The church does not need another debate about who is allowed to preach. It does, however, desperately need to recover what preaching actually is according to Scripture. Somewhere along the way, we reimagined the pulpit. The sermon became an inspirational talk, a leadership lecture, or a religious TED Talk with a few Greek words sprinkled in for flavor. In short, just another didactic expression. We evaluate preachers the way we evaluate conference speakers. Was he engaging? F

Football season is upon us once again! In just a few short weeks there will almost be no days where a college or professional football game cannot be found on TV. My wife thinks that is ridiculous – I think it’s heaven. And, since my beloved Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl Champions, this reality carries an extra measure of delight for me. It is also one of the reasons I found a recent article from Fortune magazine compelling. It suggests that gambling has

Why Healthy Churches Need both Doctrinal Clarity and Missional Passion “Doctrine divides, love unites.” I’m sure most of us have heard a variation of this sentiment. I once heard a person say, “There’s that dreaded D word again…” The word doctrine has acquired a bad reputation in many Christian circles. Is it fair? To some, it conjures images of endless debates, theological pride, or churches more interested in winning arguments than reaching people. Yet the word i

One of the first things the Bible teaches us—right there in Genesis—is that God is a God of order. God separates: light from darkness, sea from sky, meaning from murk. God speaks, and the world takes shape. And when that order is rejected—as it was in Noah’s generation—judgment begins to flood in. And then God makes Adam. And what’s Adam’s job? He’s told to name the animals. That’s not just a fun afternoon of creative labeling. No—naming is an act of discernment. It’s how Ada

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23 Last summer my wife, Karla, and I had the privilege of traveling through Europe with her family. One afternoon we boarded a tour bus in Belgium for what would become an eight-hour ride through some of the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen. Rolling green hills, centuries-old villages, magnificent cathedrals, and reminders of World War II unfolded outside our window mile after mil

This week we celebrate Independence Day in the United States. From 1776 until today, July 4th has been celebrated by Americans as a day to commemorate the official vote of the United States Continental Congress to declare Independence from the authority of Great Britain. Recently we also celebrated Juneteenth, often referred to as America’s “Second Independence Day,” rightly remembering the emancipation of enslaved African Americans from a life of oppression. Both highlight a

Last week social media buzzed about the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) vote on women serving as pastors. Specifically, the SBC voted to “not affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation.” The amendment passed with nearly 75% support. Under the denomination’s rules, any constitutional change requires a two-thirds majority in two consecutive years, so a similar vote will be n

Who Gets to Tell You Who You Are? A few years ago, I met with a counselor who works almost exclusively with pastors. I saw him eight times, and honestly, it was one of the healthiest things I’ve ever done. No matter who we are or how long we’ve been faithful, it’s good to have someone objective listen to us and take a peek at how we think about life and doctrine. One day, after listening to me describe myself, my struggles, my insecurities, and the way I tended to measur

This is part five of a series around the concept of spiritual formation. This series seeks to explore spiritual formation carefully and biblically—listening with empathy, asking thoughtful questions, and grounding our understanding firmly in Scripture. Here are the previous articles: PART ONE; PART TWO; PART THREE; PART FOUR. Jeff Chacon also offers a good primer HERE. In the next few articles, I would like to discuss an emerging movement that stands at the heart of much mode

Christians have faith that the Bible is inspired by God. With deep humility, we trust that God has revealed himself through Christ, and that the testimony of the early Christians is trustworthy and true. The Bible’s contents have been put to the test for two thousand years and still survive, indeed they thrive. No other piece of writing in all of history has endured the scrutiny applied to the Bible. But how do we know it’s inspired by God? Not every reason persuasive to Chri

We’re inviting all grandparents to join us for a very special webinar! Daren Overstreet will be interviewing David Upchurch and Daniel McCoy, authors of the exceptional book called The Disciple Making Grandparent: A Guidebook for Helping Your Grandchildren Trust and Follow Jesus. Daren will discuss their book with them, and host a conversation about how grandparents can be instrumental in shaping the spiritual lives of their grandchildren. There will be live Q&A! The webin

This is part four of a series around the concept of spiritual formation. This series seeks to explore spiritual formation carefully and biblically—listening with empathy, asking thoughtful questions, and grounding our understanding firmly in Scripture. Here are the previous articles: PART ONE ; PART TWO ; PART THREE . Jeff Chacon also offers a good primer HERE . What Does It Mean to Be Truly Spiritual? “Be more spiritual.” “If we could just help people be more spiritual, our

Parents, we would like to help you this Easter! Bunnies, eggs, resurrection, Jesus - what do we make of all of it? We have created a guide for parents, to help guide your kids through it all. Just click on the link below and download our "Let's Talk About Easter" PDF guide!

This is part three of a series around the concept of spiritual formation. This series seeks to explore spiritual formation carefully and biblically—listening with empathy, asking thoughtful questions, and grounding our understanding firmly in Scripture. Here are the previous articles: PART ONE ; PART TWO . Jeff Chacon also offers a good primer HERE . Is spiritual formation based on Scripture? I guess it depends on what version of spiritual formation we're talking about....

Daren Overstreet's new book is now available! As Christians, God provides us with an opportunity to shine light into the darkest corners of our society, but it will take courage and intentionality. Christ-centered families remain the most effective way to disciple the next generation and display the hope of the gospel to a watching world, but it will require deepening our convictions about the spiritual battle we are engaged in. This new book invites parents into discussio

This is part two of a series around the concept of spiritual formation. This series seeks to explore spiritual formation carefully and biblically—listening with empathy, asking thoughtful questions, and grounding our understanding firmly in Scripture. Here are the previous articles: PART ONE . Jeff Chacon also offers a good primer HERE . Few topics in the church today generate as much passion—and misunderstanding—as spiritual formation. For some believers, the phrase its

Over the last decade, I’ve talked with thousands of Christians about LGBTQ issues and faith. I’ve listened to fear, confusion, heartbreak, and courage. I’ve shared my own journey — not as a man who has “arrived,” but as someone still walking by faith, trusting God one day at a time. And I’ve watched how the church has responded. Some moments have given me tremendous hope, others have raised deep concern. This reflection is born out of both. A Decade of Questions and Convers

This is part one of a series around the concept of spiritual formation. This series seeks to explore spiritual formation carefully and biblically—listening with empathy, asking thoughtful questions, and grounding our understanding firmly in Scripture. It is hard to ignore the growing interest in spiritual formation . It has really only been popular among evangelicals since the late 70’s, but today the phrase shows up everywhere—books, podcasts, retreats, conferences, smal

Introduction So, what’s “Spiritual Formation” all about? Is it biblical or unbiblical? Is it healthy or dangerous? Is it a passing fad, or is it a vital key to spiritual growth? If you’ve wondered about these things, then this article is for you. By now, most serious Christians have heard the term, “spiritual formation”, and have either positive, negative, or mixed feelings about it. I’ve had mixed feelings myself, and through much research and practice over the las

It’s hard to believe we are already in 2026. After nearly thirty years in pastoral ministry, the start of a new year still fills me with a deep sense of joy, anticipation, and responsibility. A new year invites prayerful reflection, intentional planning, and fresh discernment about where God is leading His people. In recent weeks, I’ve found myself thinking often about our church members and their families—praying for the pressures they’re carrying, the questions they’re a