When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4–5) Christmas marks the moment when the Creator of the universe sent his Son to make foes into family.…
Category: Health
Marvel in the Manger: Worshiping Christ Like His Cousin
After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. —John the Baptist, Mark 1:7–8 Where Christmas is concerned, John the Baptist usually lies far from the…
One Tale to Rule Them All
A story starts “once upon a time.” It weaves through a tried-and-true narrative: a maiden in paradise violates a single prohibition, she is captured by a dragon, rescued by a knight in shining armor, and lives with him happily ever after. The shape of this tale is like an old blanket, familiar and comforting. But…
Does Christmas Bring Peace or War?
Audio Transcript Happy Monday and Merry Christmas! In this last episode before the holiday, we’re coming in with a Christmas meditation on happiness and anxiety, all spurred by this question from a listener named Derek: “Hello, Pastor John, and Merry Christmas to you! During the Advent season each year, I love to sing the hymn…
He Came to a World at War: O King of Nations
O come, O King of nations, bindIn one the hearts of all mankind.Bid all our sad divisions ceaseAnd be yourself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! ImmanuelShall come to thee, O Israel. Holidays have their ways of pouring salt into the wounds of broken relationships. The father who is absent. The sister who cut off…
Seven Surprises of the First Christmas
Ten years ago today was the birth of our first daughter. We talk about her being our Advent baby, with the name Gloria. We thought November 21 wasn’t too early to start looking ahead to Advent and Christmas. I know we are a week from Thanksgiving, but would it be okay if I talked about…
Praise God for Boring Days: What Agony Has Taught Me
“Praise God for boring days.” These are the words that my wife, Abigail, wrote to people who were praying for our one-year-old son, Calvin, as he lay hooked to an ECMO machine in Johannesburg, South Africa. ECMO stands for “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.” It is essentially a life-support system that replaces a patient’s heart and lungs…
The Sorrowing Have a Savior: Lessons from Spurgeon’s Depression
Charles Spurgeon spoke of depression as the soul relentlessly bleeding out — like one who dies again and again, hour upon hour. The mind can descend far lower than the body, for in it there are bottomless pits. The flesh can bear only a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can…
Smart Watches: The Perfect Companion for Your Lifestyle
In today’s fast-paced world, smart watches have become more than just accessories; they are essential tools that enhance our daily lives. From fitness tracking to
The God over Geopolitics
Audio Transcript As the year draws to a close, so too does our Bible-reading schedule. Thanks to everyone who joined us in 2024 in the Navigators Bible Reading Plan. This late in the year, we find ourselves in the final chapters of Revelation, tomorrow reading Revelation 17 together, a chapter on the mind of Dan,…