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Posts by Brett McCracken

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Brett McCracken

Brett McCracken is a writer and journalist based in Southern California. He is the senior editor for The Gospel Coalition, and author of Hipster Christianity: When Church & Cool Collide (Baker, 2010), Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism & Liberty (Baker, 2013) and his most recent book Uncomfortable (Crossway, 2017). He has written for Huffington Post, CNN.com, The Princeton Theological Review, Mediascape, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Relevant, IMAGE Journal, Converge, Mere Orthodoxy and Q Ideas.


  • Think Biblically

    The Wisdom Pyramid

    with Brett McCracken

    Brett McCracken, Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — 

    How to develop a life of wisdom in the midst of a culture that works against such a development? Gospel Coalition author and editor Brett McCracken...

  • Biola Magazine

    Studying the Spirit

    Q&A with Oscar Merlo, director of new Holy Spirit center

    Brett McCracken — 

    This fall, Biola University officially launched the Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today. A 10-year initiative...

  • Biola Magazine

    Borders and the Bible

    How can scriptural wisdom inform ongoing debates over immigration?

    Brett McCracken — 

    For Nohemi, a senior communications studies major at Biola, immigration is more than just a topic of debate. It’s real life. Nohemi’s mom was eight...

  • Biola Magazine

    ‘Weekend With the President’ Raises $4.2 Million

    Gathering breaks university’s single-day fundraising record

    Brett McCracken — 

    Two years ago Biola’s “Conviction and Courage Gala” in downtown Los Angeles set the record for the most money donated to the school at a single...

  • Biola Magazine

    Religious Liberty Preserved

    California faith-based colleges are spared, for now, from concerning legal threat

    Brett McCracken — 

    Faith-based colleges and universities in California are breathing a sigh of relief this fall after an unprecedented threat to religious liberty...

  • Biola Magazine

    Clear Eyes, Full Plate

    Laura Gurskey is graduating with lofty goals — and the packed resume to match

    Brett McCracken — 

    As a transfer student graduating in December, Laura Gurskey may end up having less time at Biola than other students have had. But she’s made the...

  • Biola Magazine

    Singing Through the Bible

    Amy Treadwell Toy (’03) writes a song every day to excite kids about memorizing Scripture

    Laurie Bullock, Brett McCracken — 

    One girl. One year. 365 original songs straight from Scripture. That’s the YouTube description of “Sing Through the Bible,” a daily video project...

  • Biola Magazine

    Christ-Centered for the Common Good

    Four Ways Christian Colleges Contribute to the Flourishing of Society

    Brett McCracken — 

    What would society look like if, in a decade or so, there were no Christian colleges and universities? Or what if the Biolas, Wheatons and Gordons...

  • Biola Magazine

    Religious Freedom Scholar Receives 2016 Colson Award

    Paul Marshall is the third recipient of Biola’s ‘Conviction and Courage’ award

    Brett McCracken — 

    On May 27, Biola University awarded its third Charles W. Colson Conviction and Courage Award to Paul Marshall, a religious freedom scholar and...

  • Biola Magazine

    One SCORR and 20 Years Ago

    For 20 years, Biola’s annual Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation has celebrated the beauty and engaged the challenges of diversity on Christian college campuses

    Brett McCracken — 

    “Evangelical Colleges’ Diversity Problem.” That was the headline of a January 2016 feature article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, which...

  • Biola Magazine

    No Fear in the ‘Force’

    Rob Bredow (’94) heads technology at Lucasfilm

    Brett McCracken — 

    With the release of The Force Awakens this past December, the building of Star Wars lands at Disney theme parks and the development of at least...

  • Biola Magazine

    Laboratory Labors

    Brett McCracken — 

    Faculty, students and young alumni are not just learning about science in the classroom. They’re doing science in the laboratory. As Biola...

  • Biola Magazine

    Becoming the Bride

    Theologians from around the world gather to discuss ‘The Future of the Church’

    Brett McCracken — 

    What will the Christian Church look like in the future? Will it become more visibly unified or more fragmented than ever? Where and in what form...

  • Biola Magazine

    The Birth of Blackstone

    New residence hall features whiteboard walls, breakfast-themed café

    Brett McCracken — 

    This fall, 318 Biola students have the privilege of being the inaugural residents of Blackstone Hall, the newly minted residence hall named after...

  • Biola Magazine

    A Soul, A Voice and A Vision

    Reflections on the theme of Biola University’s largest ever fundraising campaign:
 “A Soul of Conviction, A Voice of Courage”

    Brett McCracken — 

    Our world isn’t lacking in voices. Every day we are bombarded by a chorus of opinions, tweets, texts, ads, blogs and more. But where are the voices...

  • Biola Magazine

    Recruiting Students and Giving Back

    Miles Bocianski (’13) and Daniel Parham (’13)

    Brett McCracken, Kristina Nishi — 

    Having both been Biola students and now admissions counselors, Miles Bocianski (’13) and Daniel Parham (’13) know well the challenges of...

  • Biola Magazine

    Parents and Apologists

    John and Claudia Kalmikov

    Brett McCracken — 

    John and Claudia Kalmikov are a rarity for Biola parents: both are also Biola students. The donors and current campaign cabinet members are...

  • Biola Magazine

    Biola Booster

    Vincent Huang

    Cambria Aviles, Brett McCracken — 

    As a business leader in the growing mobile technology industry, Vincent Huang is encouraged that Biola University is taking steps to bolster its...

  • Biola Magazine

    Funders and Family

    Dave and Shirley Karnes

    Brett McCracken — 

    Dave and Shirley Karnes have been investing in Biola students for nearly three decades. To date, 23 students (and counting) have received help...

  • Biola Magazine

    Student Helping Students

    Evan Tan (’14, M.A. ’16)

    Brett McCracken, Kristina Nishi — 

    Evan Tan is a recent Biola graduate, current Talbot student and a member of the President’s Circle giving society. He knows very well the...

  • Biola Magazine

    Because Gladys Gave

    Marilyn Meyer

    Brett McCracken — 

    For Marilyn Meyer, Gladys MacKenzie (’45) was more than just a Sunday school teacher; she was the embodiment of the love of Jesus. Marilyn only...

  • Biola Magazine

    The Adventure of Giving

    Virginia Moats

    Brett McCracken — 

    In 1973 Virginia Moats was advised to purchase 200 shares of stock in a new company with an unknown product called “WD-40.” Following the death in...

  • Biola Magazine

    Success and Stewardship

    Maurice “Al” Enderle

    Brett McCracken, Kristina Nishi — 

    The world defines “success” in a lot of ways: fame, fortune, influence, power, to name a few. By every worldly standard imaginable, Maurice “Al”...

  • Biola Magazine

    A More Affordable Future

    Why lowering costs and lessening debt for students is the top priority of The Campaign for Biola University

    Brett McCracken — 

    Jose Anaya (’14) was born in Colombia and grew up in the town of Barranquilla, where his father worked for the government as a veterinarian for...

  • Biola Magazine

    Reaching the Least and the Lost

    Brett McCracken, Rachel Rohm — 

    When Jonathan Chua (’10) transferred to Biola to receive a degree in intercultural studies, his desire was to bring the gospel to people who had...