The Grace Blog

Series: “Jesus’ Message: You Are The Conduit”

“Being A Builder of Bridges”

Psalm 1

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

John 17:6-19

In my life, I’ve struggled with ambition. Oh, ambition is important, but when it controls many of one’s moves, it’s dangerous. At times in my career, who I knew, what church I served, and how successful I was were compelling validators of me in my ministry. My self-importance became controlling, pride was deeply rooted, and “image management” ruled the day. My sense of self was not ...

Series: “Jesus’ Message: You Are The Conduit”

“Being A Righter of Wrongs”

Acts 8:26-40

John 15:1-8

Evidence is important, particularly when it comes to the claims we make about Jesus and his importance in our lives. Dr. Jerry Root, Professor of Evangelism and Director of the Wheaton Evangelism Initiative, Billy Graham Center, relates the following story:

While my flight was delayed, I met a woman in the Vienna airport. She was wearing a lanyard with a name tag and carrying a clipboard and obviously taking ...

Series: “Jesus’ Message: You Are The Conduit”

“Being A Restorer of Relationships”

Acts 10:44-48

John 15:9-17

In the late 1940s, Charles Templeton was a close friend and preaching associate of Billy Graham. Over time, however, Templeton developed intellectual doubts. He questioned the authority of Scripture and other core Christian beliefs. Templeton abandoned his faith. He resigned as a preaching associate of Billy Graham and became a novelist and news commentator. Templeton also wrote a critique of the Christian faith, Farewell to God: My Reasons for ...

Series: “Jesus’ Message: You Are The Conduit”

“Being A Righter of Wrongs”

Acts 8:26-40

John 15:1-8

Evidence is important, particularly when it comes to the claims we make about Jesus and his importance in our lives. Dr. Jerry Root, Professor of Evangelism and Director of the Wheaton Evangelism Initiative, Billy Graham Center, relates the following story:

While my flight was delayed, I met a woman in the Vienna airport. She was wearing a lanyard with a name tag and carrying a clipboard and obviously taking ...

Series: “Jesus’ Message: You Are The Conduit”

“Being For The Oppressed”

Psalm 23

John 10:11-18

Either the church is able to point to signs of healing power at work in the world because of what has happened in Jesus Christ or the community is without evidence for its claims. In a 2008 report,

Researchers for Pew’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey analyzed the religious practices of more than 35,000 U.S. adults and found that they generally embrace their own faith while respecting—and sometimes even practicing—aspects of ...