In an article for Forbes last week called The Power of Parishioners Rick Warren, founder of the new evangelical Purpose Driven religion says, “the Christian Church. The Church, in all its expressions–Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Protestant and many others–has 2.3 billion followers.”
Rick Warren had also said previously, “I see absolutely zero reason  in separating my fellowship from anybody.” So now we [...]

I live in the Kansas City area. Yesterday a former employee of a Target store at the Ward Parkway Mall in KC put his plan into action to “shoot up a lot of people” there. Police theorize that he forced his way into a neighbor’s house, killed her and took her guns and stole her [...]

In this opening piece over at Apprising Ministries we set the backdrop for this look at what Emergent Church icon Rob Bell doesn’t say about the important issue of homosexuality. Bell tells homosexuals that “God loves you just as you are. Period.” But the following from Dr. John MacArthur sums it up nicely, “One of the big [...]

A Little Leaven has just published an open letter to Rick Warren asking for an update on media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s spiritual growth.
If you were not aware, a year and a half ago, Rick Warren told Malcolm Gladwell of the New Yorker that he was Rupert Murdoch’s pastor. Murdoch’s media empire also happens to [...]

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Joel “Dreaming of Dollars” Osteen is one of [...]

The Houston Chronicle tells us that, “Snoop Dogg’s extensive criminal background got him banned from Australia this week, but his evangelist mother has faith the rapper will turn his life around and begin to follow Christ. ‘I know one day God is going to change my son, and he will be a preacher,’ Beverly Broadus [...]

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
For years I have made a practice of writing many of my earnest prayers to God in a little book–a book now well worn. I still turn often to [...]

1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, [...]

“Love suffereth long, and is kind . . .” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul’s category of love. We cannot say – “Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things.” [...]

Christian Post informs us that:
A new child and orphan advocacy organization formally launched its campaign last week with the help of actress Angelina Jolie and Saddleback Church’s Kay Warren. Jolie and Warren joined other advocates last Thursday in the nation’s capital to launch the Global Action for Children (GAC) – a campaign to increase [...]

The New York Times has poste this article on Sen. Obama’s “coming to Christ” and the minister who lead him there.
As you read ,the first question that comes to mind is: How can you believe in the true Jesus when the one who is preached is not the one found in Scripture? Liberalism is its’ [...]

In another example of how far men will go in their vain imaginations in the pursuit of church growth, we read in the Richmond Times Dispatch:
Church Event Has Carnival Flavor Two Methodist Clerics Ride In On An Elephant at a Henrico Service” By TAMMIE SMITH TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
“With outdoor seating, colorful balloons, a menagerie of [...]

This video from A Little Leaven chronicles some of Joel Osteen’s latest man-centered self-help pap.
The subtitles are a hoot.

If we listen to much of the preaching these days we might get the idea that our God was an old grandfatherly type entity who loves people so much and wants to save them all, but is helpless to do anything to make that happen. Also, He really isn’t in control of anything. He simply [...]

“Professional wrestling, music and a pastor debating a porn star will hit Center Stage in Atlanta on Saturday. Unscripted 2007 will see legendary porn star Ron Jeremy butt heads with Craig Gross, pastor of the largest anti-porn ministry in the country, XXXChurch.com. The debate will address such pornography issues as whether it’s degrading to women [...]

Symphony of Scripture has the link to a sermon where Friel of Way of the Master says, “If you’re Christian walk has been a little, um, un-even. We would love for you to listen to this sermon. You will be able to see once and for all if you are truly saved.”

Christian Post informs us that, “The name of the man who has attracted tens of thousands even on rain-soaked days – Luis Palau – is not yet a household one, a fact his festival’s volunteers lightheartedly note. But millions of people in dozens of countries follow Palau – an important evangelical Christian presence, particularly with [...]

Dan Smith’s website WhiteBoyDj.com tells us:
Dan Smith is the real-life inspiration for the movie, “Dude, Where’s My Car?” He was born and raised in Holy Toledo, OH, and went to Kentucky Christian University on a full-ride scholarship for men’s tetherball. Presently, Smitty is starting a new, super-cool church in Cleveland, OH called Momentum Christian Church. [...]

At Apprising Ministries I share a few important excerpts from a conversation between Dr. John MacArthur and Phil Johnson on the Emergent Church.

Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. (Jeremiah 45:3)
Affliction gives us through grace the inestimable privilege of conformity to the Lord Jesus. We pray to be like Christ, but how can we be if we are [...]

Here’s an excellent Biblical look at the controversial subject of spiritual warfare by Pastor Bob DeWaay at his excellent website Critical Issues Commentary:
Many popular teachers question God’s sovereign rule over His own creation. Their unbiblical scenario goes like this: God made Adam the ruler of the world; Adam committed “treason” and turned the rightful dominion of the [...]

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves [...]

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  (Psalm 5:1-2)
If unanswered prayer continues in a congregation over an extended period of time, the chill of discouragement will settle over the praying people. If we continue to ask [...]

‘China Aid Association (CAA) has told ASSIST News Service that it has learned though ‘credible sources’ that on April 19, 2007 in Akesu City, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, that about 30 major Chinese house church leaders were arrested when they met with four American Christians. ‘Among the Americans are a [...]

In light of the pro-Mormon book by Robert Millet titled A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, which unbelievably as been endorsed by some leading evangelicals, it is imperative that a clear biblical distinction be maintained to mark the wide divide between the Christ of the Bible and the Christ of Mormonism. In Millet’s book, [...]