The Apostle’s Creed

Excerpt: Today, when the problem with the written word is not too little, but too much-- too much that is either a waste of time, vulgar, or blasphemous-- the power of a memorized creed lies in its reminder of the majesty of God, who He is, and our relationship to Him. Some Christians object to creeds, claiming the Bible is all they need. The mistake in this thinking is the idea that a Biblical creed is something outside the Bible, when in fact it is a memorable and valuable expression of Biblical truths that help us explain what we believe. Indeed, the Apostle Peter tells us to be prepared to give an account of our faith. One way to prepare is to memorize the Apostle’s Creed as many Christians did in the early centuries of the Christian faith. Knowing the Apostle’s Creed helps us explain the Christian faith; and saying the Apostle’s Creed is an act of worship that strengthens the believer for the trials of the day

Billy Graham: Life and Legacy

This 5-page overview summarizes Billy Graham\u27s life and impact, and situates him within the American evangelical tradition

Thoughts on the Importance of Attending Church

A short essay on the purpose and importance of church attendance. Excerpt: Today, many Christians have given up consistent attendance of worship services. This tendency is particularly pronounced among young adults. The reasons are numerous and varied. Among the complaints: the worship service is boring; it is impossible to find a church with both a style of worship and theology that is acceptable, and our lives are just too busy. There are surely more reasons for skipping church but these few will suffice to provide helpful and hopeful comment. Keywords: worship, church, Hebrews 10:24-25, C. S. Lewis, Benedict of Nursia

The Second Great Awakening and the Making of Modern America

In the decades before the Civil War which began in 1861, the Second Great Awakening was the most powerful social movement in America. It inspired the conversion of millions of Americans to faith in Jesus Christ. And that faith motivated many of those people to attempt to transform the moral habits of the nation. Slavery was ended, consumption of alcohol reduced, women’s rights, though often opposed by people of faith, were set on a path that would result in woman’s suffrage in the early Twentieth century. A host of other reforms, too many to list, were instigated. It is not too much to say that in this era the American people - though far from morally perfect - were defined by their Christianity. As Timothy Smith, an historian of American Christianity in this period has said, “Common grace, not common sense [a reference to Enlightenment thought as personified in Thomas Paine] was the keynote of the age.

An Historian’s Christmas

Keywords: Christmas, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Shepherds, angel, angels, glory, birth of Jesus, Quirinius, Christmas story, peace on earth, good will to men, midnight clear, gospel of Luke, Caesar Augustus, Rome, Roman republic, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Judea, prophecy of Micah 5:2, Israel, Judah, Herod the Great, Messiah, dream, favored of God, Elizabeth, blessed, faith, sanctuary, no room in the inn, stable, Scriptures, Son of God, wrapped Him in a cloth, laid Him in a manger, great light, darkness, good news, great joy, city of David, savior, Christ the Lord, Heavenly Host, Glory to God in the Highest, Luke 2:19, treasured up all these things, pondered them in her heart, greatly troubled, I am the Lord\u27s servant, eighth day, Simeon, Jerusalem, my eyes have seen your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, a sword will pierce your own soul too, Anna, prophetess, Matthew, three wise men, king of the Jews, Hebrew scrolls, new star, chief priests, teachers of the law, Magi, gold, incense and Myrrh, kill all the male children, Rachel, A voice is heard in Ramah, Rachel weeping for her children, Jeremiah, Hosea, out of Egypt I called my son, Albert Barnes

C.S. Lewis: Reluctant Convert

This is a 4600-word introduction to Mere Christianity with an emphasis on Lewis\u27 own conversion

Study Guide for Skeel’s True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World

From the introduction: Skeel prefers to defend the Christian faith by examining how it explains the truth of human existence more fully than any other system. The result is not a thorough defeat of materialism or materialists. It is rather a gentle apologia that hopefully provides non-Christians cause for interest in Christianity, and Christians a deeper sense of the value and truth of their faith. This study guide is divided into five parts, each corresponding to a chapter of the book. The book may be easily read one chapter per week for a Sunday School class or Christian book study. To accompany True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World by David Skeel, IVP Books, 2014, 0830836764 (ISBN13: 9780830836765