Knowing & Doing

C.S. Lewis on Absolutes

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:35:00 +0000

A Great Awakening Stirs the Colonies

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:53:00 +0000

In 1734, Jonathan Edwards sparked a powerful religious revival in Northampton by preaching the necessity of personal conversion and justification by faith, igniting what became known as the Great Awakening across New England. Joined by dynamic evangelist George Whitefield, the movement led to tens of thousands of conversions, revitalized American Christianity, reshaped church practices, and left a lasting impact on religious liberty and the spiritual foundations of early America.

Read this article online.

Can the Gospels be Trusted?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:52:00 +0000

There is such an avalanche of evidence for the trustworthiness of the Gospels that the burden of proof is on those who maintain the inauthenticity of the Gospels. Learn more in this message from Dr. Art Lindsley.

Read this article online here.

Abiding in Christ

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:24:00 +0000

How are you experiencing your union with Christ? Are you abiding in Him? Pastor Bill Kynes says that for many believers, although their faith in Christ has resulted in a new legal condition and a new name, it has not resulted in a real relationship of love. Find out how you can truly abide in Christ through God’s Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.

Read this article online.

Postliberal Theology

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:36:16 +0000

What is postliberal theology? This “very brief presentation” by theologian Adonis Vidu attempts to answer that question in a very esoteric discussion involving linguistics, apologetics, history, doctrine, modernity, and postmodernity. It may very well leave you scratching your head—or pique your interest in some very complex theological issues.

Read this article online here.

C.S. Lewis on Grief

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:51:00 +0000

C.S. Lewis struggled with grief following the death of his wife Joy and later published a journal — A Grief Observed — of his thoughts during that time. C.S. Lewis scholar Art Lindsley describes for us the progression of Lewis’s grief and how his faith, though challenged, was gradually restored. Lindsley concludes that when we experience such pain — as we all will — a little courage, a little human sympathy, and the love of God will help.

Read this article online here.

This episode is narrated by Aimee Riegert.

Are Biblical Manuscripts Reliable?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:44:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered if Biblical manuscripts are reliable? Theologian Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing gives us some reasons why people might be skeptical and why their logic is faulty. In each instance, she provides sound arguments and examples that show how Biblical manuscripts are truly reliable and have withstood the test of time.

Read this article online.

Scrooges, Traditionalists, and Nicholases

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:50:00 +0000

There are three types of people during the Christmas season. All three view Christmas with differing feelings and thoughts. This season, as we encounter the scrooges and the traditionalists, would we truly share the gospel, crying out, “Merry Christmas! Long live the True King!”

Read this article online here.

This episode is narrated by Aimee Riegert.

Alexander on "The Use and Abuse of Books"

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:41:00 +0000

Princeton Theological Seminary librarian Archibald Alexander, who died in 1851, had a love for learning and taught students how they best could use books for information and edification. He described books as “the scholar’s armor with which he fights” and emphasized that “the Bible, the first and best of books and heaven’s richest gift to man, contains treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Read this article online here.

Jesus' Loving Presence in the World

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:59:00 +0000

Union with Christ

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 08:34:00 +0000

What does it mean to be “in Christ,” and what does this mean for our salvation? Pastor Bill Kynes explains how this “profound mystery” is essential for joining us to our Lord. Only as we are “in Christ” are we chosen, called, regenerated, justified, sanctified, redeemed, assured of the resurrection, and given every spiritual blessing.

Read this article online here.

Thanks for the Memories with Bill Hendricks

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:46:26 +0000

What will be your legacy? What will you leave behind when you’re gone? Some will leave wonderful memories and stories; some, wreckage and sorrow; others, little at all. Bill Hendricks remembers his father as a model of one who invested his time on earth with a view of his future in heaven. Will you do the same?

Read this article online here.

This episode is narrated by Aimee Riegert.

Profiles in Faith: Martin Luther

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:41:00 +0000

How much do you know about Martin Luther? Some scholars have called him a villain; others, a saint. C.S. Lewis scholar and theologian Art Lindsley gives us a brief biography of Luther, describing his upbringing, his life as a monk, his musical gifts, his marriage, his idiosyncrasies, and—most importantly—his love of Christ.

Learn more here.

The Importance of Imagination for C.S. Lewis and for Us

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:47:00 +0000

Description coming soon. . .

The Powers that Shape Us

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:36:52 +0000

What are the influences that shape our lives and either make us a man or woman of God or of little use to mankind? Pastor A.W. Tozer lists six: Our friends, the literature we read, the music we listen to, the pleasures we seek, the ambitions we hold, and the thoughts we entertain. The wise Christian will take advantage of these and others to develop a Godly character.

The Importance of Daily Scripture Reading

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:54:00 +0000

Too busy for Scripture? Drowning in daily worries? What if the very thing you’re neglecting is the one thing that could carry you through the chaos? John Chrysostom, one of the early church fathers, reminds us that Scripture is not just a book—it’s our full armor. Just as a tradesman can't work without his tools, we can’t fight life’s battles without the Word of God. It is our weapon, our shield, our lifeline. Don’t go into the day unarmed—pick up your sword and step into strength.

The Emergence of Evangelical Discipleship

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:08:00 +0000

What can we learn from the early evangelicals of the 18th century on what it means to be a true disciple? Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, and George Whitefield point out the differences between faithful followers of Jesus and those only in name. These three key leaders offer us some insights on how to truly walk with Jesus through scripture, prayer, loving our neighbors, and communion with God.

Read this article from Tom Schwanda online here.

This episode is narrated by Aimee Riegert.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:29:38 +0000

Perhaps the most prominent and current figure who guides us in the endeavor of looking to Jesus for vocational vision is N.T. Wright. His work shows us the job and calling of the Church in the world. He helps us understand Jesus’ vision and how this should transform the way we interact with creation.

Read this article online here.

Moving Beyond Forgiveness to an Abundant Life

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:18:31 +0000

We, as Christians, are invited to change and grow on this side of Heaven. Nonetheless, this journey and path is not easily taken up. As Paul says, we must press on. So, how do we know we are growing? Genuine spiritual growth is an increase in the experience of the new life of which Jesus spoke when he said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” See how you can partake of this Abundant Life.

Read this article online here.

Why Pray?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 30 May 2025 08:30:00 +0000

If God already knows what we need, why should we bother to pray? Learn more about the nature of God and prayer. Discover how you can experience God’s presence and power through prayer in Jesus’ name.

Read this article online.

Don't Leave Your Brains at the Box Office

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 16 May 2025 12:25:08 +0000

Prudence is seeing the world as it truly is. Culture, from time immemorial, often hides true reality with a mask of gratification and pleasure. The world espouses messages like, “Sworn to fun! Loyal to none!”, but this is not the truth. Being unfaithful, in the end, is a painful life. As we soak in culture, at the movie theatres and elsewhere, we must have wise brains that question the messages the world gives us by asking, “but is that actually true?”

Read this article from Professor Steve Garber online here.

Eric Liddell: Muscular Disciple and Olympic Champion

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 02 May 2025 15:33:00 +0000

Eric Liddell, rugby and track phenom, used his athletic ability as a platform for sharing the Gospel. He understood that God gave him certain abilities in order to further God’s Kingdom on earth. Eric eventually hung up his Olympic track spikes to go serve as a missionary in China. Despite persecution, moral convictions, and trials, Eric remained faithful to God and served as an example to many.

Read this article online here.

A Welcome Change in Apologetics

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:15:00 +0000

Apologetics has for a long time, been motivated either by guilt, because one has failed to give a defense or by pride, because one desires to win arguments. Nonetheless, a new and welcome change is motivating Christian Apologetics: Concern, which stems from true love for those around us.

Read this article online.

The Defiance of Grace in the Ministry of Jesus

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:57:30 +0000

The grace that comes to us in Jesus Christ is not measured. This grace refuses to allow itself to be tethered to our innate sense of fairness, reciprocity, and balancing of the scales. It is defiant.

Learn more in the audio message narrated by Aimee Riegert.

Read this article online here.

The Surprising Imagination of C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:31:08 +0000

C.S. Lewis used imaginative depiction to enable readers to see a particular thing or truth more clearly. This message explores one of his greatest powers as an author. Read the article.

An Interview with C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 09:26:00 +0000

May 7, 1963, Sherwood Wirt climbed the long wooden stairway to C.S. Lewis’s office, hoping to interview Lewis on his thoughts on the subject of writing. The interview, however, quickly morphed into a much different conversation.

Listen in as Sherwood narrates his experience or read this article online here.

Conversational Apologetics with Michael Ramsden

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:23:00 +0000

The modern notion of Apologetics is often thought of as someone bringing philosophical ideas into a battle of wits, with the only thing coming from it being murkiness. The Bible calls for all Christians to be prepared to give a defense of their faith. How can we, as ordinary lay people, best understand and apply this command?

Listen in to learn more in this message from Michael Ramsden or read this article online here.

Does a Red-Faced God Sing the Blues? Emotions, Divine Suffering, and Biblical Interpretation

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:20:00 +0000

Is being jealous – red faced – a divine perfection? How can God be a God of love if the Old Testament seems to describe Him as jealous, angry, and ruthless?

Learn more in this message by Kevin Vanhoozer narrated by Aimee Riegert. Read this article online.

William Wilberforce and His Circle of Friends

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 09:16:00 +0000

Many are aware of the accomplishments of William Wilberforce and his successful initiatives to abolish slavery and introduce institutional reforms in the United Kingdom. What is not known, however, is that his work is indebted to his closest friends, the ‘Clapham Sect,’ a group of men and women dedicated to being instruments of social and moral welfare. This underground group was highly influential in ingraining Christian principles into British Institutions and government. Learn more in this message narrated by Aimee Riegert.

Read this article online.

Time With God

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:06:00 +0000

Join J.I. Packer, in a past interview with CSLI, reflected on his daily walk with God. Packer covered his schedule, his insights, and revealed how he kept God at the forefront of all his actions during his daily walk with God.

Learn more in this audio message narrated by Aimee Riegert. Read this article online.

The Priority of Prayer

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:16:00 +0000

The Kingdom of God moves forward through Prayer. The Holy Spirit and our prayers to God contain incredible power to bring God’s will. Old Testament patriarchs, the early Church, and Jesus especially, show us and tell us how to pray. We must lean into this power. Praying takes our limited and rational vision of life, and opens our minds to God’s wonderous, glorified plan.

Read this article online here.

First Steps to Loving and Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:23:48 +0000

The Jewish people make up less than one percent of the population, yet their impact on the world and culture is undeniable. Read how Dr. Newman, a Messianic Jew, describes how the Jewish people see the world and why that is important when talking about the matters of pain, pride, pleasure, and promise.

Read this article online here.

From Politics to Pampers - A Stay at Home Mom's Story

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:29:30 +0000

Once you realize your own worth hinges on Christ and not your resumé, you are freed up to love and appreciate others — regardless of their job or standing in life. A stay-at-home mom shares lessons learned in her journey from "politics to pampers."

Read this article online here.

The Faith of Jonathan Edwards

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 08:32:00 +0000

Eighteenth century philosopher and theologian, Jonathan Edwards, speaks to us today as convincingly as several centuries ago. Learn more about the life and faith of one of America's greatest philosophers and theologians. Read the full article here.

The Faith of Francis Shaeffer

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:14:00 +0000

Francis August Schaeffer was born on January 30, 1912 in the small town of Germantown, Pennsylvania. His life, books and Switzerland-based ministry L’Abri have had immense and wide-ranging impact on this generation. Schaeffer was known not just for his academic knowledge, but also his ability to answer difficult questions with personal and applicable ‘real knowledge’. He had the keen ability to relay the truth to the most skeptical people groups. Read this article online.

C.S. Lewis on Faith and Reason

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:23:00 +0000

Rationalism often claims God cannot exist because there is no empirical evidence of God. This, however, is an incoherent argument and impossible to prove because it is a negative assertion. In this podcast, Dr. Lindsley argues that Rationalism is a limited argument. It fundamentally cannot disprove God. When doubts and attacks are prevalent, sometimes the most logical thing to do is to trust and have faith. Read this article online.

Why People Drift from the Faith

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 09:38:00 +0000

The big moment of abandoning the faith didn't occur out of thin air; there was a gradual slope toward unbelief occurring within the heart. Learn more in this episode featuring insights from Dan Osborne.

Recommended Resources:

The Danger of Drifting from the Word by John Piper (A message available from DesiringGod.org)
A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness by John Piper

How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 07:11:00 +0000

Joe Loconte reveals to us some of the ways C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien found faith in some of the most unlikely settings – the battlefields of World War I. While many people lost faith in God because of the carnage they experienced during those dark days, Lewis and Tolkien were transformed for eternal beauty. And their friendship after those days encourages all of us in profound ways. Read this article online.

A Biography of Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:09:00 +0000

C.S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity has a claim to being one of the most important religious works of the twentieth century. In this article, George Marsden discusses the origins of the book and its reception, as well as the factors that give the book its ongoing vitality. Read this article online.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's Philosophy and Influence

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 07:58:00 +0000

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a gifted nineteenth century American writer who helped launch a movement of sorts called transcendentalism, in which the individual supplanted religious traditions and institutions. David George Moore argues that while Emerson’s work isn’t well known among Americans, his influence on our lives is incalculable. In this article, he offers suggestions for how Christians can address the ongoing challenges posed by Emersonian philosophy. Read this article online.

Terrorism Through the Eyes of Faith

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:01:00 +0000

We might think that the antidote to fear is courage, since it is one of the classical cardinal virtues. But, the biblical response to fear is really hope. Learn more in this message from Dennis Hollinger. Read this article online.

Understanding Hinduism

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 07:57:00 +0000

There is no such thing as Hinduism. Hinduism is a word that the British coined as a catch-all term for the innumerable and often contradictory religions they found on the Indian subcontinent. Gerald McDermott presents a thumbnail sketch of Hinduism for Christians. Read the full article here.

Exercising Godly Ambition

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:53:00 +0000

Most Christians are taught to believe that ambition is sinful and therefore to be avoided. But what is godly ambition and how can we harness it for good? Discover principles for exercising ambition in an honorable and godly way. Read this article online.

The Bible as Nourishment for the Christian Life

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 31 May 2024 20:47:00 +0000

Christians feed on Scripture. Holy Scripture nurtures the Holy Community as food nurtures the human body. Eugene Peterson helps us understand how we can find nourishment from the Bible. Read this full article here.

Christian Faith and the Natural Sciences

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 17 May 2024 08:42:00 +0000

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship between Christianity and the natural sciences. Oxford Professor Alister McGrath illustrates how Christianity helps make sense of the world and provides a framework for both science and a spirituality of nature. Read this full article online.

Death and the Doorway to Life

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 03 May 2024 09:13:00 +0000

The modern world tends to downplay or deny the reality of death, relegating it behind closed doors or to a few lines in the back of the newspaper. Death is considered a rare stranger instead of a certain and approaching visitation. But ignoring death is short-sighted and can prevent us from living fully. Death not only filters our priorities, it also filters our passions. In this insightful message, Gary Thomas helps us understand why it is wise to remember the fragility and brevity of our own lives and recall the lives of those who have gone before us. Read this article online here.

A Welcome Change in Apologetics

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:58:35 +0000

We’re burdened for our friends who don’t know the joy of the Gospel. So how do we approach evangelism and apologetics? Randy Newman shares our need to ask God to reshape us so we truly love people and see them as “precious, eternal, valuable souls.” Furthermore, he suggests that we must adjust our approaches to sharing the Gospel according to the dramatic changes in our culture. Read this article online.

Why are Christians so Bad?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 08:02:00 +0000

Christians aren't immune to evil, but skeptics are often quick to seize on a Christian's bad behavior as reason to discount the faith. The gospel can uniquely address the skeptic’s contention – because the gospel’s response is to demonstrate that there is Someone they can trust. Read this article online.

James Houston on Prayer and Spiritual Friendship

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 08:40:00 +0000

Our desire to pray is God’s gift of love and friendship to us. Learn more about the relationship between prayer and friendship with God in this insightful message from Dr. James Houston. To read this article online, please click here.

John Stott and the Incomparable Christ

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:29:00 +0000

How can we present Jesus Christ to the world in a way that is simultaneously authentic and relevant? How can we be loyal to the authentic Jesus and simultaneously present him relevantly to our contemporaries? Read this article online.

Success and Failure with David Prior

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:33:14 +0000

Do you desire to be successful? What would that look like? In our world today there are numerous definitions of success and failure. But God’s blessing, God’s protection, God’s presence, God’s grace, God’s peace—that all adds up to being fulfilled and being complete. That is success. Anything else is, ultimately, failure. Read this article online.

Freedom from the Flesh: Hindrances to Discipleship Part 4

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 09:18:00 +0000

You can experience the freedom and fulness of life that God intended. Discover how you can be set free and empowered to live a new life—a life that transforms, blesses others, and glorifies God. To read this article online, please click here.

The Flesh: Hindrances to Discipleship (Part 3)

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:11:32 +0000

In this issue we turn our attention to our treatment of “the flesh,” the third member of what has been called “the unholy trinity.” If we don’t understand the flesh rightly, we cannot rightly understand sin and how to deal with it. This is the heritage of everyone born into the world since Adam and Eve. To read this article online, please click here.

Hindrances to Discipleship: The World

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:12:12 +0000

What does the New Testament mean by the word world? In this issue we will seek to understand the world system, its origin and nature, and how the devil works through it to enslave and destroy God’s people and thwart His kingdom. This is part two in a four-part series. To read this article online, please click here.

Hindrances to Discipleship: The Devil

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:27:00 +0000

The world, the flesh, and the devil present three major hindrances to following Jesus Christ. In part one of a four-part series we'll explore what the Bible teaches about the devil. And you'll learn how you can overcome the presence and power of evil in your life. To read this article online, please click here.

Resources:

For more information about spiritual warfare please visit Standing Strong in Spiritual Battles.

Who is God? (Part 2)

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:43:00 +0000

In this second installment of Who is God?, Tom Tarrants explores the unchanging nature of God as revealed in the Bible. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders (Crossway, 2010)

Who is God? (Part 1)

C.S. Lewis Institute — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 20:05:34 +0000

The greatest need of every true believer (and nonbeliever) today is the recovery of a right view of God. From this flows everything else. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

Science and Religion

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 07:45:00 +0000

Dr. McGrath shares ways in which the Christian faith helps us make sense of the world and how natural sciences can help our thinking about our faith. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

Science & Religion: A New Introduction by Alister McGrath (2020)

Perspectives on Death

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 08:45:00 +0000

Most of us live our daily existence in denial of the possibility of death. Yet how does an awareness of our mortality affect the way that we live? When we schedule our priorities and follow our passions without regard to eternity, our vision becomes distorted. We miss the big picture. Gary Thomas shares insights into how a Christian understanding of death can help us turn our lives the right side up. Read this article online.

Being Good at What We Do – Or, Being Good

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:07:59 +0000

In a world where most struggle for any clear moral foundation, God presents before us an opportune moment. Learn more in this episode with Dennis Hollinger narrated by Aimee Riegert. Read this article online.

Leveling the Playing Field: A Strategy for Pre-Evangelism

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 10:25:00 +0000

Randy Newman explains that before we even start some evangelistic conversations, the deck is stacked against us, as nonbelievers assume they’re morally or intellectually superior to believers. Many outside the faith see us as narrow-minded, intolerant, homophobic simpletons. He gives us some valuable techniques to level the playing field so our words are considered rather than dismissed. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

The Engaging with Series (The Good Book Company, 2014)

Work as a Holy Calling

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:56:00 +0000

Jerram Barrs challenges us to consider what it means to work as unto the Lord and to honor those who do so. Learn more about the place and value of work in a life of worship. Read this article online.

Profiles in Faith: J.R.R. Tolkien

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:59:00 +0000

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien's life and writing were deeply influenced by his religious faith. Learn more about J.R.R. Tolkien's spiritual journey, his friendships with others like C.S. Lewis, and the impact Tolkien's faith had on his creative writing. Read this article online.

The Faith of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn - Part 2

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In the second installment of this two-part series, Dr. Aikman points to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s warnings of the war between intellectual forces on one side who describe themselves as “progressive” and those on the other who are advocates of a Judeo-Christian worldview. Read more here.

The Faith of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn - Part 1

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:18:16 +0000

Like most of pre-Soviet Russia, Solzhenitsyn had been born into a Christian tradition and was baptized as a child. However, as Marxism took hold throughout the country, atheism became Aleksandr’s world view. Learn how he came to turn from atheism and fully embrace Christianity. . . Read this article online.

The Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:50:00 +0000

Composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote masterpieces that have found their way into the standard repertoires of major orchestras for decades. CSLI Senior Teaching Fellow, Randy Newman, shares how Rachmaninoff’s music can help us experience “longing” and beauty in profound ways. And he shares details about the composer’s life that may inspire you.

An Encouragement to Read (or Reread) John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:15:00 +0000

After the Bible, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is the best-selling Christian book of all time, and for centuries was widely read and highly influential in evangelical households. In recent years, however, this book has been read by fewer people, in part due to its now archaic language. In this article, Edward Glancy recommends this classic book and passes on a number of tips for reading it today. Learn more in this special Knowing & Doing Podcast. To read this article online, please click here.

Profile in Faith: The Martyrdom of Perpetua

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:14:00 +0000

We have little idea what brought Perpetua to faith in Christ, or how long she had been a Christian, but thanks to her diary, and that of another prisoner, we have some idea of her last days—an ordeal that so impressed the famous Augustine that he preached four sermons about her death. Learn more in this special Knowing & Doing Podcast. To read this article online, please click here.

Profile in Faith: Victor Raymond Edman

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:37:00 +0000

V. Raymond Edman was a pastor, missionary, professor, and author who served as the fourth President of Wheaton College. In this episode we explore the journey of V. Raymond and the nature of the exchanged life. We'll see that the exchanged life is the result of the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ made real and rewarding by the Holy Spirit. To read this profile of faith, please click here.

Credibility of Christian Life in Contemporary Narcissistic Society - Part 2

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:03:00 +0000

James M. Houston concludes his two-part series by sharing that Narcissism is globally reflective of deep-rooted fallacies about the human identity. Since it is expressive of ‘original sin’, it seems too inherent to expect a resolution. Read this full article online.

Credibility of Christian Life in Contemporary Narcissistic Society - Part I

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 19 May 2023 16:29:11 +0000

James M. Houston explores Narcissism in part 1 of a two-part series. He discusses how theology can be taught as an educational program like any other topic, without directly speaking to our way of life. This heightens our need to relate the gospel, not just to “church” or “the academy,” but to how we identify ourselves and how we actually live daily. To read this article online, please click here.

The Life and Faith of Corrie ten Boom

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 05 May 2023 08:13:00 +0000

Hear the remarkable story of servanthood and love as we follow Pamela Rose Moore’s journey as she reflects on the Dutch missionary evangelist, Cornelia ten Boom known as “Corrie.” Read this article online.

A Biblical View of Vocation

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:26:00 +0000

Mark Talbot discusses the importance of a biblical view of vocation that we find in the book of Genesis. He helps us to “really understand the gospel” and be “what God means you to be”. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

What is Vocation? by Stephen J. Nichols
God At Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Edward Veith Jr.

The Gift of Music

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 08:43:00 +0000

Music is a great gift, with the power to take us to another world. Though music can move us so much, it makes a poor god! In this article, Dr. Newman expounds on both the common grace and the common ground that can be found through the gift of music. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

The Gift of Music: Great Composers and Their Influence by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson.

"I have found my musical soul again ... this time in the preludes of Chopin... Aren’t they wonderful? ... they are so passionate, so hopeless, I could almost cry over them; they are unbearable. I will find out the numbers of the ones I mean and we will have a feast next holidays."
- C.S. Lewis (in a letter to his friend Arthur Greeves)

How Can I Intelligently Discuss My Faith with Others?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:57:11 +0000

Learn how you can share your faith with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and more. Communicate winsomely and engage in healthy conversations with loved ones about issues that truly matter. In this message Dr. Joel Woodruff, President of the C.S. Lewis Institute, shares practical insights and lessons for Conversational Apologetics.

What is True Practical Holiness?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:54:00 +0000

In this excerpt from J.C. Ryle’s classic book Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, Ryle presents twelve points to create a picture of practical holiness. Read this article here.

Recommended Resources:

Holiness (Abridged): Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots (Moody Classics) by J.C. Ryle

How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:04:00 +0000

Pastor Bill Kynes explores the burning question - How can a loving God send people to hell?

This message is adapted from a chapter in Bill’s book Seven Pressing Questions: Addressing Critical Challenges to Christian Faith (Minneapolis: NextStep Resources, 2015). Read the article here.

Jonathan Edward's The Religious Affections: How Sweet it Is!

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 20:00:00 +0000

In a culture where Christians are affected by fragmentation and compartmentalization, Randy Newman argues that getting “back to the Bible” means pursuing a holistic vision for what it means to be human and what that looks like in every way. Then, we will love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. To help us do this, he recommends reading Jonathan Edwards’s classic The Religious Affections (1746). Edwards wanted his hearers and readers to know that just having an opinion about God or believing the right propositions about God doesn’t make one a Christian. Saving faith must be felt as well as understood.

Learn more in this episode of the Knowing and Doing Podcast. To read this article online, please click here.

Great Books as Great Bridges to Great Conversations

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 09:52:00 +0000

Jim Phillips discusses studying classic Western literature, and how knowledge of the classics can open up opportunities for gospel discussions.

Recommended Resources:

A Christian Guide to the Classics by Leland Ryken
The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World by R.C. Sproul

Fasting and the Christian Life

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Tom Tarrants observes that judging from recent research and anecdotal evidence, it appears that very few professing Christians in America think fasting has a place in the Christian Life. He observes, however, that from the earliest days of the church, fasting has been recognized as an important way to draw near to God, deepen one's relationship with Him, and seek His help in times of special need. Tarrants explains that if you desire a deeper, more intimate and fruitful relationship with God, or if you need His help in a time of real need, fasting is an important means of grace to practice. Discover helpful and practical guidance to experience God's blessing through fasting. Listen in to this podcast or download the original article.

Recommended Resources:

God's Chosen Fast: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Fasting by Arthur Wallis (2016)
A Hunger for God by John Piper (2013)

Engaging Conversation in an Age of Distraction

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 09:05:00 +0000

If we hope to engage in conversation about weighty topics, we need to have some level of competence in listening, asking good questions, and pursuing rich conversation. Read the full article here.

Profile in Faith: Francis of Assisi

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:52:00 +0000

It is difficult to think clearly about Francis of Assisi. The first thing that comes to mind is the gentle saint who preached to birds, tamed wolves, and padded about in flower-filled fields basking in the love of God. But it’s also difficult to imagine how such a benign figure could turn thirteenth-century Europe upside down. Read this article online.

Profile in Faith: Major Warren Hamilton Lewis

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 09:09:00 +0000

Major Warren Hamilton Lewis was a kind-hearted and genuinely humble man, who spent most of his years living a quiet and retiring life. Learn more about his life in this audio production. Click here to read this full article.

Profile in Faith: Martyn Lloyd-Jones

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:36:00 +0000

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) is called by some the greatest preacher of the last century. He had an impact on many leaders of this generation. Learn more about his life and legacy in this audio production. Click here to read this full article.

The Image of God in Light of Those with Severe Cognitive Disabilities

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 07:59:00 +0000

In 2002, Hammond’s youngest daughter Rebecca was born with severe cognitive disability. This created a crisis in the author’s faith which led him to the Scriptures to reconsider what it means for a human being to be made in the image of God. In this article, Hammond explains what he discovered and what it means for persons like his daughter and all human beings to be made in the image of God. He also discusses how individuals and churches can welcome families with a member who has severe cognitive disabilities. Read the full article here.

Recommended Reading:

It Has Not Yet Appeared What We Shall Be: A Reconsideration of the Imago Dei in Light of Those with Severe Cognitive Disabilities by George C. Hammond. P&R Publishing | Amazon

Putting Together the Pieces of the Evangelism Puzzle

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:06:00 +0000

According to Randy Newman, evangelism could be viewed as slightly less difficult if we break it down into component parts. In this article, Newman breaks evangelism down to a few component skills: presenting a concise summary of the gospel, sharing your personal testimony, answering apologetic questions, asking stimulating questions and offering invitations. Read the full article here.

Five Ways to Prove the Existence of God

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 08:15:00 +0000

Does God exist? How can we know?

Humankind has wrestled with these questions for centuries. The influential philosopher Thomas Aquinas argued that the existence of God can be proved in five ways. Learn more in this recording of a classic message from one of the history's great thinkers. Aquinas helps us to see that God is the source of both the light of natural reason and the light of faith

To read this article in the Knowing and Doing magazine, please click here.

Joe Kohm: The Wisdom of Jane Eyre

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Charlotte Brontë’s mid-nineteenth century novel Jane Eyre offers valuable life lessons for modern readers. The daughter of a clergyman, Brontë’s Christian faith influenced her writing, and the story of Jane Eyre offers wisdom on dignity, love, self-denial, and dealing with hardship and suffering.

To read this article in the Knowing and Doing magazine, please click here.

Recommend Resource:

A Christian Guide to the Classics by Leland Ryken

The Good Serves the Better and Both the Best - Part 3

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 08:40:00 +0000

In this final installment of the series, Michael Ward challenges us to reach out with the gospel by doing more than just promoting ideas or stating propositions. We need to engage the imaginations and affections of those we want to reach. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

The Cambridge Companion to C. S. Lewis (Cambridge Companions to Religion), edited by Robert MacSwain and Michael Ward (Cambridge University Press, 2010)

The Good Serves the Better and Both the Best - Part 2

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 08:39:00 +0000

In Part 2 of this episode, Michael Ward continues his examination of some of the groundwork to the thinking of C.S. Lewis that enabled him to become so effective an apologist. Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

The Romantic Rationalist: God, Life and Imagination in the Work of C.S. Lewis, edited by John Piper and David Mathis (Crossway, 2014)

The Good Serves the Better and Both the Best - Part 1

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 08:51:00 +0000

According to Michael Ward, C.S. Lewis is probably the most influential practitioner of Christian apologetics over the last hundred years. In this article, he looks at the Lewis of the 1930s, prior to the time he wrote his most influential works, in order to examine some of the groundwork to his thinking that enabled him to become so effective an apologist. . .Read the full article.

Recommended Reading:

The Narnia Code: C. S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens by Michael Ward

Suggestions for Spending Daily Time with God

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 08:42:00 +0000

Tom Tarrants observes that God desires an intimate, personal relationship with His children and calls us to know, love and serve Him and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As we do so, we will experience joy and delight. One of the means by which we can grow closer to God is by setting aside time each day to quietly read and reflect on God’s Word, lift our prayers to Him, and give thanks and praise to Him for who He is and for His goodness to us. In this article, Tarrants offers helpful suggestions that will aid you in developing your daily time with God and growing to know Him better and love Him more. Read this article online.

Recommended Resource:

Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed by Donald S. Whitney

Heroics of Weakness

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 08:45:00 +0000

Aaron Welty lives an active life with cerebral palsy. While he has prayed for healing, he states that God has provided an unexpected prescription, showing that perseverance is the unexpected — and greater — miracle. In this article, Welty observes that truthfully we’re all weak in ways visible and invisible. He argues, however, that weakness can unexpectedly draw others toward a deeper understanding of who God is — and who we are as His creation — if we embrace it. Read this article online.

Recommended Resources

When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada & Steve Tada

The Glamour of Atheism

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:01:00 +0000

What makes atheism so appealing? Author Cameron McAllister makes the case that overlooking atheism’s appeal constitutes a serious strategic mistake for those of us who want to discuss the gospel with skeptics.

Read this article on the C.S. Lewis Institute website.

C.S. Lewis and the New Atheists

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 08:50:00 +0000

Andy Bannister argues that in considering how to deal with what has been termed the “New Atheism,” we can learn much from looking at C.S. Lewis’s atheism in his early life, “and his journey from it to Christ, as he engaged with the very kinds of arguments that the New Atheists are recycling today.” To read this full article, click here.

Recommended Reading:

Peter S. Williams, C.S. Lewis vs. The New Atheists (Paternoster, 2013)

Modern Mythology Matters

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 09:42:00 +0000

Since the advent of Superman: The Movie in 1978, ushering in the modern era of superhero cinema, theater audiences have enjoyed blockbuster films focused on comic book characters. In this episode, Congressman Aaron Welty explores the modern mythology of comic book heroes and how superhero stories can be a doorway to deeper theological truth.

Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

Epic by John Eldredge. Discover the story that God is telling.

Spiritual Disciplines

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 20 May 2022 12:29:00 +0000

D.A. Carson observes that in common usage, the words “spiritual” and “spirituality” have meanings ranging outside the sphere of biblical usage, and likewise the term “spiritual disciplines” has extended itself into arenas that are bound to make those who love the gospel more than a little nervous. In this episode, Carson considers: How shall we evaluate the popular approach to spiritual disciplines? How should Christians think of spiritual disciplines and their connection with spirituality as defined by Scripture? Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

D.A. Carson, For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God's Word, Volume 1. Christian Book | Amazon

Biblical Foundations for Growing in Intimacy with God

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 06 May 2022 12:29:00 +0000

Tom Schwanda helps us explore the Biblical foundations for spiritual growth. This is the first of a three part series that reflects deeply on why we need intimacy with Christ, how scripture sets the platform for it, and then offers suggestions for pursuing that noble goal. To read the full article for this podcast, please click here.

Recommended Reading:

God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God’s Love as the Gift of Himself by John Piper (Crossway, 2005)

Crossway: https://www.crossway.org/books/god-is-the-gospel-tpb-1/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/God-Gospel-Meditations-Gods-Himself/dp/1433520494

Persecution and Suffering

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:26:00 +0000

Looking at the process of discipleship from the opposite side of most discussions, Tom Tarrants raises the important, albeit disturbing, topic of persecution for the sake of the gospel. Jesus warned many times that his disciples would face specific trials that come from following him. This article helps us prepare for those inevitable trials. Click here to read the full article.

"For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

(1 Pet. 2:20–21)

Recommended Reading:

Gregory C. Cochran, Christians in the Crosshairs: Persecution in the Bible and Around the World Today

Knowing God with Head and Heart: The Dynamics of Christian Experience

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 08:55:00 +0000

Tom Schwanda completes his three part series on “Growing in Intimacy with God” by digging into the role that experience plays in that process. The tension between knowing and doing, sometimes polarized to unhealthy extremes, is examined with an appreciation for both head and heart, doctrine and experience, thought and emotion.

Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

Stephen J. Nichols, Jonathan Edwards: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Edwards-Guided-Tour-Thought/dp/0875521940

The Transformation of our Heart's Desires

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 04:33:00 +0000

In this episode Tom Tarrants considers the question, “How do we navigate around the seductions of this fallen world and faithfully follow Jesus in daily life?” He argues that the key is in and with our heart’s desires.

Recommended Reading

Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification by Sinclair B. Ferguson (Banner of Truth, 2016)

Purchase online from Banner of Truth or Amazon.

Challenging the Gospel of Efficiency

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 05:41:00 +0000

Ruth Lovejoy, a Fellow in our C. S. Lewis Institute Fellows program, shares how seeing the gospel and the goodness of God more worshipfully can set us free from our love for and idolatry of efficiency. With one eye on the scripture’s story about Mary and Martha and another eye on her to-do list, Ruth helps liberate us from the tyranny of the urgent.

Recommended Reading:

Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World (Thomas Nelson, Revised, Updated edition, 2017). Order on ChristianBook.com | Amazon

Learn more about the Fellows Program.

Growing in Prayer Part 2: Learning to Pray to Your Father

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 05:34:00 +0000

Jesus’ disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In this episode, Pastor Bill Kynes takes us to the heart of Jesus' response and helps us learn how to pray to the Father.

To read this article on Growing in Prayer, please click here.

Recommended Reading:

Tim Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (Penguin Books, 2016)

Growing in Prayer Part 1: Hindrances

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 05:48:00 +0000

A life of prayer is something to which we are all called and to which we should all aspire. Dr. Bill Kynes discusses what it would mean for us to devote ourselves to prayer, to ‘pray continually’ as instructed by the Apostle Paul.

Recommended Reading:

Kevin DeYoung, Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem (Crossway, 2013)

Purchase your copy at: https://www.crossway.org/books/crazy-busy-tpb/

Mark Talbot: The Importance of Calling

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 04:18:00 +0000

In this two-part series addressing vocation and calling, Mark Talbot discusses the importance of a biblical view of calling and the value of spending time each day in God’s written word.

Read this article online by clicking here.

Recommended Reading:

Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life (Thomas Nelson, 2003)

Tom Tarrants: Discovering God's Purpose for Your Life

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 06:46:00 +0000

Are you confident that you know and are fulfilling God’s purpose for your life? Tom Tarrants observes that God’s purpose for our life has two major aspects: His purpose in the world to come, and His purpose in the present world. These are intricately intertwined, and it is important to approach our need for guidance in the pressing affairs of the present world, which seem so urgent, in the context of God’s larger, eternal purpose. Once we situate ourselves in this framework, we can more readily discern and embrace God’s particular plans in the unique circumstances of our lives. . . Read this article online.

Recommended Reading:

Discovering God's Will by Sinclair Ferguson (Banner of Truth, 2013)

Discovering God’s Will draws out fundamental principles by which God guides us, applies them to practical situations like vocation and marriage, and underlines many important biblical counsels. It shows that the guidance God gives comes primarily through knowing, loving and obeying him.

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper (Crossway, 2003)

In this best-selling book, John Piper makes a passionate plea to the next generation to avoid the dangers of a wasted life, calling us to take risks and make sacrifices that matter for eternity—with a single, soul-satisfying passion for the glory of God that seeks to make much of him in every sphere of our lives.

Bearing the Weight of Glory

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 04:22:00 +0000

What is it that motivated C.S. Lewis, a comfortable academic with more than enough to do, to direct so much of his time writing and speaking towards the conversion of the unbelieving of the world? What made him sacrifice not only the regard of many of his colleagues but his own academic advancement to defend the faith? . . .

Learn more in this episode of Knowing & Doing featuring the writing of Christopher Mitchell, PhD., Director of the Marion E. Wade Center and Assistant Professor of Theological Studies at Wheaton College.

For the full article from Professor Mitchell, please click here.

Maturity Can be Measured

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:06:00 +0000

The biblical writers frequently draw parallels between physical and spiritual life, and in many cases the parallels are close. The physical maturity of a child can be measured with the aid of a tape measure and scales; the child’s intellectual development can be gauged by examinations and tests. Likewise our own growth in maturity can be measured. J. Oswald Sanders shows us how Maturity Can Be Measured.

To read the full article, please click here.

A Thumbnail Sketch of Islam of Christians

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 06:32:00 +0000

Dr. Gerald McDermott gives us a thorough and very helpful overview of Islam, the second biggest religion in the world. Read the full article from the CS Lewis Institute here.

Recommended Reading:

Nabeel Qureshi, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity (Zondervan, 2014). Purchase on Amazon.

A Thumbnail Sketch of Buddhism for Christians

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 02:19:00 +0000

Dr. Gerald R. McDermott offers an insightful overview of the history, beliefs, and various schools of Buddhism. He helps Christian better understand their Buddhist neighbors and summarizes key similarities and differences between Buddhism and Christianity.

Read the full article here.

Recommended Reading:

Tangible: Making God Known Through Deeds of Mercy and Words of Truth by Chris Sicks. NavPress, 2013.

In Tangible, author and pastor Chris Sicks speaks from his heart and his years of reaching out to others. Through practical resoures, biblical examples, and vignettes about real people, this book will equip you to introduce hurting people to God through intentional deeds of kindness. When you enter the world of the suffering with real help, you will reflect the love of Christ--the most tangible proof of God's existence. Purchase your copy here.

From Narnia to the Gospel

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 05:12:00 +0000

Turning Conversations about C.S. Lewis to the Topic He Loved Most

If you’ve ever told someone that you’ve read something by C.S. Lewis or like his writing or have seen one of the Narnia movies, you may have found that many people have a positive view of him. In this article, Randy Newman identifies ways we can transition conversations about C.S. Lewis to conversations about Jesus Christ.

Read the full article here.

Recommended Reading:

Joe Rigney - Live Like A Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis's Chronicles.

Amazon | Desiring God Ministries

The Joy of Generosity

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

We live in a culture that would have us believe that the way to happiness is to gain more—more money, more things, more pleasure. In this excerpt from his book Abundant: Experiencing the Incredible Journey of Generosity, Todd Harper explores what the Bible has to say about money, and how to experience the abundance God wants for us.

The Christian Story and our Longing for Relationship

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 05:28:00 +0000

According to Gregory Ganssle, the Christian story makes sense of our deepest longings. That is, the story that Christianity sets forth fits well with the things we value most and with the kinds of people we want to be. In this article, he develops one aspect of this fittingness, the centrality of relationships to our well-being. . . Read the full article.

Recommended Reading:

Gregory E. Ganssle, Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations (IVP Academic, 2017).

InterVarsity Press | Amazon | Christian Book Distributers

The Remarkable Dorothy L. Sayers

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 05:02:00 +0000

Dorothy L. Sayers, author of sixteen novels, ten plays, six translations, and twenty-four works of non-fiction, was an accomplished writer in multiple genres. In this article, Lindsey Scholl notes that Sayers had a hard-hitting, humorous, competent style, and argues that reading her would benefit many Christians today, particularly those inclined to use their faith as a cover for sloppy thinking. Scholl introduces readers to the body of Sayers’ work, and also to her colorful, confrontational personality.

Read the full article from Lindsay Scholl.

Recommended Reading:

Barbara Reynolds, Dorothy L. Sayers: Her Life and Soul (St. Martin’s Press, 1997)

Christian Book Distributors | Amazon

Greatness in God's Kingdom

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 04:58:00 +0000

In this episode, Tom Tarrants presents a case study, from the Bible, of a group of ambitious men who sought human greatness long ago and how they discovered kingdom greatness. According to Tarrants, their experience has lessons for us today.

Read the full article here.

Recommended Reading:

Jerry Bridges, The Blessing of Humility (NavPress, 2016). Click here to order on Christian Book Distributors or Amazon.

Art Lindsley: Character, Part 2

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 06:04:00 +0000

What Is Character?
Character assumes that our actions are not isolated from each other. Character is a pattern of choices flowing out of a person—a pattern of virtues or vices.

In Part 2 of “Character” Dr. Lindsley explores how to cultivate character.

Art Lindsley: Character, Part 1

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 05:48:00 +0000

It is wise, before entering into a long-term relationship, to consider the other person’s character. This is especially true in friendship, marriage, business partnership, etc. Love in a relationship is only safe when there is character present.

Art Lindsley explores the ongoing crisis of character, the importance of character, and the way of character. He helps us find a solid foundation for character rooted in the love of God.

Show Notes

To read the full article: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Character_FullArticle

Is Spiritual Transformation Really Possible?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 05:14:00 +0000

Tom Tarrants shares his dramatic story of coming to saving faith out of a life of prejudice, hatred, and self-righteousness. In fact, those adjectives don’t paint the picture as bad as it really was! Tom’s story is inspiring as well as challenging. And it illustrates just how powerful and transformational the gospel can be.

Show Notes:

Full Article:
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Is_Spiritual_Transformation_Really_Possible

Thomas A. Tarrants, Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love: How a Violent Klansman Became a Champion of Racial Reconciliation (Thomas Nelson, 2019)

Christian Book Distributers:
https://www.christianbook.com/consumed-redeemed-violent-klansman-champion-reconciliation/thomas-tarrants/9781400215324/pd/215324?event=ESRCG

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Consumed-Hate-Redeemed-Love-Reconciliation/dp/1400215323

Sexuality as an Apologetic by Lynne Marie Kohm

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 05:37:00 +0000

Lynne Kohm asks, “How does your sexuality affect your witness as a Christian?” In this article, she argues that living and communicating a genuinely biblical view of sexuality is a most powerful apologetic today.

Show Notes:

To read the article: please visit:

https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Sexuality_as_an_Apologetic

Todd A. Wilson, Mere Sexuality: Rediscovering the Christian Vision of Sexuality (Zondervan, 2017)

Order Online at Zondervan: https://zondervanacademic.com/products/mere-sexuality

Christian Book Distributers: https://www.christianbook.com/mere-sexuality-rediscovering-the-christian-vision/todd-wilson/9780310535355/pd/535355?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=academic-0-20%7C535355&p=1179710&dv=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_qSS-Mje8QIVxP_jBx3ZEgavEAQYASABEgJqAvD_BwE

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Sexuality-Rediscovering-Christian-Vision/dp/0310535352

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Career Choices

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000

According to William Fullilove, one of the joys of the past twenty years has been seeing a renewed emphasis on the doctrine of vocation in many Protestant churches—the understanding that God is pleased when each man and woman pursues his or her calling, whether that is to religious or “secular” work. He argues, however, that this has led to some unintended consequences. In this article, Fullilove considers Joseph’s story in Genesis 37-50, which he argues is a useful corrective.

Show Notes:

The Gospel at Work: How the Gospel Gives New Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Giblert.

Christianbook: https://www.christianbook.com/gospel-working-gives-purpose-meaning-ebook/sebastian-traeger/9780310513988/pd/42071EB

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Work-Gives-Purpose-Meaning/dp/0310562074/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Beast or Masterpiece: What Does It Mean to Be Human?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 06:32:00 +0000

Andy Bannister challenges the prevailing naturalistic worldview around us that insists that people are merely animals. The wide gap between our Biblical perspective – that people are unique, eternally valuable, and created in the image of God – and the dehumanizing trends in our world today are shown to be as dramatic as can be.

Show Notes:

Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God by John F. Kilner

Eerdmans: https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6764/dignity-and-destiny.aspx

Christian Book Distributers: https://www.christianbook.com/dignity-destiny-humanity-the-image-god/john-kilner/9780802867643/pd/867643?product_redirect=1&Ntt=Dignity%20and%20Destiny:%20Humanity%20in%20the%20Image%20of%20God%20(Eerdmans,%202015)&item_code=&ps_exit=RETURN|legacy&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCG

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Destiny-Humanity-Image-God/dp/0802867642

Thoughts on Why People Drift from the Faith

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Dan Osborn dares to wonder why some prominent Christians don’t persevere. As painful as the topic is, he rightly warns us not to ignore it. He also shares biblical insights as to how we can avoid the same tragic mistakes.

Surprised by God: Reaching the Resistant

C.S. Lewis Institute — Thu, 20 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Jana Harmon interviewed fifty former atheists who had come to saving faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. She tells us what she learned in the process, both from what her conversation partners said and how they told their remarkable stories.

Full Article URL: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Surprised_by_God_Reaching_the_Resistant

The Importance of Childlike Faith in the Workplace by Chris Morris

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 07 May 2021 15:35:00 +0000

Childlike faith is relevant not only to mature believers in their walk with the Lord, but also in the workplace, especially in terms of how we lead, interact with others, and make decisions.

Show Notes:

To read the full article https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/The_Importance_of_Childlike_Faith_in_the_Workplace

How to Read the Bible Part 4: How Is the Bible Useful?

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 06:17:00 +0000

In this last of his series of four articles written to help people read God’s Word with profit, Bill Kynes considers the questions: What can we expect the Bible to do for us? What is it for? He explains that the end or goal of the wisdom the Bible gives us is our “salvation” and offers practical advice for how to read the Bible with this in mind.

READ: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/How_to_Read_the_Bible_Part_4_How_is_the_Bible_Useful

Show Notes:

Recommended Reading:
Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks, Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible (

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Book-Science-Reading-Bible/dp/0802408230

Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Zondervan Academic, Fourth edition, 2014)

https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Bible-All-Worth/dp/0310517826/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

How to Read the Bible Part 3: The Bible's Center is Jesus Christ

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 06:34:00 +0000

Bill Kynes continues his series on how to read the Bible by zeroing in on the task of interpretation. He rightly reminds us that Jesus is the center of all of Scripture and any effort to interpret a part of the Bible without remembering that bigger picture is doomed to failure.

How to Read the Bible Part 2: The Science and Art of Interpretation

C.S. Lewis Institute — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:28:00 +0000

So you want to read the Bible, but you’re not sure how to do it well. What does it really mean? How is the Bible understood?” As Bill Kynes addresses these questions in this article, he emphasizes that “[t]o read the Bible rightly, one must submit to the Master, who alone holds the key to meaning. Jesus Christ and His gospel must guide our understanding of the Bible, even as our reading of the Bible will refine our understanding of Jesus and His work.

To read the full article go to https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/How_to_Read_the_Bible_Part2

How to Read the Bible Part 1

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:46:00 +0000

Bill Kynes begins a four part series that considers how to read, study, and meditate on the Bible. He begins with a reminder that the Bible’s overall storyline must be the context in which we examine any specific passage.

Show Notes:

To read the full article click here: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/How_to_Read_the_Bible_Part1

A Multifaceted Gospel for Multifaceted People

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Randy Newman shares an excerpt from his recent book Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism that emphasizes the many ways Scripture talks about the Gospel. It’s not just about forgiveness (although that certainly is central and non-negotiable).

Show Notes:

To read the article: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/A_Multifaceted_Gospel_for_Multifaceted_People

Lewis on Emotion

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0000

In this article, Corey Latta addresses how C.S. Lewis wrote about emotion, and shares about what Lewis’s books have meant to him in his life.

Augustine on Heaven and Rewards by Kevin Offner

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Two themes that surface in Augustine’s sermons that may be helpful for our discipleship: understanding (1) salvation as primarily a process, a pilgrimage that is completed only in the future at our final destination, heaven, and (2) future rewards as a motivating factor for present godliness.

Show notes: To read the article go to https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Augustine_on_Heaven_and_Rewards_page1

Knowing God Personally

C.S. Lewis Institute — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 06:00:00 +0000

The metaphor of birth provides a helpful way of understanding fuller implications of what it means to know God and to grow in that relationship. Just as a human being is physically born into the world and moves through a developmental cycle from infant to child to adolescent to adult, so a child of God is born spiritually and is called to move through a similar developmental cycle.

To read the full article https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Knowing_God_Personally_page1

C.S. Lewis on Heaven and Hell by Stephen Eyre

C.S. Lewis Institute — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Lewis believed that a vigorous supernaturalism was essential to understanding Christianity. Central to Lewis’s supernaturalism was an unapologetic belief in heaven and hell. In this article, Eyre discusses heaven and hell in the writings of C.S Lewis.

Show notes:

For a printed copy of this article go to https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/CS_Lewis_on_Heaven_and_Hell_FullArticle

Recommended Reading:
Wayne Martindale, Beyond the Shadowlands: C.S. Lewis on Heaven and Hell (Crossway, 2005)

https://www.christianbook.com/beyond-shadowlands-lewis-heaven-hell-ebook/wayne-martindale/9781433517099/pd/7278EB?event=ESRCG#CBD-PD-Publisher-Description