As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“In 2015… two Princeton economists, Anne Case and Angus Deaton, released a study documenting the frightening rise of “deaths of despair” among white non-college-educated Americans, showing even a decrease of life expectancy driven by alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide.” - N.Review
“…while the ‘sunny nihilism’ worldview is wrapped in the pretense of humility and relativism, it’s actually making a bold claim about truth that relies heavily upon a faith commitment.” - TGC
“Steven Garber envisions lives marked by greater coherence between our deepest commitments and our everyday cares.” - C.Today
“Life as we know it has been radically changed, and we don’t know when (or if) things will return to normal. For many, this crisis has stolen what little hope they had and replaced it with despair. But those who are on mission—who truly know their purpose—persevere and stand firm. They endure and glorify God.” - IFWE
“Humans have a unique capacity for wondering about meaning, purpose, and value. … In Born to Wonder: Exploring Our Deepest Questions—Why Are We Here and Why Does It Matter?, Alister McGrath sets out to explore the significance of this remarkable human trait.” - TGC
“I began part one of ‘Why Are So Many Young People Unhappy?’ with data showing the apparently unprecedentedly high rate of unhappiness among young people in America…. I do believe that a loss of values and meaning are the two greatest sources of unhappiness.” - Dennis Prager
“Lately, hobbies have become a metric of personal success. But their core purpose is to help us pause and praise.” - Christianity Today
“The 21st century has given us great abundance and almost unlimited choices but a minimum of meaning. Again, Sacks writes: ‘Science tells us how but not why. Technology gives us power but cannot guide us as to how to use that power.’” - IFWE
“Despair is what results, and it’s what I heard beneath my neighbor’s lament. Such despair and empty moral imperatives also are on display in global protests over climate change.” - WORLD
At some point during my tenure as a pastor at Grace Baptist, I decided I needed a succinct, memorable expression of the gospel—a phrase I could repeat frequently in a variety of contexts until members of the flock would recall it reflexively.
What I came up with is pretty much straight from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose again.
Discussion