n Revelation 8, John sees something that should steady every believer who has ever struggled in prayer. He sees an altar in heaven. “Another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.” This is temple language. In the Old Testament tabernacle, and later in the temple, there was a golden altar placed just before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. On that altar, incense was burned continually. It was the place of intercession, where the priest would offer incense and pray on behalf of the people, and the smoke would rise before God as a sweet aroma. Now John sees the reality behind the shadow. He sees heaven itself, the true temple, the throne of God, and before that throne an altar. And at that altar are the prayers of the saints. Your prayers are in heaven, not forgotten, not dismissed, not wasted, but brought before the throne of God.

In recent years, a familiar story has played out publicly in ways that should make every thoughtful Christian pause and reflect. It involves celebrity conversions.

In 2019, Kanye West professed faith in Christ and claimed to have become born again. He was even being discipled by a sound pastor. Many expressed excitement over his conversion, while others urged caution. However, Kanye’s faith and walk with Christ were short-lived. Far from evidencing repentance, his public behavior has been marred by offensive rhetoric, sexual sin, and the pride that defined the “old Kanye.” His album Jesus Is King (released October 25, 2019) filled arenas with “Sunday Services,” and many assumed revival had come to Hollywood. But time revealed that outward enthusiasm does not equal inward transformation.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4–5)

In these few verses, Christmas is explained with more clarity than most people realize. Let’s consider what this passage tells us about Christ, His mission, and what His coming means for us.

Every Christmas season brings familiar songs to our ears—carols we’ve sung for years and often recite without thinking. But behind some of these songs are stories so real, so raw, that they deepen the meaning of every line we sing. One of the most powerful examples is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Christmas Eve is full of anticipation. Families gather, presents wait under the tree, and traditions take shape. And while I love all of it—I really do—there is something far more important than the gifts, decorations, meals, or memories. Behind everything we enjoy tonight is the breathtaking truth of what Christmas truly means:

Some churches look alive from the outside. The parking lot is full, the programs are impressive, the community speaks well of them. But Jesus sees past the reputation. In Revelation 3:1–6, He delivers one of the most sobering verdicts imaginable: “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” That was Sardis. And tragically, many churches today are walking the same path.

“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)

God is a God of order, not chaos. In His divine wisdom, He has built institutions—government, the church, and the family—with structure, leadership, and submission for human flourishing. When we rebel against God’s design then things go awry. 

Generosity is not about dollar signs. It’s about the heart. And in this passage, Paul offers us a stunning picture of what genuine Christian giving looks like. Let’s walk through it together.

Godly Grief vs. Worldly Grief: The Kind of Sorrow That Leads to Life

At some point in life, we all feel the sting of shame. Maybe it comes after a heated argument, a failed relationship, or a moment when we let our integrity slip. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: Is this sorrow from God—or is it just from the world?

In 2 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul introduces us to two very different kinds of grief. One leads to life. The other leads to death.

This is the final article in our series on Jehovah’s Witnesses. To read the others click here, here, and here. 

As we conclude our series on the JWs, let’s go to what truly matters — sharing Christ.  That is the goal of why I wrote this series on this group. We desire all JWs to repent of their false doctrine and turn to the true Jesus. The Jesus they talk about is a false Jesus who cannot save them. We do so because those in the JW organization will wind up standing before the one whom they rejected as being divine. To them, he is just Michael the archangel — a created being of God.  However, he is not as the Bible clearly depicts him as God. 

The New World Translation serves as the official sacred text of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. It was first published in 1950 as a way to give JWs a Bible that “honored God’s name.” However, it does anything but that as it is a perversion of what God originally said through His Spirit.  The translation committee of the New World Translation is understandably anonymous. For not one reputable Greek or Hebrew scholar would substantiate their butchering of the text.

Some may ignorantly assume that Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) are just another Christian denomination. However, nothing could be further from the truth. JWs deny every key Christian doctrine related to Jesus, salvation, the authority of the Bible, and more. It is crucial for Christians to understand what they believe in order to effectively witness to them.

At Northwest Baptist Church, we believe the Lord’s Supper is more than a memorial. It is not just something we do to remember Christ—it is a sacred act where we gather as one body to proclaim His death, to be strengthened by His grace, and to look forward to His return.

If you’ve ever talked to a Jehovah’s Witness at your front door, you may have wondered: Where did this all begin? Their beliefs sound so different from historic Christianity—and they are indeed heretically different.

In 1789, Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." And for many, that sentiment rings true. You’re born, you pay taxes, and then you die. But how depressing is that? If those are the only certainties in life, what hope is there?

This is precisely why the resurrection of Jesus Christ matters. Because of Christ, there is more certainty than death and taxes. For the Christian, the hope is death and resurrection. That is our reality.

Repentance. A word that makes people uncomfortable. A word that has become almost unwelcome in many churches today. But repentance is not optional—it is essential. From the beginning of Scripture to the end, God commands His people to repent. And as men, we are called to lead the way in repentance, both in our homes and in our churches. If we desire strong families and strong churches, it begins with us. It begins with our willingness to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, and turn back to Him.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

This verse is a clear and direct call to pursue holiness with a dire consequence if not followed. The word strive means to pursue, to chase after, to actively engage in something with intent and purpose. But what does it truly mean to pursue holiness?