JESUShaped 2023 Archives

For over 30 years, Heartlight has shared articles to help people live for Jesus in everyday life. While we are no longer publishing new articles, this enduring collection features relevant pieces throughout the year to encourage faith, offer biblical perspective, and speak to real-world joys and struggles.

Escaping the Monotony of Low Expectations

Phil Ware reminds us to celebrate Advent and not simply settle for Christmas, especially in a hard year like this one.

Advent is rooted in the work of God in history, through real people, to do the miraculous in the most human of things, through the birth of a child.

What is CORE: Finishing

Phil Ware brings his series on 'What is CORE!' to a close, giving us a short summary to help us remember these three CORE passages and what they teach and call on us to do.

I remain convicted that these passages give us the CORE of what we must believe and practice as Jesus' disciples.

What is Core: Worshiping

Phil Ware finishes his series on What is Core by talking about worship and the importance of meeting together in big and small groups, but also living out the life God has called us to lead, being a reflection of the righteous character and gracious compa

Why do we put so much emphasis on worship in the box and not in our everyday lives?

What is Core: Communing

Phil Ware talks about what is core to our faith and then ties it to everyday meals as well as our celebration of the Lord's Supper and the things of first importance in 1 Corinthians 15:1-7.

When we gather in Jesus' name, something transcendent happens: the Lord is present with us!

What is CORE: Training

Phil Ware continues his series on What is CORE focusing on the training -- teaching to obey -- element of the Great Commission.

Our practice of omitting from the Lord's Great Commission is more likely based on our preference for the attractional model of doing church.

What is CORE: Baptizing

Phil Ware continues his series on "What is CORE" by talking about baptism and why it is important.

God has given us a way to experience the saving work Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.

What is CORE: Going

Phil Ware continues his series on "What is CORE" by focusing on Jesus' final and intentional last command to make disciples of all nations, and emphasizes the first process of doing that: GOING!

True disciples of the Lord haven't stopped going ever since Jesus commanded it!

What IS CORE: Disciple-making

Phil Ware continues his series on "What is CORE" by focusing on Jesus' final and intentional last command to make disciples of all nations.

When I die, my prayer is that Jesus will tell me that my life has honored his final command with even more passion and purpose. How about you?

What Is Core: Believing

Phil Ware begins a series of messages on what is core, or what is at the heart of what we must believe and do to be true disciples of Jesus, today.

What is most important for us to believe and do as disciples of Jesus, today?

What Is CORE? Jesus!

Phil Ware stops at the mid-point in his series on What is CORE to review and look forward to what is ahead.

How do we know what passages of Scripture are most essential?

How We View People

Phil Ware shares a study of John 9 and reminds us how Jesus viewed people so he could share the life and light of God with them and save them.

Our approach to people must focus on helping them believe God values them and that Jesus came to serve, love, and help them find life in him