Posts by Chip Ingram
When It Feels Impossible to Love and Find Love in This Crazy World
Deep down inside, every person who has ever lived wants to be loved and to be good at loving. But even a cursory look at history—and at our current world—makes it clear that humans aren’t always good at loving. What is the key to loving well and being well loved? Is there a recipe, a…
Read MoreFeel Like You Need a Makeover?
Feel like you need a makeover? An extreme makeover, perhaps? Go to Wikipedia and type in “makeover TV shows.” You might be amazed. The original “Extreme Makeover” has over the last decade spawned countless spinoffs and copy-cats—some you probably don’t want to watch! (I’m going to bet there’s more to come, too. “Extreme Makeover: COVID…
Read MoreThe Inside Story of God’s Great Rescue Plan
There are few things that grab our attention like a daring rescue. Think about hearing stories like firefighters, trapped by wildfire, getting picked up by a helicopter in smoke so thick the pilot had to fly blind. Or remember the hope we felt when volunteers, who wouldn’t give up, found a toddler alive under rubble…
Read MoreThe Hope of Christmas Is the Hope of Eternity
I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it but there are two kinds of hope. The most common way we use the word today is to mean a desire or a wish. “I hope the pandemic ends soon.” “I hope my family stays healthy.” “I hope life makes sense someday.” The other kind of…
Read MoreFacing Hard Times? Learn the A.R.T. of Survival
Facing hard times is clearly not unusual in a fallen world. The apostle Peter told us to not be surprised at trials—as if they are something out of the ordinary. (See 1 Peter 4:12). However, while Jesus Himself told His followers to expect tribulation in the world, He admonished them to not fear—because He has…
Read MoreHow to Face the Future with Unshakeable Confidence
It’s easy these days to be anxious when facing the future. Some people might even look around and retort, “Oh yeah, what future?” True, our modern world right now is facing a lot. A pandemic, a government in turmoil, social unrest, closed schools, a maxed-out health care system, a struggling economy, global warming, a moral…
Read MoreHow Can I See Myself as God Sees Me?
What do you see when you look in the mirror? I will never forget, as a senior in college, having coffee with a beautiful cheerleader. No, honestly, the unforgettable part wasn’t her beauty and quick mind. It was that beyond the stunning exterior of a young woman who looked like she “had it all together”…
Read MoreHow Is “Doing Good” Part of Our Calling as Christians?
The reputation of Christianity these days has taken a serious hit. Our influence has been undermined and marginalized across all sectors of society. It’s not a problem that we as believers can just delegate to pastors or church leaders. It’s a problem we’ve all got to own. I won’t take space here to expound upon…
Read MoreGoing Through Hard Times? God Wants to Teach You How to Handle Adversity
The headlines point to it. Your neighbors talk about it. Your heart feels it. Just about everyone is going through hard times right now! But let’s face it: Life is hard, even in the easiest of times. Disappointments, illnesses, broken relationships, dashed dreams. What does the Bible say about getting through adversity? Plenty, actually! God…
Read MoreLove as God Loves: How is That Even Possible?
During His last days on earth, Jesus gave His disciples an impossible order to “love as God loves.” “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12, 13 NASB). How can…
Read MoreDon’t Be “Troubled”: Set Your Mind on Heaven!
A lot of Christians are apprehensive about heaven. Part of this is a typical human reaction to the unknown. What is going to happen to me? What will it be like? How will I feel? What will I do? Our lack of knowledge is a bummer, and it’s unnecessary. The Bible has a lot to…
Read MoreFour Ways to Find Your Way Back to God after Feeling Betrayed
Have you ever been betrayed? When I was in college, I broke up with my girlfriend of two years because it became clear she didn’t want the same committed walk with God that I did. I was heartbroken about it but it felt like my only option. Then a few months later I discovered she…
Read MoreHow Can I Parent Godly Kids in an Ungodly World?
My wife and I often get questions about parenting. Neither of us grew up as Christians and there was a lot of dysfunction in our families. But God was faithful to help us as we had our own children. Any success we had was because of His mercy and guidance, I assure you! But along…
Read MoreHow to Deepen Your Communication With God
Do you yearn to know the God of the universe deeply? Do you want to know Jesus and communicate with him as a close personal friend? The process for doing so is simpler than you might think. There is a pathway to intimacy with your Creator. The best first step is with communication. In other…
Read MoreHow to Stop Being Religious and Start Living Like a Christian
Take a look at your calendar. What’s it packed with? Weekly Bible studies, prayer meetings, Sunday worship services, community outreach, church events? These are all wonderful things. The last thing I want to do is discourage consistent spiritual growth, service and discipleship for any Christian! But here’s my question: What is your motivation for all…
Read MoreHeaven: It’s Going to Be Even Better Than You Think
If there’s one thing I’m certain of when it comes to Heaven, it’s this: It’s not going to be what you think. It’s going to be better. You probably have some mental pictures of Heaven, right? Sistine Chapel-like harps and streets of gold ideas? Flying around in a white robe with angel wings? An eternal…
Read MoreWhat to Do If You’re Not Feeling Very Generous
I used to think generosity was a characteristic reserved for two special groups of people: the very rich and the very holy. I was neither (still am not!). Not wanting to be selfish or anything, but I didn’t feel much like draining my very small bank account unless I had to. The problem was, I…
Read MoreHow to Pray with Power
Do you have a tough situation in your life? Want to see God change it? Maybe you doubt that He can, or that He will. Maybe you say you’ve prayed a lot and nothing has happened. It’s true: sometimes God says “no” or “wait.” But I believe God wants to say “Yes!” a lot more…
Read MoreHow to Lift People Up
Out of all the countless gifts God has given us, I believe one stands out as the most powerful: The gift of speech. Think about it. Contrary to that oft-repeated childhood saying about sticks and stones, words have the power to bring life or take it away. Proverbs 10:11 says, “The mouth of the righteous…
Read MoreThe Sacred Rhythm of Spending Time in God’s Word
We all have rhythms in our everyday life. For some of us, we have a specific workplace we go to every day and a certain time when we go workout. For others it’s a morning routine: we grab our phones, check the Wall Street Journal or our Facebook account and then drink some coffee. What we think,…
Read MoreDo You Know the Real You?
Psychologists and theologians all agree that from the time we’re very small, until the day we die, one of the questions all of us begin to consciously or unconsciously try to answer is: Who am I? Ironically, most of us spend a great majority of our time and energy trying to be like someone else or wishing we were someone else. But Jesus…
Read MoreAre You Being Shaped by the World or the Word?
How do you know if the input of God’s Word is shaping you – influencing your time, your priorities, and your focus – more than the input of the world’s values? The world says, “Get, get, get. Impress, impress, impress.” God’s Word says, “Give, give, give. Love, love, love. Be authentic, kind, humble.” The world says, “It’s how you look that matters.” God’s Word says, “It’s who you are that matters.” …
Read MoreThe Key to Building Confidence in God’s Word
Can you honestly say, “I believe the Bible is the Word of God and I believe that it’s true?” I can remember a time when I doubted this to be true. I was a graduate student at West Virginia University and one day I was walking into one of my classes when a very bright Ph.D. student passed me and then stopped in his tracks. He spotted a Bible on top…
Read MoreHow to Share Your Faith in an Anti-Christian World
We’re living in a day where evil is called good, and where good is called evil. As Christians, many of us are deeply concerned as we see the moral values in the culture and outside Church rapidly changing. The latest statistics support this. Right now, in the U.S., we have the highest level of people who have no religious affiliation.…
Read MoreWhy Does God Take His Name So Seriously?
Ever wonder what the Bible really means when it says, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain?” I didn’t grow up in the church. So, when I first read the third of the Ten Commandments, part of me said, what’s the big deal? Does it really matter if you say God’s name this way or that way? The command means literally: “Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” That…
Read MoreHow to Starve Your Fear and Feed Your Faith
What is the greatest fear you’re facing right now? What gets your stomach in knots? When you’re driving in your car and everything is quiet and your mind drifts, what makes your heart rate increase and you suddenly realize you’re afraid? For some of us, it’s the fear of losing our health or losing our…
Read MoreExperience Peace in the Midst of Anxiety
Anxiety can steal peace from our lives. And if you’re like most Americans, you’re probably experiencing anxiety on an everyday basis. This familiar feeling often comes over us like uneasiness, apprehension, dread, concern, tension, restlessness, or worry. It’s the feeling of impending danger or doom. For many of us, our anxiety is a result of…
Read MoreHow to Experience the Hope You Have in Christ
Did you know that as a believer in Christ you possess all the hope you need in order to get through this life? It’s a hope that’s based on absolute certainty that Christ is coming back and that He has prepared a place for all genuine followers of Christ. It’s a hope that believes the future is promising. And it’s a hope that believes God’s promises are true even in the midst…
Read MoreWhat One Trait is God Looking For?
My wife Theresa is always shopping. Whenever we’re hanging out around downtown Los Gatos, CA, or if we get away for a little weekend to Atlanta, GA, she is always shopping. But she’s not shopping for herself, she’s actually shopping for our grandkids. It seems like there is a birthday happening every third day in our family. So, wherever we go, she sees something and says, “For this season, this would be perfect for…” and then she’ll name one…
Read MoreWhy Our Expectations Are So Important
We all have expectations. But what about when it comes to God? For some of us who are married, we might think, “If I love Jesus, then my marriage is going be great!” For those of us who are single, we could think, “If I love Jesus, then the right person is going to walk…
Read MoreDoes God Use Some People More Than Others?
Ever wonder why God seems to use some people more than others? Maybe you think it’s because God only does amazing things through really “holy” and “righteous” people. Perhaps you think, “I’m not smart enough, or I’m not bold enough, or I’m not courageous enough, or I don’t know the Bible well enough!” The truth…
Read MoreGod’s Number One Goal for Your Life
I vividly remember one night back when I was in grad school. It was 5:30 p.m. and a bunch of college students were scheduled to come over at a 7 p.m. to hear me speak. The problem was I didn’t know what I was going to say. My mind was blank! And I was terrified!…
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