The following articles have been selected because they are informative, instructive, entertaining, or simply interesting. Articles appearing in Your Friday Five do not represent an endorsement.
Europe’s last dictator “wins” election but finds much opposition.
Belarus Baptists Look to Habakkuk amid Mass Protests, Christianity Today
Christians are uniting in prayer at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day. A joint statement entitled “Prayer and Hope” was issued by evangelical leaders: Leonid Mikhovich, leader of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Belarus; Sergey Tsvor, leader of the United Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith in Belarus; and Leonid Voronenko, leader of the charismatic Religious Association of Full Gospel Communities in Belarus.
The three called on their fellow countrymen to refrain from hatred, revenge, and bitterness. After a customary exhortation to pray for those in power, their statement calls for Christians to pray for the end of “brutality, violence, and bloodshed,” and also for victims and their families.
He is King of Kings after all.
Alabama church ‘campaigns for Jesus’ with yard signs, Baptist Press
Sampey Memorial member Joyce Hubbard, along with fellow member Martha Sikes, began printing and distributing “Jesus 2020” yard signs in hopes of pointing people to Christ.
“We felt like Christians weren’t being heard or seen,” Hubbard said. “We just don’t see Jesus out there so we decided we would start a campaign for Jesus and that’s what we’ve done.”
A good analysis between groaning and grumbling.
Groaning, Grumbling, and Grace, Tony Caffey
Creation is tired of the sin, brokenness, and fallenness that man brought into the world, and it groans for restoration. It also longs for the unveiling of the sons of God (8:19). That’s one kind of groaning and the Lord doesn’t condemn it. In fact, he welcomes it. Additional groaning takes place in the souls of the sons of God who have the Holy Spirit planted inside of them, those who have “the firstfruits of the Spirit” (8:23). Why do we groan? What does the Holy Spirit inside of us long for? Actually, it’s the same thing that creation itself longs for—redemption! We groan for our new, incorruptible, resurrection bodies.
Voting Americans are split on the value of a candidate’s faith.
Church and state: How important is religion to the American voter?, YouGov
Americans remain split on whether a presidential candidate’s religious beliefs are important, according to the latest Economist/YouGov Poll.
Roughly half (48%) of Americans say a presidential candidate’s religious beliefs and practices are important when deciding whom to vote for. A few more, 52 percent, land on the other end of the spectrum.
Religion remains an important factor in the presidential race, even among those who may not necessarily be religious themselves. Our data shows nearly a quarter (23%) of Americans who say religion isn’t important to them personally still think a candidate’s religious beliefs and practices are important when casting their vote.
Very helpful ideas when preaching for a live stream.
7 tips for preaching online, Evangelical Focus Europe
Don’t look around to a non-existent congregation if you are just preaching to a camera. Only eye contact with the camera counts. And if you are preaching to a smartphone or tablet, it is better to use the rear camera (better resolution) and highlight the lens to draw your eyes there.
If you preach to the front camera then you will naturally watch the image (and therefore not be making eye contact via the camera).