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  • How do You Choose A Bible Translation?

    We who speak English are blessed with a multitude of competing translations of the Bible. With so many possibilities, which should you choose? Here is at least one answer to this common question. Transcript Recently a reader got in touch to ask me about Bible translations. What translation do I use, what translation do I…

  • Have You Committed The Unpardonable Sin?

    Have you ever wondered if you have committed that one unpardonable sin the Bible talks about? A lot of people spend a lot of time really concerned about this, so it may do them good to listen in as I talk about why I think it’s unlikely they have committed it. Transcript I think every…

  • Disposing of your Bible

    How Should You Dispose of a Bible ?

    How should you dispose of an old Bible? Is there a right way and a wrong way? Is there a biblical way and an unbiblical way? Listen in as I try to work through this surprisingly common question. Transcript I recently got the question, how do you dispose of an old Bible? Somebody’s Bible had…

  • EPIC Switzerland

    EPIC: Switzerland

    My latest EPIC journey took me to Switzerland (and France and Germany) where I was searching for objects relating to the Reformers and the Huguenots. Join me as I explore this beautiful country and a couple of its neighbors. This video was made possible in part by Zondervan and the forthcoming two-volume set by Michael…

  • Raising Our Children To Be In But Not Of The World

    Parenting is tough. One of our greatest challenges is to raise kids who are able to exist in this world while not being of this world. A reader recently asked for some thoughts on this, and here’s what I had to say. Transcript I wonder if you’ve ever thought about what it would be like…

  • New and Notable Books

    New and Notable Books for August

    I get a lot (a lot!) of books in the mail. I don’t have time to review them all, but once in a while I like to let you know about some that may be of particular interest to you. Here they are. Transcript I get books. I get lots and lots of books. In…

  • Modern Evangelism

    Reaching People with the Gospel

    On my recent trip to Scotland I participated in an Ask Me Anything event at a local bookstore, and was asked two related questions: What is the best way to reach people with the Gospel in the modern world, and what is your preferred method of evangelism? Here are my answers to those questions. Transcript…

  • How Do You Know if Your Church is Healthy?

    There are healthy churches and unhealthy churches (so, so many unhealthy churches). How would you know the difference? I was asked that question recently and this is my attempt at an answer. Transcript Today I want to talk about the health of a local church. Are there ways we can know that a church is…

  • The Difference Between Lament and Grumbling

    In the Bible we see both grumbing and lamenting. It seems that one is permitted by God and one is not. So what is the difference? Transcript Today I want to take on a question I got from somebody who’s watched some of these videos. Sent through a question I thought was quite interesting. It…

  • Scotland

    The Beauty (and History) of Scotland

    My EPIC church history journey continues to take me around the world. Most recently I traveled through Scotland to research its history and admire its beauty. Here’s a brief overview of some of what I found and experienced. My thanks goes to Zondervan for sponsoring the video to draw your attention to the definitive third…

  • Why Should I Bother With Church History?

    On a recent trip to Scotland, I held an Ask Me Anything event at FM Bookstore and Cafe in Edinburgh. One of the questions I was asked was “what are the benefits of studying church history?” Here is my answer. Transcript What are the benefits of studying church history? I think church history is an…

  • How to Create a Reading Culture in Your Church

    How to Create a Reading Culture in Your Church

    On a recent trip to Scotland, I held an Ask Me Anything event at FM Bookstore and Cafe in Edinburgh. One of the questions I was asked was “how do you create a reading culture in your church?” Here is my answer. Transcript How do you create a culture of reading in your church? Yes,…

  • Power of I Am

    The Joel Osteen Sermon that Changed Oprah’s Life

    This marks the final entry in a series of videos I’ve very much enjoyed putting together: The Great Sermon Series. And for this last video we are going in a different direction by looking at a not-so-great sermon. Joel Osteen’s “The Power of I Am” may be the most popular sermon on YouTube, but it’s…

  • read and review books

    How and Why I Choose Which Books to Read and Review

    Of all the books that come my way, how do I choose the ones I’ll actually read and perhaps even review? I was asked the question at a recent Ask Me anything event and provided this answer… How do you choose which books to read and review? How do you decide when to give a…

  • Kids and Technology

    Here’s a question I was asked most recently in South Africa, but which I’ve been asked all over the world: What can you say about that tricky relationship between kids and technology? This is something we grapple with just about every day! Transcript How have you raised your kids with regard to technology? Yes, it…

  • Ask Me Anything Africa

    False Converts & Confrontational Blogging

    Today we are back in Johannesburg, South Africa and Kitwe, Zambia, where I was asked the questions, “how do you interact with people when you think they might be false converts?” and “Is there a place for ‘calling out’ unbiblical teaching from other believers in blogging?” These are my answers. Transcript How do you interact…

  • The Message that Move the SBC

    The Message That Moved the SBC

    Just a little over thirty years ago, the fate of the SBC hung in the balance. It seemed as though it was going to adapt to the times and embrace theological liberalism, just as countless denominations had done in the U.S.. But at the 1985 SBC Convention in Dallas, Texas, a 75-year-old minister stepped to…

  • Ask Me Anything

    Social Media and Churches / Are You Addicted to Your Cell Phone?

    At a recent event in Johannesburg, South Africa, I was asked about the relationship of churches and social media, and also asked about cell phone addiction (and information about my experiment in getting rid of my smart phone for a time). In these two videos I give my answers. Transcript What problems can the internet…

  • ask me anything Zambia

    Ask Me Anything Zambia: Tips for Reading and Writing

    While in Zambia for my recent EPIC trip, I held an Ask Me Anything event at Central Africa Baptist College. Here are a couple of the questions and answers: one concerns the relationship between reading and writing, and the other asks for practical tips to become a better reader. I hope you find the answers…

  • ask me anything Zambia

    Ask Me Anything Zambia: Writing and Productivity

    While in Zambia during a recent EPIC trip, I held an Ask Me Anything event at Central Africa Baptist College. Here are a couple of the questions and answers: one concerns how to become a writer people will read, and the other is about how to maintain productivity in work. The answer is slightly ironic…