sundays in Lent, Christmas Eve) we use the longer Liturgy of St. Basil."[3]

Christianity timeline

Books on the history of Christianity

• History of the World Christian Movement Volume I, by Dale T. Irvin and Scott W. Sunquist, 2001

• History of the World Christian Movement, Vol. 2: Modern Christianity from 1454-1800 by Dale T. Irvin (2012-10-01)

• The Best Books on the History of Christianity recommended by Diarmaid MacCulloch

• Church History: Recommended Reading, Ligonier Ministries

• 12 Christian History Books That Every World Scholar Should Read

Christianity and politics

See: Christianity and politics

Protestantism

• Is The World Becoming Protestant? by Peter Berger

• History of Christianity, Episode 5 - Evangelical Protestantism (Diarmaid McCullough)

Evangelical Christianity

• Peter Berger on evangelical Christianity

Evangelical colleges and universities

• List of evangelical seminaries and theological colleges

Francis Schaeffer: How shall we then live video series

• HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE - video series

• How Will We Live Now? Francis Schaeffer’s “How Should We Then Live” After 40 Years

God's love

• God's love

Audio Bibles

Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral in Ukraine.

• NASB New Testament
• English Standard Version - Audio Bible

2014 Bible reading plan

• 2014 Bible reading plan

Christian websites and blogs

• Top Christian websites according to Alexa
• Top 250 Christian blogs - 2013
• 50 Biblio blogs by traffic
• Who's who of Baptist bloggers
• Wesleyan bloggers
• Lutheran - Missouri Synod bloggers
• Top 50 reformed bloggers
• 130 plus Assembly of God bloggers
• Top Christian blogs and micro-bloggers by number of Twitter followers
• Top Christian blogs by theology professors
• Top 100 theology blogs
• Top 200 ministry blogs
• Top Christian women bloggers
• 50 Christian women bloggers

Sermons and related material

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

Relying on God's strength:

• God Is Our Strength - Not Trusting In Our Own Strength

• 5 Ways to Rely on God’s Strength to Beat Your Giants

• 63 Bible versus about relying On God

• Relying on God's strength

Heaven and hell:

Heaven:

• Few People Make it to Heaven - Pastor Tim Conway
• Live for Eternity - Paul Washer

Hell:

• Hell is Necessary - Tim Conway (Full Sermon)
• Most People Go to Hell - Pastor Tim Conway
• WARNING A WRATH-DESERVING WORLD: EVANGELICALS AND THE OVERHAUL OF HELL

The true Christian:

Other sermons and related material - Classics

John Wesley:

• Complete works of John Wesley
• John Wesley Sermons
• Journal of John Wesley

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst

Hudson Taylor:

• Hudson Taylor Material

John Knox:

• Writings of John Knox

Paul Washer:

• This is War - Paul Washer
• The Greatness of the Gospel (Paul Washer)
• Our day is now! - Pastor Tim Conway

Adrian Rogers:

• Adrian Rogers on Commitment vs. Surrender

James Orr:

• Bible Under Trial, Apologetic Papers in View of Present Day Assaults on Holy Scripture (1907)

Charles Spurgeon:

• Charles Spurgeon movie
• Charles Spurgeon sermons - audio
• Spurgeon gems website
• Charles Spurgeon sermons
• Charles Spurgeon - courtship

Various areas

Faith:

• What is faith?
• Bible verses on faith
• Keys to biblical faith
• Faith poem

Motives/thinking before acting:

• Why Do You Do What You Do? - Tim Conway

Overcoming:

• You must overcome!

God's Total Commitment

• God's Total Commitment

Marriage and the Love of Christ

Pastor Tim Conway Preaching on the Love of Christ at a Wedding

Pride

• Defensive People Are Prideful

Men Hate God and Suppress the Truth

• Men Hate God and Suppress the Truth - Tim Conway

Being God Fearing:

• Make It Your Aim to Fear God - Tim Conway
• Trembling at the Word of the Lord - Tim Conway

Anvil of God's Word:

• Anvil of God's Word

Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.:

• Ken Ham's Misguided book

Self-Discipline

• Winning Requires Discipline - Tim Conway
• Winning Requires Discipline - Tim Conway with Tebow

Self-discipline Other:

• The race of self discipline
• War John Piper Sermon Jam
• How to Build Self-Discipline

Self-sacrifice:

• Are we willing to drink His cup? by Leonard Ravenhill

Good Habits:

• Establishing Good Habits
• Establishing good habits and breaking bad habits
• Tips on establishing a good habit
• Good Intentions or Good Habits – Which are the most powerful?

Working and sharing:

• Lazy People are a Curse, Get to Work by Pastor Tim Conway
• Stop Stealing, Get to Work, Start Sharing by Pastor Tim Conway

Christian spiritual growth:

• Armor of God
• Cut Off Goliath's Head
• The bigger they are, the harder they fall
• Is Christ or Apologetics your Focus in Open-Air Preaching?
• Fasting

Some Things I Have Learnt In 50 Years by Zac Poonen:

• Some Things I Have Learnt In 50 Years by Zac Poonen - article

• Some Things I Have Learnt In 50 Years by Zac Poonen - part 1
• Some Things I Have Learnt In 50 Years by Zac Poonen - part 2
• Some Things I Have Learnt In 50 Years by Zac Poonen - part 3

Christian character:

• The Pursuit of Christian Character (2 Peter 1:5-7)
• Developing the Characteristics and Skills of a Godly Leader

Jacob/Joseph and his brothers:

• Jacob/Joseph and his brothers

Victory:

• How to be Victorious in this life; It is ONLY by Grace - Crossway
• Christ and Christians' total victory
• Biblical Foundation for Victorious Christian Living
• Living the victorious Christian life
• Victorious Christian living

Pulling down strongholds:

• Pulling down strongholds - Eric Graham, UK pastor

Sin:

• Are Christian sinners or saints?
• Be Ye Perfect by R.C. Sproule

Christ Church in Shimla, India is the second oldest church in North India.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

• Commentary on 1 John 1:8 by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
• Mathew Henry commentary on 1 John 1:8

Divine Hiddenness

• Divine Hiddenness
• Divine Hiddenness
• Divide Hiddenness - Daniel Howard-Snyder and Paul Moser (often cited, read/review it).

Modal arguments for the existence of God:

• Modal arguments for the existence of God

Comfort zone:

• Comfort Zone
• Get out of your comfort zone and evangelize - to whom much is given, much is expected.

Revivals

• Taking the surprise out of the surprising work of God
• 10 Greatest revivals ever

Sermons on revival:

• Scottish preachers and other preachers

Fruits of the Spirit

Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)

• Comprehending the Fruit of the Spirit, Compassion International

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

Love

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

• Love - Bible verses

• Love - Bible study

• Different words in the Greek translated to the word love

• Love - Bible study

Joy

• Joy - Bible study - Bible.org

• Recipe for joy

• Joy - God's word for you

Peace

• Peace - Bible verses

• Peace - Bible study

• Peace - the gift of God

• Grace and peace - Bible.org

St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Ukraine

Patience

• Patience - Bible verses

• Bible study on patience

Kindness

• Kindness - Bible study tools

• Kindness - Fruit of the Spirit

• Lovingkindness - Bible.org

• Kindness - Impact Bible study

Goodness

• The goodness of God by Bible.org

• 3 tips for fruit of spirits Goodness

• Goodness - Baker Bible Dictionary

Faithfulness

• Faithfulness - Bible.org

• Faithfulness - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

• 3 Bible tips - Fruit of faithfulness

Gentleness

• Gentleness - Bible.org

• Gentleness - Fruit of the Spirit

• Gentleness - Bible dictionary

Self-control

• Self-control - Bible.org

• Self-control - 2nd lesson at Bible.org

• 3 Bible tips for Self- control

• Self-control online Christian book - Control Yourself: Practicing the art of Self-Discipline by D.H. Kehl

Believers life and position in Christ - Romans, Ephesians and other books of the Bible

• Believer's position in Christ - Romans and other books of the Bible
• The New Life in Christ (Ephesians 4:17-32)
• A New Life With Christ Ephesians 2:1-10
• The Believer's life in Christ - Grace to you
• Praying for inner security and who Christians are in Christ
• Acceptance in Christ
• God's love vs. inner doubt

Eternal security of salvation doctrine and Calvinism vs. Arminiasm

Eternal security of salvation doctrine:

• Scriptures on Whether True Christians Can Lose Their Salvation (Cited by Arminians and Calvinists)

• Can a Christian lose salvation? - Gotquestions.org video

Calvinism vs. Arminiasm

• Calvinism vs. Arminism

• Calvinism vs Arminianism – Comparison Chart

• Calvinism & Arminianism: Controversial Passages - xenos.org

• C.S.Lewis and the Arminianism Vs. Calvinism debate. - Christianthnker.com

A Debate With Trent Horn & Dr. James White

• Can A Christian Lose Their Salvation? A Debate With Trent Horn & Dr. James White - Part 1

• Can A Christian Lose Their Salvation? A Debate With Trent Horn & Dr. James White - Part 2

Trinity - Coequal nature of the persons of the Godhead

Kottakkavu Forane Church & Pilgrim Centre, North Paravur, India

• Trinity - Coequal nature of the persons of the Godhead - Playlist

• The Coequal Godhead of the Father and the Son

• Trinity - General article on the trinity

• Athanasian Creed- General article on the Athanasian Creed

Onological trinity and economic trinity:

• Economic trinity - Don Stewart at Blue Letter Bible

• The Ontological and Economic Trinity, CARM

• What is the economic trinity?

• Doctrine of God: Trinity (Part 10): The Relationship Between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - William Lane Craig

• Economic Trinity and Ligonier updating their website - Bradley Mason

• Different aspects and issues of the trinity - Ontological, economic and hypostatic union

Messiah

• The Centrality of the Messianic Idea for the Old Testament - H.L. Ellison (British Old Testament scholar

God's wisdom vs. man's wisdom

• God's wisdom vs. man's wisdom by Dan Phillips

Supernatural vs. naturalism and miracles

• Embarrassed by the supernatural?

Healing and miracles

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church event in the United States

Divine healing:

• FF Bosworth Christ The Healer

Defense of miracles - video

• Defense of miracles - playlist

Brain health and supernatural healing

• He Had An IQ of 78. Now He Holds 7 Doctorate Degrees! - Ricky Roberts

Bible inerrancy

Robert Dick Wilson

Quotes

"I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the Old Testament. Every time when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary 'proofs' to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test" - Robert Dick Wilson, quoted in R. Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture).

"We may take the purely defensive line and endeavor to show that the general and particular attacks upon the truthfulness of the Old Testament narratives are unsupported by facts. Or, we may take the offensive and show that the Old Testament narratives are in harmony with all that is really known of the history of the world in the times described in the Old Testament records, and that these records themselves contain the ineffaceable evidence that the time and place of their origin agree with the facts recorded. The best method, perhaps, will be to make an offensive-defensive, showing not merely that the attacks are futile, but that the events recorded and the persons and things described are true to history,—that is, that they harmonize in general with what we learn from the contemporaneous documents of other nations.

This is true of the very earliest narratives of the Old Testament... From this time downward there is no good reason for doubting that the Biblical narrative is derived from written sources based on contemporaneous documents." - Robert Dick Wilson

“It is the purpose of the present volume to show that intelligent Christians have a reasonable ground forconcluding that the text of the Old Testament which we have is substantially correct, and that, in its true and obvious meaning, it has a right to be considered a part of the ‘infallible rule of faith and practice’ that we have in the Holy Scriptures.” - Robert Dick Wilson, A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament (1926)

External links

• A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament by Robert Dick Wilson, Ph.D., D.D.,
• Is the higher criticism Scholarly? By Robert Dick Wilson, Ph.D., D.D.[4][5]
• Who's in Charge Here?[6][7]
• Bibliography of the Writings of Robert Dick Wilson (1856-1930)
• Robert Dick Wilson, from Book of Daniel Study Resources
• Robert Dick Wilson Papers, at the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) Historical Center
• Humorous anecdote about Dr. Robert Dick Wilson, from inSpire (Summer/Fall 2000 issue; Vol. 5 No. 1), the magazine of Princeton Theological Seminary.
• Today in History (February 4) From Concordia Historical Institute, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
• Brief biography of Robert Dick Wilson

Bible authority - acronym: How Do We Know the Bible Is True?- British theologian Brian Edwards

Painting: Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch (1877)

• How Do We Know Bible is True ~ Christian sermon by Brian Edwards

• Accuracy demonstrates it

• Unity supports it

• Thinking minds endorse it

• Human nature requires it

• Our Savior taught it

• Revelation confirms it

• Its own claims demands it

• The character of God confirms it

• Your personal experience illustrates it

Bible

Bible exegesis

• Basic Rules for New Testament Exegesis
• How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

Application of the Bible in our lives

• Biblical self-improvment
• Biblical self-improvment - part 2

Soldiers of Christ

• B.H. Clendennen - Soldiers

• Weapons of Our Warfare by B.H. Clendennen

Bible versions

• NASB vs. ESV

• Why I Chose the ESV over the NASB

Proverbs: Chapters 1 to 4

• Proverbs Chapter 1
• Proverbs Chapter 2
• Proverbs Chapter 3
• Proverbs Chapter 4

Interesting Facts about the Bible

• Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT

Christian Inspirational videos and testimonies

The Kiss of Judas by Giotto di Bondone

• Like Eagles (Christian Music Video) with Nick Vujicic
• The challenge of Christian apologetics: We need SEALs!

Christian Video Sharing Websites and channels

• Tekton TV
• PPsimmons
• Shockawenow
• illbehonest
• Tangle
• UltimateTube
• Jesus Clips

Church leadership

• Church leadership

Evangelism

• Christian evangelism

Raising missionary support

• Raising missionary support

Missionary organizations

• The Mission Society

• Center for Mission mobilization

India and Christian evangelism

• Is India the Fastest-Growth Gospel Territory? Charisma News, 2012

• What Do Christians in India Need Most? A: 'Give Us Friends' (Pt. 1)

• What Do Christians in India Need Most? A: 'Give Us Friends' (Pt. 2)

• Christians in India's Madhya Pradesh Attacked, Arrested for Evangelism Work

Related essays

• Wisely choosing a religion

Child evangelism movement/Ministries to children

• Every Child Ministries

• Stand4kids

Evangelism opportunities related to Western immigrants

• Immigration to Western world countries broken down by country/regions

Korea's second largest missionary organization

University Bible Fellowship (UBF)—Korea’s second largest missionary sending agency:

"Even in Korea, UBF is seen as unique, though it is a mainstream evangelical group. Kim says repeatedly that its members “are hyper-Korean evangelicals—Korean evangelicals on steroids. They are more theologically conservative, intensively devotional, enthusiastic about evangelism, and more hierarchically organized than most of all the other already conservative, devoted, and hierarchically organized Korean evangelicals.”

This devotion has inspired thousands of missionaries—especially those who were formed by a militarized culture that feared war with North Korea. Without any financial support, they sacrificed a great deal in order to evangelize on American and other Western college campuses. Kim interviews doctors and other professionals who gave up careers in Korea to become janitors in America, all in the hopes of finding converts who could lead America back to Jesus.

UBF maintains high demands for its missionaries. They hold full-time jobs rather than receive support, and missionaries use their off hours, holidays, and vacations to evangelize on college campuses. Their training is military-like, requiring a “soldier spirit.” Missionaries described training as “boot camp,” complete with jogging and pushups, but also intensive Bible study and evangelism. Early missionaries had to report in public meetings the number of students they invited to study the Bible, how many accepted, and how many students were currently studying the Bible with them. Missionaries who had the most “sheep” were raised to leadership positions."[8]

Christian leadership

Asia

• Asia needs leaders

Christian website stats

• Alexa - Top Christian websites

Israel

• GOD'S HAND IN THE SIX DAY WAR
• Miracles God performed in Israel Against All Odds Part 1-13
• Israel Fulfilling Bible Prophecy - 1 of 6

Christian relief organizations and charities

• Childcare Worldwide

Church internet evangelism

• 25% of new church members from internet marketing

Religious belief and internet usage

• The Good News About Evangelicalism: Evangelicalism isn’t shrinking and the young are not becoming liberals by Byron Johnson, February 2011

• Research shows a significant amount of American nondenominational church members are checking "unaffiliated" or "no religion" on surveys

• No, the Internet Is Not Killing Religion in America

• How the Internet Is Taking Away America’s Religion

Church Growth modeling and How a church body becomes more liberal in the West

• Liberal and conservative churches

• Church growth modeling

Christian music

Bach:

• Article: Johann Sebastian Bach - Christian history

Christianity stats

• Christianity stats

Africa, fertility rates and growth of Christianity in Africa

• Africa will have the most Christians in 2050 if present fertility rates in Africa continue

Christianity

• The Twilight of Atheism: The Global Triumph of Christianity DINESH D'SOUZA

Historical:

• The Great Appeal
• Christian life and the character of civil institutions

Christian apologetics:

• Apologetics 315
• Christian apologetics - We need SEALS

Global resurgence of religion

• The return of religion

• Desecularization articles

Effects on politics

• The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations: The Struggle for the Soul of the Twenty-First Century (Culture and Religion in International Relations) by Scott Thomas

• God's partisans are back - Chronicles of higher education

Christianity around the world

China and Christianity

• China’s Dangerous Move to Re-write the Bible

Prayer movement mentioned. And info on China's underground church.

The Chinese communist party is re-writing the bible. The new scripture attempts to portray Jesus in a different light. It's all part of a 10-year plan to force Chinese citizens to have faith in the Chinese communist party rather than a religion. Tina Ramirez is the founder and president of Hardwired - a group that has been a vocal critic of the Chinese communist party and its persecution of religious groups and political minorities. She joined us on The Prayer Link to talk about her mission to educate leaders around the world on the concept of pluralism.

History of Christianity

• History of the Christian Church - Diarmaid McCcullough'

Amerrican religion/irreligion GSS

• GSS Data

• GSS belief in God/irreligion

Contemporary Christianity history

Descent from the Cross, depicted by Rubens

Evangelical Protestants

• Evangelical Protestants Are The Biggest Winners When People Change Faiths

American Christianity

• How Will Religious Faith Shape The ‘Birth Dearth,’ And Vice Versa, 2023

• God is not dead, 2022

• 2023: Predictions about the decline of Christianity in America may be premature, CNN, April 2023

• 2022: Tim Keller on the Decline and Renewal of the American Church

• State of Christianity/religion in the USA, The Federalist, 2019

• 2017: New Harvard Research Says U.S. Christianity Is Not Shrinking, But Growing Stronger.[9] The percentage of church-attending Americans relative to overall population is more than four times greater today than it was in 1776.

• STUDY: Conservative Christianity Grows Stronger in the US

• The Death of Religion and the Rise of Faith By Will Lon, Harvard Political Review, February 15, 2015

• Religiosity in the U.S. saw a modest decline but there is a great deal of stability. And in some ways, there are more devout Americans, Pew Research, November 2015

• Myths about the American church

• Hope for a more Christian future in the United States

Problems with American Christianity

The Juvenilization of American Christianity

• The Juvenilization of American Christianity

• Here to Maturity: Overcoming the Juvenilization of American Christianity

Mega churches

• The Dark World of Megachurches

Large churches

• King's Cathedral and Chapels

American Roman Catholicism

• Pew survey: Percentage of US Catholics drops and Catholicism is losing members faster than any denomination

Christianity and Global Christianity news

• 2022: 7 encouraging trends of global Christianity in 2022

• Center for the Study of Global Christianity - news

• Global Christianity news

• An Interview with Dr. Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History, on Global Christianity (Part 1)

• Prof. Jenkins: Christianity heads back to its roots, 12/2014

• Christianity experiencing explosive growth in Africa

Christianity and the global south

• Christianity sees surge of growth in Global South, IMB research shows

African Christianity

• Global Christianity: Africa

• African Christianity Rising

• Christianity in Africa

• REVIVAL IN NORTH AFRICA

• Evangelism in Nigeria

Global Christianity stats

2015

• 7 Figures: Statistics on Global Christianity

• World Christianity by the numbers

• Christianity by the Numbers: What Do New Projections Say About the Future of Religion? (likely misinterpreted European numbers, actually a percentage of world Christendom)

• Status of global Christianity report 2015 - Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Center for Global Christianity

Global Christianity vs. Global Islam

• Big picture: Global Christianity/Global Islam and 2050

Islam: The signs of a big decline

• Total COLLAPSE of ISLAM Begins Now!, 2025

Look at the review of this video: What are the strengths and weaknesses of this video: https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtNA%3D%3D_b2c49a5a-f3ee-42d2-8260-4b00490ff9ac

Religious demographics for the 21st century

• Here’s the Best Prediction Yet of How Christianity and Islam Will Change Worldwide by 2050, Christianity Today, 2015

• Pew - The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050

• Alister McGrath's Predictions About the Future of Atheism

Christianity, Islam, and Europe

• Book Review: God’s Continent: Christianity, Islam, and Europe’s Religious Crisis by Philip Jenkins

Christian apologetics initiatives

• Lee Strobel, Colleagues at HBU Launch Center for American Evangelism, Hope to Address Crisis of Skepticism

• Alex McFarland - Stand Strong Initiative

Contacts:

Michael F. Felker

• Profile - Michael F. Felker

• Michael Felker

Christian apologetics - Google site

• Christian apologetics - Google site

Christian apologetics events

• National Apologetics Conference Kicks Off Stressing Destructive Ideas, God's Answers

Christian apologetics videos

• Amazing Evidence For God – Scientific Evidence

Christian apologetics books

• Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith by Douglas Groothuis

• 5 best books on apologetics

• True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism by Tom Gilson (Editor), Carson Weitnauer (Editor)

Christian apologetics and atheism:

• The Atheist Who Didn't Exist by Andy Bannister

• Andy Bannister

Christian apologetics organizations/websites

• Alex McFarland

• Tom Gilson and Thinking Christian - about

• Top Christian apologists

• The Christian Worldview Center

• Come Reason Ministries

• Shandon Guthrie

• Top Christian apologetics websites - Alexa

Christian apologetics related material

• 7 Reasons Why Apologetics Might Be Good

• Apologetics video clips for small groups

• Introduction To Integrated Christian Apologetics, Dr. Johnson C. Philip & Dr. Saneesh Cherian

• Critical Thinking: Developing an Effective World View by Gary Jason

• Reasoning and rhetoric in religion

• Alister McGrath: Is faith reasonable? What are the limitations of reason which revelation informs us about? For example, what is the meaning of life? Why are we here? Like coherent and reasonable things to believe based on Christianity having evidence in other areas, but which cannot be proven empirically. Believing in things due to the inference to best explanation (inductive inference and deductive inference). Christianity offers a big picture view of things that makes sense of the world. Atheism is an emaciated and bleak worldview.[10]

• 'Why God Won't Go Away' by Alister McGrath (Discusses the background and triggers for the New Atheism, the New Atheism, the Christian response and the aftermath of peak period of the New Atheism)

Christian apologetics online articles

Historicity of the New Testament

• Chapter Five: The Historicity of the New Testament - Excerpt from Scaling the Secular City by J.P. Moreland

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

• Evidence for the Resurrection of Christ by Peter Kreeft and Fr. Ronald Tacell

• Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Christ - Xenos Christian Fellowship

• Evidence for the resurrection by Josh McDowell

• Evidence for the resurrection by desiringgod.com

• Debate about the resurrection - Craig vs. Ehrman

Resurrection of Jesus Christ Videos

• William Lane Craig: The Evidence for Jesus's Resurrection - Video

• Evidence for the resurrection and other data relating to Jesus - YouTube playlist of 49 videos

• Evidence for the resurrection

Defense of miracles - video

• Defense of miracles - playlist

Leonhard Euler

• A DEFENSE OF THE REVELATION AGAINST THE OBJECTIONS OF FREETHINKERS BY Leonhard Euler

Biblical creationism

Germany has one of the best organized and vocal creationist presence in Europe.[11]

Grok the evolutionist vs. the biblical creationist User: Conservative

• Grok the evolutionist vs. the biblical creationist User: Conservative, Grok 10-27-2025. I declare total victory!

Philosophical/cultural apologetics

• Dr. Ravi Zacharias explains consequences to ideas - Looks at various decades and ideas/philosophies and their cultural impact

Archaeology

• Evidence for the Israelite Sojourn in Egypt

Christian apologetics websites

• Christian apologetics websites

• Apologetics 315

Tyre Bible prophecy

• Prophetic Fulfillments That Are Irrefutable: Or, A Tale of Two Cities - The Destruction of Tyre

• Defense of Tyre prophecy

• Tyre prophecy - prophetic accuracy

Creation/ID apologetics

Video:

• Darwin's Dilemma

Creationist website stats

• Answers In Genesis

• Creation Ministries International

• ICR.org

Dealing with doubt

• Dealing with doubt - playlist

C.S. Lewis on Bible criticism

• C.S. LEWIS ON BIBLICAL CRITICISM

Millennials and Christianity

Millennials, therapy vs. faith and rates of depression and psychological/emotional problems

• Report: Atheist Millennials Trade Faith for Therapy

Millennials and rates of depression and psychological/emotional problems

• Why are so many millennials depressed? A therapist points the finger at Mom and Dad.

Protestantism vs. Catholicism

Protestant work ethic

• Protestant v Catholic: which countries are more successful?, Guardian, 2011

• This column will change your life: The Protestant work ethic, Guardian, 2010

Also, this 2011 Telegraph article said: "Either way, not a single Protestant or Germanic EU country has so far needed a bailout."Yet another Catholic country needs a bailout from the Protestant north…, Telegraph

Are there good arguments that Eurozone crisis that mostly strongly originated and affected the PIGS countries (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) was tied to Catholicism and the Protestant countries were not affected as much (Protestants are more likely have the Protestant work ethic)?

Summary section:

"Across all queries, the hypothesis that the Eurozone crisis’s impact on PIGS countries was tied to Catholicism and a lack of PWE finds some support in cultural narratives and historical data (e.g., Becker’s education focus, West’s corruption/trust divides). Media and populist rhetoric during 2009–2015 amplified Protestant-Catholic stereotypes, portraying northern discipline against southern profligacy. However, these arguments are overshadowed by robust counterevidence: structural flaws in the eurozone (e.g., inability to devalue currency), global financial shocks, and pre-crisis overborrowing explain disparities better than religion. Empirical data—e.g., no consistent Protestant productivity edge, Ireland’s recovery, Catholic successes like Austria—challenge Weber’s thesis, as do modern studies (e.g., 2023 Becker paper, 2017 critiques). While cultural lenses like education or trust offer partial insights, they risk essentialism and oversimplification. The crisis was primarily an economic and institutional failure, with religion a minor, historically distant factor amplified by divisive narratives."

"Woodberry already had historical proof that missionaries had educated women and the poor, promoted widespread printing, led nationalist movements that empowered ordinary citizens, and fueled other key elements of democracy. Now the statistics were backing it up: Missionaries weren't just part of the picture. They were central to it...

Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.

In short: Want a blossoming democracy today? The solution is simple—if you have a time machine: Send a 19th-century missionary."- Christianity Today, Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries, January 8, 2014

Catholicism and moral corruption

• The Catholic Church is a corrupt joke. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits

Protestantism vs. Catholicism and political corruption

• WILL 10% MORE PROTESTANTS LEAD TO LESS CORRUPTION?

Other data related contemporary Catholic corruption

See: The Dakotas, the USA states with the highest percentage of Lutherans, are the most pro-life states in the USA

Michael Voorhees' YouTube channel ChurchMilitant.com (A very staunch Catholic YouTube channel) recently said on multiple occasions that homosexual clergy/leadership is still a significant problem in the Catholic church as can be seen at Pope's Fraternity Fest Flaunts Semi-Nude Gay Dancer | Rome Dispatch (produced 1 month ago) and Top Cardinal: Don't Blame Gay Priests For Sex Abuse | Rome Dispatch (produced 1 month ago) and Catholic — News Report — Priest Taps Jewish Scholar to Defend Homosexuality (Produced 10 months ago) and The Vortex — It's Homosexuality, Stupid! (produced one year ago) and The Vortex — Homosexual Hierarchy (Produced 2 years ago).

Religion statistics

• Religion statistics

Francis Schaefer

"Every man has built a roof over his head to shield himself at the point of tension...The Christian lovingly, must remove the shelter and allow the truth of the external world and of what man is to beat upon him. When the roof is off, each man must stand naked and wounded before the truth of what is...He must come to know that his roof is a false protection from the storm of what is." - Francis Schaeffer

Quotes relating to the Bible

"I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the Old Testament. Every time when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary 'proofs' to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test" - Robert Dick Wilson (quoted in R. Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture).

Other religion

• Other religions

Online biblical training

Online biblical training - UK organizations

• Porterbrook Network

Theological education trends

• Global survey of theological education trends - Shortage of inexpensive theological seminaries in areas where Christianity is growing fast

• Online Master of Divinity programs

• Gordon-Conwell online degree

• Biblical creation friendly colleges

English speaking theological seminaries outside of US, Canada, UK and NZ

• List of evangelical seminaries around the world

Philippines:

• Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST). is a consortium of evangelical seminaries in the Philippines established by Asia Theological Association

• Philippines theological seminaries

• Join Trinity for an unforgetable experience

Free theological degree

• Trinity Graduate School for Apologetics and Theology - The First School To Offer Free Apologetics/Theology Graduate Distance Programs. Trinity has over 40 international, highly qualified, and highly experienced faculty members and mentors.

• Why Free Graduate Theology Programs - Trinity Graduate School for Apologetics and Theology

• Join Trinity for an unforgetable experience

Christianity and the rule of law

• The Christian foundations of the rule of law in the West: a legacy of liberty and resistance against tyranny

Christianity to do list

• Christianity - to do list
• ChristianityFR

Religious essays

• Why did the atheistic Communist massacres befall Russia? - Men have forgotten God

Various Christian websites

• Christian websites

Prosperity gospel mega churches with high overhead expenses and building debt

"The depression had a devastating effect on the Churches as well as on the nation. In the optimistic flush of the 1920's many congregations had built new edifices far too large and expensive. When the depression hit, they found themselves unable to pay. Most carried their huge debts; a few rejected their obligation, thus bringing shame on the Christian Church. Colleges and publishing houses, missionary enterprises, and the social work of the Churches were all hard hit by the depression. Many an institution of the Church lost its endowment in the financial crash and had to close or had to drastically cut back its activities."[12]

"Is your church in deep debt and strapped with high overhead related to staff and other expenses? How will this affect some of the megachurches that have such high operating costs? Will churches have to lay ministers off and/or default on construction loans if offerings dip? While the Bible says that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church, it doesn't mean that individual churches do not get into financial trouble and have to contract their ministries if they were not wise in the past."[13]

• Dealing with less prosperity, Mac Hammond's church cuts back

Research on Christianity

• Institute for Study of Religion - Baylor University

• The Center for the Study of Global Christianity

Research on Christianity videos

• Baylor ISR - Byron R. Johnson- End of Religion? (May 5, 2015)

Religious demography projections research

• A religious forecast for 2050: Atheism is down, Islam is rising

Collapse of liberal Christianity

• Collapse of American Episcopal Christianity

Benedict option

"Are we Rome?... Bureaucratic decay, massive public debt, an overstretched military, a political system seemingly incapable of responding to challenges—the late Roman empire suffered these maladies, and so, some fear, does contemporary America...

Rising hedonism.. ongoing break-up of the family, and a general loss of cultural coherence—to traditionalists, these are signs of a possible Dark Age ahead....

Rome’s collapse meant staggering loss. People forgot how to read, how to farm, how to govern themselves, how to build houses, how to trade, and even what it had once meant to be a human being. Behind monastery walls, though, in their chapels, scriptoriums, and refectories, Benedict’s monks built lives of peace, order, and learning and spread their network throughout Western Europe.

They did not keep the fruits of their labors to themselves. Benedictines taught the peasants who gathered around their monasteries the Christian faith, as well as practical skills, like farming."[14]

Related Scriptures

"Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." - 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12

"No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." - 1 Timothy 2:4

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12: 9-21

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:4-8

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Avoid needless contention with fools

"A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly." - Proverbs 17: 10,12

"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes." - Proverbs 26: 4-5

"The ministry of apologetics is difficult for many reasons. One such reason is that, by its very nature, apologetics requires us to present answers to people who don’t believe the gospel and who may have strong feelings or opinions against what we are saying. This aspect of apologetics discourages many people from doing it...

In my experience some unbelievers are open to reason and evidence, often because they are in a process of moving from belief to unbelief (though it’s impossible for us to “peg” such people infallibly)...

The book of Proverbs gives us very clear guidance to help us recognize when we are dealing with a fool.

Three characteristics stand out.

1. Fools always think they are right in such a way that they are unwilling to learn from others (Proverbs 12:15; 18:2). Thinking you’re right doesn’t make you a fool; speaking as though no one can possibly teach you anything does make you a fool.

2. Fools are not merely those who don’t understand, but rather are those who are unable to understand because of their distaste for wisdom (Proverbs 23:9). Not all who are ignorant are fools. Ignorance can be cured by imparting knowledge; foolishness cannot. The fool doesn’t merely disagree with the truth?he expresses an inability to understand even elementary truths.

3. Fools respond with hostility and anger or with laughter and ridicule (Proverbs 29:9). When people react emotionally to the truth, either angrily or scornfully, they are fools. A merely ignorant person expresses puzzlement or confusion; the fool, even after misunderstandings have been clearly addressed, continues to mock, scorn, or attack the truth as something he considers stupid or evil or both." - Don't fool with fools by Tracy Bach

Bible difficulties

"The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him." - Solomon, (Proverbs 18:17 NASB)

• Inerrancy of the Bible

• Defending inerrancy website
• Contradictions in the Bible?, Answers in Genesis
• Inerrancy and the Test of Truth, Answers in Genesis
• Christian Debater
• Tekton Apologetics Ministries
• On the Inerrancy of Scripture - Licentiate thesis by Thomas Bolin
• Why is it important to believe in biblical inerrancy?, by GotQuestions
• Does the inerrancy of the Bible only apply to the original manuscripts?, by GotQuestions

• Tetkon TV

General:

• Analyzing Bible Difficulties by Dr. Johnson C. Philip & Dr. Saneesh Cherian
• Defending inerrancy website
• A SEISMIC SHIFT IN THE INERRANCY DEBATE by Norman L. Geisler & Douglas E. Potter

2 Samuel 24:9 and 1 Chronicles 21:5

• Is there a contradiction between 2 Samuel 24:9 and 1 Chronicles 21:5, when the number of soldiers Joab counts comes up different?

• How many men in Israel's army?, Tektonics

• How many fighting men did Joab count in Israel and Judah? II Samuel 24:9 says 800,000 and 500,000; but I Chronicles 21:5 says 1,100,000 and 470,000.

• Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:5

• John Gill commentary - 2 Samuel 24:9

• Census of David

Egypt's 40-Year Desolation - Ezekiel 29:12-13

Fulfilled:

• Egypt's 40-Year Desolation - Ezekiel 29:12-13 - Prophecy headlines

• EZEKIEL 29:8-12 PREDICTS THAT EGYPT WOULD BE DESOLATE FOR 40 YEARS, WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN?, Bibleask.com

• Egypt's 40 years of desolation fulfilled Commentary on the Bible, by Adam Clarke 1831

Fulfilled or conditionality depending on repentance:

• JP Holding and work of H.L. Ellison (British Old Testament scholar)

Future:

• Egypt’s 40 Year Desolation

• Why does Ezekiel 29 say that Egypt will be uninhabitable for 40 years?

• EGYPT IN PROPHECY

Unknown whether past or future:

• Ezekiel Predicts 40-years of Egyptian Deportation

Christian YouTube channels

• Christian YouTube channels

Christian humor

Christian satire/humor

• Babylon Bee
• Horrified Joel Osteen Learns About Crucifixion
• Ken Ham’s Ark Replica Taken Into Heaven

Explosive growth of the early Christian church

Origin and growth of the early Christian church

• Origin and Growth of the Early Christian Church

Jesus Christ and his apostles taught a gospel of love.

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

1. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 1

2. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 2

3. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 3

4. Did Jesus rise from the dead? - Part 4

The Resurrection of Jesus: A Look at the Evidence

• The Resurrection of Jesus: A Look at the Evidence

Triumph of the Gospel of Love

• Triumph of the Gospel of Love

The Impossible Faith: A Defense of the Resurrection

• The Impossible Faith: A Defense of the Resurrection (scroll down to see)

Shockofgod

• 20 Reasons Christianity Is True - Mark Mittelberg
• The Reasons Christians are Right

The fire at York Minster, July 9th 1984

• The fire at York Minster, July 9th 1984

Church pictures

Kottakkavu Church of St. Thomas

North Dakota church

Steve Samson

Steve Sampson on running the good race

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." - The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

May 2020 Newsletter:

When I was in high school I was on the track team. At the end of one long distance race, I sprinted the last two hundred yards to the finish line. The coach yelled at me, “Sampson, you had too much left.” I knew immediately what he meant. If I had run the race harder, I wouldn’t have had so much remaining energy at the end of the race, and I would have had better results.

If we conserve too much energy during our race here on earth, then we will enter eternity with too much left—energy that could have been used for our race for the kingdom.

While so many people are declaring repentance is needed by the church during this Covid 19 virus, I began to ask the Lord of what I should repent. I’m not living in sin, rebellion and worldliness, so why should I repent? The Lord began to challenge me on these seven areas. I hope these will minister to you. They all start with the letter ‘P’ which makes it easier to remember.

1. Planning and Preparation—Are you guilty of aimless living? Do you aimlessly wander through each day, without a specific purpose? Are you setting goals?

If we live “unplugged” we can waste a year, or five years. Time goes by quickly.

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” II Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

2. Priorities—How are you spending your time? Are you taking the path of least resistance? Do you take time to sort out what is of most importance? Busyness is not fruitfulness. Prioritizing is living with responsibility and purpose.

3. Prayer—Is prayer a priority in your life? How much time to you spend in the presence of God? Have you prayed for people who have requested prayer? Have you sought the Lord about who and what to pray? Prayerlessness has to be challenged.

4. Procrastination—Have you put off doing things God told you to do. Have you made the effort to organize? Have you put off completing a project or finishing a goal you set in the past?

5. Pushing through—Do you discipline yourself? Do you study? Do you exercise? Do you make good food choices? Do you push through to complete a project? Do you resist the devil? Do you resist negative thoughts? Jesus said,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

6. Passivity or Laziness—Are you passive about setting goals? Are you lazy regarding confronting a person, dealing with a situation, or finishing a project? Are you lazy about making yourself available to the Holy Spirit?

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.” Matthew 25:26 NKJV

7. Pressures or Distractions—Are you caught up in distractions and consumed with activities that aren’t that important?

“And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled(distracted) about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:41-42 NKJV

Maybe like me, you don’t want to enter eternity with “too much left,” and you long to hear the words, “Well done you good and faithful servant.” Let’s take this time to seek the Lord on what areas of our life need repentance.

Steve Sampson Ministries May 2020 newsletter

May 2020 Newsletter:

When I was in high school I was on the track team. At the end of one long distance race, I sprinted the last two hundred yards to the finish line. The coach yelled at me, “Sampson, you had too much left.” I knew immediately what he meant. If I had run the race harder, I wouldn’t have had so much remaining energy at the end of the race, and I would have had better results.

If we conserve too much energy during our race here on earth, then we will enter eternity with too much left—energy that could have been used for our race for the kingdom.

While so many people are declaring repentance is needed by the church during this Covid 19 virus, I began to ask the Lord of what I should repent. I’m not living in sin, rebellion and worldliness, so why should I repent? The Lord began to challenge me on these seven areas. I hope these will minister to you. They all start with the letter ‘P’ which makes it easier to remember.

1. Planning and Preparation —Are you guilty of aimless living? Do you aimlessly wander through each day, without a specific purpose? Are you setting goals?

If we live “unplugged” we can waste a year, or five years. Time goes by quickly.

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” II Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

2. Priorities —How are you spending your time? Are you taking the path of least resistance? Do you take time to sort out what is of most importance? Busyness is not fruitfulness. Prioritizing is living with responsibility and purpose.

3. Prayer —Is prayer a priority in your life? How much time to you spend in the presence of God? Have you prayed for people who have requested prayer? Have you sought the Lord about who and what to pray? Prayerlessness has to be challenged.

4. Procrastination — Have you put off doing things God told you to do. Have you made the effort to organize? Have you put off completing a project or finishing a goal you set in the past?

5. Pushing through —Do you discipline yourself? Do you study? Do you exercise? Do you make good food choices? Do you push through to complete a project? Do you resist the devil? Do you resist negative thoughts? Jesus said,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

6. Passivity or Laziness —Are you passive about setting goals? Are you lazy regarding confronting a person, dealing with a situation, or finishing a project? Are you lazy about making yourself available to the Holy Spirit?

“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.” Matthew 25:26 NKJV

7. Pressures or Distractions — Are you caught up in distractions and consumed with activities that aren’t that important?

“And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled(distracted) about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:41-42 NKJV

Maybe like me, you don’t want to enter eternity with “too much left,” and you long to hear the words, “Well done you good and faithful servant.” Let’s take this time to seek the Lord on what areas of our life need repentance.

Faith, works and salvation

Sola Gratia - By grace alone. Council of Orange in 529 affirmed Sola Gratia.

Sola Fide - By faith alone

Sola Gratia articles

• Is Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) Also Catholic Teaching?

Articles on the importance of works

• Faith and Work(s) (James 2:14–26)

• What does James 2:24 mean?

Not sure what position these articles take yet

• What Does It Mean that We’re “Justified By Works”? (James 2) - CrossWay website

• Do Paul and James Disagree on Justification by Faith Alone?, Gospel Coalition website

• Wait, I Thought We Were Justified by Faith Alone - Church website article

Faith alone article. Not a very good article. But it's a start

• Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works?, Gotquestions.org

Real presence theology

• Fathers of the Church on the Eucharist by Fr. Burns K. Seeley, S.S.J.C., Ph.D.

• The Early Christians Believed in the Real Presence

• 20 Key Eucharist Verses in the Bible

Eucharist is not merely symbolic graphics

St. Clement of Alexandria on the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is not merely symbolic graphic

Eastern Orthodox countries, and their history (Under the Mongols, etc.), statism, capitalism and the West

• Are Orthodox Christians naturally statists?

• ‘What’s The Matter With Orthodox Countries?’

• The Orthodox Christianity remains stuck, Protestant/Catholicism is growing in the world, Orthodox Christianity is shrinking in the world

• ORTHODOXY, CAPITALISM, AND “THE WEST”

• Orthodox Christianity and Capitalism: Are They Compatible?

• Orthodox Christianity And Capitalism: Are They Compatible?

• “The Orthodox Spirit and the Ethic of Capitalism”: A Case Study on Serbia and Montenegro and the Serbian Orthodox Church

• Explosive Growth Of Russian Orthodox Church Has Left It Corrupt And Backward – OpEd

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia

Theological arguments against Eastern Orthodoxy

• Five Reasons I Am Not Eastern Orthodox
• A Luthern response to Eastern Orthodoxy

Israel/Christian relations

• Jerusalem Christians say attacks on the rise
• Christians in Jerusalem face escalating threat of assault and harassment, 06.07.23
• Israel Foreign Ministry to boycott event focused on spitting attacks against Christians in Jerusalem, May 31, 2023

Parachurch organizations

Global Alliance for Church Multiplication

• Global Alliance for Church Multiplication

Ignite Prayer Action

• Ignite Prayer Action

• Go gather with the gospel - Contact person related to Global Media Outreach

Debate

• Does Consciousness Extend Beyond Brains? The 2023 Holberg Debate, feat. Seth, Luhrman, & Sheldrake.

Heresies

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

"Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) is a term coined by sociologist Christian Smith to describe a popular worldview among young Americans. It blends elements of morality, therapeutic relief, and deism, suggesting a distant God who primarily exists to make people happy and good. MTD emphasizes personal happiness and well-being, with God viewed as a distant entity who intervenes only to resolve problems."[15]

Articles:

• What is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD)? by Got Questions Ministries
• Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
• Counterfeit Christianity: ‘Moralistic Therapeutic Deism’ Most Popular Worldview in U.S. Culture, Arizon Christian University
• Heresies: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, St. Paul Milica
• Moralistic Therapeutic Deism–the New American Religion by Albert Mohler
• The Rise and Triumph of Therapeutic Theology