Christian Living Archives - Page 9 of 9 - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

The Power of Prayer

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:12:46+00:00

By Brian Franks There’s a powerful ministry available to the church! It’s one that can easily be practiced by a small child, someone nearing 100 years old, and anyone between. It’s a ministry that any Christians can do together at any time. It can be intricately planned or done on the fly. Yet, often this ministry is seen as an afterthought. Many times, it is not seen as a solution to issues. Sometimes it’s not thought of at all. This ministry is prayer and in prayer there is much power. It is not powerful because we tell God what to do and command the Lord to [...]

The Power of Prayerlisaauthor2025-08-18T21:12:46+00:00

Jesus’ Secrets to Saving Parents’ Sanity

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:14:11+00:00

By Amber Riggs Being a parent is intimidating. It isn’t just the funhouse of potty-training, bedtime (why won’t they sleep?!), sibling squabbles, schoolwork, table manners, and housework that threaten my sanity…it’s the knowledge that I have to navigate this maze of mirrors while actually teaching them things. Important things. I have to teach them, these four daughters of mine, not just to master basic life skills, but to follow Jesus without my daily coaching. Oh, and keep them alive. That’s a lot of pressure. Pressure I could easily crack under. Of course, my newsfeed and Google are always faithfully standing by ready to identify [...]

Jesus’ Secrets to Saving Parents’ Sanitylisaauthor2025-08-18T21:14:11+00:00

Why Get Off the Couch and Go To Church?

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:14:46+00:00

By Loren Gjesdal As a pastor who found it necessary to call a congregation back to church in person after doing church online, I realized that it wasn’t enough to simply say “We’re open, you can come back now.” I realized it was going to be essential to answer the question, “Why?” “Why should I get off my comfortable couch, dress up, drive over, and do the same thing in a pew instead?” The Biblical answer is simple and clear: because you’re needed here! God’s plan is for every member to be a minister. The Reformers called God’s plan the “Priesthood of All [...]

Why Get Off the Couch and Go To Church?lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:14:46+00:00

Are We Loving Each Other?

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:10:32+00:00

By Lisa Harp Hinds Are we loving each other? Meeting each other’s needs? How are we modeling Christ? Are we letting fear, frustration, and/or our need for individuality and some measure of control over our own lives get in the way of loving each other? INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE HOLY BIBLE God’s Word contains instructions on how we are to treat each other. In Matthew 7:12, Christ Jesus tells us, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” In other words, if we want people to treat us kindly, then we [...]

Are We Loving Each Other?lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:10:32+00:00

Building Beautiful Churches for Jesus

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:09:51+00:00

By Whaid Rose Building Beautiful Churches for Jesus: Why the post-COVID church must redefine itself and its mission. Once upon a time a local church decided to build larger facilities to accommodate its rapid growth. It was a wealthy church, so it spent lavishly in making sure the new campus was the finest in town. Building program complete, an auspicious dedication event was convened. The keynote speaker was a former senior pastor who had national name recognition, which drew community and media attention. But as he arose to deliver his message, the appearance of a giant hand high above the stage—as [...]

Building Beautiful Churches for Jesuslisaauthor2025-08-18T21:09:51+00:00

Mining the Old Testament for Treasure

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:04:48+00:00

By Loren Gjesdal Have you ever heard anyone express thoughts like these? Maybe you have had them yourself? “I’m a New Covenant Christian, so all I really need to study is the New Testament.” “Jesus and the Apostles are the final word on theology, life and living. The Old Testament just confuses the gospel.” “Jesus did away with the law so there is no point in learning what it said.” So why do we keep publishing the Old Testament in our Bibles? Should New Covenant Christians find any value in studying books of the Bible written before Jesus was born? The answer [...]

Mining the Old Testament for Treasurelisaauthor2025-08-18T21:04:48+00:00

Is Critical Thinking Important Today?

lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:05:54+00:00

By Martin Cicero With all the information that is available to us today, we can’t believe something just because it is in writing or because someone on TV or the internet says it is so. Then what are we to do? Many times during Jesus’ ministry here on earth, He asked the question, “What do you think?” Seven times in the gospels Jesus asked or is asked the question, “What do you think?” Do you just accept what you hear and read, or do you take time to think about it? Do you look to see if there is an alternate view? How [...]

Is Critical Thinking Important Today?lisaauthor2025-08-18T21:05:54+00:00