Life

Teaching children about prayer: tips to encourage them to talk to God
Prayer is something that even lifelong adult Christians struggle with or express dissatisfaction about so it can feel like an impossible task to equip children with the tools they need to develop a positive relationship with prayer.

9 'Christian phrases' that aren't actually biblical
Whether we're searching for that killer sermon line, or a word to encourage a struggling friend, we fall back so often on the register of Christian idioms.

When Jesus deals with our failure for us
Have you ever been in a situation where you gave a task or project everything you have, but it still failed? We all have at some point.

Judgement is actually God's mercy, JD Greear explains
Pastor and theologian JD Greear is urging the faithful not to be disheartened by personal failures which people often see as God's judgment. Instead he says they should it as a sign of God's mercy.

How to put the saint back in your St Patrick's Day
What started out as a feast day commemorating the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick, is now seen as an excuse by many to get drunk. You may find it hard to believe but St Patrick's Day (March 17) was once a day when people abstained from drinking alcohol because pubs were closed to observe the religious holiday.

The man who converted Ireland: 10 things you might not know about St Patrick
St Patrick's Day processions are big events, particularly in America, as descendants of Irish emigrants everywhere reconnect with their roots.

Astronomers see young stars devouring would-be planets 1,500 to 3,500 light years from Milky Way
A new study by an international team of astronomers revealed that stars experience violent youths, and even devour clumps of matter that can form into planets.

Easter 2016: What do bunny rabbits and chocolate eggs have to do with Easter anyway?
For many years, the bunny rabbit has been associated with the celebration of Easter but the origin of its association is something of a puzzle.

5 Bible verses that make change a lot less scary
We hear all the time that change is good but that doesn't make it any easier when we're faced with it. Most of us are creatures of comfort and we find security in our routines and knowing what's coming next. The uncertainty of what lies ahead and a nostalgia for whatever or whoever we're leaving behind can all contribute to us feeling fearful about the prospect and process of change.

Six scientists on the relationship between science and religion
The argument that to believe in God and to believe in science is irreconcilable is one that believers of every faith are used to (and tired of) hearing. Here's what six famous scientists have said on the subject.

7 songs from popular culture which feature Bible verses
The Bible has a long and wide-reaching history of influencing and shaping music from hymns of the past to pop songs of the present. The inclusion of direct Bible quotes in hymns, worship songs and commercial Christian music is something that we'd naturally expect but the incorporation of biblical references in music isn't unique to Christian culture.

Jesus is Emmanuel and how this applies to us in our daily lives
Often, we hear God speak to us that He is Emmanuel, that He is "God with us," but what does that do to us? Does it just become another name to add to the many sets of names that Jesus is given?

Do you love your enemy? 10 Bible verses to inspire Christian compassion
Jesus' led a life filled with compassion; God is described as the Father of all compassion; And we are commanded to be compassionate. Here are ten Bible verses that teach us more about compassion.

7 promises of peace found in the Bible
There is a great demand today for peace and soundness of mind. People try to look for it in many things -- money, practices, principles, relationships and substances, to name only a few.

Mighty warrior and Mother of Israel: 3 things Christians can learn from Deborah
Deborah's story is a remarkable one. She lived a life that any man in her 12th Century patriarchal society would have envied, yet she was a woman. This is not a comment of the limitations of women, rather on the sovereignty of God. No man would have chosen a woman to judge Israel, but God did.

Talent show or worship experience?
Every church may have had this experience where the praise and worship team turns a worship experience into a rock concert with all the riffs, note changes and vocal ad-libs.