CT Daily Briefing – 02-13-2026

February 12, 2026
CT Daily Briefing

Today’s Briefing

A little pushback on John Mark Comer: Discipleship is not the gospel

Paul Marchbanks’s book review this month features the Christian aesthetic of film, a classic dystopian novel, and letters between a poet and a theologian. 

Take a trip with former president Richard Nixon to Communist China, from CT’s archives circa 1972.

Behind the Story

In honor of Valentine’s Day, theologian Dani Treweek looks at a debate on whether married or single Christians have more bandwidth for ministry. For further reading, check out some hidden gems in CT’s archives.

For more on love and theology, here’s a primer on the origins of Valentine’s Day, a look into what the Christian faith has to say about romantic love, the Bible’s descriptions of God courting creation, and a reflection on when Valentine’s Day coincides with liturgical remembrances of mortality.

For tips on marital love, check out lessons from an arranged marriage, an essay on when Valentine’s Day disappoints, and an invitation to bring romance back into marriage.

For those treading water in the dating pool, try matchmaking at church or taking inspiration from Christians finding love on social media. You can also read about how artificial intelligence is influencing the dating pool or watch a new rom-com inspired by a pastor’s book.


From Christianity Today

We are hosting a gathering for the creatives, writers, readers, entrepreneurs and builders among us. Christianity Today is delighted to announce our Mini-Summit on Creativity & Vocation coming up on February 21st in Nashville, a convening designed to explore the intersection of faith, work, and creativity.

Featuring a live recording of The Bulletin, plenty of powerful speakers and ending off with a night of arts & conversation with Inkwell, this will be a memorable time indeed. Save your spot today!


In Other News


Today in Christian History

February 13, 1826: The American Temperance Society (later renamed the American Temperance Union) is founded in Boston to promote total (but voluntary) abstinence from distilled liquor. Among the 16 founders were Protestant clergymen.


in case you missed it

This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here. People have almost given up on bridging the divides in American life. Republicans and Democrats cannot pass any bipartisan legislation or even…

The Black church and Black Christians have played an indispensable role in shaping American and church history. For hundreds of years, African American congregations have operated as hubs of spiritual…

On our way to church every weekend, my family and I pass two sets of tennis courts, one municipal and one belonging to the local university. We’ve been taking this…

Tracey and I sailed into marriage three decades ago with considerable wind at our backs. We had dated four years, joined a marriage class, worked through multiple marriage books, and…


in the magazine

Cover of the January / February 2026 of Christianity Today.

When Jesus taught, he used parables. The kingdom of God is like yeast, a net, a pearl. Then and today, to grasp wisdom and spiritual insight, we need the concrete. We need stories. In this issue of Christianity Today, we focus on testimony—the stories we tell, hear, and proclaim about God’s redemptive work in the world. Testimony is a personal application of the Good News. You’ll read Marvin Olasky’s testimony from Communism to Christ, Jen Wilkin’s call to biblical literacy, and a profile on the friendship between theologian Miroslav Volf and poet Christian Wiman. In an essay on pickleball, David Zahl reminds us that play is also a testament to God’s grace. As you read, we hope you’ll apply the truths of the gospel in your own life, church, and neighborhood. May your life be a testimony to the reality of God’s kingdom.

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