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Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Christian Life Stephanie Delger Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: I was the perfect mom—before I had kids. I thought I had everything all figured out, and it was going to be great. Fast forward nine months, and I realized how wrong I was. Many friends and family members called and offered to bring over a meal while I adjusted to being a new mom. At first, I declined their offers, letting them know that I had everything under control. But as the days went by, the laundry pile got higher and higher, the refrigerator got emptier and emptier, and my patience with my colicky daughter grew thinner and thinner. I needed help, and things were not going well. I felt that I had failed at being a mom. That was the first time I can remember being crippled by mom guilt. The reason mom guilt can be so hard to fight is that it looks and sounds different depending on the situation or season. But the reactions are always the same. We feel discouraged, hurt, and frustrated as we walk away. We often feel mom guilt for a variety of reasons. Most often, I believe we feel mom guilt because we believe a lie, have misplaced our identity, or are experiencing conviction from the Holy Spirit. When we can figure out why we are experiencing the guilt, it becomes easier for us to become unburdened from it. Believing Lies We often believe the lie that we shouldn’t need help. This can cause us to feel mom guilt in a couple of ways. We either feel guilty for accepting help because it makes us feel like a failure, or we feel guilty for saying yes and letting those helping us see our (perceived) failures. Either way, we feel ashamed and conclude that we are bad moms. The truth is that it is natural and good to recognize our need for help. Accepting help is actually a reflection of the gospel. At the center of the gospel is the truth that all humans need help. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We can replace the lie of thinking we don’t need help with the truth that all people need help. Needing help doesn’t make us bad moms. Rather, it can remind us how “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) By acknowledging that we need help, we can be reminded that in our deepest, darkest hours, God is there, ready to help us. In a very practical way, he often helps us through the hands and feet of our friends and family members. Recognizing these lies allows us to embrace the truth and release unnecessary guilt. Misplaced Identity Beyond the lies we believe, our misplaced identity can also lead to feelings of guilt. This can happen when we place our identity in motherhood rather than in God. As Christians, our identity and worth are not determined by what we do but by who God says we are. God tells us that “[we] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” (1 Peter 2:9) God loves us not because we have done something to deserve it, but simply because He has chosen to. (Ephesians 1:4-6) This means that we do not have to try to prove to God that we were worth saving by being a great mom. Of course, God desires that we love our children and wants us to teach them about his goodness and the salvation he offers. But our motive to do these things cannot be to earn favor with God but should be done out of love for Him and gratitude for all he has done for us. While motherhood is a gift from God, we cannot treat motherhood like it is our god. Our identity is first and foremost based on who God says we are, not on what we do. When we place too much emphasis on being a mom and not enough on being a follower of God, mom guilt can rear its ugly head. Conviction from the Holy Spirit When our identity is misplaced, we might find ourselves acting out of pride, insecurity, or fear, rather than from a place of faith and trust in God. This is where the Holy Spirit steps in. The Holy Spirit gently and lovingly convicts us, reminding us of our true identity in Christ and guiding us to align our hearts with God’s truth. Sometimes, the mom guilt we experience is actually the Holy Spirit revealing areas in our lives where we need to shift our focus back to God. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit was sent to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8) This conviction is not meant to condemn us but to draw us closer to God. We can respond by turning back to God, confessing our need for his guidance, and trusting in his forgiveness. In doing so, we move from guilt to grace, finding freedom in the truth of the gospel. Seeing our sin, we can come to God, knowing that when we ask for forgiveness, he will give it. When we do this, our sins are forgiven. Jesus has paid for them on the cross and bore the full punishment of what we deserved, leaving none for us to carry. We can remind ourself that “As far as the east is from the west, so far does [God] remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) As Christian moms, we can have freedom from the mom guilt or the condemnation we feel by reminding ourselves of the gospel. When God forgives our sins, we are truly free. We can live our lives sharing and teaching our children about the goodness of the Lord, feeling unburdened from guilt through the gospel of Jesus Christ. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

Think Tattoo Not Nail-Polish Ministry Cheyenne Werner Women's Ministry Director Peace Church Published On: November 1, 2023 Women’s Bible Study books are as numerous as nail polish color options. But unlike lacquer that can be removed with a swipe of acetone, Women’s Bible studies have a tattoo-like imprint on ladies’ lives. With that kind of enduring influence, curating curricula is worthy of careful consideration. So what factors should Women’s Ministry leaders consider when choosing a curriculum? Two categories come to mind: Structure and Substance. Details like time, duration, and “homework load” often make a difference in how invested women can be. And yet if the content is confusing, overwhelming, unsound, or distracting from the Gospel – then women will leave with a counterfeit understanding of God’s Word, of who He is, and of what He is like. Let’s walk through three factors from each of these two categories, starting with Structure. Time . There’s a reason why kids’ sports seasons are typically limited to 6-8 week sessions. As a busy mom, 1.5-2 months feels like a feasible commitment, and allows for a couple weeks’ break before the next busy season. In Michigan, where the school year starts at the end of August, 8 weeks is the sweet spot to give ladies a few weeks to get their families into the school-groove before adding on Bible Study and still ending before Thanksgiving. Most Bible study books fall in the 6-10 week range. Consider your context. Do seasons, school years, or holidays impact the availability of your women? While it may seem “unspiritual” to make such a big deal of this factor, you may be limiting the population of women able to attend if duration isn’t taken into account. Type . Some Bible studies use Christian non-fiction books that have discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Other Bible Studies use workbooks that have daily passages to read, along with commentary and/or questions to guide women to an understanding of the passage. Both are instrumental in discipleship. Generally, however, they are the difference between “giving a [woman] a fish” (i.e. using non-fiction chapter books) and “teaching a [woman] to fish” (i.e. using Bible study workbooks). A beginner fisherwoman is going to get pretty hungry and despairing if she’s expected to only eat the fish she catches herself. But if she never learns to “fish” by studying the Bible on her own, she’s always going to be dependent on others to tell her what to get from God’s Word. A thoughtful strategy to what types of studies you use at your church matters! Teaching-format. Video-teaching has become pretty standard for women’s Bible study curricula. One of the greatest benefits to using video-teaching is access to insight from the author themselves! This can help create aha-moments for women who were stuck on a particular question or passage during the week, and it also helps women feel more connected with the person behind the written word. At the same time, don’t write off digital-free Bible studies! One of the most compelling and well-received “teaching” formats we have used at Peace Church is having two women on stage share about the “highlights and hard-things” they encountered while reading through that week’s passage. Considering these structural factors will help narrow down your selection base. Now let’s filter these options through the lens of Substance: Scripture . A “Bible study” should (drum roll please…) study the Bible (and not just an inspiring topic with scattered, isolated verses)! While there are topical Bible studies that are well anchored to scripture, women are more likely to do those studies on their own or with a friend. Structured, scheduled Bible Study is a chance to train believers to build Bible-literacy by digging into whole chapters and books of the Bible at a time and grappling with tricky passages together that they might otherwise skip over. In fact, there is a massive misunderstanding that the Old Testament is disposable. As you’re considering what part of scripture to study, remember to teach and model that “ all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man [and woman] of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever do topical studies. But be strategic about what topics and books of the Bible you choose! Source . The only cover-feature more alluring than an illustrated sprig of eucalyptus is the name of everyone’s favorite Christian female author. But before you appease the mob of women requesting a certain book by a certain source, do your research! Make sure that any source you are using is trustworthy and written with sound theology. Invite your pastors to make author suggestions or evaluate books you’re considering. Find articles, podcasts, or interviews of both male and female authors who have written studies on the book of the Bible or topic that you want to dig into with your ladies. Scope. If you’ve narrowed down every one of these earlier categories, then the next thing to consider is whether the scope of the study is a good match for the span of your women. A curriculum should always include an explanation of the Gospel; a demonstration of the cohesion of Scripture through faithful cross-referencing; contextual information to help guard ladies from misinterpretation; questions that reach both the heart and mind; teaching that addresses both sin and grace; and content that magnifies God over and above all else. While these are essentials for your scope, other aspects should be determined by the makeup of your participants. If your women’s ministry is comprised of a lot of newer believers, be cautious about choosing a study with an intense amount of “homework” or that uses a lot of theological vocabulary without explanation. If your population is older, be sure that the application questions aren’t primarily geared towards young moms. But don’t think a diverse population poses a problem for picking a curriculum! If you have a mixture of ages and stages of spiritual maturity, err on the side of a simpler (but engaging!) curriculum that still encompasses all the essentials. The women in your group who have more Bible knowledge will most likely dig deeper into the passage on their own and then share what they learned with their discussion groups. In this way, you are creating a Titus 2:3-4 environment with “older women teaching the younger women.” While these 6 factors will help you narrow down your top picks for Bible study curricula, don’t be paralyzed by fear. Unlike tattoos, there is one last factor that can redeem even a poor curriculum choice: Prayer. As women’s ministry leaders, even our most faithful attempts at picking the perfect book are limited because we are not omniscient or omnipotent. So while it’s important that we use discernment, ultimately it’s God who knows exactly what they need and who inscribes His Spirit on their hearts (1 Cor 3:6-9, Is. 55:11, 2 Cor. 3:3). Commit to pray for clarity and entrust the women in your ministry to your faithful God. More Blogs You'll Like What Is a Deacon? Exploring the Role, Qualifications, and Purpose of Deacons in the Church Read More What Is An Elder? 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Educational Choices as Mission Fields? Christian Life Elizabeth Leach Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: February 20, 2024 One sunny summer's day in Michigan, I walked side by side with a dear friend during a play date. She is the type of friend you can talk about anything with as she is bold enough to ask the hard questions yet humble enough to listen. God had called her and her family to homeschool and this had become the main topic of our discussion that day. She and I shared many things in common; such as our love for the gospel and how to intentionally disciple that love in our children, but homeschooling was not something we had in common. God had called my husband and I to enroll our children in public school. As we watched our children pedal their bikes down the quiet road, she gently asked me; “okay so what is your hope/goal as a believer with sending your children to public school?” Almost immediately I said; “that they would be a light and share the good news of Jesus to those around them.” It felt as though this was the only right thing to say as a believer; that I could never just say; “because I want them to get a well-rounded education that I personally can’t and don’t feel called to provide to them.” Just as quickly as I answered she responded; “so you are sending your children out as missionaries?” I could see the point she was making and to be honest it was a good one. I left that play date with my head spinning. It certainly is not wrong as a Christian parent to hope and pray that your children in the public school system would share the gospel with others at their school, but this conversation forced me to look at my own time in public school. I did not become a believer until I was an adult and I did not grow up in a believing household. My parents were as loving and kind as any other parents, but I never once heard them pray, read scripture, or ever mention Jesus as their savior. Growing up I had many friends who were professing Christians, but to be honest they were never the ones to share the gospel with me or disciple me. Believe it or not, it was their parents. I can remember going to one of my best friend's house in elementary school, as I walked into the dining room I saw a bible open on the table with words highlighted. This intrigued me, I had never read or really seen a bible in person before that day. This family would continue to invite me into their home. It was at that same dining room table where I witnessed a family pray together for the first time and talk about God during dinner. I remember thinking that I wanted my own family like that someday. As I became better friends with their daughter I would come over for more play dates, dinners, and eventually sleepovers. My friend and I would strategically plan how we were going to ask her parents to let me stay the night and after we put on the charm, they would say yes, “but only if she comes to church with us in the morning.” As a young child who could not drive and make my own decisions, this was the only time I would go to church and I loved it. This was not the only Christian family during my childhood to invite me into their homes and lives. I later became best friends with the local Pastor's daughter. Again she never preached the gospel to me, but it was through her parents and home life that I saw the gospel at work. It was a massive seed planted early in my life and God used it to spark a desire for Him that He would later grow into fruition. You see it was not other peers or friends who were the salt and light to me in public school, but it was their families. Although I was not a believer or by any means a perfect child, they invited me into their homes and showed me what it means to love the Lord. So my new answer to that question is; that my hope and goal as a believer in sending their children to public school is not that my child would solely be called to preach the gospel in their schools, but that we as a family would preach the gospel by inviting others into our homes and displaying the gospel at work in our lives. The truth is we are all commanded to be missionaries. In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus says we are to make disciples of ALL nations; that includes foreign and domestic. And what do missionary families do when God calls them to another country; they do not simply leave their children behind because of potential danger, but they bring them along with them. So whether God has called your family to homeschool or participate in the public/private school system, you are still called to go out and make disciples. Starting with your own children. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." We certainly cannot shirk God's calling as parents to disciple our children. We cannot merely send them to Christian school or weekly church programs and expect them to disciple our children for us. No, we are called to teach and train our children in what scripture says and what it means to walk with the Lord. So, parents, no matter what education you choose for your child do not neglect to disciple them and to be missionaries to those around you. Invite your child’s friends and families into your lives. If those words sound daunting to you, do not fret. Simply start with the way you see your dining room table. See it as more than just a place to eat, but an invitation. It is an invitation and opportunity to disciple your children and invite unbelievers to witness God's redemptive work in your own life. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

Words of Redemption Theology Andrew Zwart Asst. Prof. Of Interdisciplinary Studies Kuyper College Published On: February 6, 2024 All too often, when Christians have paused to consider their language use, we only make it as far as a list of words that can, or more likely, cannot be said. More recently, though, as our broader society has begun to recognize the power that words have to shape our lives and thoughts, many Christians have been forced to reckon with language use at a deeper level. I, for one, welcome this change in approach. The good news is that plenty of theologians, philosophers, and writers have thought carefully about this subject, a fact that’s not terribly surprising given that words are their trade. The bad news is that unless you go out of your way to study language, you’re unlikely to discover these treasures. And this is unfortunate since thinking about language, in general, can open new ways to see the world. As I often tell my students, language is probably the most important thing in our lives that most of us never think about. When considering what scripture has to tell us about the nature of language, we don’t have to go very far. Genesis opens with God creating the universe with an act of speech: “And God said ‘Let there be light,” and there was light.” And in case we overlooked this miracle, the gospel of John famously begins with the simple yet powerful statement, “In the beginning was the Word.” John then goes on to write that “Through him [the word] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Amazingly, this creative act includes each one of us. God says, “Let us make humanity in our image.” I highlight these echoes between Genesis and John for two reasons. First, it reminds us that being made in his image, we share in his creativity. With nothing but words, God creates the universe ex nihilo--out of nothing--and even as we are awed by this power, we are reminded that God’s good gift of language allows us to partake in his creativity. No, we can’t speak a universe into being, but through language, we form relationships, we dream up new ideas, and we produce culture. Even strict materialists who don’t believe in God recognize that language separates us from every other creature. No other animal can communicate in ways that originate new concepts. In contrast to this, we’re adding brand new words to just the English language every single day, words that both reflect and shape wholly original thoughts. This is incredible, and it bears emphasizing: Words have enormous creative power. The second reason why the idea of imaging God matters is because it reminds us that each of us partakes in this miracle. It’s not Christians or Reformed folk, or Americans. It’s every single person on this planet. The Bible begins with the radical notion that every human being is worthy of respect. Regardless of anyone’s beliefs, history, or social status, their culture, race, or ethnicity, we are called to love them and to treat them with dignity, never forgetting that they share in God’s image. Unfortunately, though, we know how often we fail in this regard, weaponizing language to hurt and to shame others, usually others who differ from us. Each of us knows personally that the statement “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is one of the earliest lies we hear. Most of us can testify to the fact that even a thoughtless, off-hand comment can leave emotional scars that last for years. I think about the time my third-grade teacher called me stupid. I’m not making that up. It still bothers me. Sometimes we have been the victims of such carelessness; sometimes we have been the perpetrators. I think about the time I told someone who I loved that I hated them. I didn’t mean it. I “just” meant to wound. It worked. This happened over forty years ago, and it too still bothers me. Yes, words have enormous creative power. They also have immense destructive power. As James 3, verses 9 and 10 put it: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ” With these truths in mind, then, we recognize the need for Christians to take care with every word we speak. We desire to use language to build each other up, not to tear others down. Today, when language is at the heart of so many difficult conversations, this means that we cloak ourselves in humility, listening carefully to others in order to discern what particular words hurt and which ones heal. Christians should desire to take a posture of charity so as to work towards reconciliation, to witness to a gospel that proclaims God’s saving grace to people from “every nation, all tribes, and all languages.” Empowered by the Word made flesh, the Word that saves, we seek to live lives in which words have redemptive power. So words have creative power; and yes, they can damage and destroy; but they can also be used to redeem. Now I recognize that while this might sound good in the abstract, it can be hard to know how to implement such an approach. When I ask students to imagine what this might mean for their lives, they tend to fall back on the notion that they should avoid certain words. Certainly, I’m not saying that this isn’t worth thinking about, but sometimes I think we limit our thoughts about language to an issue like swearing so that we can avoid examining deeper issues. Let me give a brief example of what I mean by this. One time when I asked this question, a student mentioned how she had noticed that so much of her and her friends’ language tended towards sarcasm. She observed that while, at its best, sarcasm can act as a form of playfulness that strengthens friendships, when it becomes our default mode of communication, it can dull our sense of wonder, even our sense of creativity. Her job, then, was to begin discerning the difference–a task that requires much more effort than dodging certain words. This is just one example. We might also consider how quick we are to demean or dismiss those whom we disagree with. We might ask ourselves, when was the last time we went out of our way to speak an unexpected word of kindness into someone’s life? And could we ever imagine speaking such a word to those with whom we do disagree? If you’re like me, once you start probing, you might discover layers: was that true concern or was it gossip? Wasn’t that omission really just a lie? It’s important, then, to recognize that we will continue to fail. We will sin by what we say and by what we have left unsaid. Sometimes, we’ll fail because we’re being selfish--because in our sin we stubbornly refuse to see others as image-bearers, and we just can’t be bothered to consider how our words might affect them. Sometimes, we’ll fail simply because we are fallen and finite creatures. We will say things out not out of maliciousness, but out of ignorance. The world is complex, and this complexity means that we’re going to make mistakes. And it is because we know that we will err that we must hold both ourselves and others accountable when we use language in ways that distort God’s image in others rather than magnifying it. And yet, we must also strive to be gracious with ourselves and with others when we recognize our transgressions and when we seek to remedy them with contrite hearts. We’re pretty quick, though--all of us--to contextualize, to justify, to diminish. I hope we can do better. I hope too that we can move away from the idea that all we have to do is memorize a list of dos and don’ts. This will require more difficulty and more thought, but I also think such an approach will allow us to live into a fuller sense of community. Ultimately, I hope and pray that we can endeavor to speak in such a way that every word from our mouths testifies to our love for one another, and in turn praises our glorious God. What better use could we possibly imagine? More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? How differences in the Gospel accounts strengthen rather than undermine the credibility of the resurrection Read More What is 'Probably' Missing From Most Nativity Sets Miracle, Myth, or Meteor? Identifying What the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Truly Was Read More Is The Bible Really Without Error? A Closer Look at Scripture’s Reliability, Inerrancy, and Historical Trustworthiness Read More

How to Influence the Control Girls in Your Church Ministry Shannon Popkin Author & Podcast Host Live Like It's True Podcast Published On: January 19, 2024 Jane loves serving on her church’s worship team, but lately she has become frustrated. Her new pastor seems to unravel all of their efforts to cultivate a worshipful tone by spending the first half of his sermon telling silly jokes and stories. So now whenever he launches into a second or third joke, Jane rises from her usual spot in the third row and walks out. Her exits have not gone unnoticed. Several friends have come to her with their concerns. They have begun meeting in the prayer room during the sermons to pray for spiritual awakening. *** Jacqueline has been doing “Susie Smith” Bible studies for years now and loves them. She’s seen firsthand how impactful these studies can be. So when her church’s leadership announces that they will no longer be using Susie Smith’s studies, Jacqueline is outraged. Why would her church revoke resources that have been such a catalyst for such spiritual growth? Jacqueline contacts several friends to see if they would like to start an “underground” Bible study group at her house instead of at the church. *** Cindy has hosted a table at her church’s Christmas tea outreach for the past eight years. It’s a highlight for Cindy to use her grandmother’s china to decorate her table. But this year, the director has said that no china will be allowed. Everyone must use paper plates, so that the tables can be cleared more quickly after the event. Cindy is horrified! Paper plates? She can’t even fathom it. She bypasses the director and takes her complaint straight to the pastor (who happens to be her son-in-law). Control Girls at Church Men and women can both be controlling; we just go about it differently. Men tend to be more openly confrontational and direct. They are generally more overt about conflict. Controlling men might belittle, intimidate, or become dismissive. But not controlling women. Women tend to be more subtle. We gossip, recruit supporters, and use emotion to get our way. We might become stiffly resistant or keep hidden agendas—not because we intend to be divisive or create conflict. We’re just trying to make everything turn out “right”! Especially at church. At church, we’re not merely contributing to an organization. We’re serving God! These are our spiritual gifts we’re pouring on the altar. So our investment is deeply personal and meaningful. It’s costly, also. No one pays us to sing, lead, organize, or help. We do these things because we love Jesus! So when someone sends the message that we’re “doing it wrong,” or that our contributions are not needed or valued, it’s personal. We take offense. We become turf-oriented and defensive. We dig in our heels, cross our arms, and tighten our grip. We act like “Control Girls,” even as we’re trying to serve the Lord. Leading Control Girls Division and conflict naturally arise when committed but flawed believers try to minister together. Conflict is common. Control Girls are common. Even among leaders. When I encounter a difficult, controlling woman, my first inclination is to yank control back . I’m the leader! I think. It’s up to me to set things straight! Fueled by conviction, I become dogmatic, guarded, and firm. It feels good and right to snatch control back from that other “Control Girl.” But is it? Over the past decade, God has been opening my eyes to the fact that I’m a Control Girl, too. I see the problem in myself, and I see it as a current running beneath many of the conflicts that arise. Oh, what havoc we women (whether leaders or not) wreak on the peace and unity of the Church when we try to wrench control out of each other’s hands. As leaders, we can’t make others’ choices for them, but we can use our influence. We can break the cycle by laying down our own burden of control, which invites others to do the same. Control vs. Surrender Jesus lived the epitome of a surrendered life. At the point of greatest conflict, instead of taking control, He said, “Not my will, but yours, be done” ( Luke 22:42 ). Do you hear the sweet surrender in those words? Surrender is the antidote to control. Both control and surrender are catching. When we’re around controlling people, we’re compelled to become controlling. And when we’re around people who are deeply surrendered to God, we are compelled to surrender our hearts as well. Here are three ways you can influence the Control Girls you serve toward surrender: 1. Identify similarities. It’s easy for me to focus on the other difficult women in my church or ministry and be blind to my own tendency to clamp down or dig in my heels. Often when someone else is provoking me, it’s because she wants the same thing I do: control. Once, I was frustrated by a conflict with a ministry sister named “Sonia.” I felt that Sonia was being so controlling! When I called a friend to get help and clarity, she said, “I want you to list all of the similarities between you and Sonia. Then pray through your list, and ask God to work in you both.” The result was remarkable. I realized that Sonia and I were very alike! When I prayed, I pictured both Sonia and myself at the foot of the cross with our shared weaknesses. I sobbed with fresh grief over my sense of superiority and surrendered my burden of trying to control Sonia. What freedom this brought! When conflicts arise, I am always the first person I must invite to surrender. How easy it is to relapse and begin trying to control the situations and people that trouble me. God wants me to remember that He’s already in control so I don’t have to be. Is there another Control Girl who gets under your skin? Make a list of shared weaknesses. Pray earnestly that God will transform you both. 2. Affirm good intentions. Often the women who struggle most with control are also the most invested. They care deeply about the ministry. They have history. Ultimately, they want to serve God! But over time, they’ve made God’s ministry into their ministry. When conflict arises, it’s so helpful to begin by affirming my sister’s good intentions. I might say, “I know that this matters to you because you’re devoted to spreading the gospel.” Or “I appreciate your passion for God and your deep love for the women of our church.” I can’t expect that my Control Girl sister will immediately see her sin. God must open her eyes, and often that takes time. My goal should be that she walks away from a conversation with me knowing she is heard, valued, and loved. Do you have a woman who is overstepping or undermining? How can you affirm her intentions? By doing so, you clear obstacles that might keep her from surrendering to God. 3. Strive for unity, not uniformity. Uniformity is when everything is the same, with no deviation or variety. But God designed the Church to be unified, not uniform! Unity wouldn’t even be necessary if we were all the same. Unity happens when people who are very, very different—in perspectives, passions, gifts, and callings—become single-minded. Unity is not the result of one person taking control. That’s uniformity! Unity is the result of everyone giving up a measure of control. As leaders, we should go first. Do you have a Control Girl in your church or group contending for her perspective? Instead of saying, “She needs to do it the right way!” consider, “How has God designed her to do it a different way?” Ask God to show you what you should give in on. Anything without a Bible verse to back it up is fair game. Leading by example, though, is not enough. Your Control Girl sister might need to be challenged and invited to surrender for the sake of the ministry. Oh, how you’ll need to prepare your heart for this conversation. Be careful to overcome an attitude of reluctance or begrudging irritation you may be harboring. Instead, eagerly pursue unity! Read these verses aloud, filling in the blanks as appropriate: “I, __________, am to walk in a manner worthy of my calling to serve as _____________. In my relationship with _____________, I must be humble, gentle, and patient. I must bear with ________________’s weaknesses in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Taken from Ephesians 4:1–3 .) Control Girls can cause angst, strife, and division. But as we surrender ourselves first and invite others to join us, we can be leaders who are willing to do everything within our power to live at peace with everyone ( Rom. 12:18 ). Check out Shannon’s Book on this topic: Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women of the Bible . Also, here’s a short video of her sharing some of the content from this post. More Blogs You'll Like What Is a Deacon? Exploring the Role, Qualifications, and Purpose of Deacons in the Church Read More What Is An Elder? A biblical definition of those who are called to lead Read More Why Church Membership Understanding the Biblical Foundations of Church Membership Read More

What is Sanctification? Theology Jon Delger Multiplication Pastor Peace Church Published On: November 16, 2023 As you are studying the Bible, you will eventually come across some big words that you don’t use in everyday conversation… and sanctification is one of those words. Short Answer: What is Sanctification? Simply put, sanctification is the process of being made holy. Some key passages include John 17:17; John 17:19; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23. When someone puts their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are justified (see article) or declared righteous. Jesus’ blood washes away their sin, they are saved, they are righteous from a legal standpoint. However… they are not righteous or holy from a day-to-day life standpoint. When someone puts their faith in Jesus they do not become instantly perfect, never sinning again. Instead, they begin a lifelong process of growing in likeness to Jesus. This process is what the Bible calls sanctification. Longer Answer: What is Sanctification? Although the definition above is the simplest answer, the Bible does use the word sanctification in a few different ways, which can cause some confusion. Let’s talk about the different ways the word is used in Scripture and then consider a couple other important points. The word sanctification is a translation of the greek word hagiasmos, which can mean holiness or separation. Context is important when we consider the specific meaning of this word in different passages. One way the word sanctification is sometimes used is to refer to the holiness or righteousness or separation unto God we receive at salvation (1 Corinthians 1:30). This has sometimes been called positional or definitive sanctification. In essence, it is another way to refer to justification. Another way the Bible uses this word (and I would consider this the main way), is to refer to the process of becoming more like Jesus (Romans 6:19). This has sometimes been called progressive or experiential sanctification. It is the lifelong process of growing in spiritual maturity, holiness, obedience to God, or Christ-likeness. A final way the Bible uses the word is to refer to the completion of the sanctification process (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This is what could also be referred to as glorification (Romans 8:18, 30; 2 Corinthians 4:17). When a believer dies or when Christ returns, they are glorified. They are finally free from sin and now live in the full and glorious presence of God. If we were to chart the life of Christians in terms of their battle with sin, it would look something like this… We were dead in sin. Then when we put our faith in Jesus, we were justified. At this point we become spiritually alive and are declared righteous in God’s eyes. From this point forward, our entire life is a process of sanctification. It has ups and downs, but Lord willing, with an overall trajectory toward greater holiness. Finally, when we die or the Lord returns (whichever comes first), we are finally free from sin and entirely holy More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? How differences in the Gospel accounts strengthen rather than undermine the credibility of the resurrection Read More What is 'Probably' Missing From Most Nativity Sets Miracle, Myth, or Meteor? Identifying What the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Truly Was Read More Is The Bible Really Without Error? A Closer Look at Scripture’s Reliability, Inerrancy, and Historical Trustworthiness Read More

Psalm 23 for the Idolatry-Prone Minister Christian Life Logan Bailey Family Pastor Peace Church Published On: August 7, 2023 When I was young and excited about starting in ministry, my youth pastor gave me a warning: “too many pastors let ministry become their identity.” He explained to me that when we let ministry become an idol, it drains our spiritual health and consumes us. I became terrified that I would make that mistake, and I vowed to fight against the temptation. After a decade of church ministry, I’ve failed miserably. The problem does not persist from lack of caring. I still heed my pastor’s warning and am constantly fighting the temptation to make an idol out of ministry. However, idolatry always finds a way to slither back into my heart. And idolatry is not pretty or godly. I become discontent. I become restless. I become easily irritated with the shortcomings of others, yet blind to my own. I am blind to God’s presence. I am nihilistic. I am pessimistic about the work of the church. Idolatry takes hold whenever I start to treat ministry like it gives my life meaning. This is extremely dangerous. Ministry cannot create purpose; nothing I accomplish could ever do so. Ministry is certainly meaningful, but only as much as it connects us to Something deeper. On those days (or in those seasons of life) when I have made an idol out of ministry, I am forgetting where my true identity and confidence lie. Whether you are a minister or not, your identity is in Christ . It is sobering to realize that idolatry doesn’t happen without our permission. We sadly often fail to depend on Jesus to do what he has promised to do. Psalm 23 is invaluable to me because it has continually reminded me of where to place my confidence. Whenever ministry dominates my heart, Psalm 23 redirects me to the Caretaker of my soul. Simply put, I struggle with idolizing ministry because I forget about Jesus. I lose sense of my identity in Christ because I neglect the Good Shepherd . King David wrote Psalm 23 using two images: the Lord as a Shepherd and the Lord as a host. That makes us the sheep in his pasture and the guests at his table. These metaphors are no accident; it is God’s intention to care to for his people. Psalm 23 reminds us that God intends to: meet our needs, give us rest , restore life to our souls, lead us in righteous God-glorifying living, embolden and comfort us by his presence, heap blessings on us, and prepare a place for us in his house. Psalm 23 reminds us that Jesus intends to care for our souls . He is set on it for the sake of his name and the sake of our good. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin and death. In Christ, we can find contentment no matter our circumstances, successes, or failures. In Christ, we have a Shepherd who gives our lives eternal meaning and significance. If Jesus intends to care for our souls, why do we look to our ministries to do it instead? Our ministries cannot sit on the throne of our hearts if Jesus is already sitting there. We won’t be begging our ministries to “fill our cup” if our cups are already overflowing by the grace of our God. This is why Psalm 23 is so important for ministers: if what you need most is to be reminded that Jesus is your Shepherd, then it is what your volunteers and students need the most, too. Despite all our talk about models, philosophies, and vision statements, only Jesus can meet the needs of a soul. Every so often, Psalm 23 has been used by the Holy Spirit to pick me up out of a pit of idolatry and allowed me to once again worship my Savior, the Caretaker of my soul, rather than worship ministry. My ministry (and my overall spiritual health) is always strongest when I am most dependent on Jesus for my identity and purpose rather than what I accomplish through ministry. May it be so for all of us as well. More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

What Is a Deacon? Ministry Jon Delger Multiplication Pastor Peace Church Published On: November 29, 2024 Dating all the way back to the time of the apostles, God’s church has been led and served by elders and deacons. To learn more about the role of elder, check out our article: What is an elder? So what does the Bible say about the the role of deacons? What are the qualifications for being a deacon and what exactly do deacons do? What are the qualifications? Some might be surprised when reading the qualifications for deacons. Scripture does not lay out a detailed list of skills deacons must possess. Instead, Scripture focuses on the character of a deacon. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. — 1 Timothy 3:8-13 While we know that no man is perfect, Scripture does raise a high bar. You may notice that the passage opens with the words “Deacons likewise.” This list of qualifications follows on the heels of the qualifications for elders, and the author tells us that there are similarities between these lists, that they both raise a high bar for the character of men in these offices. Deacons must be honest, sober, not greedy, have a clear and strong faith, be tested in some way such that their faith and character are proven, and a deacon’s home should reflect the leadership of a godly man (v8-13). Because a husband and wife are one flesh and a team, Scripture also says their wives must be of great character (v11). Does a deacon have to be married and have children? While Scripture says that deacons must be the husband of one wife and manage their children and households well, this should probably not be taken to mean that a deacon must be married and have children. Rather, the phrase “husband of one wife” could also be translated: “one woman man.” The point is to say that married deacons should be faithful to their wives. One reason supporting this view is that the Apostle Paul himself was neither married nor had children. What if a deacon’s children walk away from the faith? The word used for children in these passages typically refers to children still living at home under their father’s authority. While fathers should pray for their children and train them up in the way of the Lord, adult children are responsible for their own actions. What about divorce? Scripture provides teaching for rare circumstances when divorce is biblically permissible. When divorce or remarriage occur within those biblical instructions, the elders of a church may determine that a man is still a “one woman man” qualified to serve in the role of deacon. Does a deacon have to be male? Scripture teaches that men and women are equal in value, yet distinct in role. God has given men a unique calling to lead in the home (Ephesians 5:22-33) and in the church (1 Timothy 2:12-14). While it is clear in Scripture that the role of elder is a unique calling of qualified men, there has been some debate about the role of deacon. Whereas elders clearly fall into the category of teaching and exercising authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12-14), the role of deacon is more of a servant’s role. In addition, there is some debate over the use of the word διάκονος to describe a woman named Phoebe in Romans 16:1, since this word can be translated as “deacon” or simply as “servant.” Whereas there may be room for differences on this issue in churches where the role of deacon functions as a servant who does not teach or exercise authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12-14), the desription in 1 Timothy 3:12 of a “husband of one wife” does seem to indicate that Paul envisioned men serving in this role. What does a deacon do? Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. — Acts 6:1-6 This passage is considered the first appointing of deacons in the early church. In those early days, the church was trying to teach and preach the Word as well as live it out. The twelve apostles realized that in order for them to remain focused on the ministry of the Word (teaching & preaching), there needed to be a group of people dedicated to another kind of ministry, a ministry of service. Those original deacons were chosen in order to care for the widows in the church, to distribute resources of the church to care for those in need, to put hands and feet to the Word that was being taught through physical service. What is the job description of a deacon? Scripture doesn’t give us a detailed job description for deacons. Instead, it paints a picture of humble servants, providing for those in need within the body of Christ and setting a godly example. For this reason, local churches have some variation in the structures and tasks given to deacons. For one example, you can find linked below the job descriptions for Deacons at Peace Church. A Final Word If the church is to remain faithful to the Lord and bear fruit for His glory, then the church must have servant-leaders who are qualified, called, and equipped. Such servants provide a godly example to the church, serve those in need within the church, and enable the church to preach the Word as well as live it out. May the Lord continue to raise up godly deacons among his flock to care for them until Christ returns. More Blogs You'll Like What Is a Deacon? Exploring the Role, Qualifications, and Purpose of Deacons in the Church Read More What Is An Elder? A biblical definition of those who are called to lead Read More Why Church Membership Understanding the Biblical Foundations of Church Membership Read More

What is 'Probably' Missing From Most Nativity Sets Theology Ryan Kimmel Lead Pastor Peace Church Published On: December 20, 2024 It’s routine every year at Christmastime – you set out the Nativity set and check to see if anything is missing: Mary - check. Joseph - check. Multi-Ethnic Wisemen - check. Shepherd(s) - check. Sheep, camel - check. Angel - check. Baby Jesus - check. Little Drummer Boy - ummm, not part of the biblical story, but sure - check. If your nativity set is anything like mine, you likely have all those familiar pieces (well, except for the little drummer boy). The infamous Nativity Scene, though common in Christian households during Christmastime, is not actually Biblical — at least not in the sense that all those well-known characters were present at the same time, surrounding and adoring Baby Jesus. While all the characters represent true Biblical accounts of the birth and early childhood of Christ, the Nativity Scene as it is typically displayed never actually happened. It's a conglomeration of various stories brought together into a festive decoration. What's Missing? What is often missing from many nativity scenes, however, is something truly powerful, yet perplexing: the star. The infamous Star of Bethlehem, mentioned only in Matthew chapter 2, which guided the wisemen to the newborn king. Too many nativity scenes fail to display this remarkable element of the birth narrative. Does yours have one? But what actually was the so-called "Star of Bethlehem"? There are really three possibilities: It was supernatural. Meaning, this event was something miraculous and spiritual, and therefore unknowable and unrepeatable, something to be appreciated as a true once-in-the-moment miracle that helped to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. It was superstition. Meaning, it wasn't something out of astronomy, but rather astrology; that the wisemen followed a normal astrological occurrence in the night sky that they interpreted as symbolic due to their spiritualism or pagan faith. This understanding of the Star of Bethlehem means there was no unique event in the cosmos, but it also means that it doesn't assert something about the star that contradicts cosmological history. It was scientific. Meaning, it was a true (even if isolated or rare) event or object in the universe which was observable to the human eye. While a miracle is a wondrous explanation, I have to admit, the pursuit of a scientific explanation intrigues me...and there may be some validity to it. But before we begin to discover what the star was, let's first remind ourselves of the story of the star. Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 ESV (1) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, (2) saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (9) After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (11) And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. For such a famous part of the Christmas story, there is surprisingly little about the star in the biblical account, but that is not to say there isn’t great insight to be mined from this passage. Miracle, Myth, Meteor? Identifying What "The Star" Truly Was The first thing we must consider is if this event was a tried-and-true miracle. As noted, if this was a supernatural event, then we are content to leave it as just that: A powerful miracle of God, unknowable and unrepeatable; undocumented with any other credibility outside the Bible and something to be celebrated and revered as a momentary act of God, leading men from outside Judea to come and worship the newborn King, that they may be the first global missionaries to take the news of Christ’s birth outside of Judea. If this is the true explanation, I am joyful to celebrate it at Christmas as just that, by enjoying the wonder of such a beautiful miracle. But – what if it wasn’t that? What if it was something more… natural? Clues In The Context When it comes to identifying this " star " as something in the universe observable in the ancient middle east night sky, we must take note of the clues given in the text: Clue 1: It rose in the east. When the wisemen say they saw " his star when it rose " (verse 2), how it is stated in the original text is " we saw his star in the east ." This denotes a morning star, an important note if we want to trace and find the origins of this occurrence in the records of history. Clue 2: It appears over numerous nights. Verse 9 continues, “After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them…” The star that they had seen and had led them to Judea, appears again after their court with King Herod. Meaning, the star was seen over multiple nights. Clue 3: It appears to move unlike other celestial bodies. Another clue is that there also appears to be motion associated with the star. As verse 9 states in the biblical narrative record, the star " went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was .” Clue 4: The timeframe of the star must be near the birth or very early childhood of Christ. It’s important to narrow down the timeframe of Christ’s birth if we are to look to astronomical records to determine the identity of the star. The accepted timeframe of the birth of Christ is dated using three important markers from the Bible and history: The death of King Herod is said to have happened in 4 B.C. The Roman census (ordered by Caesar Augustus in relation to the time of Quirinius serving as Governor of Syria, Luke 2:1-2) is believed to have taken place in roughly 6 B.C. Dating the life of Christ based on the start of his ministry, and his death during Passover. Luke 3 records that Jesus was “about 30 years of age” ( Luke 3:23 ) when he started his ministry - and earlier Luke records this start is near or shortly after the time of the start of John the Baptist’s ministry which was in the “fifteenth year of Caesar Tiberius” ( Luke 3:1 ) which is dated to be 29 A.D. Using these markers, the accepted timeframe for the Birth of Christ is between 6 B.C. and 2 B.C. The reason Jesus’ birth doesn’t line up perfectly with the B.C. and A.D. distinction is based on the miscalculation of the year of his birth by monk Dionysius Exiguus who lived between the fifth and sixth centuries A.D., and who came up with the B.C./A.D. separation of the calendar we now use the world over. Clue 5: The wiseman themselves! Knowing the wisemen were from the East, and were given the biblical term of magi ( μάγος , wise men, magician; related to the Old Persian " magush ," referring to a member of a priestly caste), this leads us to believe with little doubt the wisemen were Zoroastrians from Persia; a people who were obsessed with studying the stars of the sky, both in terms of the myth of astrology, and its deep connection with the scientific study of astronomy. Given these clues, is it possible to posit and even determine in actuality what the star was? Again, if it was truly a miracle, then it should be left and celebrated as that for there is nothing else to be known, but given that we have some important clues in our text that could lead us to believe it was something else, let's investigate the two remaining alternatives: Astrology or Astronomy. Astrology: Pagan, But Perhaps Right This Time? While this is the least likely option, it is plausible. This theory is that the Star of Bethlehem was a routine star (or planet) in the night sky and that astrology (the myths and superstitions) of the wisemen led them to believe during that time that it was symbolic of something special happening in Jerusalem. There is no way to validate this, but to take this approach means that God allowed their astrology to be “right” in the sense that their interpretation of the sky led them to the true birth of the King. Again, if this is the true interpretation, it makes it nearly impossible to know what “star” they were referring to. If the answer is that God, in His providence, did allow the pagan belief of astrology to lead the wisemen to the newborn King using the guidance of a routine occurrence in the night sky, then again, we give praise and thanks to God for adding this detail in the Scripture. But again, details given in the text seemingly point to something more than that. Admitting this, we turn to the science of astronomy to see if an answer lies there. Astronomy: Searching The Historical Night Sky By the astronomical records of the ancients and by retracing the paths of stars and planets using modern science, we can know a lot about the events of the observable universe in the distant past. Because of this, there are things we can rule out and things we can seriously consider. For instance, we know Halley's Comet was visible on Earth in 12 B.C. , but there are a number of reasons to rule this out as "the Star of Bethlehem": 12 B.C. is outside the accepted timeframe of Christ's birth. The path of Halley's Comet in the sky does not line up with the details listed in the biblical account. The same can be said for other occurrences such as meteors (shooting stars). Comets were seen as bad omens in the world of antiquity, ruling out all comets. We can also rule out novas and supernovas, not only because during this time there are no historical records giving confirmation of this, but primarily because the "path" the wisemen would have taken does not line up with the movement of how the glow of a supernova would have behaved in the sky. (Side note: Chinese astronomers do record a nova-event in 185 B.C. ) The Stars Align With ruling out comets, meteors, and supernovas, there is another option: The aligning of stars, or more technically: the conjunction of planets and stars . What does astronomy say about this option? Quite a lot, actually! It's important to note that the wisemen did not visit Jesus on the very night of his birth, but rather they visited him sometime after, maybe even months or years; the Scriptures say, “ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother ( Matthew 2:11 ). Note, the word used was “child” ( παιδίον; child, little one ), rather than “baby” ( βρέφος; infant, child in arms ). So, as we consider the timeframe of Christ’s birth and/or His very early life, there were three key planetary alignments that would have been a unique sight in the night sky, which all happened within this timeframe: On June 17, 2 B.C. there was a conjunction of Jupiter, Venus, and Regulus (a star in the constellation Leo). On August 12, 3 B.C. there was a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus visible in the early dawn sky. On April 17, 6 B.C. there was a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, the vernal equinox, the sun, and the moon within the constellation Aries. The favored of these three is the last one (an event so rare that it won't happen again until 16,213 A.D., minus the vernal equinox). This event is also purported to be commemorated on a Roman coin minted in Antioch ! The further significance of these events is found in the retrograde motion of their path in the night sky, which line up nicely with the Biblical narrative because this retrograde motion is not normally the path taken by planets visible in the sky. The rising in the east and following it until it came to rest over where the child was is a critical detail for determining if this was an astronomical event. Faith In The Story In truth, we may not know with exact specificity which of these events it was, if any of them, but what we see from the Biblical narrative, historical records, and astronomical archives is the undeniable plausibility of the Star of Bethlehem being a true historical and astronomical event! For me, this is as exciting as if it was a miracle of heaven. For the Star of Bethlehem to have been a true event in the cosmos, we must realize that this would have required God to orchestrate the stars, planets and constellations to follow a very specific and timed path since the creation of the universe, so that they would align in accordance with the birth and early life of Jesus Christ! How truly amazing it is to consider the scope of this! Putting The Star Back In The Nativity Whatever the star was, it was something truly amazing that God ordained to have happened – and so may that deepen your belief in the goodness, power, and sovereignty of God! May this short analysis and investigation of the Star of Bethlehem inspire you not only to include the star in your nativity set, but may it also deepen your faith in Him who is the focus of your nativity scene: Jesus Christ, the newborn King and the Son of God, whose birth was heralded by angels, worshiped by wise men, and adorned by the celestial. References and Resources: www.britannica.com Magus | Zoroastrianism, Priests, Rituals | Britannica Magus, member of an ancient Persian clan specializing in cultic activities. The name is the Latinized form of magoi (e.g., in Herodotus 1:101), the ancient Greek transliteration of the Iranian original. From it the word magic is derived. It is disputed whether the magi were from the beginning www.space.com What was the Star of Bethlehem? The Star of Bethlehem probably wasn't a star. www.nd.edu Royal Beauty Bright Grant Mathews, director of the Center for Astrophysics at Notre Dame, uses his expertise to identify the star of Bethlehem that the Bible says announced the birth of Jesus www.britannica.com List of comets | Comets, Astronomy, Space | Britannica Comets are a class of small celestial objects orbiting the Sun and developing diffuse gaseous envelopes and often long luminous tails when near the Sun. The comet makes a transient appearance in the sky and is often said to have a “hairy” tail. The word comes from the Greek komētēs, meaning “hairy www.britannica.com Herod | Biography, Facts, Reign, Temple, & Jesus | Britannica Herod, Roman-appointed king of Judea (37-4 BCE), who built many fortresses, aqueducts, theaters, and other public buildings but who was the center of political and family intrigues in his later years. The New Testament portrays him as a tyrant, into whose kingdom Jesus of Nazareth was born. www.nasa.gov Oldest Recorded Supernova - NASA This image combines data from four space telescopes to create a multi-wavelength view of all that remains of RCW 86, the oldest documented example of a supernova. www.history.com A Brief History of Halley’s Comet | HISTORY The famous comet named for astronomer Edmond Halley only passes by the Earth roughly once every 76 years, but it’s appearances have often played a surprising role in historical events. tyndalehouse.com Was Luke wrong about the census of Quirinius? David Armitage explores the widely debated issue of how we reconcile Luke's account of Jesus' birth with other historical writing that seems to contradict it. www.patternsofevidence.com Warnings in the Sky: Anniversary of the Star | Patterns of Evidence On this day in 2 BC, a rare planetary conjunction took place which may relate to Matthew's account of the Magi coming to Jesus in Bethlehem. www.smithsonianmag.com What Was the Star of Bethlehem? Who better to ask than the Vatican? www.coinworld.com 12 Days of Christmas: Ancient coin shows Star of Bethlehem www.biblicalarchaeology.org When Was Jesus Born—B.C. or A.D.? New Testament scholars place Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C. or before. This begs the question: How could Jesus have been born in B.C.—“before Christ”? www.biblestudytools.com Why Was There a Roman Census at Jesus' Birth in the Bible? Luke 2:1 is the traditional starting point for the Christmas story of Jesus' birth: “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” So how did a Roman census lead to the fulfillment of prophecy and one of the most beloved stories of all time? That’s what we’re here to explore. More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? How differences in the Gospel accounts strengthen rather than undermine the credibility of the resurrection Read More What is 'Probably' Missing From Most Nativity Sets Miracle, Myth, or Meteor? Identifying What the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Truly Was Read More Is The Bible Really Without Error? A Closer Look at Scripture’s Reliability, Inerrancy, and Historical Trustworthiness Read More

Divine Discipline or Unfair Treatment? Theology Stephanie Delger Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: Is God Too Harsh? Genesis 3:16 “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” What do morning sickness, fighting with your husband, and labor pain have in common? They are all a result of the fall. What’s more, they are all painful things that women face. When I read this verse, I do wonder momentarily, is God being mean to women? This seems harsh. Is this fair? This is one of those hard passages for women. So let’s look carefully at the text and try to understand what God is saying. Sin has consequences. Adam and Eve sinned, and now the world is fallen (broken). Eve questioned God’s goodness and believed the lie that she should be in charge rather than God. Then, rather than help her husband follow God’s commands, she led him into sin. Eve would see the devastating impact sin would have on all her relationships. Eve was now alienated from God her creator and told that pain would infiltrate her relationships with her husband and children. Pain In Childbearing God tells Eve, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.” Women know this to be true. Nausea, headaches, body aches, ligament pain, back pain, swelling, and many other ailments start even before it’s time to deliver our babies. The greatest pain most women feel, happens during the many hours of childbirth. But the pain doesn’t stop in the delivery room for a mother. The postpartum contractions bring pain as her body tries to bring its internal organs back to their pre-pregnancy size. Women have post-operative pain with episiotomies or c-sections. The statement “in pain you shall bring forth children” rings true. The word pain in this verse, can be translated as “painful toil.” {1} When God tells Eve that childbirth will be painful, He is referring to both physical and emotional pain. Death, miscarriage, and infertility are now a part of our lives as women. Sometimes we yearn to hold a baby in our arms that God has taken or never given in the first place. This is a result of sin entering into the world. I have cried out to God in moments of intense pain, “Don’t you care God?” “How can you be good if you just let this happen?” The answer is yes. Yes, God is good and yes, God cares. In fact, God cares more than you or I ever could. This was never part of God’s good design. God grieves the consequences of sin more than you or I ever could. This is because He is the only being who sees the full extent of sin’s consequences and the pain it inflicts. In our moments of anguish, we must remember that pain and suffering are a result of the fall. In these moments, rather than being angry at God, we have the opportunity to draw near to Him. We have the chance to grieve with God over the devastating consequences that sin has brought into the world. Pain In Marriage God goes on to tell Eve, “Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” Not only will childbirth be painful, the relationship babies come from, will be painful as well. Eve’s marriage will be impacted by the consequences of sin. God’s beautiful design for marriage will become distorted. Adam’s role of headship wouldn’t always feel like a blessing to Eve. Eve’s desires would no longer be pure and good. The word “desire” here is very much like the word “desire” we read about in the next chapter of the Bible. [2] In Genesis 4:7, God warns Cain, “And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” This desire Eve would have for her husband, would not be a healthy desire. Eve would be tempted towards two extremes. On one hand, she would try to fight Adam for the leadership role in marriage. Eve would struggle to submit to Adam’s authority, which God had placed her under. On the other hand, she would have too much desire for her husband. Eve would be tempted to place her desire for Adam above her desire for the Lord. God should be first in our life, but now Eve would be tempted to place Adam in the role reserved only for God. Eve and every wife after her, is left to fight these temptations. We struggle to follow the Lord and the design that He created for marriage. God’s Grace I want to circle back to our original question, “Is God being fair to Eve?” I believe the answer is actually... no. If God was being fair, he would have given the just punishment of death to both Adam and Eve as soon as they sinned. Eve would never have lived to hear the consequences of her sin. God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate the fruit, they would die. Rather than being fair, God chose to show them grace. God lets them live. And not only does God let them live, He promises to save them. God, before talking to Eve, tells Satan, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Eve heard the painful consequences of her sin with this promise ringing in her ears. Eve was shown that sin leads to pain. These two things are forever connected, but God promised that He would send a savior. God would send someone, a descendent of Eve, who would take the painful punishment that we deserve. This descendent would experience the pain that sin deserves and come out victorious. This is exactly what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. In the gospels, the writers tell us that Jesus refused wine mixed with myrrh on his way to be crucified. In the ancient world, wine was mixed with myrrh to numb or dull the senses. It was customary for those being crucified to drink this myrrh/wine so that they wouldn’t experience the full force of pain. Yet, we see that Jesus denies this drink. Jesus knew that in order to take our place on the cross, he needed to feel every ounce of the judgment that our sin deserves. He needed to feel the pain that sin inflicts. Jesus felt every strike of the nails, every sting of the thorns placed around his head, every sliver of wood piercing his already mutilated back. He felt this pain so that you and I wouldn’t have to. Jesus experienced both the physical pain and the spiritual pain that sin deserves on the cross. When we feel pain, rather than questioning if God is loving, we can remember all He has done for us. God is our loving savior who cares for us. There is a day coming when we will no longer feel the pain of sin. Someday, we will see Jesus. We will see the scars covering his body. We will see the proof that He took our place and bore our punishment. We will fall down at the feet of our Savior, forever singing praises of his goodness and grace. References: Hughes, R. K. (2012). Paradise Lost: Curse and Judgement. In Genesis: Beginning and blessing (pp. 88). essay, Crossway. Hughes, R. K. (2012). Paradise Lost: Curse and Judgement. In Genesis: Beginning and blessing (pp. 88). essay, Crossway More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? How differences in the Gospel accounts strengthen rather than undermine the credibility of the resurrection Read More What is 'Probably' Missing From Most Nativity Sets Miracle, Myth, or Meteor? Identifying What the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Truly Was Read More Is The Bible Really Without Error? A Closer Look at Scripture’s Reliability, Inerrancy, and Historical Trustworthiness Read More

Nurturing Faith Christian Life Stephanie Delger Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: August 15, 2024 My two daughters stood beside me, their young voices blending with the congregation's. As we reached the chorus of "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," I felt a lump form in my throat. They are young and haven’t yet faced the challenges that accompany a life of following Jesus. But here they were, singing these precious words: "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back... Though none go with me, still I will follow... My cross I’ll carry till I see Jesus.” [1] For years, my husband and I have fervently prayed for our children. We ask for wisdom as we teach them the ways of the Lord. We ask God to continually draw them into a closer relationship with Him. The words they sang are the cry of my heart, and I fiercely pray that my children will truly make them their own. However, if my daughters take these words as their own, it in no way reflects my parenting. It reflects God’s goodness. As Christian parents, we have the privilege of raising our children in the ways of the Lord. The Biblical Mandate for Discipleship Christian parents are instructed by God to teach their children about Him. Right away in Genesis, we see the first parents, Adam and Eve, receive the command to be “fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). When God asks them to multiply, He is commanding both physical and spiritual multiplication. Adam and Eve weren’t simply to have children to populate the earth. They were to raise those children to know and love the Lord. They were tasked with creating disciples, followers of God. Later, we see God instruct His people in Deuteronomy 6:7: “You shall teach them (God’s commands) diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” God desires Christian parents to talk to their kids and show them, both in speech and by how they live, what it means to follow the Lord. When tasked with such an important command, I wish God would elaborate and give us a list of exactly how we should disciple our children. But like many things in life, it’s not that simple. We can’t just follow a checklist and be guaranteed that after everything is checked off, we will have a perfect little Christ follower. When it comes to discipling our children, God is just as concerned with our hearts as He is with our actions. Prayer as a Foundation for Discipleship Raising our children to know and love the Lord must start with prayer. This is such a seemingly simple step that we don’t always stop and marvel at what a gift this is. The Creator and Lord of the universe has allowed a way that we can communicate with Him. He speaks to us through His Word, and we are able to speak back through prayer. Prayer not only allows us to communicate with God, but it forces us to admit our inability to control our lives. Prayer forces us into a humble disposition before the Lord. By praying, we admit that we cannot raise our children by ourselves and need God’s help. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” In other words, we can do all the right things—read the Bible with our kids, pray with them, memorize Bible verses, and study catechisms with them—but unless the Lord softens their hearts, nothing will happen. God is the builder of the city; God is the one who saves our children, not us. As parents, it is first and foremost prayer and our dependence on God that will help our children come to know and love the Lord. Personal Faith as a Foundation for Discipleship We cannot give what we do not have. If we don’t know and love the Lord ourselves, it will be nearly impossible for us to model and guide our children into a relationship with God. Imagine how difficult it would be to explain what a tree looks like to our children if we have never seen one ourselves. How much more difficult would it be to talk to our children about God being their creator and loving savior if we ourselves don’t know God to be those things? God has beautifully designed us to marvel at amazing things. When I get a good deal on something I found at a store, the first thing I do is text either my husband or a friend and tell them what an amazing deal I just found. How much more should I be eager to share with my children all the amazing things I have seen God do in my life and what I read about in the Bible? Sharing our love of God with our children is a natural overflow of our own personal love for Him. God has designed us to love that which is beautiful. This is why we love seeing shooting stars, colorful sunsets, and majestic deer. We can’t help but take pictures or call for someone else to enjoy them with us. Sharing our faith with our kids doesn’t always have to look like a 10-15 minute family devotional time. Those times are important, but discipling our kids also looks like taking a nature walk and marveling at how wonderful our creator is by admiring Him through His creation. Grace as a Foundation for Discipleship We will fail. We will mess up. But we are still asked to continue discipling our children. There will be times when our children ask questions that we don’t know the answer to. In these moments, we can pause and tell our children, “That’s a really great question. I actually don’t know the answer to that. But let me find out.” If they are old enough, we can sit down with a Study Bible or reliable commentary and read it together to find the answer. Many times, this has made a greater impact on my children than when I know the answer to their questions. The Lord is gracious in allowing us to be a formative part of our children’s relationship with God. This is a privilege and a gift, but we must remember that it isn’t our work which saves our children. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” We are asked to plant the seeds and water them. But we must pray, knowing that it is God alone who gives the growth. This may seem scary, but it is actually gracious of the Lord. We were never designed to bear the burden of someone’s salvation, including our child’s. Discipling our children is a journey of faith and trust in God’s grace. As parents, we are called to plant the seeds of faith in our children's hearts, nurture them through prayer and personal example, and trust in God to bring about growth. Start small and start today. Whether through a simple prayer, a shared Bible verse, or a meaningful conversation, every step you take is a step toward fostering a lifelong relationship with God. If you are looking for more resources on discipling our children, please listen to the Mom Guilt Podcast episode “Mom Guilt: Discipling Our Kids” here . 1. https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/I_Have_Decided_to_Follow_Jesus/ More Blogs You'll Like Is Prioritizing Love Un-Christian? What Does The Bible Say? Read More More Than Meets the Eye Discovering God’s Purposes for Motherhood Read More Mom Guilt and How to Fight It Read More

Saved From What? Theology Stephanie Delger Podcast Host Mom Guilt Podcast Published On: April 10, 2024 One of my friends became a Christian on a spring break trip with our high school youth group. He came home from the trip and excitedly told his mother, "I was saved!" Concerned, his mother looked at him and asked, “Saved from what? Did you almost drown?” Have you ever heard someone ask, “Are you saved?” Or heard someone declare, “I have been saved!” I want to ask, like my friend’s mother, “Saved from what?” We are saved from sin’s punishment God is Holy. God is completely pure and set apart, untainted by sin. It’s because of God’s holiness that sin must be punished. God cannot simply look the other way and ignore sin. Sometimes we want this though, especially if we are talking about our own sins that we have committed. But imagine what would happen in the human court system if this occurred. Imagine sitting in a court room watching the trial for a man who has been charged with murder. Picture yourself in the audience, watching witness after witness give their testimony of how this man was guilty of murder. Let’s even say that the man himself has confessed to murder under oath. Imagine at the end of the trial, the judge asks everyone to stand for the reading of the sentencing. The judge lists off all the evidence, but then declares him innocent and tells him he is free to leave. There would be an uproar and a cry for justice. And rightly so! A guilty man didn’t get what he deserved and was instead given freedom. Why would we be upset over this happening in the human court system, and yet are fine if this happens in the divine courtroom? Why are we so passionate for justice for a human life, but not with God’s character or goodness? God is holy and He cannot tolerate sin. In the book of Isaiah, we read about a vision Isaiah had where he sees the Lord. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah immediately recognizes God’s holiness. He says “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Upon seeing God’s holiness, his next words are, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” If we are being honest, we know two things to be true upon seeing God for who He is. The first is that God is holy and the second, is that we are not. Sin must be punished. Every single sin that has been or will be committed must be punished. This happens in one of two ways. First, the sinner himself will bear his own punishment. He will spend eternity in Hell, suffering God’s wrath. The second way that sins are atoned or paid for is by Jesus Christ on the cross. A christian is not saved by God ignoring his sin, but by God taking the punishment of sin on his behalf. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” but goes on to say “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Jesus was like a sponge, absorbing all of God’s wrath on our behalf. Jesus is our propitiation, and has atoned for our sins. He, like a sponge, absorbed all of God’s wrath on the cross that was rightly headed our way. This is one aspect of what it means for a person to be saved. We are saved from eternal death Benjamin Franklin once said, “There is nothing certain in this world except death and taxes.” [1] Death is a part of our lives and will continue to be a part of it until Jesus returns. But for a christian, physical death is only the beginning. We see this clearly in a conversion between Jesus and Martha in John 11. Jesus, consoling Martha after Lazarus’ death, says to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25) As christians, we are one with Christ. Just as Christ died and was risen from the dead, so will all those who place their faith in Him. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks of what happens for the believer after their physical death. Paul tells the Corinthian church, that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so will the believer. The body we currently have is perishable, but the one we will get is imperishable. Worshipping Jesus for what He has done, we will all join as one voice, in our resurrection bodies, singing, ““Death is swallowed up in victory.”“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) A christian is saved from eternal death. Although we may experience physical death, this in many ways is just the beginning. Christ has saved us from eternal death and we will live forever with Him in Heaven. We are saved from sin’s enslavement We are all born into sin. Jesus shows us a dire consequence of what it means to be born into sin. In John 8:34, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” Before a person is saved, they are a slave to sin. Rather than doing things God’s way, they want to do things their way and make their own rules (much like Adam and Eve in the garden). However, Jesus doesn’t leave us without hope. After Jesus declares that those who sin are slaves to sin, he shares what He has come to do. Jesus declares that He has come to redeem us and set us free from our bondage to sin, and “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) This does not mean that once a person is saved, they will no longer sin. In Romans 7, Paul writes about the tension that lives within the believer after they are saved. I affectionally call this the “do-do” passage. Paul humbly tells his fellow Christians that their is a war raging within himself. He is saved and is a new creation, but still has a desire or propensity for sin. “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. … For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:15, 19-20) When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside us. He helps us in our weakness, giving us both the desire and ability to fight the sin that we were once enslaved to. We now have the desire to follow God. We want to love the things God loves and hate the things God hates. The Bible tells us that this happens because we are one with Christ. Romans 6:6 says, “We know that our old self was crucified with him (Jesus) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Being one with Christ is such a wonderful reality for the Christian. We are one with Jesus in his crucifixion; our old self that was enslaved to sin, died with Christ on the cross. When Christ was raised from the dead, so were our desires. We are now a new creation, one that is no longer a slave to sin. Our hearts full of rebellion have been softened and changed into a heart full of worship. Our final salvation The spiritual warfare that exists inside us will not last forever. We live in a tension many theologians call the “already / not yet.” We are saved. This is our reality. When a believer dies, they will see their Savior face to face. They will spend the rest of eternity in God’s presence, worshiping and praising Him for who He is and what He has done. But there is also a sense in which we are not fully saved. On this earth, in the here and now, we are waging war against our sinful desires. The consequences of sin, both for us and for the entire creation, are still evident. Romans 8 says that, both humans and creation are groaning, awaiting the day when the curse will no longer reign. We long for the freedom and redemption that God has promised. We eagerly long for the day when our adoption as God’s children will be complete. This is our hope. This is the reality for the believer. We are not only saved from sin, but we are saved to God. Revelation speaks of Jesus’ glorious return. It says Jesus will ride on a white horse like the commander of an army, and defeat all his enemies. Sin, death, and suffering will be no more. God will once again come to dwell with His people like He did with Adam and Eve in the garden. We will be saved from sin’s punishment and will be able to worship Him face to face. We will no longer be a slave to sin, rather our desires will be truly conformed to those of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord. Come quickly King Jesus! 1. https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/benjamin-franklins-last-great-quote-and-the-constitution More Blogs You'll Like Do the Resurrection Accounts Contradict? How differences in the Gospel accounts strengthen rather than undermine the credibility of the resurrection Read More What is 'Probably' Missing From Most Nativity Sets Miracle, Myth, or Meteor? Identifying What the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Truly Was Read More Is The Bible Really Without Error? A Closer Look at Scripture’s Reliability, Inerrancy, and Historical Trustworthiness Read More