Jesus’ promise is personal and global. He entrusts His people with the authority of heaven itself because He is building His Church—not as a human organization but as a living, Spirit-empowered body advancing His mission on earth.

Cristie loves God’s Word, and anyone who knows her knows how faithfully she studies it every single day. When she teaches Scripture, she brings both depth and practical application—something we all need to grow in our Christian walk. I’d love to share three meaningful messages from Cristie that I believe will encourage you, challenge you, and strengthen your faith.

Within moments of my personal conversion to follow Christ at nineteen years of age, I was immediately struck with a simple but life-changing realization: my sister was just like me—raised in a Christian home, open to the Gospel message, yet not saved.

Within moments of my personal conversion to follow Christ at nineteen years of age, I was immediately struck with a simple but life-changing realization: my sister was just like me—raised in a Christian home, open to the Gospel message, yet not saved.

American families are splintering from addiction, abuse, divorce, and absent fathers. Nearly one out of every four American children lives in a single-parent household. Our educational system—once openly welcoming prayer and Scripture—has become increasingly resistant to faith-based expression. Jerry and I raised our children in public schools at a time when we felt confident, they would be supported in values consistent with Scripture. Today, the environment our grandchildren face bears little resemblance to that reality.

This presentation became part one of a two-part illustrated sermon series. The first message is The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached from Matthew 5–7. The second is a powerful dramatization in which I quote, by memory, the Book of Philippians, dressed as the Apostle Paul, imprisoned.

Forgetting God never leaves a vacuum; it invites false gods and counterfeit faiths to fill the void. The Bible names this tragic drift with one powerful word—apostasy, meaning “a falling away.” It is a withdrawal from biblical truth, not from religious activity.

Are Mormons Christians? They are not—and the reason is simple: Mormonism adds requirements to salvation that biblical Christianity does not.

First, hear my heart: I love people involved in Scientology. We can disagree deeply and still be kind. Christians must never trade biblical truth for friendship—but neither should we abandon love when we speak truth. With that spirit, let’s look clearly at what Scientology is, how it operates, and why it is not a church in any biblical sense.

Unity School of Christianity (Unity) presents itself as “Bible-based.” Yet, its method is openly metaphysical: names, places, and events in Scripture are treated as symbols or “states of consciousness,” not literal history. This method undermines Luke’s claim to careful historical research and the verifiable accuracy of Acts.

Secular Humanism is a religion. Its own “scriptures”—The Humanist Manifesto (I & II) and A Secular Humanist Declaration—say so. And its catechism saturates culture: entertainment, public policy, and especially our schools.

Against that backdrop, consider the New Age movement. Apologists have called it a “fast-growing spiritual cancer,” not because it wears one label but because it networks many: The Age of Aquarius, New Consciousness, Cosmic Humanism, New Globalism, and more — often signaled by rainbows, pyramids, crystals, concentric circles, rays of light, and unicorns.

The heart of Jesus is moved with compassion over the multitudes enslaved by Hinduism, the oldest religion in the world.

Judaism is one of the most influential religions in history, laying the foundation for Christianity. To understand Judaism is not merely to study another faith—it is to trace the roots of God’s redemptive plan through history.

Muslims have no assurance of salvation. Devout Muslims believe firmly in heaven and hell, yet Islam offers no certainty of paradise—even for the very pious. By contrast, Scripture gives believers rock-solid assurance: “that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11–13).

What is Buddhism? It is a practice aimed at liberating the human mind from anguish. Its three vital elements are: (1) the narrative of the life of Buddha; (2) the philosophical worldview he put forward; and (3) the institution of Buddhism (Buddha’s followers).

Peter reminds believers that God’s Word is the foundation of His creative act, the guarantee of future judgment, and the truth that false teachers willingly ignore. Sadly, many reject this authority. Among the most deceptive of these modern movements is Christian Science

This presentation became part one of a two-part illustrated sermon series. The first message is The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached from Matthew 5–7. The second is a powerful dramatization in which I quote, by memory, the Book of Philippians, dressed as the Apostle Paul, imprisoned.

Picture Jesus as He delivers His Sermon on the Mount on a beautiful outdoor hillside near the Sea of Galilee. The crowd included the disciples, fishermen, farmers, the poor, the sick, and religious seekers. These were ordinary people hungry for truth and healing.

All Christians face discouragement. It can drain our energy, cloud our vision, and whisper lies that God has forgotten us. But the Word of God declares that we are in a spiritual battle, and our weapons are mighty through God.