Among the best-loved Christmas carols today is O Come, All Ye Faithful. The original author, John Francis Wade, penned the opening line in Latin: “Adeste Fidelis, Laeti triumphantes,” which means something like “Be present, faithful, happy, triumphant ones.” A century later, an Anglican cleric, Frederick Oakeley translated it into English as “Ye Faithful, Approach Ye,”
A few weeks ago a congregation of more than 300 gathered for a church service in Germany – with a twist. The service was AI-generated; the sermon was written by ChatGPT, and delivered by a virtual avatar. Of course, a computer can’t do anything on its own: 29 year-old theologian Jonas Simmerlein from the University
On every hand the foe we find, drawn up in dread array; Let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray! Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about, The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, and echo with our shout. Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh,
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61.1-2 At the end of another year – how quickly this one has flown by! – we look
Haul out the holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again Fill up the stocking I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute… American composer and lyricist Jerry Herman passed away three years ago this month, leaving behind many memorable
In a few days, we’ll all have the opportunity to exercise one of our most precious freedoms – the right to vote. We will elect school board members, judges, and state and federal leaders. This is a God-given privilege, which many people in the world do not have, and every Christian should therefore seriously consider
This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Timothy 3.15b (NLT) The Church of Jesus Christ was established in 30 A.D., meaning that this spiritual organism is nearing 2000 years in existence. Jesus declared that He would build His church, and said that “all the
Author’s note: Often before worship services, I enjoy playing hymns and reflecting on their lyrics. One of my favorites is entitled “I Love to Tell the Story.” This is the story behind that song. While evangelism has been the responsibility of Christians since Jesus uttered His ‘Great Commission’ (Matt. 28.18-20), it has not always enjoyed
After listing some of the great heroes of faith from the Old Testament in Hebrews 11, the author of this grand New Testament epistle begins the twelfth chapter with these words: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so
If there is no God, nothing matters. If there is a God, nothing else matters. H. G. Wells The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14.1 …he who comes to God must believe that He is… Hebrews 11.6 One of the most important tasks of church leaders is explicitly stated
