“Wherever people live, whatever media they have access to, we want the gospel to be heard.” (Pastor Colin) Unlocking the Bible is a listener-supported media ministry; every ONE of your gifts makes a difference! With 2017 right around the corner and many opportunities ahead of us for people to hear […]
Momentum Q&A with Pastor Colin Smith
Pastor Colin’s book Momentum is paired with a LifeWay 8-session Bible study. Through it, you’ll learn how to pursue God’s blessings in the Beatitudes either through solo study or with a small group. The LifeWay team recently interviewed Pastor Colin about the following: What was your first role in the church? […]
The Myth of the Busy Life
Find your life-balance—that statement that always seems impossible to attain. We often try to compartmentalize our lives: work life, home life, social life. But the lines overlap, despite our best attempts, especially when we become exhausted by our rat race. Controlled by tight schedules, busyness has become the badge of […]
Christ Came into a Hostile World
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18) A world of hostility toward truth, a world infatuated with sin, a world full of broken people who want to rule themselves—Jesus was born into this world. And if Jesus was received in […]
How God Fulfilled His Own Promise at Christmas
Imagine nothing. It is almost impossible. But before the creation there was nothing, except God. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) In schools, we challenge our children’s creativity by giving them materials to work with: “See what you can do with this,” we say. But […]
The Grief of Christmas
The grief of Christmas is real. For some, Christmas is a reminder of hurt, deeply-felt pain, and personal sufferings, even as it’s a joyful time of year to celebrate the coming of Jesus as the light of the world with the church, family, and friends. Maybe this is the way […]
For Nothing Will Be Impossible with God
He and his wife prayed that God would grant them a baby. Months turned into years, which turned into decades. Each year that went by, more of the same. No pregnancy. No baby. Just the quiet lives of two people growing old together. Eventually, they accepted that they would never […]
Your Christmas Preparations Matter
Christmas is nearly here and we feel it—the humming of our homes with a last-minute hunt for a recipe; with the readying of each room for guests; with the setting aside of materials for a Christmas Day craft; with the selection of books to read whose covers shine, silver and […]
Do You Share the Complete Christmas Message?
Suppose you arrive home from work one day and find a white envelope, addressed to you, taped to the front door. You slide your finger under the back flap to open the envelope, which contains a single white piece of paper. On it a simple message is typed: Lunch at […]
The Redemption of Christmas
There is some debate about what time of year Joseph took a very pregnant Mary to Bethlehem (see Luke 2:1-7): Scholars have tried tracking Jesus’ birth with how it relates to the birth of John the Baptist[1], or with details regarding the shepherds in the fields when Jesus was born. […]
ONE Neighbor’s Faithfulness: The Story of Nancy Dubina
Like Nancy, you can be ONE person making an exponential difference for the gospel. Click here to learn more. Nancy Dubina lives in Canton, OH and is a regular listener to the daily radio program, Unlocking the Bible. Last Easter, Nancy was one of three million listeners to tune into […]
Key Connections (December 14, 2016)
5 Reasons to Read the Bible When You Feel Absolutely Nothing (Stephen Altrogge, The Blazing Center) Did anything really “happen” during my reading? Did the Bible make any difference? Why should I even continue when it just feels like I’m going through the motions? When Christmas Is a Fresh Reminder of […]
The Gospel for Mary and Martha
Martha gets a bum rap. In Mark 10:38-42, Jesus visits the home of Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus. While Martha bustles around preparing food for their guest, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to him. When Martha complains that she’s doing all the work, Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you […]
Two Qualities of the Early Church We Should Pursue Today
The church, made up of Jesus’ followers, is his body on earth. It has been brilliant and influential at times, weak at other points in history, and increasingly divided over the years. Amazingly, the imperfect church is still God’s designated witness, his hands and feet, to accomplish his will on this earth. The early […]
Seven Good Books for Kids (and Their Grown-Ups)
It’s a great day for Christian children’s literature. Theologically sound authors are joining forces with incredible illustrators to create books for kids with the truth, stimulation, and whimsy necessary to reach a child’s heart and mind. Part of my wonderful job is to find the best ones. Here are seven […]
ONE Man Freed: The Story of Louis Dooley
Louis Dooley was a young man who found himself imprisoned with a life sentence for theft and attempted murder. Through a miraculous turn of events, Louis received Jesus Christ in prison and recognized he had “new life” in Christ. Like Louis Dooley, you can be ONE person making an exponential […]
Key Connections (December 7, 2016)
Are You Ready for Persecution? (Jordan Standridge, The Cripplegate) …those who have been persecuted are more mature. They seem to evangelize more, to say no to sin more often and to be an encouragement to those around them. The Unseen Misery of Dec 25th (Tim Thornborough, The Good Book Company) We’ve been […]
Advent and Our Post-Election Longings
Where do we go from here? Perhaps that’s the question you are left with as the election season comes to a crashing halt. Like a slow-moving train on an uncertain collision course headed straight for our souls, the election lasted seemingly forever, but has now left much darkness in its […]
How to Mourn Over Your Sins
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4) Spiritual mourning is laden with blessing, and we are to go after it and get as much of it in our lives as we possibly can. The more you know of this mourning, the more joy you will […]
How to Make the Most of Advent
Today I sent out invitations for a Christmas pajama party, which I scheduled the week after the Christmas cookie exchange I’m attending, but three days before my church’s annual ladies’ Christmas function. We are entering Advent season, and I am busy. I don’t know about you, but parties, baking, decorating, […]
ONE Family United: The Story of the Rumbold Family
Gary and Mary Kay Rumbold are grandparents to 35 grandchildren and five adult children. Together, they have a heart to immerse their family in the transforming truth of the gospel and leave a lasting legacy of faith. Like the Rumbolds, you can be ONE person making an exponential difference for […]
