News

Go Figure

Recent stats on church life, the Bible, and spirituality.

Church Life

272 Messianic congregations in the United States, not counting small house-church fellowships.

150 Messianic congregations in 2003.

Source: ChristianSourceLists.com

Bible

68% Americans who can identify that the 3 in John 3:16 refers to the third chapter of John.

103,923 Wikipedia searches for John 3:16 the day after Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards in a playoff game.

18,327 Wikipedia searches for John 3:16 the day after Focus on the Family aired a John 3:16—focused ad during the next Broncos game.

Source: David Kinnaman, Barna Research

Spirituality

66% Churchgoing Americans who say they have “felt a real and personal connection with God” there.

44% Weekly churchgoers who say they feel that connection weekly.

18% Weekly churchgoerswho say they feel that connection monthly.

Source: Barna Research

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See our past “Go Figure” postings from February 2012, January 2012, December 2011, November 2011, October 2011, September 2011, August 2011, July 2011, June 2011, May 2011, April 2011, February 2011, January 2011, December 2010, and earlier issues.

See CT’s news section and liveblog for more news updates.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The Missing Factor in Higher Education

Perry L. Glanzer

Vicarious Humanity: By His Birth We Are Healed

Oliver D. Crisp

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

Review

Could God Have Created a World Without Suffering?

Douglas Groothuis

Michael Patton Brews a Potent Theology

Mark Moring

My Top 5 Books On Archaeology

Craig A. Evans

Review

The Heart of Christian Life: Pillars of Hospitality

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Are Secular Television Shows with Moral Messages Good for Christian Children?

Carla Barnhill, Phil Vischer, and Vincent Bacote

Why Are Our Communion Meals So Paltry?

Interview: Julie Lee

Mark Moring

The 'Above All' Commandment of the Sabbath

Kevin Emmert

Family as Calling: Finding Vocation In and Near the Home

Interview by Caryn Rivadeneira

News

Evangelical Foundations See Surge in Donations

Chris Norton

Editorial

The Supreme Court's Religious Freedom Reality Check

A Christianity Today Editorial

The Evangelistic Question That Died

News

Persecution in VBS Materials: How Much Information is Too Much for Children?

Rob Moll

News

Tsunami Aftermath: Second Chances in Japan

Alanna Foxwell-Barajas in northeast Japan

Excerpt

Your Church Is Too Safe

Sailing into the Storm: Philip Ryken and D. Michael Lindsay on the Challenges in Christian Higher Education

Interview by Timothy C. Morgan

News

Presbyterians Form a New Denomination, Court Upholds Ultrasound Law, and More

Letters to the Editor

News

City Shuts Down Church Club

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

Learning Life Lessons from Russian Babushkas

Timothy C. Morgan

Little Colleges That Could

Jocelyn Green

GCB: Desperate Christian Housewives

Mark Moring

News

Quotation Marks

News

Is Mercury Pollution's Effect on Newborns a Pro-Life Issue?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

Review

Out of the Darkness of Porn

Mark Moring

More Media

Books to Note

Two Minutes With ... Julie Lee

Mark Moring

Folkie Finds Love

Kristin Garrett

Online Poll

News

Passages

Why Last Saturday's Political Conclave of Evangelical Leaders Was Dangerous

View issue

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Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

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The Chinese Christian Behind 2,000 Hymns

X. Yang

Lü Xiaomin never received formal music training. But her worship songs have made her a household name in China’s churches.

Death by a Thousand Error Messages

Classroom tech was supposed to solve besetting education problems. The reality is frustrating for students and costly for taxpayers.

The Surprising Joys of a Gift-Free Christmas

Ahrum Yoo

Amid peak consumerism season, I prayed for ways to teach my children about selfless giving.

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