In order to understand what Jesus teaches us about God's end times plan, we must look closely at the teachings of Jesus Himself as well as consider how His followers throughout history have interpreted His teachings concerning the future. The Teachings of Jesus Regarding the End Times Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus frequently spoke about His return and the ultimate fate of humanity. However, when examining His teachings, it is important to remember that Jesus spoke in parables and in allegories, often using imagery and language that may seem cryptic or indirect to modern readers....

Over the past few decades, we have witnessed a steady decline in religious affiliation in many Western societies. In the United States, church attendance has shrunk while "nones"—those identifying as religiously unaffiliated—continue to increase in number. The "nones" now constitute the second largest religious group in America at roughly 23% of the population. This trend is not unique to America; it has been observed in European countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Germany as well....

I’ve been a Christian for decades now, and over those years I've learned a few things. My hope is that these lessons might help both new believers and older ones like me stay focused on what truly matters as we journey with Christ. 1. Keep it Simple It can be easy to get distracted by all the intricate doctrines and complicated dogmas of our faith. But Jesus kept His message simple, telling us to love God and love one another....

A pastor friend recently shared her heartache over a congregant who felt he needed to apologize for prioritizing his own mental health. The question he struggled with, “Is self-care selfish?” This query often surfaces in the broader culture as well. Is seeking out the healthiest choices a responsibility or a vice, an expression of maturity or self-absorption? In many arenas, self-care can be as controversial as other forms of caring for the self, such as birth control and sexual exploration....

The church can sometimes be an intimidating place where everyone seems to have it together except for you. Even though people inside the body of Christ are all believers in Christ, there can still be a lot of disagreements between individual believers. There is not necessarily a universal understanding of what the word family means or implies in this context. That's a significant challenge when we are trying to encourage one another to treat each other like family members....

Technological advancements seem to be happening at an alarming rate of speed in this contemporary era. New innovations are continuously being introduced while older ones have already become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. This is an era of fast connectivity, artificial intelligence, bionic limbs, and self-driving cars. However, just as with every other aspect of life, there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to utilize technological progress. As followers of Christ, it is imperative that we critically evaluate any development in light of Scripture....

The history of Christianity has been marked by periods of persecution and tolerance interspersed with periods of prosperity or entente cordiale. Particularly in the Western world, Christianity has enjoyed many periods of social, cultural, and legal liberties since Constantine legalized the religion in 313 AD. These freedoms have allowed the church to exert significant influence over education, morality, governance, among other key aspects of society. Despite its many blessings, Christianity does not exist in a vacuum....