Boys to Men: The Father-Son Crisis – Joseph B. Baity cgg.org
Ryan Welsh
3 months ago in Man/Husband/Father
Young men and boys in America are facing a growing crisis that has unfolded quietly for decades. The erosion of the nuclear family, the marginalization of masculine roles, and the decline of respect for elders have left many boys without clear purpose or strong male role models. Nowhere is this more evident than in the absence of fathers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly…
Article 4 – Acts 15: The Council That Redefined the People of God truthsum.org
TS Writer
1 month ago in Spirit in Man
Acts 15 records a decisive moment in the early Church—not because doctrine changed, but because God’s actions forced clarity. The Jerusalem Council was not debating abstract theories of salvation. The question was far more concrete: Must Gentiles take on Jewish covenant identity in order to belong to the Spirit-filled people of God? Within first-century Judaism, belonging followed clear categories. Jews were born into the covenant….
Article 3: The Spirit as the Beginning of Salvation — Why Circumcision Was Never the Gateway truthsum.org
TS Writer
2 months ago in Plan of Salvation
Before continuing, it’s worth explaining the deliberate pace of this series. Many assumptions modern Christians bring to Paul’s letters were not formed directly from Scripture, but from generations of layered explanations, inherited frameworks, and well-intentioned yet flawed teaching. Over time, these ideas shape how the text is read automatically, often without being questioned. What should be a fairly understandable subject has been made unnecessarily complex….
From Transaction to Transformation: How Scripture Frames Law, Grace, Faith, and Salvation truthsum.org
TS Writer
1 month ago in Grace, Law, Sin, Repentance
Much of modern Christianity operates within a transactional framework—one that views salvation primarily as a legal exchange. Humanity stands guilty before God, Jesus pays the penalty, and believers are declared righteous in a courtroom sense. While this model contains biblical elements, it often reduces the gospel to legal status and escape from judgment. Scripture presents a deeper and more relational vision. The gospel is not…
The Wedge of Social Media: Formation, Humility, and the Test of Community truthsum.org
TS Writer
2 months ago in God Family, Family
Social media offers unprecedented access to ideas and communities, but it also exposes the cracks in our formation. Every belief finds reinforcement, every doubt an echo, every opinion a following. Children grow up immersed in this environment, and adults are not immune. Families strain, and even churches feel the pull. What matters most is not how loudly something is said, but what kind of foundation…
Why I Dress Up for Church Service truthsum.org
TS Writer
2 weeks ago in Weekly Sabbath
Most of us have heard the phrase, “God doesn’t care what you wear.” In one sense, that’s absolutely true. Scripture makes it clear that God looks at the heart, not outward appearance. Faith is not measured by fabric, and righteousness is not stitched into a suit jacket or pressed into a dress shirt. So why, then, do some people still choose to dress intentionally for…
Lent: Scripture, Tradition, and the Question of Origins truthsum.org
TS Writer
3 weeks ago in Lent, Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread
Discussions surrounding Lent often fall into two extremes. Many Christians assume that if a practice is ancient, widespread, and symbolically Christian, it must therefore be biblical. Others respond with sharp accusations, equating Lent with ancient pagan rituals and claiming participants are unknowingly “weeping for Tammuz.” Both approaches tend to shut down thoughtful examination rather than encourage it. A more careful approach distinguishes sincere modern devotion…
Is the Kingdom of God Within You? – Richard T. Ritenbaugh cgg.org
Ryan Welsh
2 weeks ago in Kingdom
The Bible describes a kingdom as a real government ruled by a king over a defined people and territory. Yet many churches spiritualize the Kingdom of God, interpreting Jesus’ words in Luke 17:21—“the kingdom of God is within you”—to mean it exists inside believers. A closer look at context and language reveals a very different meaning. The Greek word translated “within” can also mean “among.”…
Living Your Best Life – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
2 weeks ago in Human Beings
“Living your best life” is a popular phrase, but what does it truly mean? Many define it as maximizing happiness, comfort, and success. Yet Scripture challenges that assumption. The Bible repeatedly shows that blessing and ease are not the same. James writes, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,” and Paul reminds us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus…
Three Choices: Good, Evil, & Life – Bill Hutchison leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
3 weeks ago in Human Beings
Stephen Covey observed that what distinguishes humans is our ability to step outside our emotions, thoughts, and instincts to evaluate and choose our response. This self-awareness allows us to act intentionally rather than reactively. Yet, despite this ability, many people allow feelings, conditioning, and impulse to define their actions, bypassing thoughtful reflection. Scripture highlights that a critical moment exists between experience and response – a space…
Is Lent in the Bible? – Isaac Khalil lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
3 weeks ago in Lent
Lent is a 40-day period observed by some Christian denominations before Easter, involving fasting, prayer, and acts of repentance. While commonly associated with Catholicism, it is also practiced in various forms by Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and some Presbyterian churches. Despite its widespread observance, Lent is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Historically, early Christians did not observe a 40-day fast. Prior to the fourth…
What Will Happen When You Die? – Stuart Wachowicz tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
6 days ago in Human Beings
Since the beginning of human history, mankind has wrestled with the question of what happens after death. Is death the end of existence, or does some conscious part of a person continue living? Across cultures and civilizations, people have developed many different answers. Ancient societies often believed that a spiritual part of a person survived death. The Egyptians, for example, believed each person possessed multiple…
A Call to Repentance cbcg.org
Ryan Welsh
6 days ago in Repentance
The death of Jesus Christ stands as both a witness to the world and a powerful call to repentance. From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus proclaimed, “Repent, and believe in the gospel,” making repentance the foundation of salvation. He declared that unless people repent, they will perish, emphasizing that all stand equally guilty before God. Scripture defines sin as lawlessness, and all humanity—except Christ—has…