Sophia Bricker

He was desperate. Having brought his son to the disciples, he thought the boy would be healed. Yet they had done nothing. The demon continued to inflict his son with troubles he had been experiencing for years – convulsing, foaming at the mouth, being thrown into fire and water (Mark 9:17-18, 21-22). If these disciples could not drive away the spirit, who could? This father was losing hope.

The popular saying, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” could have an equivalent among churches: “what doesn’t kill you makes your faith stronger.” But this is often a cliché for a reason. Sometimes seasons of hardship draw us closer to the Lord; other times they do not. Sometimes, they break us.

The good news is that the Savior can still work in those moments, even when we feel that we have hit the lowest point of our lives life and hope has fled. He is the Lord that David described as having pulled him out of a miry pit (Psalm 40:2). This is the same God who promises to be with the brokenhearted and lift those who have fallen (Psalm 34:18). He knows what it is like to feel abandoned to painful circumstances, for He endured the worst pain and separation on the cross (Matthew 27:46).

So, perhaps our immediate response to hardship should not be to pull up our bootstraps and muster up the courage we lack. Instead, we can acknowledge our inability and brokenness, looking to the Lord to supply His strength during times of weakness. Like the man at wit’s end because of his demon-possessed child, we can declare to Jesus: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

The following five prayers help us express this need to our Lord. May we use them to strengthen our faith and cling to hope when life seems dark.

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Certain names, fictional and historical, instantly evoke thoughts of evil deeds and an insidious legacy. Names like Uriah Heap, Sauron, Iago, Jadis, Voldemort, Nero, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Hitler, Stalin. They are the villains that populate our stories and the past, giving us glimpses into the reality of darkness inside the human heart. Scripture also presents us with villains, those who committed sinful acts in defiance to the Lord. They are memorable because of their wickedness. 

As we consider these renowned antagonists of the Bible, though, we must remember that none of us is immune to the sinfulness that marked their lives. Many of the individuals whom we would consider the heroes of the Bible, people like Moses, David, Samson, or Peter, had their own struggles with sin. Some of their actions could even be considered villainous – think David’s murder of Uriah, Solomon’s descent into idolatry and moral failure, or Peter’s denial of Christ. And truly, all of us are guilty of wrongdoing in the eyes of the Lord; we do not have to be as evil as Jezebel or Hitler to be sentenced to hell. Too often, we are quick to affirm that villains should be punished, but less willing to acknowledge the evil inside ourselves. If we look at the cross, though, we are reminded of our sinfulness – it was for our sins that the spotless Lamb of God died. Only through Jesus are we saved from eternal punishment and given everlasting life.  

May we maintain a healthy awareness of our sinfulness as we consider these biblical villains and learn from their negative examples so that we can better follow Christ with wholehearted devotion.         

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What do you picture when you think of church?

Do you think of the rows of wooden pews or the intricate stained-glass windows in the sanctuary? Stacks of Bibles and hymnals? What about a stage or pulpit? Maybe you think of a large auditorium setting if you attend a mega church. 

All these details tell us what we see when we look at a building, but they tell us nothing about what a church should biblically look like. Scripture does not give directions about the format of seating or the use of a stage. We find no mention of a required carpet color or use of stained-glass windows. During the early days of the church, there were no chapels or cathedrals with steeples. That is because the Church is not a building. 

Believers make up the body of Christ, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:27). 

As members of the body of Christ, what we look like stems from our relationship to Jesus and the mission He gave us. He has called us to be a multiplying people, a community that grows and reaches into the lives of others. It is a group of individuals who increasingly look like Him. 

C.S. Lewis wrote about the purpose of the church in Mere Christianity. As he explained, “[T]he church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time” (HarperOne, 2001, p. 199).

At first, Lewis’ statement might surprise us. Constructing buildings, doing missions, and studying the Bible are wastes of time? They are if people are not growing in Christ and making disciples. The body of believers is meant to look increasingly like Jesus and help others become reflections of Christ too. If the church is not doing that, then it is not accomplishing its purpose. It will not look like a biblical church.   

But what are the indications that a group of believers are accomplishing this purpose of growing to become more like Christ?      

Scripture does not have directions about what a church building should look like, but it does have a wealth of information about what it looks like to live as individuals belonging to the Church.

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We must return to a biblical view of sickness and suffering. Only then will we see the Lord’s goodness and love amid periods of illness.    

We often focus on the underdog-to-hero narrative and victory over life’s problems, forgetting that this was a historical event with a real shepherd named David and a giant warrior named Goliath. Even more, we miss what the Bible intends to show us about our Lord.  

New seasons in nature often mark a shift in our schedules and habits. Spring brings more light and new growth. Summer offers longer days and time to reconnect with our favorite activities. Fall ushers in a time of schedules and winding down the year’s growth. Winter borders both the end and beginning of years, marking a period of anticipation.

These times bring change, which we may welcome with a mixture of joy and grief. Yet, hidden behind these changes are also whispers of opportunity. As seasons shift, they can remind us of the choice we have to implement new rhythms into our daily lives –– rhythms that can support our flourishing, as the Lord intends.

One such opportunity this autumn is to begin cultivating Bible study habits that lead us closer to wholehearted love for God (Mark 12:30-31). For there is nothing more powerful in transforming our thoughts and actions than engagement with the Word of God. Therefore, we are wise to implement habits that help us better read, apply, memorize, and meditate on Scripture, long-term skills that every follower of Christ needs.

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A day is coming when all people will live in peace with each other and creation.

Witness the breathtaking vision of Revelation 5, where a cosmic mystery awaits and only one figure is found worthy to break the seals of ultimate justice. Delve into the profound significance of Jesus, the triumphant Lamb, and allow this powerful revelation to reorient your perspective and inspire deep awe.

During a scene in Phantastes by George MacDonald, the main character Anodos finds himself trapped inside a tower with his terrible shadow. He despairs of ever being able to break free until he hears singing. Pushing open the door, he discovers a familiar face –– a girl he had met in Fairy Land who used to play with a beautiful globe, which he had broken. The child had grown into an adult and had received the gift of song in place of her broken toy. She now uses her gift to free those who are captive, even Anodos who had been responsible for the loss of her beloved globe (Phantastes, W. B. Eerdmans). A song drew him out of his prison and reminded him of the truth: the door of the tower had always been unlocked.

Psalms, the biblical songbook, also has the ability to transform our perspective and remind us of truth. In the Psalms, we find song-prayers that apply to many aspects of life. One such area the Psalms speak into is the common human struggle with despair. We, like Anodos, often find ourselves trapped by emotions and circumstances so that we lament our life. Yet, God’s Word is here to declare a truer reality to us. Finding joy again is not an impossible task. In fact, it may be as close as the turn of a page.

The following seven Psalms provide a starting place for studying these biblical songs that remind us of the joy found in knowing our great Creator and Savior.

 Developing a heart for telling others about Christ means praying for the gospel's spread.

When examining multiple verses, the Bible teaches that Jesus died as a ransom for all people. He paid the price for the sins of mankind, but each person must place faith in Him to receive this gift of salvation.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway, lives beside the wealthy Gatsby who throws large, extravagant parties. Hundreds of people attend these gatherings – even if they are not invited. Yet, despite the riches that enable him to live in luxury and reconnect with the woman he loves, Gatsby dies a tragic death and only a few people attend his funeral. Nick turns away from the indulgent and corrupt lifestyles of West Egg after his friend’s death, looking back with longing to the simplicity of residing in a small, midwestern town. The life of the rich was not so grand after all.

Despite this classic story’s unmasking of the façade of wealth – that the American dream does not satisfy – so many people continue to be attracted to teachings and methods that promise riches. One such teaching is the prosperity gospel. Advocates tells us that Jesus died to give us blessings in this life: Wealth, health, and comfort. God will shower the faithful with material wealth and a happy life free of disease, according to these prosperity teachers. If individuals give from their wealth, then the Lord will bless them with even more money. To those who adhere to these beliefs, prosperity is inherent in the Christian life.

Believers need to be aware of this false teaching, as it is widespread and promoted by many prominent authors and teachers. The prosperity gospel has also spread beyond America to impoverished countries, where struggling people are even more vulnerable to the trappings of this false gospel. We need to be aware of how to combat these teachings so that we can uphold biblical truths about salvation and what it means to be a follower of Christ.

The following passages from Scripture are important to know, in order to dismantle the lies of the prosperity gospel. Let us arm ourselves with the Sword of the Spirit to cut down the falsehoods that are threatening to choke churches and entangle nonbelievers, preventing them from coming to saving faith in Christ.

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As a child, I believed I could capture water with my hands as easily as with a cup. The pool and bathtub were ideal places for testing my theory: I would squeeze my fingers together to form a barrier before dipping my hands in the water. The rivulets would slowly accumulate into my palms before trickling out again. Try as I did, I could never quite prevent the droplets from seeping out.

Prayer is often like water; it quenches our thirst for communion with God, providing life-giving fellowship. But praying can also feel elusive and difficult, as if we are trying to keep our hands tightly cupped to hold the water as droplets run through our fingers. We often stumble over awkward pleas for help to the Lord, or struggle to keep our minds from wandering. Amid the chaos of life, we can also forget to talk to the Lord. It is something we intend to do and know is necessary for a healthy Christian walk, but we fail to carry out in everyday life.

How can we build a consistent prayer life? And what does this look like in a modern society that is barraged with distractions and short-attention spans?

What we need is not more vague and generalized calls to prayer, as if “just pray” is enough to help us cultivate a prayerful life. Rhythms and practices are required to bring the biblical teaching of prayer into our days. Much like the way water is elusive until placed inside a container –– a cup, bottle, or bowl –– what we need is to give shape to prayer in our lives, building a framework for consistent communion with God. Then, we will be able to participate in this discipline that is vital to our spiritual growth and flourishing.

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