Features
The Australian Christian Channel provides weekly feature articles from respected church leaders and teachers. Search our archive of feature articles for great bible-based teaching.
When Kings go out to battle
There are many examples of David's valor. As a young man, for instance, while others trembled, David was ready and eager to face Goliath. David is an example of one whom God chose, whose passions for God sustained him for most of his life. more
The God of second chances
Have you ever looked at your circumstances and thought, I would love to have a chance to do that again? Or If I could just change that, I would. I need a fresh start. That is what grace is all about. more
The Promise of Humble Greatness
I have been accused of many things, but I have never been accused of having excessive humility. Yet Jesus told us to have the humility of a child. I wonder why Jesus made the promise that the greatest among us would be those who become as little children? Humble greatness is required in adults. We are to repent, turn, to become as little children. more
Creating A Culture Of Influence
It is fundamental to the Christian worldview that human beings were created for influence. According the Gen. 1:26-28, the first calling God placed upon the shoulders of humankind was command to influence. We were enobled and enabled to influence our environment more than it influences us; to shape our world more than it shapes us. more
God is Drawn to Movement
There are, broadly speaking, two distinct schools of thinking among charismatic Believers with regard to divine guidance and the discovery of God’s will for our lives. School one, and by far the largest, is summed up by the mentality that says: ‘I don’t move without God’s guidance’. School two is the complete opposite. It says: ‘I don’t expect God’s guidance until I move.’ I wonder which one you are in. Do you believe that God’s guidance is the cause of your movement, or an effect your movement causes? more
Your Hands Have Been Anointed to Heal
In the days of Jesus, rabbis observed a myriad of extra rules that were not in Scripture. Their legalistic code focused on what they could and could not touch. These guys invented the original version of the holier-than-thou religion. They stayed away from women, children, dead bodies, lepers, beggars, sinners, blood, shellfish, pigs and, especially, people of other ethnic backgrounds. They didn’t want “unclean” gentiles to corrupt them. more
A Justice Generation
A few years ago Bobbie (my wife) and I were in Africa with Compassion visiting some of the thousands of children our church sponsors in Uganda. On that particular visit we were in Kasese in the south west of the country. more
Appreciating Mum
With Mother's Day upon us, our thoughts obviously focus on "mum". For this year's celebration, let's make sure that we do more than just buy mum a rose or two, take her out to dinner and go back to the way we've acted all year. Let's make a resolution to start appreciating mum every day of the year while we still have her. more
Spiritually bored?
When a child grumbles that they're bored, their parents wince and answer, "What do you have to be bored about? If only I had your problems." But if we're honest about it, adults feel boredom, too. The difference is, while children verbalize their feelings of boredom adults try to mask them. more
ANZAC is more than symbolism
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson says that the national day of commemoration of those who sacrificed in times of war immortalized on the 25 April each year (ANZAC Day) has become much more than a symbol of a battle. Our current generation of new adults has captured and taken ownership of it in a revived nationalism. more
Countercultural icon: A tribute to Charlton Heston
In the modern world, film and television are powerful shapers of culture. They provide shared experiences; they influence the way people think about the world around them. more
How To Enjoy Everyday Life
All of us have a large amount of time that we need to devote to “common life” or everyday business. You know what I mean—laundry, grocery store trips, doctor visits, washing the dishes, going to work, etc. We tend to see these chores as being quite different from and even far below our "spiritual life" or the things we do that we consider to be holy. Most of us who really love and are devoted to God prefer the holy times to the common. Holy times include praying, spiritual reading and meditation, sharing conversation about the Lord with friends, going to church or other spiritual meetings, etc. Seeing these two sides of our life as two entirely different categories usually causes quite a problem within the believer. more
Distractions in life come in a variety of ways
I heard about a woman who was travelling on a bus with her baby. She was so deep in conversation on her mobile that when the bus driver reached her stop, the woman got off the bus, leaving her four-month-old son behind. Fortunately, she quickly realised her mistake and got a taxi to chase the bus, and the baby was still where she had left him on the bus – crying, but otherwise OK. more
The Sin Of Living In The Bubble
I often make fun of what I call the “Christian media bubble.” For those non-believers in the audience, that simply means people who live inside Christian radio, publishing, TV, or music. For an earlier generation, people of faith actually interacted with the surrounding culture. But 30-40 years ago, when we noticed the Christian audience was a buying audience, we stopped preaching to the world, and started preaching to each other. As a result, now we have entire industries built around “Christian” radio, television, publishing, or recording. more
The Ultimate Sacrifice
I heard a true story about a man who operated a drawbridge. At a certain time every afternoon, he raised the bridge for a ferryboat to go by, and then lowered it in time for a passenger train to cross over. He performed this task precisely, according to the clock. more
Amazing Grace in John Newton
Are you familiar with the classic song, Amazing Grace? Do you know its songwriter’s inspiring story? Maybe like I did, you think you know the real story. more
Lessons from a marathon runner
I have discovered that many lessons can be learned from the discipline and determination of athletes. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of training and discipline. I like to run, and Paul’s vivid description of running to win in life inspired me to do some research on what makes a marathon runner tick. more
Nothing is permanent but God’s grace
Many people today feel their heart has been tattooed or branded with a record of their sins, like the “A” the adulterous woman had to wear in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter, or the old brand of a slave or criminal. more
Your work matters to God
Each of us spends a large amount of our time working – either in paid employment or in other forms of work. But for many, work is only something we do to survive; it has no relationship to our Christian faith. Ken Costa, a London-based investment banker, in his book ‘God at Work’ makes this powerful comment: “If the Christian faith is not relevant in the work place, it is not relevant at all.” more
Is there a catfish in your tank?
I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems shipping codfish from the East Coast. By the time the fish reached the West coast, they were spoiled. They froze them, but by the time the fish arrived, they were mushy. They decided to send them alive. But the fish arrived dead so they tried sending the fish alive again, but with one difference. They included a catfish in each tank. more
Spending Time with God
How do you spend your daily allotment of time? Are you able to spend time on the important things or do those high priority items constantly keep getting moved to the back of your mind? It’s tough, but it’s very important to keep our priorities straight. God says that anything that takes His place in our life is an idol. more
Building friendships that last
In today's fast-moving culture, millions of hearts are filled with loneliness. The inability to make friends and to keep friends has become a modern-day pandemic. Even for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ — people who know that their friendships are for eternity — nurturing eternal friendships has become a lost art. more
I was the product of a rape
Sandra was a 17-year-old girl who was with her mother and father on a vacation visiting family friends. The friends they were visiting had an 18-year-old son. more
Identity
Over recent years I have become aware of a struggle many of us have to deal with and a journey we all need to embark upon. My awareness was in part because of my own journey, a journey that has forced me to think very deeply about my true identity as a person. This was then increased by a series of encounters with other Christians who were having what I can only describe as an identity crisis. more
Looking back at 2007 and forward at 2008
As 2008 begins, I would encourage you to find some time away from the holiday madness, and take a few moments with a pencil and paper to reflect about the past year, and get your thoughts, your priorities, and your vision ready for the next. Things don’t always work out the way we plan, and that’s why goals need to be flexible and responsive to work. From time to time, it’s good to sit back, reflect, and ask questions about where you’ve been and where you’re going. more
A season of opportunity
The holidays are filled with many things – family, friends and FOOD just to name a few. I happen to love food, all food, but I especially love Greek food! It really is the best in the world, and I’m not just saying that because it is the cuisine of my people. more
Life - The Pursuit of Purpose
In 1959, the Milton Bradley Company asked their famous inventor of “The Checkered Game of Life” to develop a new game. Taking a cue from Bradley’s first game, Klamer invented The Game of LIFE®. more
Celebrate a debt-free Christmas
From October 31 onward it's impossible to forget that Christmas is coming. By the middle of November, the red-coated man with the white beard and bag of toys is seen in stores and by mid-December, most homes are decorated, inside and out, with Christmas trees and lights. more
Do Not Worry
Did you know that most people’s anxiety is focused and preoccupied with 40% of things that will never happen, 30% of things relating to the past that can’t be changed, 12% of things relating to other people’s criticism, which is generally untrue, and 10% of things relating to health, which often gets worse with stress and negative thinking. Only 8% of the time do they worry about real concerns that will need to be faced. So, if only about 8% of all the issues in our lives really turn out to be ‘something’ why is it that we spend so much time worrying and being highly anxious and stressed about all the rest? more
Amazing Gift
Who do you give gifts to at Christmas? Usually family and friends. We will buy gifts for people we love. People that we care about. We give gifts to people who treat us well, people who are kind and considerate to us. And we often give gifts in return for gifts that are given to us. Some of us even buy gifts for our pets. more
Bad news made better
Bad news — there are several ways you can react to it. You can get angry and bang your head against the wall and require hospitalization. Or you can get so depressed and stressed out that you develop a bleeding ulcer — which would still require hospitalization! But there is also a godly way of responding — and that is experiencing proper anguish. Proper anguish that drives you to your knees and that makes you look only one way — and that's up. That's when God can really do His best work. more
Stress-free holidays
By mid-December, you may be grimacing when you hear Andy Williams croon, "It's the most wonderful time of all," in the local shopping centre. By then you might be yearning to hear the strains of "Auld Lang Syne." more
More than a Feeling
When most people think about passion, what comes to mind are bursts of emotion stirred by circumstances - they come and they go. Like a roller coaster, up and down, they perceive passion as unstable, unnecessary and possibly even a hindrance to a “balanced” life. As a result they tend to respond to feelings of passion or enthusiasm like this: Let’s not get worked up about this… Let’s just take one day at a time and see what happens… I don’t let things get to me one way or another. more
How Christmas can impact the culture
Today, we often worry that the Christmas spirit has become routine. In fact, many communities across the country have settled for mere "holiday" celebrations, and focused on the secular side of the season. It seems that our culture is rapidly becoming illiterate about the real purpose of the holiday. more
Advice to a young leader
It seems that everywhere you look churches and ministries are crumbling because of pride, greed and hidden sin. Here are 10 principles that can help bring stability during this tumultuous season. more
Despite breast cancer, I was not alone
There are some things Jeana Floyd still associates with her chemotherapy 18 years ago - red Jelly, red fingernails and, especially, red medicine. Yet, she prays she'll never forget the experience of having cancer. more
Set your scales
‘Differing weights and differing measures - the Lord detests them both’ (1) One of the challenges facing God’s people today is the challenge to stay consistent in an ever-changing society. At a time when people are constantly changing their minds, the church is faced with the challenge of staying innovative and continuing to evolve in its methods while remaining true to the fundamental principles we believe in. more
The 'other' mentality - the principle of service
Batteries work better when they’re regularly exhausted, then completely recharged. The battery life is extended through consistent, exhaustive use, followed by regular recharging. In fact, a sure way to allow a battery to deteriorate is never to use it. more
Stained Pains
As a child I had an outward, perceived beauty and innocence. However the depths of my soul pained from realities that no one could see. The average person was not enlightened to hidden truths and untold secrets that played out loud behind closed doors. more
A Better Way to Pray
Prayer brings God's power into your life. It opens you up to blessings, and is ultimately a relational experience with the One who made you. But the problem is this: So many of us are taught bad habits about prayer. The purpose of prayer is not to inform God, to persuade God, or to manipulate God; rather, the purpose of prayer is to surrender to God and to His will. more
It’s all about the fruit
I have learned that no amount of Christian activity compensates for the failure to be an authentic Christian. I have also come to understand that our authenticity (or lack thereof) is made evident by the fruit that our life is bearing. Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matt 7:20). In other words, if we’re to be recognized as Christ’s followers, we need to be producing the fruit of His Holy Spirit. more
Passionate Pursuits
A lot of people are talking about purpose these days. It’s an important topic. Knowing and understanding our purpose is essential to knowing and understanding what it is God wants to do with us. When we understand our purpose, we have a road map in front of us that’s a useful and necessary guide. And while purpose is our journey and destination, passion is the fuel that’s going to get us there. It’s vital for us to keep that fuel in well-stocked supply. more
God with skin on
I heard about a little boy who was frightened one night during a great thunderstorm. He called out to his father from his bedroom and said, "Daddy, I'm scared. Come in here." His dad, who had settled in for the night and wanted to go to sleep, told the little boy, "Son, it's all right. God is with you in that room right now. You're OK." There was a moment of silence. Then the little boy shot back, "Dad, right now I need someone with skin on." more
Why a guy with four daughters doesn’t need a gun
People give me weird looks and make funny comments when I tell them that my wife and I have four daughters. When Deborah and I were younger we often were asked, “Don’t you know about birth control?” When our children were in elementary school the retort was always, “I can’t imagine the stress.” But now that the girls are mostly grown - ages 21, 20, 18 and 15 - the most frequent comment I hear is: “Do you have a gun collection?” more
aiming higher
A professor prepared a test for his final year students. The test questions were divided into three categories and the students were instructed to choose questions from only one of the categories. The first questions were the hardest and worth 100 points. The second group were easier and worth 50 points. The third ones were the easiest ones, so were only worth 25 points. more
The secret to getting ahead
From this moment on, I want you to stop thinking of the Bible as a storybook. I want you to stop thinking of it as a religious textbook. I want you to stop thinking of it as a history book. I want you to start thinking of it as a handbook for living. That's what it is, you know. It's the wisdom of Almighty God written down for you so that you can apply it to your life and circumstances. more
He Grabbed the Horns!
Recently, Kirk Cameron and I finished a shoot for the third season of our television program. It was called, "Where Has the Passion Gone?" and looked at why we have lost passion in our preaching. The teaching is based on a portion of Scripture where King Saul threatened to cut a yoke of oxen in pieces. As we spoke, we stood behind a small bull that had a big hump on its back, and long horns on its head. more
Where are you looking?
How many of us have cried out to God for an answer, yet at the same time have decided what that answer is probably going to look like? We ‘best guess’ how and through whom it is going to arrive in our world. Yet the bible clearly teaches us that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours.1 I sometimes meet people who feel disappointed that God doesn’t answer their prayers; they are convinced that heaven is silent when they call out. But in reality, heaven is not silent, it is more often the case that they are listening on the wrong frequency. They need to ‘tune in’ to God’s higher thoughts and ways. more
Moving Up Higher
Can you imagine how free you would be if you were able to do everything in your life out of a simple motive of wanting to please God? You would be free to act or speak with a pure heart and not be concerned about what other people think or how you might be perceived. more
Acting Like a Christian?
Some of us live our life as if it were a dress rehearsal for another life in another time. Jacques in Shakespeare’s MacBeth says, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” As romantic as this sounds, we must remember that you and I are not actors pretending to be Christians in the drama of life. We are on a very real journey to Christlikeness, and we cannot “perform” our way into becoming like Him. more