September 19, 2026

Biblical Studies, Christian Living, Culture, Faith, Fear, Hell

John Beeson

The Mark of the Beast and The Mark of God

We are all familiar with the mark of the beast. Fear and confusion surrounding it seem to swirl around it. As a child, I remember hearing a preacher declare that the birthmark on Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev’s head was the mark of the beast. We were warned that Visa cards or barcodes might be the mark. Today, rumors abound that the mark is a QR code, a vaccine, or something connected to artificial intelligence.

Such speculation dramatically misunderstands John’s explanation of the mark of the beast in the book of Revelation.

The Mark of the Beast and The Mark of God

September 17, 2026

Recommendations, Biblical Studies, Gratitude, Wisdom

John Beeson

This Week's Recommendations

The exhausting work of being your own foundation: Christopher Cook says, “And as much as I wish it were different, the Word of the Lord from Isaiah does not promise the storm will lift on your timeline; it promises a foundation that will not move while the storm within (and without) rages. The counterfeit tells you to become stable enough to stop being afraid.”
Our motive for obeying God shouldn’t be gratitude: John Piper says, “There is an impulse in the fallen human heart—all our hearts—to forget that gratitude is a spontaneous response of joy to receiving something over and above what we paid for.

September 15, 2026

Counseling, Identity, Relationships

John Beeson

How To Waste Your Counseling

Our counselor sat behind his oak desk, a wide smile peeking out from under his white mustache. “Where do I know him from?” I asked myself. His gentle eyes reassured me. Angel and I slid into the love seat facing him. It was my first counseling session. Angel’s, too. We were here for pre-marital counseling.

My anxiety grew as I placed where I knew him from. I had taken his daughter to winter formal a few years back. My heart rate rose a bit. Any chance of genuine transparency went out the window with that connection.

September 12, 2026

Christian Living, Evangelism, Identity, Leadership

John Beeson

The Millstone of Leadership

As a young man, I dreamed of being called to lead a revival for God. I was inspired by my pastor, who had led a church that had multiplied from a medium-sized congregation to a congregation of over 6,000. I read stories of heroes of the faith who had led revivals: Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, DL Moody, and Billy Graham.

I prayed God would use me to lead. I dreamed of preaching to crowds and seeing many come to faith. I had the opportunity to lead Bible studies on my high school campus and was excited to try to figure out how to lead others in studying the Bible.

September 10, 2026

Recommendations

John Beeson

This Week's Recommendations

8 experiences people don’t have anymore because of cell phones: Eden Gordon begins her list, “Boredom used to be a defining aspect of daily life. Whether you were waiting in a doctor’s office, standing in a checkout line, or simply spacing out, there was a lot more time spent simply doing nothing before there were phones waiting and ready to fill every spare moment.”
For now, for today: Andrea Sanborn asks, “What was different about Jesus’s prayer? The words were familiar, but on his lips, they lingered. Tasted sweet.”