It’s been my contention that the bodies of the Sexual Revolution tsunami will eventually start to wash up on the shore. It’s also been my contention that the church has to be prepared for that time; to put behind it its sin of falling under the spell of that cultural narrative, admitting it has been complicit in it, and first living, then telling a better story.

When Eden Chen decided to launch an innovation consultancy company in 2013 with his business partner Charles Hu, his first choice for the company’s name—Carpenter’s Labs—was taken. Chen and Hu had met at their Los Angeles church (Reality L.A.) and wanted their new company to reflect their Christian faith. Since the company was all about “building things” like mobile apps, website platforms, games, virtual reality, and augmented reality, “Carpenter Labs” would have been perfect. But the name they ended up going with—Fishermen Labs—also worked.

You know the bracelet I’m talking about, right? The leather strap with colored beads, each color signifying an aspect of the salvation story. In an American context, the salvation bracelet is a recognized evangelism tool. The coded colors are easy for both the presenter and the hearer to remember and apply the meaning. But in Sub-Saharan Africa, it’s generally not an appropriate gospel tool for two main reasons.

Being a new parent is a wonderful, transformative thing. It’s also an object lesson in being terrified. I’ve panicked about losing things before: jobs, relationships, security deposits on apartments. Having a kid puts those minor anxieties into perspective … by creating an even bigger anxiety. A growing number of smart, wearable baby monitors want to assuage that anxiety. What I quickly learned was that constant information does not equal comfort. In fact, for me, it inspired the opposite.

In “Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding Freedom From Slaveholder Religion,” Wilson-Hartgrove wrestles with the troubling history and theology held by many believers. But more importantly, he explains what must be done to break free from these oppressive views and spark a more just expression of Christianity in America.

The First Amendment Defense Act is not the bulwark its name suggests but the latest salvo in the ongoing attempt to redefine religious freedom as religious privilege. It does nothing to defend the First Amendment; in fact, it violates it.

Chronological snobbery refers to the notion that all ideas from previous eras are inferior because they are old and that modern ideas are superior because they are new. And, frankly, I don’t know anyone who actually believes this. I certainly don’t. After all, I’m a Christian, which means I have built my life around the ideas of a first century Rabbi.

As pastors and leaders, a good part of what we teach others should come straight from Scripture. We look to biblical models and mandates to be the launching point to teach those in our churches how to live well as followers of Jesus. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough. If our lives don’t reflect what we teach and the calls to action we offer, then our ability to lead well is severed from the start. Really, it’s a variation of the old adage we teach our children: “Do as I say, not as I do.” Do as I do and as I say.

It is hard to imagine, but try slowly dismantling your resume. What personal achievements have some importance in your life? Include health, education, weight, fitness, general attractiveness and unique abilities. If you were to boast, what might you boast about? Now, toss these out one at a time. Do some hurt more than others? What is left when the achievements are gone?

Comfort-seeking is our default mode in a consumerist society, so we often find ourselves in “comfortable Christianity” without even knowing it. What are some indicators that our Christianity has become too cozy, more like a pleasant bottle of port than the uncomfortable, sharpening faith the New Testament envisions? Here are eight signs that your Christianity might be too comfortable: