God mysteriously created and intertwined our mind, body, and soul to create one being. Each piece of us is connected and precious in the sight of the Lord. How we care for our physical bodies directly impacts our spiritual lives. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
Jesus died not only for our souls but for the redemption of our bodies. When we live again, we will still be embodied creatures. Philippians 3:21 tells us, “Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” The version of us to come will be a perfected body. Bodies matter now, and they will continue to matter for eternity.
Bodies are a fundamental part of God’s design, and as embodied beings, we are called to steward the skin we’ve been given well. When we live slothful, overindulgent, unsafe lives, we are held back in our pursuit of holy living. Exercise is just one vital piece of this stewardship puzzle, but one we often dread, put off, or disconnect this practice from our spiritual walk.
It’s exciting to see a wave of ministries, such as theMen’s andWomen’s Alliance, and an emerging conversation in the Christian world that seeks to more concretely connect our bodies to our souls. We are awakening to the fact that God cares about the skin we are in, and we should, too.
Exercise Enables Us to Live with the Fruits of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 states,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
We can best live with these fruits when we are emotionally regulated. Exercise is a powerful tool that helps us control our emotions. We know thatexercise creates a brain-made neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that improves cell growth in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls mood. When we make more BDNF, which is boosted by exercise, we boost our ability to regulate our mood and emotions.
Anecdotally, we all know this to be true. It’s really tough to remain grumpy, angry, or depressed after taking a long walk or a jog. As we move our bodies, we boost those positive cells that help overshadow the negative feelings we all carry around as we bear the weight of everyday life. Add some prayer to those sweat sessions, and you are sure to emerge recharged and better capable of handling what comes next with grace and peace.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Yet, how many of us wrestle with anxious thoughts regularly? I do! One key to living peacefully and better trusting God with our lives is through the intentional movement of our bodies. Exercise calms the storms we often battle in our minds and souls.
Exercise offers relief when reacting to the stress we all encounter. It helps to turn off the fight-or-flight response, but it leads to that jittery feeling of panic when left unchecked. It helps our bodies work more harmoniously when it’s faced with stressors. It also boosts your endorphins, those feel-good hormones that help us live peacefully. When we exercise, we are better able to follow God’s instructions to live without anxiety. This naturally helps our minds and bodies function more peacefully as we navigate life’s challenges.
5 Things Christians Label as Sin That Aren’t Actually Sinful
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Photo Credit: @Pexels/Ankit Sihag
Exercise Protects Your Body from Many Ailments
Sickness is a barrier to living a whole, vibrant life. When we are physically ill, so much of our time and energy is invested in getting better. It can be challenging to pursue our spiritual dreams when we struggle to get through our days in our bodies.
Exercise is not a cure for illness, but one way to guard ourselves against many diseases. We know thatexercise guards against many cancers, reduces the risks of falls as you age, improves your chances of having a long life, strengthens your bones and muscles, helps you to remain active, can help you manage chronic health problems, boosts and guards your mental health, manages your blood sugar, protects against heart disease, and more! It’s like the ultimate prescription drug, but without that long list of side effects they rattle off at the end of the commercials.
As a being called to invest in the temple or body we’ve been gifted, it seems like a no-brainer that exercise is a part of that equation. Exercise is key in nurturing the gift we’ve been given in our skin. So start small and see how God meets you through movement in this holy stewardship endeavor.
Have you ever attended a grumpy exercise class? Or have you encountered rude people at the gym? Most likely, the answer is no because people are happy when they move their bodies, making exercise a great way to connect and cultivate a positive community.
This is why ministries like Men’s and Women’s Alliance are so popular and effective. They marry the biblical community with the Bible’s call to care for your body. Fast friendship and a sense of community are quickly cultivated in this context. Lives are changed when these vital components that boost emotional, physical, and spiritual health are fused.
One of the best ways to grow in a friendship and care for your body is to walk with a friend. Sharing this time is a chance to connect while staying motivated to meet your exercise goals. Make your commitment to exercise a communal one, and you will see the benefits of this practice multiply quickly over time.
We must acknowledge that each part of our tangible body impacts how we engage with God. If our nervous system is overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or trauma, we are going to struggle to connect to God and the other people in our lives that he has called us to love and care for.
In a tough season in our home, I found that every day, I was struggling to be patient and kind to my kids. I soon realized that I was struggling to maintain the character I wanted to display in my home because my nervous system was overrun by stress. I began waking before my kids in the morning to walk, run, do a short-weight circuit, and read my bible. Just this simple practice of moving before being required to respond to all the questions and needs that my kids wake up with helped transform my interactions with my kids. Sometimes, the answer to what feels like an overwhelming spiritual problem can be solved by some very simple, practical new rhythms of daily movement of our bodies.
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God’s Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.
Iconic gospel music sensation; Kirk Franklin makes a triumphant return with his powerful new single titled “Do It Again”.
Through this new release, Franklin once again affirms his place as a cornerstone of gospel music, just ahead of receiving the BET Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards on June 9.
Speaking on the heart behind the song, Franklin shared:
“This song is for anybody who’s ever felt like giving up. ‘Do It Again’ is my reminder, and hopefully yours, that God hasn’t changed. If He brought you through before, He’ll do it again. It’s not over. There’s still purpose in your pain, and joy is on the way.”
As “Do It Again” makes waves across platforms, Kirk Franklin continues to amplify his influence beyond the studio. In June 2025, he announced a groundbreaking partnership with Insignia Assets, a Black-owned and self-funded entertainment company. Under this venture, Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul Recordings and CLTRE Lab join forces with Insignia’s music and film divisions—including 3 Diamonds Entertainment, Undivided Entertainment, and Icho Group—creating a powerhouse for gospel, R&B, and faith-centered media.
One of the first major media projects from the partnership is “Den of Kings”, a dinner conversation series premiering on Father’s Day, June 15, on Franklin’s YouTube channel. The premiere episode, centered on Fatherhood, will feature guests like D.C. Young Fly, Kountry Wayne, Lou Young, and Devale Ellis.
Gospel music minister; Okey Sokay teams up with Oyel Planet to deliver an electrifying new body of work titled “The Oyel Experience 1“.
The 9-track live album album is designed to express the inexpressible love of God and highlight the believer’s total dependence on Him, with songs that resonate across cultures and denominations.
In his own words, Okey Sokay described the album project as;
“a poignant reflection of gratitude, surrender, and the unbreakable bond between believers and God.”
The album captures the essence of what true worship should be: authentic, Spirit-led, and deeply transformative.
GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ryan Ofei returns with a deeply moving new single titled Oluwa Ese,
The new song “Oluwa Ese” which translates to “Thank You, God” in Yoruba—a widely spoken language in southwestern Nigeria, is a tender expression of thanksgiving, written during an intimate moment of worship in Toronto.
Nigerian Gospel music powerhouse; Victoria Orenze delivers a prophetic and Christ-exalting album project titled “Jesus Christ Vol.1.”
The 12-track project Jesus Christ Vol. 1 echoes her deep passion to see Christ rightly revealed, represented, and exalted in a world of religious noise. In an interview with PUNCH (Sunday Scoop)she revealed:
“Although Jesus Christ Volume One was recorded as far back as 2019, I had held back from releasing it until I received a spiritual confirmation. People ask, ‘Why now?’ It’s because this is the set time. The world needs to see the real Jesus, not just people using His name, but those who actually know Him. It’s not about fame. It’s about formation. If you don’t know Jesus, you can’t represent Him.”
Written and produced entirely by Orenze herself, the album offers listeners a cohesive spiritual journey—ushering them into the presence of the One who is holy, eternal, and true.
Renowned Gospel music power house; Sinach blesses us with a vibrant thanksgiving worship anthem titled “You Are Good (Ulungile)”.
The new song is a celebration of God’s goodness, expressed through simple yet powerful lyrics and a captivating live recording that invites believers to praise from the depths of their hearts.
When I was in the fifth grade, I remember asking a girl out on a date—or asking one of her friends to ask her to go out on a date for me. While the girl declined the invitation, it was the reason given for the response that stuck with me. She thought I was too “girly.” Admittedly, I was a bit of a late bloomer. I wasn’t particularly good at sports. I was a bit more “bookish” and tended to excel at art, particularly sketching. I wasn’t overly aggressive, either, tending to avoid conflict rather than seeking it out. Looking back, the description of “girly” made some sense. Or did it?
As I got older, I continued to draw, sketch, and read, but I found that I also loved the weight room. When I went to college as a pre-med chemistry major, I eventually found my space as an Exercise Physiology major. I worked my way through my MDiv as a personal trainer and continued lifting as I completed my MA degree in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton College and my PhD in Theological Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
At 47, I weigh in at a reasonably lean 215lbs, qualified for the 1000lbs club (sum of deadlift, squat, and bench press equals 1000lbs or more), and have tattoos covering three-quarters of both my arms. When I look back on my fifth-grade self, it would be easy to agree with the girl who turned me down for a date—it would be easy to agree that I was “girly.” But why? The answer: the ubiquity and persistence of masculine and feminine stereotypes.
Ultimately, my interest in this topic has little to do with an incident that occurred in the fifth grade. Instead, I come to this topic having been challenged by family, friends, and colleagues to consider when and how I have been aping masculine cultural stereotypes rather than conforming to the image of Christ. Being married to a woman who has experienced a high level of professional success, raising daughters, and working within evangelical circles for most of my career have certainly given me some insight into the challenges both women and men face inside and outside the church.
As I began to look into these matters, I started reading books and journal articles, as well as watching sermons and lectures on masculinity on YouTube and various podcasts. I also had some guests on my own podcast—Thinking Christian—as part of my research process. Eventually, I ran across some of Mark Driscoll’s videos on YouTube and then purchased his book titled Act Like a Man. While I don’t disagree with Driscoll on every point, I’ve chosen to use his work as a running example of the sort of assumptions that often drive conversations about Christian manhood. My goal is not to demonize Driscoll, but to use an easily accessible, non-technical body of work to illustrate some of the challenges I see in Christian presentations of manhood.
In choosing Driscoll, who represents a more conservative stance, I am also not endorsing more liberal treatments of Christian manhood. My goal is not to sway God’s people to adopt one or another cultural conception of masculinity, but to think biblically about these matters so that what it means to be a man emerges from discipleship. Discipleship is the process of learning to live under the authority of Christ. As such, discipleship will always position us at a unique angle to the various ideas presented within our cultures and societies. It isn’t that non-Christians always get “it”—whatever “it” may be in mind—wrong, but that “it” will always be incomplete and require expansion or correction apart from Christ. In these articles, “it” is the cultural stereotypes associated with masculinity.
An Excursus on the Language of Masculine and Feminine Language
The language of gender—masculinity (or manhood) and femininity—will be used throughout this series of articles. In truth, it is difficult to avoid because it is so ingrained in our cultural expressions. At times, these stereotypes may encourage characteristics that overlap with biblical norms; however, Christians would be wise not to view them as authoritative or aspirational standards. Instead, the traits associated with masculinity are often misaligned with, contradictory to, or completely missing from the scriptures.
The literature on masculinity and femininity tends to reflect social perceptions rather than identifying some enduring plumb line for what it means to be male or female in a given context. The stereotypes associated with “masculinity” and “femininity” reflect societal standards that can and do change over time while still exhibiting a certain stability. Even so, these cultural expectations have negative impacts on those who seek to live up to them (see “APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men”).
Adding to the confusion associated with gender role orientations is the application of the language of masculinity to both biological males and biological females. This problem isn’t simply modern but was evident in the ancient world as well (see Susanna Asikainen, Jesus and Other Men). This application of language across biological sexes highlights the culturally constructed nature of gender role orientations. Whatever correlations there may be between one’s biological sex and specific characteristics, it is difficult to identify any one characteristic (e.g., aggression, empathy) with only one biological sex, begging the question of whether categorizing specific characteristics as masculine or feminine is even beneficial.
Masculine and Feminine Stereotypes
In his lecture “Maybe We Just Need a Different Chicken…Politeness and Civility in the Function of Contemporary Ideology,” philosopher and cultural critic Slavoij Žižek argues that ideologies influence the questions we ask about the real problems we face. He suggests, “The lesson is that there are not only wrong answers to questions. There are also wrong questions I the sense that the way we perceive a problem, which can be a very real problem, is effectively a part of the problem.” Framing masculinity or femininity as ideologies suggests that they reflect an underlying set of values and characteristics, a reflection of a particular culture, that is, and not necessarily connected to biological sex.
Returning to the question of why being labeled “girly” as a fifth grader makes sense, then, when viewed from the perspective of gender ideology. A more sophisticated way to say “girly” would have been to say the fifth-grade version of myself didn’t exhibit the culturally determined values and characteristics stereotypically signifying someone as “a male.” While there isn’t a single definition of masculinity, Levant and Richmond suggest that there is “a common constellation of standards and expectations associated with the traditional male role in the Western world.” These common standards and expectations include: (1) avoiding “feminine” things, (2) orientation toward success and achievement, (3) portrayal of strength and avoiding the appearance of weakness, and (4) the pursuit of adventure and the use of violence when necessary.
Masculinity ideologies don’t seem to be particularly helpful, even when decoupled from sex. For example, a 2024 study found that gender role orientations had a greater effect than sex on aggression in both males and females. Females with characteristics associated with traditional masculinity exhibited higher levels of aggression than females with characteristics associated with traditional femininity. As males and females seek to conform to societal standards of masculinity—and, presumably, femininity—they may not be acting out their sex but running a cultural script. Though sex—or nature—is not unimportant, this research points to the influence of culture—or nurture—on the dispositions that men and women adopt. Playing into existing notions of masculine and feminine cannot be the church’s strategy. Instead, we must allow discipleship to mold us into male and female followers of Christ under the authority of God’s word, not under the thumb of a set of cultural expectations.
Gender role orientations (e.g., masculinity ideologies) have a formative function guiding individuals toward values that often misrecognize the good, the true, and the beautiful to some extent. I say “to some extent” because the pictures of “ideal” masculinity and femininity do not necessarily reflect a complete detachment from reality, but a partial rendering of reality created as humans selectively decide on what aspects of the good, the true, and the beautiful they will allow to have a claim over them. “Goodness” becomes subject to our choices rather than governing over them. As D. C. Schindler explains in Freedom from Reality,
“One sometimes hears the rather glib complaint that modern freedom represents a rejection of all constraints: people think you can just do whatever you want, whatever “feels good,” regardless of the consequences it might have for oneself or for others. This is not the criticism we are making; the point here is more subtle. To say that the goodness of the options is effectively a function of the will’s choice is compatible with a recognition of all sorts of constraints on that choice; it is simply a denial of the very specific “constraint”—which we have suggested is at the same time an “empowering”—of actual goodness.”
Masculinity and femininity may well be gesturing toward the good, true, and beautiful. Their conceptualization is not problematic because they have no connection to these realities, but because they are only selectively guided by them. In other words, the option—the selection of cultural values and characteristics associated with masculinity and femininity—is misrepresented as the good.
Because gender role orientations are not completely disconnected from the reality of what is good, true, and beautiful, it can be easy to adopt them as our own cultural scripts, baptizing them into Christianity and encouraging men to conform to cultural stereotypes rather than pursuing the image of Christ. Such encouragement is a subtle legitimation of a type of “masculinity” that creates misperceptions about what it means to “act like a man.” Consider, for instance, the following passage from Mark Driscoll’s Act Like A Man:
“True or false: Can women feel comfortable in a masculine environment if its not angry or aggressive? True. Can you take your girlfriend to a sports bar? Yes. Do comfortable, healthy heterosexual normal men feel comfortable in a profoundly feminine environment? No. I’ve never seen a healthy guy ask his gal, ‘Can I go to the nail salon with you?’ If your’re that guy, you need to know, with the full love of Jesus, you are a weirdo.”
I must be a weirdo, because, having been married for almost twenty-five years and having raised twin girls for the past sixteen years, I am absolutely happy to go anywhere and do anything with my wife or my daughters. Do I always enjoy it? Not necessarily. For instance, my wife and daughters enjoy going to amusement parks and riding roller coasters. Aside from the water rides, hot pretzels, and waffle cones, I could do without amusement parks and, in particular, the roller coasters.
If spending time with my wife and daughters means I need to get a manicure or pedicure, I am 100% comfortable heading to the nail salon. Driscoll’s statement and, in my estimation, much of his book, are built on underlying assumptions about masculinity justified by scripture but not rooted in it. While Driscoll would likely agree that manhood should be rooted in and emerge from Christian discipleship, I believe he would want to advance a cultural picture of what sort of man would emerge from such discipleship. However, there is much to agree with in Act Like a Man, such as the call to be responsible husbands and fathers, if one decides to get married and have children. However, when Driscoll says that the Church is to “be a countercultural subculture where men are masculine” and “women are feminine,” it is difficult to understand just what he means by “masculine” and “feminine.”
For example, at one point, Driscoll discusses emotions. He rightly notes that expressing emotion is appropriate for men. He offers a critique about “unhealthy men” who assume that there are “feminine and masculine emotions” (e.g., men don’t cry or show affection). This seems to be a plausible extension of particular masculine ideologies (e.g., not showing weakness). However, Driscoll closes the paragraph noting, “Men and women both bear the image and likeness of God and have the same emotions; they’re just expressed in masculine and feminine ways.” While it may be tempting to say “amen” and move on, it is important to recognize that, apart from a cultural script about gender role orientations, what it means to express emotions “in masculine and feminine ways” is nonsensical. Can we really identify Jesus’s tears at the death of Lazarus (Jn 11:35) as masculine and the weeping of Mary during the same incident (11:32-33) as feminine? Aside from the difference in their sex (i.e., Jesus was male and Mary female), there is no indication that Jesus weeps in a masculine way while Mary weeps in a feminine way. Both just wept.
At various points, it seems that Driscoll’s work has less to do with biblical manhood and more to do with “machismo”—a sort of bravado that uses the scriptures to reinforce cultural stereotypes rather than challenging them. Even the book’s subtitle—”9 Ways to Punch Life in the Mouth”—gestures toward a sort of “manly” swagger. Yes, Driscoll’s book contains some good insights, but those insights are too often blunted by the cultural assumptions about masculinity that seem to be both implicit and explicit through Act Like a Man. Rather than push toward a robust biblical understanding of how men can point to and glorify God, the book tends to encourage men to reject a liberal notion of “gender” (not a bad thing) and embrace a more “conservative” or “traditional” idea of masculinity that isn’t necessarily aligned with scripture (almost certainly a problem).
Throughout this series of articles, I’ll be arguing for a way of being male in the world that emerges from discipleship. Often, such a way of being male in the world will mean rejecting the sort of “machismo” that thinks “punching life in the mouth” is an expression that should appeal to Christian men. We don’t need to reinforce stereotypically masculine ideas. Instead, we need to recognize that (1) being a Christian woman or Christian man can only emerge from discipleship and (2) what it means to be a Christian woman or man is not something we can tie to one’s level of comfort at a nail salon.
James Spencer earned his PhD in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and an MA in Biblical Exegesis from Wheaton College. By teaching the Bible and theology, as well as evaluating modern social, cultural, and political trends, James challenges Christians to remember that we don’t set God’s agenda—He sets ours. James has published multiple works, including Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics and the Art of Bearing Witness, Christian Resistance: Learning to Defy the World and Follow Christ, Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody, Thinking Christian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Min, and Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology. His work calls Christians to an unqualified devotion to the Lord. In addition to serving as president of Useful to God, James is a member of the faculty at Right On Mission and an adjunct instructor at Wheaton College Graduate School. Listen and subscribe to James’s Thinking Christian podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Life Audio.
Nigerian Afrogospel Artist and Culture Architect Gaise Baba teams up with fiery revivalist and prophetic minstrel Lawrence Oyor for the release of “No Turning Back II” — a compelling and spiritually charged anthem that echoes a resolute cry of surrender and commitment to the call of Christ.
Building on the foundation of the original release, No Turning Back II is not just a song — it is a declaration. A clarion call to a generation refusing to bow to the pressures of compromise. With Gaise Baba’s dynamic fusion of Afro-urban sounds and Lawrence Oyor’s prophetic worship mantle, this collaboration pierces deep into the heart of every believer yearning to walk boldly in obedience and intimacy with God.
“This song is a reaffirmation of our choice,” says Gaise Baba. “A reminder that we’ve burned the bridges behind us. There’s no turning back.”
Recorded with raw authenticity and spiritual fervor, No Turning Back II is more than music — it’s a movement. A prophetic sound for such a time as this.
Lawrence Oyor adds, “Every line carries a weight of consecration. It’s a soundtrack for every believer pressing deeper into the will of God.”
No Turning Back II is now available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, Audiomack, and YouTube.
Join the movement. Declare your allegiance. No turning back.
GRAMMY and Stellar Award-winning artist, actress, author, and multi-faceted entrepreneur Kierra Sheard-Kelly has officially released her latest single, “RAIN,” under her new partnership with Karew Entertainment and TRIBL Records. The inspiring new track is now available for streaming and download across all digital platforms.
Co-written by Anthony S. Brown, Kierra Sheard, and J. Drew Sheard II, who also produced the track, “RAIN” is more than just a song—it’s a declaration of gratitude and an anthem of hope. The lyrics are a heartfelt reminder of the supernatural abundance that comes from God’s grace, especially in seasons of waiting and hardship. Sheard’s signature powerhouse vocals shine brightly, ushering in a sense of spiritual renewal and breakthrough.
The song’s message aligns with a deeply personal testimony from Kierra herself:
“As I’ve answered God’s call on my life I’ve felt an increase in all areas of my life. God is truly raining on my finances, raining on my health, raining on my relationships and raining on my marriage. I’m excited to share this fresh word that God has placed in my heart,” she shared.
Kierra’s message is clear: RAIN is not just symbolic; it’s spiritual. It represents the manifestation of prayers, healing, joy, and restoration. The open doors, the mended hearts, the miraculous turnarounds—this song invites listeners to embrace it all in this divinely appointed season.
Adding to the excitement, Kierra Sheard is set to hit the road on the highly anticipated Live Breathe Fight Tour, alongside gospel greats David and Tamela Mann, Erica Campbell, Tye Tribbett, and her mother, Karen Clark Sheard. The tour kicks off May 15 in Dallas, TX, promising not just concerts but transformative evenings of worship, personal testimonies, and empowerment. Fans can secure their tickets HERE.
As RAIN pours out onto the world, Sheard continues to solidify her legacy as a vessel of encouragement and spiritual truth. Listeners everywhere are invited to receive this powerful sound and walk confidently into their own season of divine overflow.
Off of his highly anticipated album; “King of Hearts“, set to drop on June 13, 2025, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Brandon Lake has surprised fans with the release of a powerful new single “Daddy’s DNA”.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Lake shared,
“SURPRISE!!! Maybe my favorite song I’ve ever written ‘Daddy’s DNA’ is out now!!! We decided to just drop it early and I pray it’s a blessing to you like it’s been to me. Let your friends and family know by sharing this post. Can’t wait for the entire record to drop — go pre-save ‘King of Hearts’ now so you get it first!”
The new song “Daddy’s DNA co-written by Brandon Lake, Hank Bentley, and Jacob Sooter, came with a soulful, heartwarming visual on YouTube, adding depth and emotion to the already stirring track.
To promote the upcoming album, Lake will hit the road on the King of Hearts Tour, covering 48 cities across fall 2025 and spring 2026. Fans can already join the public pre-sale, which opened on April 23.
On the west coast of Greenland, in the tundra zone about one hundred and fifty miles south of the arctic circle, a new colony was being built. Europeans had established a presence in Greenland as early as 980 under Eric the Red. Severe winters and the problems of maintaining trade caused the colony to perish 400 years later. Now, in 1722, the Danes were reestablishing their presence. The leader of the expedition was not a Dane, however. He was a tough-skinned Norwegian. More to the point, he was a Christian missionary.
Protestantism was slow to develop a missionary consciousness and commitment. The little nation of Denmark was among the first Protestant countries which recognized the urgency of spreading the gospel. It’s leaders founded a mission school in 1714. Among the missions-minded was their ruler, the good king Frederick IV. Having come under the influence of Pietism, he strongly supported Danish missions, including the Greenland project. On this day, May 3, 1721, Hans Egede sailed with his wife Gertrude for the inhospitable regions of the world’s largest island.
Greenland is a harsh land. No settlement is possible except along the coasts, for the interior of the world’s largest island is ice-covered year round. In spite of all its ice, Greenland’s northern regions are more arid than the driest Sahara, receiving less than five inches of rain a year. The southern coasts receive 30 inches a year. There grasses grow and some trees: alder, birch and willow. Hans Egede found both winter and summer beautiful despite the low average temperatures and pale sun that never rises high in the sky.
In 1722 he founded a colony and named it Godthåb. Known as Nuuk today, it is capital of the nation. From this base he preached to the Eskimos, but saw few indications of success. Superstition ran deep in these hardy Indians and they could not be weaned from the words of their angakut (soothsayers). The problems of teaching Christianity were compounded by Egede’s difficulties mastering the Eskimo language. It seemed to have few words with which to express Christian concepts. Despite this, he attempted to produce a translation of the New Testament. Adding to all these barriers was his own temperament, which tended to be harsh and overbearing. He dearly loved the people, but like many Christians, did not know how to express this in human terms.
That changed in 1733 when a smallpox epidemic swept the island. Hans and his wife poured themselves heart and soul into caring for dying Greenlanders. “You have been kinder to us than we have been to one another,” exclaimed one. Gertrude so exhausted herself in the effort that she died a short time later. Hans returned to Denmark in 1736.
His son Paul, raised among the Eskimos, took over the work, mastered the language, completed the translation, and witnessed revival. His father rejoiced to see him reap where he had sown.
Bibliography:
“Egede, Hans.” The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Edited by F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone. Oxford, 1997.
Lives of missionaries, Greenland: Hans Egede; Matthew Stach and his associates. London, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 186 -.
Neill, Stephen. A History of Christian Missions. The Pelican History of the Church #6. Hammondsworth, Middlesex, England: Pelican Books, 1964.
Fleisher, Eric W. & Jürgen Weibull. Viking Times to Modern; the story of Swedish exploring & settlement in America, and the development of trade & shipping from the Vikings to our time. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1954; p. 143.
In a moment that marks the end of an era and the dawn of a new chapter, one of America’s most influential and recognizable pastors, announced he will step down from the pulpit of his Dallas megachurch, The Potter’s House, later this year. During an emotional service on April 27, 2025, the 67-year-old Jakes revealed that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Pastor Touré Roberts, will take over as senior pastors.
The 30,000-member nondenominational congregation, which Jakes founded nearly three decades ago, erupted in emotion as he shared the news. The decision comes just months after Jakes suffered a heart attack while preaching last November — an event that underscored the urgency of succession plans that, he revealed, had been quietly underway for several years.
“I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me,” Jakes told his congregation with visible emotion, “and that you be sheep without a shepherd.”
The formal transition will take place in July during the church’s anniversary celebrations, though Jakes explained that the Roberts duo has been handling leadership behind the scenes since late last year.
“This Is Legacy”
“This is legacy,” Jakes emphasized, “not because they’re kin but because … they’ve immersed themselves into the DNA of this church for years.”
Jakes’s impact extends far beyond the walls of The Potter’s House. His ministry became a beacon in the televangelism age, inspiring countless churches and ministries to model his blend of powerful preaching, cultural relevance, and business-savvy ventures. His relationships with figures like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, his film productions like Miracles from Heaven, and his efforts in real estate and community development have all amplified his national and global reach.
Passing the Baton
Jakes made it clear that stepping back is an intentional, necessary move for the health of the church and himself. “I’ve seen too many men build something and stay so long that they’ve killed what they’ve built,” he said, noting that the church’s evolving needs call for fresh leadership and vision. He will remain chairman of the church’s board, focusing his energy on broader community and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts bring a combined wealth of ministry experience. The couple, who have six children, moved to Dallas three years ago to integrate more deeply with the main campus after pastoring a successful Los Angeles congregation.
Sarah’s Authentic Journey
Sarah, now 36, is no stranger to overcoming adversity — something that has resonated powerfully with many, especially Black Christian women. She openly shares her testimony of becoming pregnant at 13, dropping out of college, waiting tables at a strip club, and eventually divorcing in her early 20s due to infidelity.
“Think we can all agree this isn’t how we saw my life playing out,” Sarah said through tears on Sunday. “If I’m honest, I’ve been wondering if I have what it takes to do it the way you guys have done it or to take it even further. God then showed me you all didn’t know if you had what it took either. But God gave you the GPS to find what it took to [do] the assignment.”
She added with confidence, “I believe the same God that has ordered your steps … is going to order our steps,” telling her father that she is happy he will finally get some well-earned rest.
Bishop Jakes Reflects on Instagram
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Bishop Jakes elaborated on the years of preparation that led to this moment:
“Today we shared with the world our long-held plans of purposeful evolution for The Potter’s House and our global church family. Preparing for this announcement over the past several years has allowed us as a family and a global church family to carefully balance the needs of our community worldwide and the pace at which we performed each step of our plan.
When members of our family moved from LA to Dallas, it was to be more active in the evolution of this growing ministry. In 2022, a handshake between generations took place as we said farewell to Woman, Thou Art Loosed and hello to Woman Evolve. And when we installed our two new assistant pastors in 2023, we continued to forge ahead in the vision we set long ago.
Today marks the continuation of our willingness to evolve as a church and step into broader roles to make certain we continue to meet the needs of this sensitive moment in our collective history.”
Jakes continued:
“As Pastors Touré & Sarah take another step up to further accept the mantle of daily ministry duties at The Potter’s House of Dallas ushering in a new movement and calling, the work of the T.D. Jakes Group to bolster job creation and 21st-century workforce readiness, investing in the infrastructure of communities nationwide, lifting communities up from the margins to the center and working alongside like-minded partners to create thriving neighborhoods will be able to accelerate rapidly.
Together, we shall unite for the betterment of this generation and the ones that follow.”
When modern Christians see the word prophecy, we most often associate the term with certain men in the Old Testament or charismatic denominations.
Conservative evangelicals recognize the New Testament accounts or teachings on prophetic ministry, but we often explain it away for two main reasons—thinking the supernatural gifts were for the early church alone, or they point to abuses in the charismatic or Pentecostal denominations. Or both.
Yet every spiritual gift we believe in gets abused. Whether it’s teaching doctrine or being a pastor, humanity and our spiritual enemy find a way to twist and abuse it. Some even point to pastoral abuses as evidence to reject Christ or the church altogether. Abuses have consequences, but we shouldn’t reject God’s good gifts because some use them for evil. Instead, we should expose abuses for what they are and highlight God’s intention and gift within what he designed for good.
We should do the same with prophetic ministry. Let’s explore more about prophetic ministry so we can have discernment about it.
Scripturally, prophecy reveals God’s will, calls his people to repentance, and foretells future events. Biblical prophecy doesn’t only predict what’s to come. At the core, it hears God’s voice and repeats his messages to the people. Prophecy serves several purposes—declaring truth, warning of consequences, and offering eternal hope. Prophets act as God’s messengers, much like angels communicate the words of God with authority. When prophets speak correctly, it is as if God were speaking.
The Hebrew word for prophecy is naba, meaning “to speak by divine inspiration” or “to declare a message from God.” The New Testament uses the Greek word propheteuo, which translates as “to speak forth” or “to proclaim God’s truth.”
In the Old Testament, people like Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah acted as God’s messengers, always urging Israel to follow God’s commands. Their oracles included warnings in the immediate context and the long term. Isaiah talks about the coming Messiah, and Jeremiah warns about Jerusalem’s destruction because of their idolatry and rebellion against God. The prophets cry against idolatry and injustice, calling people to repent and return to right worship of God alone in heart, word, and deed.
Prophecy also spoke of God’s redemptive plan. Along with the Messiah being a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) and the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), the Old Testament prophets begin writing about a return to Jerusalem in a new kingdom of peace and abundance. This new Jerusalem included all nations.
Each of the four Gospels in the New Testament begins with a prophet, John the Baptist, who prepares the way for Jesus. John the Baptist is himself a fulfillment of Malachi in the Old Testament. The Gospel stories transition to Jesus, who also spoke prophetically through teaching and prediction. He declared the arrival and coming of God’s kingdom, predicted his death and resurrection, and warned of the end times.
Prophecy—declaring the message of God—stands at the heart of the whole Bible, a divinely inspired collection of writings. The apostles wrote about prophets in Acts and themselves guided the early church by giving messages inspired by the Spirit. The book of Revelation contains further prophetic visions about Jesus’ return and the final fulfillment of God’s eternal kingdom.
God’s thoughts and ways are so far removed from humanity that we can’t reach his heart and mind on our own, nor can we hear his voice to follow him and have a relationship with him. The Father must reveal himself willingly and intentionally to give people his messages and correction to life and salvation. Prophecy runs through the whole Bible, in one way or another, and undergirds the very authority of the written Word. It shows us his love and desire to have a real relationship with us. And it also demonstrates how he seeks to partner with humanity in his redemptive plan.
What is the Significance of Prophetic Ministry in the Charismatic Movement?
Prophecy has a particular place of importance among Charismatic denominations, which consider it a vital part of their ministries. They believe God continues to give messages to and through his people by the Holy Spirit. In this ministry, individuals receive and share “words” from God to encourage others in the church or the community.
Ephesians 4:11 lists the “five-fold ministry”—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Charismatics often teach how God is bringing back apostles and prophets to the church to equip all believers for ministry. These prophets offer supernatural messages that might speak specific insights to individuals, groups, or communicate future events. The prophetic ministry happens mostly during church gatherings, or special prophetic meetings. Individuals (leaders or from the congregation) can share spontaneous messages, visions, or general impressions they believe come from God. The oracles should encourage the congregation, aligning with the apostle Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14:3.
Prophetic practice must include learning discernment and biblical teaching. Charismatics teach how to hear and share from God’s voice. At the same time, teachers also instruct their congregations on how to “test the spirits” with the Holy Spirit, adhere to biblical doctrine, and seek wisdom from trusted Christian members. If prophetic ministry wanders from these foundations, it can become damaging and dangerous.
Charismatics see prophetic ministry as an active and central expression of the Holy Spirit in the church, from the testimony of Scripture, all intended to give exhortation and protection to God’s church.
How is Biblical Prophecy Different Than Other Ancient Religions?
Other ancient civilizations were aware of an unseen world to some degree and sought insight from their gods, too. However, biblical prophecy worked differently and came from a different source.
Ancient cultures like Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia used oracles, divination, and omens to understand the will of the gods in order to appease them and avoid punishment. As an example, the Oracle of Delphi gave vague messages priests would interpret based on political agendas. Babylonian priests studied the patterns of the stars or animal guts to predict future events. In general, these rituals served rulers seeking power or confirmation in their decisions, not calling a people to a moral, spiritual, good standard.
In contrast, biblical prophecy delivered clear and direct messages from God. Prophets didn’t need odd rituals to get revelation. They received direct messages from God, hearing his voice or possibly through visions or dreams. Yet even the interpretation of those visions and dreams belonged to God alone, not human will or agenda. Unlike pagan diviners, biblical prophets would confront kings and whole peoples with uncomfortable truths rather than confirming their desires, calling everyone from kings to citizens to repent.
Also, while ancient oracles would focus only on fate or the future, often with no true moral message, biblical prophecy demanded obedience to God’s commands. Those commands transcended all human authority. Even kings had to submit to God’s law. The Lord commanded people to treat each other and foreigners with love and respect, generosity and truth. God rebuked oppression, idolatry, and corruption in all forms, warning of dire consequences for disobedience.
Pagan oracles rarely called to a personal relationship or any future redemption and forgiveness. Biblical prophecy always promised a redemptive plan, enacted by God, despite the temporary consequences for sin.
Ancient divination believed in many gods, each with power and their own agenda, a chaotic and unpredictable unseen realm where gods were often more corrupt than humans. Biblical prophecy declared one God, Yahweh, who controlled all things and had no equal. Yahweh is good and pure, righteous and holy, and he loves people.
What Did Prophetic Ministry Look Like in the Old Testament?
In the Old Testament, specific people among Israel were called to deliver God’s messages to his people or other nations. The priesthood was passed down through families. However, prophets received direct callings from God. They didn’t seek power or personal gain but spoke God’s word with his authority, and prophets often found themselves in trouble with authority or the people due to their messages of repentance.
In fact, the Old Testament gives us examples of “prophets” who use the gift for personal gain. Balaam’s personal greed, using oracles for money, leads to his name being synonymous with evil and deception, even thousands of years later in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:15).
Prophetic ministry evolved over Israel’s history. Early on, Moses became the standard of giving God’s messages and law. Later, during the time of the judges, Deborah and Samuel played a Moses-type role for a period of time, leading Israel spiritually and politically during crises.
After Israel asked for a king and got one, prophetic ministry changed to a confrontational role. During the reign of Saul and David, Samuel acted as a priest and prophet, anointing kings and rebuking them. As the kings and nations of Israel grew more corrupt and idolatrous, Elijah emerged as the new prophetic standard, challenging the kings and people, performing miracles, and calling for repentance or suffering dire consequences. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others followed this role, even as Israel and Judah fell to Assyria and Babylon.
How Does Prophetic Ministry Look Different in the New Testament?
In the Old Testament, only a select few of God’s people were called to be prophets. In the New Testament, with the new covenant, God expands the prophetic gift to all believers. Through the Holy Spirit, every Christian hears the voice of God for themselves and can speak his message to others in the community and the church.
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers and fulfilled Joel’s prophecy. “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). Joel’s prophecy spoke of a time when all of God’s people would participate in the prophetic, a major shift from the Old Testament model. Paul later writes about this in 1 Corinthians 14, encouraging all believers to desire the gift of prophecy, essentially hearing from God and repeating his messages to others, because it strengthens, encourages, and comforts the church. God’s word has creative power, so the ability to hear and share God’s heart leads to amazing things. The New Testament prophecy, generally, focuses more on encouragement and truth than specific future judgments and warnings.
Another change involves how people judge real prophecy from false. In the Old Testament, the people would judge a prophet on two criteria: whether their prophecy came true or called the nation to a god other than Yahweh (Deuteronomy 18:22). A false prophet would face serious consequences, even execution.
In the New Testament, the test of prophecy differs. Since every believer has the Spirit, the people can discern the source of prophecy, whether God or demons or man. The apostle John warns us to test the spirit to see if it’s from God, including whether the oracle affirms Jesus came as a human, because “false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14 how the church can evaluate a prophecy, whether it is from the Spirit. Also, the New Testament doesn’t say we should ever kill prophets, only rebuke or discern their message for truth.
While New Testament prophecy is available to all, some Christians still fill the role, even predicting future events. Agabus carries the title of prophet, and he predicts Paul’s imprisonment in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11). As a real-world example, Paul affirmed the truth of this due to the Spirit within him, and the apostle made his own choice to go anyway, even though others tried to get him to avoid the persecution. Paul didn’t follow a prophet’s message just because he was a prophet. Like any gift, we must remember to participate soberly and responsibly, speaking truth in love and aligning with the Bible.
Energetic Multi-award-winning gospel minister and Fuji-pop artiste Testimony Jaga teams up with passionate worshipper BBO to release a new song “DODONDAWA”.
The new song “DODONDAWA” which owes its production credits to Password, is a powerful Yoruba expression meaning “The Self-Sufficient One”.
The new song is a powerful sound of worship rendered in the rich Yoruba dialect with spiritual depths,
AfroGospel sensation; Limoblaze comes through with a fine visuals to his well received song “Calling (Bless Me)”.
The new music video features the legendary Frank Edwards—whose musical imprint is sampled beautifully throughout the track. Appearing not only as a sampled artist but as a vibrant presence in the video, reinforcing the celebratory and faith-filled spirit of the song.
The combination of upbeat Afro rhythms, faith-centered lyrics, and lively visuals creates a song that is both uplifting and deeply relatable for believers across the world.
Watch the music video and download or stream mp3 below;
Three-time Grammy® Award-nominated gospel recording artist, prolific songwriter, and boundary-pushing producer Deitrick Haddon has released a fiery new reboot of his iconic 1999 track “Chain Breaker”, now reborn as “Chain Breaker 2.5” via ManHaddon Ministries / Tyscot Records. The updated track pays tribute to the original game-changing anthem while elevating the sound with a fresh, urban flair and an all-star lineup of gospel heavyweights.
“Chain Breaker 2.5” is more than a nostalgic throwback—it’s a dynamic celebration of legacy, growth, and musical evolution. With powerful contributions from gospel legends Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, and John P. Kee, the song emerges as a spiritual rallying cry for this generation. Acclaimed hip-hop producer Zaytoven adds his signature flair on the keys, while rising rapper T. Church injects bold energy with a sharp, faith-fueled verse.
Adding to the futuristic edge of the project is a suite of AI-generated artwork and visuals created by Louisiana-based graphic designer and videographer, Cameron Theyard—further cementing Haddon’s reputation for innovation in gospel music.
Honoring a Groundbreaking Legacy
Deitrick Haddon reflects on the personal and cultural impact of “Chain Breaker” in his heartfelt message to fans:
“25 years ago, Chain Breaker changed the game in Gospel music.
Now we’re celebrating the legacy with a reimagined anthem featuring Gospel giants: Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee, Zaytoven & T Church.
The breaker is back.
To my day ones, thank you. You believed in me when I was pushing boundaries and doing something different.
This moment is ours. There’s no legacy without your love and support.
Let’s celebrate together.”
This moment is a full-circle celebration of where Haddon has come from—and how far gospel music has evolved through his fearless contributions.
Deitrick Haddon is no stranger to topping charts and reshaping gospel sounds. Over the years, he has landed over two dozen hits on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay Chart, including four No. 1 singles:
“A Billion People”
“Open Door Season”
“Here Comes the Joy”
“Never Be the Same”
He’s also known for timeless tracks like “Sinner’s Prayer,” “Well Done,” “Heaven Knows,” and “He’s Able.” His Top 10 collaborative hit “Love Him Like I Do” with Ruben Studdard and Mary Mary remains a fan favorite.
Beyond the pulpit and the studio, Haddon has consistently explored uncharted musical and artistic territory, collaborating with mainstream icons like Moby, Usher, Q Parker, and Faith Evans. His discography and artistry have earned him three Grammy® nominations, multiple Stellar Awards, and a Dove Award for Urban Album of the Year for Church on the Moon (2012).
Toronto, ON – April 25, 2025 – It’s here! The wait is over as award-winning Canadian gospel artist Daniel Ojo officially drops his brand new single, “Surely Goodness,” available now on all major streaming platforms.
In a landmark collaboration, Daniel teams up with internationally celebrated worship leader Phil Thompson, best known for his global hit “My Worship.” Together, they deliver a soul-stirring anthem of God’s faithfulness and unshakable presence—an instant classic for churches and believers around the world.
Released in partnership with TRIBL Records—the powerhouse label behind genre-defining worship movements like Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine, Chandler Moore, and Tribl Worship—“Surely Goodness” stands as a bold declaration of hope and divine assurance.
Rooted in Psalm 23, the song brings a rich blend of heartfelt worship, dynamic vocals, and a message that transcends generations and borders. It’s more than music—it’s a moment of encounter.
Listen to “Surely Goodness” now – available worldwide!
The Bible tells us in numerous places to forgive others. That being one of the Lord’s commands, we may wonder why God didn’t just forgive Adam and Eve when they sinned.
The answer may be found in how the Bible reveals God’s redemptive plan, and how forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ is integral to it.
The Old Testament verses about forgiveness are almost all related to petitions for God to forgive them or others for their sins. Sin was so rampant that God instituted the Law to reveal sins (Romans 3:20-24; 7:7-13; Galatians 3:19-20) and the sacrificial system to serve as a covering for sins (as instituted in Leviticus).
In the New Testament, Jesus commands us to forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15), as does Paul in Colossians 3:13. What happened to make forgiveness for sins possible? Romans 6:23 gives us the answer, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Let’s look at how sin began and how the Lord God brought sin and death to account by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the propitiation (appeasement) for our sins (1 John 2:2).
What Happened When Adam and Eve Sinned?
God created the first couple as perfect and unspoiled in their fellowship with Him (Genesis 2:25). But Satan appeared as a serpent (Revelation 12:9; 20:2) and deceived Eve (Genesis 3:1-7). An abrupt change occurs in this passage regarding how Eve addressed Yahweh. When the serpent spoke to Eve, his deception began by calling the Creator “God” and not LORD God. “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). Up to this point, the Bible names Him as “LORD God.” Eve fell sway to Satan’s influence and answered the devil using the same term, “but God said…” (Genesis 3:3).
We know the rest of the story and how Eve influenced her husband, “who was with her” (Genesis 3:6). They both ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and subsequently, they knew their nakedness, were ashamed, and tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:6-8).
Nothing and no one can hide from the LORD God. He confronted them about their sin, cursed Satan, cursed the ground from which Adam came and over which he had dominion, and banished the pair from the Garden of Eden. They lost perfect fellowship with the LORD God, and they lost their lives to deception and sin. Their sin affected all of humanity and creation since their fall.
Why Didn’t God Immediately Forgive Adam and Eve?
God’s perfect justice demands payment for sin. Adam and Eve were no longer in a perfect, sinless state once they disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17; 3:6). They became sinners and passed the sinful state onto the rest of the human race. Their sin also affected the created order, and beauty became “thorns and thistles” (Genesis 3:18).
The answer to why God didn’t immediately forgive Adam and Eve is found in God’s holiness and justice.
To forgive means to no longer hold one’s sins against them or condemn them. When someone is forgiven, their fellowship with the one against whom they sinned is restored.
Adam and Eve were perfect before they disobeyed the Lord God. For God to forgive Adam and Eve without a perfect, sinless sacrifice was not possible. God immediately shows us His plan of redemption, though, when He confronted Adam (Genesis 3:15). Remember, Adam’s act of rebellion as the federal head (representative) of humanity did not surprise the LORD God. God knew it before He created humans, and He formed His plan of redemption before time began.
Our holy God provided the first sacrifice when He killed animals to clothe Adam and Eve. They died spiritually when they sinned, but God provided for them. God could not immediately forgive them because:
He cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Forgiveness is restoration of a relationship as it was, and God could no longer look upon Adam without seeing his sin.
There can be no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). In Adam’s case, the blood had to be shed from a perfect Man, and Adam was no longer perfect. Only a sinless Man (Jesus) can redeem sin and gain God’s forgiveness for all of humanity (2 Corinthians 5:21).
God provided the means for their forgiveness when he ordained that Adam’s offspring would be the Seed leading to Christ. Adam name his wife Eve, “because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:15-20). They were sinners, yes, but their offspring would be an integral part of God’s plan of redemption. God would bless Adam and Eve with Seth, whose lineage led to Jesus (Luke 3:38).
4. God gets the rightful glory for man’s salvation and the forgiveness of sin. He decreed the time for His Son to become flesh and dwell among us (John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:7-10). We are part of God’s bigger plan to bring glory to the Son because the foundation of God’s redemptive plan is all about Christ’s glory. We worship Him for Who He is, what He has done, is doing, and will do, and we make much of Jesus, of whom Scripture is all about.
A Look at What the Bible Says about Sin and Its Consequences
Adam introduced sin to us when he willfully chose to disobey God. Later, the Bible’s first explicit mention of sin occurs when God tells Cain, “And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Cain murdered his brother after that revelation and order by the Lord God to rule over it (sin).
The concept of sin is thereafter named or alluded to in every book of the Bible. Sin is any thought or action which is in rebellion to God’s commands. Following are a few short lists (not exhaustive) of what the Bible says sin is and what sin’s consequences are.
The Bible says sin is:
Universal: Romans 3:23
Imbedded in our very nature: 1 John 1:8
Discernable and avoidable: James 4:17, 1 John 2:1
Forgivable: 1 John 1:9; 2:1
Evil intentions and actions: Galatians 5:19-21; Proverbs 14:21; Ephesians 4:26
Allowing the devil to control your thoughts and actions: Ephesians 4:27
Idolatry: Placing anything above God’s rightful place as supreme in our lives
The Bible says the consequences of sin are:
Death: Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:15
Exclusion from the kingdom of God: Galatians 5:21
Separation from God: Isaiah 59:2
Judgment: Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15
A Look at How God is Both Just and Merciful
When Adam and Eve sinned against God by their disobedience, God displayed His perfect and holy justice by the consequences of their transgression. He outlined how sin would affect their lives and those of all mankind (Genesis 3:16-19).
We might question God’s mercy when He banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, but consider what might have happened had they stayed put. The tree of life still flourished amid the Garden. The first couple had already taken from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and we all have reaped the penalty for their transgression. If Adam and Eve had taken from the Tree of Life, they would have lived forever in their sinful state (Genesis 3:22). And so too would we—with no hope of redemption because once God makes a decree, He doesn’t go back on His Word.
God made sure they could not eat from the Tree of Life, “He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”
God also displayed His mercy when He revealed His redemptive plan for all of humanity. The next section of this article delves deeper into that wonderful truth.
Did God’s Plan for Redemption Start With Adam and Eve?
God’s spells out His plan for redemption in Genesis 3:15, which reads, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise [crush] your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.” This verse outlines what we know as the protoevangelium(the first gospel).
Look at how Genesis 3:14-19 progresses.
In verse 14, God curses Satan, who came to Eve as a serpent.
The verses following the protoevangelium proclaim the penalties Adam and Eve’s sin incurred.
Verse 16 tells us Eve, as a wife and mother, was condemned to suffer distress and physical pain. Husband and wife were to have been gracious (complimentary) in their union. Instead, she would seek to rule over her husband but would now be relegated to a state of humble subjection to her husband.
Verses 17-19 describe Adam’s now pitiful situation. God had given Adam dominion over creation (Genesis 1:26). And God changed his livelihood of tilling the ground from joyful and easy-going (Genesis 2:15) to one of pain and continual hard work. God’s curse on someone or something is irrevocable due to God’s immutability (God does not change).
Why Christians Today Can Find Hope in the Last Adam: Jesus
As said above, once God commands something or someone, He doesn’t go back on His Word. His Word is the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16), and His Word is Christ (John 1:1-14). God enacted His plan of redemption that He planned before time began. Jesus, as the Last Adam, reversed the curse that has befallen all men since the fall (Romans 5:8; Galatians 3:13). Jesus is the perfect, spotless Lamb who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He, as the Last Adam, completely reverses the fall and makes it possible for humanity’s relationship with the Father to be reconciled (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:22).
One must acknowledge their sinful state (Luke 18:13) and surrender to Jesus Christ in faith and repentance to be forgiven of every sin. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8). We who are the forgiven ones are Christians—Christ followers.
Revelation 21:5 says, “And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” That means a new creation and a new people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). The Apostle Paul reminds us of a glorious truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the Last Adam, is alone worthy (Revelation 5:13) to reverse the curse brought by the fall.
Part of the “old” that will pass away is the devil and his demonic realm (1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:10). No longer will he be an influence in any way or to anyone.
We can thank and praise Jesus Christ, the Last and sinless Adam, for our salvation in Him. May He get all the glory.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Engin Akyurt
Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers’ mentor and is part of a critique group. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis.
Senior Pastor of College Church and President of God Centered Life Ministries
What makes a church healthy? This is importantly distinguished from what makes a church a true church. That would be a subject for another article. But if we assume that the church we are attending, or thinking about, is a true church, then what is it that makes a church more (or less) healthy? We may summarize the signs of a healthy church by its “four loves.”
1. A Healthy Church LOVES JESUS
When you go to a healthy church, the person they want to talk about is Jesus. The person they are focused on is not their pastor, or their building, or even their fancily crafted vision statement. It is not their plans, budgets, and projects. Their focus, their love, is Jesus. This is the “first love” that the church at Ephesus had lost, and so became unhealthy (Revelation 2:4). A healthy church, though, honors Jesus, exalts him, praises him. Jesus is their Lord, their God, the Lord of the Universe, and the love of their lives. At a healthy church, you cannot get people to stop talking about Jesus, just like if you meet a couple in love, it’s hard to get them to stop talking about each other.
2. A Healthy Church LOVES JESUS’ WORD
When you go to a healthy church, you will notice that the Bible is open. A healthy church will not merely pull Bible verses out of thin air, or at random, treating the Bible like a spiritual fortune cookie. The healthy church will have what we might call “the functional centrality of the Bible” very apparent. The sermon will not just give nodding acquaintance to the Bible, but in the sermon, the Bible will speak. They will have Bible studies. They will make decisions consciously appealing to, and deriving wisdom from, the Bible. “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). By contrast, an unhealthy church ignores the Bible, cuts bits of the Bible out, trumps the Bible with other authorities, and generally does not love Jesus’ Word.
3. A Healthy Church LOVES JESUS’ PEOPLE
When you go to a healthy church, you will quickly pick up that they love each other. This does not necessarily mean that they always like each other! We are not called to be best friends with other Christians. But we are called to love other Christians. Church is not like a gathering of friends (united by common interest, hobbies, and background), but like a gathering of family (united by shared blood, in the case of the church, the shared blood of Jesus). As a family, there will occasionally be disagreements, annoyances, and even aggravations. Even healthy families have their moments! But a healthy church, like a healthy family, is still together; they still love each other. When push comes to shove, blood is thicker than water. And when push comes to shove, a healthy church will act in ways that protect, go the extra mile for, even (as the early church witnessed) sacrifice their lives for one another. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
4. A Healthy Church LOVES JESUS’ MISSION
When you go to a healthy church, you will rapidly sense that they are about something bigger than themselves. A healthy church is not a club for the already saved, but a mission to reach the lost. As one long ago Christian leader put it: the church is the only institution that exists for the benefit of its non-members! An unhealthy church, by contrast, tends to think of what is best for it. Their music tastes are geared towards what those who attend and pay the bills prefer. Their decisions are for the stakeholders who have invested time and money in the church. They are a religious social club. But a healthy church has a mission: it has embraced Jesus’ mission to take the gospel to all nations. So a healthy church loves Jesus’ mission. A healthy church will reach out to you if you are new to the church. The leaders of a healthy church practice hospitality, meaning they love those who are new to the church. A healthy church aims to reach its Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the Ends of the Earth. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
No church is perfect. If you find a perfect church, don’t join it – you’ll only spoil it! No church is permanently and unwaveringly healthy. Every church has its moments. But if you are a leader of a church, a member of a church, your goal is to move the dial of that church towards increasing health – love Jesus, love Jesus’ word, love Jesus’ people, and love Jesus’ mission.
Celebrated gospel Music Miniseries Peterson Okopi and Neon Adejo join forces for the majestic new single, “Hallelujah” a soul-stirring tribute to the anticipated return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This powerful anthem resounds with the prophetic declaration, “Jesus is coming in the clouds, He’s coming in glory and He’s might, to claim His own and reign supreme.”
The song’s profoundly inspiring lyrics affirm, “Those who believe in Him will be transformed, renewed, and glorified, and sing Hallelujah with Jesus in triumphant harmony.” “Hallelujah” is a fervent call to spiritual preparedness, heartfelt worship, and expectant praise.
Stream the captivating “Hallelujah” now on all major music streaming platforms and join the chorus of believers celebrating the imminent return of our King.
Marvin Sapp was recently in the news over a misinterpretation of his words while he was taking up offering at the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 2024 National Convocation.
Sapp was vilified on the internet and received threatening messages at his church from people who were angry over a video clip that showed him telling the ushers to “close the doors.”
In the song, written by Sapp and Kolten Perrine, and produced by Rodney East, Sapp recounts the harrowing last few weeks and sings:
Close the door on anxiety, on the pain and disdain that keeps chasing me, Close the door on the ridicule and on the noise that tries to make me lose my cool…God has a purpose, He will restore…Though I’m hurting, I’m still hoping, My victory is worth fighting for, So I close the door…
Sapp posted about the single on social media,
saying “Close the Door’’ isn’t just a song, it’s a soundtrack for survival…I’m closing the door on the noise, the pain, and everything that tried to break me. This song will bless you. I believe with everything in me my assignment through this season through this song is to help you close the door too.”
“Close the Door” will be released Good Friday, April 18, 2025 and will be available to download and stream on all digital music outlets.
Renowned gospel minister Martina Mordi has joined forces with celebrated worship leader Preye Odede to unveil their latest single, “Fall”—a deeply anointed worship song that invites listeners into a posture of surrender and divine encounter.
Known for her powerful vocals and spirit-filled ministrations, Martina Mordi has consistently delivered songs that elevate hearts and stir a hunger for God’s presence. Her 2022 breakout single, “Amayanabo (King)”, released on May 10, 2022, resonated deeply with worshippers across Nigeria and beyond, affirming her place as a vessel of divine sound.
Martina has shared stages with some of Nigeria’s foremost gospel voices, including Tim Godfrey, Freke Umoh, Chioma Jesus, and Dunsin Oyekan, further cementing her influence in the gospel music scene.
The new single, “Fall,” is a heartfelt expression of surrender, capturing the essence of worship and the longing to be enveloped in God’s presence. The collaboration with Preye Odede brings together two anointed voices, creating a powerful synergy that is both uplifting and transformative.
Acclaimed gospel minister, psalmist, and prophetic worship leader Dunsin Oyekan has released a powerful new single titled “HAGIAZO”.
HAGIAZO—from the Greek word meaning “to set apart from profane things”—is more than a song; it is a divine instruction to the Body of Christ. Rooted in Scripture and birthed in the secret place, this sound from heaven is a prophetic cry to rise, to reflect God’s holiness, and to live set apart in a world longing for true light.
“In a great house, there are many vessels—but not all are vessels of honour. We are called to be the ones set apart, purified, and ready for the Master’s use. This song is heaven’s cry for consecration,” says Dunsin.
A virtuoso musician and a wonder on the guitar, Dunsin Oyekan has ministered through music from the age of 10, carrying the mantle of worship with a deep prophetic edge. As an anointed psalmist and seasoned music director, his ministry is marked by divine encounters, revival fire, and a compelling call to intimacy with God.
“HAGIAZO” is a sound of identity and urgency. In a generation tempted to conform, this song reminds us: we are not profane—we are sacred. We are chosen. We are different. We are holy. As 1 Peter 2:9 declares, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…”
Through hauntingly beautiful melodies, stirring instrumentation, and Spirit-breathed lyrics, HAGIAZO pierces through the noise of the times, calling the Church back to her roots—to be holy, just as He is holy.
Radically graced and anointed Minister; Enkay Ogboruche returns with a powerful new single, “DONE IT”.
A prophetic praise anthem that exudes victory, joy, confidence, and celebration. Infused with pulsating African rhythms and vibrant instrumentation, DONE IT is more than just a song—it’s a bold declaration of God’s faithfulness.
Enkay’s signature vocals and uplifting lyrics remind listeners that every battle is already won, every promise fulfilled, and every worry settled in Christ.
“DONE IT is a song of assurance,” says Enkay Ogboruche.
“It’s a reminder that when God speaks, it’s already settled. Sometimes, we get caught up worrying about things He has already handled. This song is an invitation to let go, rejoice, and dance in victory!”
With its infectious groove and spirit-lifting message, DONE IT is the perfect soundtrack for anyone who needs a faith boost and a reason to celebrate. Whether in personal devotion or a church gathering, this song is bound to spark joy and gratitude.
