Audio Articles

Can a bad movie throw you into an existential spiral? Author Chris Pennington was in the theater on opening night for the latest Star Wars movie: The Mandalorian and Grogu. What he saw was underwhelming. After two hours, and nearly $40 for two tickets, not much actually happened: no storylines were advanced, no lightsabers were lit, no risks were taken. It served as a reminder that the best storie...

When Jesus describes himself as “the door” in John 10:9, what does He mean? In a culture when doors are consistently used to keep people out of spaces where they don’t belong, Jesus is saying something quite the opposite. He is the door that grants access, offers protection, and even goes after those who feel left out.   Read the full length article here .  Watch the original teaching this article...

Anxiety about money might be the only thing rising faster than gas prices—but financial stress doesn’t have to win. In this article, author Tom Lange shares three unexpected ways he combats the ever-present stress of balancing the family budget: asking, giving, and remembering.  Read the full length article here .  Find more articles by Tom Lange here .  Find the latest Crossroads articles here .

Hearing from God can feel like an impossible task. Do I have to sit in silence for hours, throw away my phone, and trade in my favorite t-shirt for some monk's robes? Author Donny Black used to think so, until he started devoting time every day learning to listen to God. In this article, Donny shares the simple five-minute formula he follows to help him hear, and stay connected, to God like never...

For many kids and teens, having a personal cell phone has become a right of passage—but that little device isn’t all fun and games. From Internet privacy to pornography, bullying to online gambling, cell phones can open our kids to a world of potential problems. How can a family navigate these issues, while maintaining the convenience of being able to text your kid about the updated start time for...

Decades into following Jesus, author Caleb Mathis struggled with prayer. It often felt forced, unnatural, even boring. It was a muscle that needed training, so he borrowed the perspective of some of the greatest athletes, artists, and influencers in history—copy, until you can do it on your own. In this helpful article, Caleb shares five prayers from other people—some from scripture, some from lat...

Early in her marriage, Alli Patterson had an affair. Looking back at that challenging time, she now recognizes seven red flags that she and her husband avoided, ignored, or swept under the rug. After the hard work of reconciliation, and with now 20+ years of marriage together, Alli shares those red flags, and what you can do to avoid those landmines and affair-proof your closest relationship.  Rea...

Ancient armor. A creed. A mission. That’s not just what sets the Mandalorian apart from other characters in the Star Wars universe, it’s actually true of every follower of Jesus. In this article, author Tommy Jewell unpacks how he found ancient spiritual truth in the world of Mando and Grogu, and how wrestling with it has set his life on a new trajectory. When you understand how God has designed y...

Eighteen. That number haunted author Sean Boyce—the number of summers he’d get to spend with his son before adulthood changed the dynamic. Like every overstretched, but well-meaning father, Sean was doing his best, but worried that time was slipping away. So he made a bold choice, carving out time every summer to spend with his son, and hundreds of other dads and their sons, building into each oth...

For kids, summer means fun, freedom, and ice cream. For moms… not so much. Whether you work, stay-at-home, or anything in between, summer means changing all the family rhythms you’ve been leaning on for the past year. No wonder it feels so stressful. In this article, working mom of four and pastor, Alli Patterson, shares some hacks she’s picked up over the years that help her not only survive, but...

Does God actually care if I recycle? Author Natalie Warrick thinks so. In this article, Natalie shares how the Bible caused her to reconsider her own environmental impact, and she shares incredibly practical steps anyone can take today to help take better care of God’s creation. Environmental problems can seem daunting, but when everyone works together, real change is possible.  Read the full leng...

Prayer seems simple enough, but building a life-giving habit isn’t easy. Author Caleb Mathis noticed that his prayers had become last minute acts of desperation, much like a Hail Mary pass in football. Knowing it could—and should—be better, he went to work finding ways to build his prayer muscles. Along the way, he uncovered five hacks to turn prayer into a powerful habit instead of an afterthough...

Earth Day only comes around once a year, but author Caleb Mathis believes the call to care for God’s creation extends just as much to the other 364 days. In this practical article, Caleb explains seven ways you can lessen your impact on the planet—from recycling, to controlling your food purchases, to spending time outside. These simple steps aren’t just a way to save the planet, they might help y...

After his time as a reconnaissance Marine ended, Mike “Croz” Crossley struggled with the loss of brotherhood and mission that had defined much of his life. Realizing many veterans feel the same, he started Veteran Camp, an off-the-grid weekend designed to help veterans reset their direction, restore their purpose, and reconnect to their true mission. In this article, Croz shares four ways Veteran...

When Jesus died, some remarkable things took place—there was an earthquake, a veil torn at the temple, and the return of some long-dead heroes of faith. Wait, what? As strange as it sounds, these moments point back to promises God made in the Old Testament, and they point forward to what his power can still do in our lives today. At the death of Jesus, the whole order of things was shaken up, the...

Just before his betrayal and arrest, Jesus had a final meal with his disciples. This Last Supper contains some of the most profound teaching in all of scripture. In this article, author Caleb Mathis unpacks five key moments from this pivotal scene, and explains why they hold just as much power today as they did on that original night 2,000 years ago.  Read the full length article here .  Find more...

Nowhere else in scripture is Jesus’ humanity in such brilliant display than in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mere hours before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus wrestles with the pain of the future, asks God hard questions, and even sweats blood. Author Chris Pennington explains that there is something here for everyone—ever been scared of the future? Jesus was. Ever felt like God said “no” to...

Saint Patrick’s Day is an annual excuse to get decked out in green, pinch people, and swim in a sea of Guinness. Unsurprisingly, none of that has anything to do with the life that gives its name to the holiday. In this article, author Caleb Mathis shares the incredible true story of Patrick—from runaway slave to missionary who would actually return to the place that had once enslaved him. Patrick’...

Being a parent is hard. How much screen time is appropriate? Are they eating enough vegetables? What time is baseball practice this week? Did they actually finish their homework? What about that playdate? It’s easy for quality time, and spiritual growth, to fall by the wayside. But one weekend a year, all those things come together on 800+ acres along the Ohio River. It’s Family Camp! In this arti...

If God is eternal, does He have an age? How does He intersect with time? Does it even matter? In this straight-forward and accessible article, author Caleb Mathis tackles all those questions and more. While the age of God might seem at first glance like an unanswerable riddle, it is actually a powerful opportunity to revisit core aspects of God’s nature and character: his omnipotence, omniscience,...

When author Natalie Warrick discovered she had ataxia, a rare and progressive genetic disease, she made the intentional choice to let it push her toward—instead of away from—God. In this powerful piece, she shares her journey of coming to terms with suffering, and finding the faith to ask for healing—for herself, and for her mother who also suffers with the same disease. And God has been moving. B...

Though his day has become synonymous with chocolate hearts, flowers, and romantic gestures, Valentine’s life was anything but a bed of roses. An Italian clergyman who found himself in the crosshairs of the Roman Empire, Valentine preached love in a time when hate was powerful. His impact, and his legend, has only grown. In this segment of The Holy Behind the Holiday , a series of articles looking...

2,800 miles in 40 days? Author Tamara Brooks signed up for the RELENTLESS 2800 team challenge alongside some good friends, but it didn’t take long for the excitement to wear off and the muscle cramps to begin. What had she gotten herself into? Doubt tried to convince her that she wasn’t fit enough, committed enough, or tough enough to finish. Then one morning, while clocking in some miles, God spo...

Life is supposed to be easy, right? Not so fast. Author and pastor, Andy Reider, offers a wake-up call for the cultural narrative that everything in our life should always be up-and-to-the-right. The reality is that life is hard, and it takes twists and turns. A better goal than an easy life, is learning to develop resilience. And that, as it turns out, is only learned the hard way.  Read the full...

Suffering, difficulty, and hardship is, unfortunately, a regular part of the human experience. When things go bad, does it mean something spiritually? Author Rachel Reider gives an eye-opening deep-dive into what the Bible says (and also doesn’t say) about what hardship means in our lives. She maps out a hopeful path forward, pointing our focus off our difficulty and back onto a God that has an un...