Charred Wooden Beams Unearthed From First Temple Destruction July 20: Archaeologists in Jerusalem have uncovered massive charred wooden beams from the Babylonian destruction of the city and the First Temple in 586 BC. The beams were likely part of a roofed inner courtyard and were preserved by melted plaster that sealed them beneath the collapse, offering a striking physical witness to the destruction. Researchers say the growth rings preserved in the wood could allow much more precise dating than usual. (Jerusalem Post)

Pastors Debate Where to Draw the Line on Using AI in Sermon Prep July 19: More pastors are using AI to help with sermon preparation, especially for brainstorming, research, outlines, wording, illustrations, prayers, and teaching materials. Some say it saves several hours a week and frees them for hospital visits, counseling, and other pastoral care. At the same time, many clergy and scholars are uneasy, arguing that preaching is a deeply human and spiritual act that AI cannot truly share. (Wall Street Journal)

Bible in a Year Podcast for Catholic Kids Is Coming in 2027 July 19: A children’s version of the popular Bible in a Year podcast is set to launch on January 1, 2027 for ages 7–12. Hosted by Fr. Josh Johnson, it will feature 365 daily episodes in both video and audio formats, with Scripture readings, kid-friendly reflections, prayer, and answers to common Bible questions from children. The program is designed to help Catholic families, classrooms, and churches walk through the story of salvation together. (Aleteia)

Archaeologists Uncover 2,600-Year-Old Stele of Biblical Assyrian King July 18: Archaeologists in Nineveh, Iraq have uncovered a rare 2,600-year-old stele from the reign of Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (Ezra 4:10). The 2 meters high by 1.5 meters wide stone fragment features a large relief of Ashurbanipal on the front and two smaller reliefs plus cuneiform inscriptions on the back. The inscriptions, now being studied, likely record the king’s architectural works and achievements in Nineveh and across the Assyrian Empire. (Jerusalem Post)

African Churches Help Rural Communities See and Read Scripture Again July 18: Church networks in Uganda, Zambia, and Malawi are partnering with VisionSpring to train pastors and lay leaders to conduct vision screenings and provide low-cost reading glasses. Leaders say the effort is helping people read Scripture and work more effectively, while showing churches how to meet practical community needs alongside spiritual ones, echoing Jesus’ restoration of sight to the blind (Mark 10:46–52). (Christian Today)

Americans’ Confidence in the Church Near All-Time Low July 17: Gallup’s latest tracking poll says confidence in the church or organized religion has fallen back to 33% in 2026, down from 36% in 2025 and only two points above the all-time low. Gallup began tracking this in 1973, and confidence stood at 68% in 1975. The last time at least 60% of Americans expressed high confidence was 2001, and the last time a majority did so was 2009 at 52%. (Lifeway Research)

Worship and Prayer Can Measurably Reshape Your Brain July 16: Drawing on neuroimaging, biochemical research, and clinical data, a recent study says sustained prayer and worship reduce activity in the amygdala and calm the hypothalamus, with reported decreases in heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, inflammatory markers, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Daily prayer of as little as 12 minutes strengthened empathy, emotional regulation, moral reasoning, self-control, and decision-making. (RELEVANT)

After Pastor Ezra Jin’s Release, 8 Zion Church Leaders Remain in Prison July 16: Eight of the 30 Zion Church leaders who were detained in China’s October 2025 crackdown remain in prison, even after senior pastor Jin “Ezra” Mingri was released on July 3 and flown to Los Angeles. While their spouses plead for their release, they face charges including fraud and illegal business operations. Zion grew from fewer than 20 people in 2007 to about 1,500 before its 2018 shutdown, then expanded online during COVID to thousands. (Christianity Today)

Early Christians Met in Homes That Still Contained Pagan Decorations July 15: Archaeological finds in Ephesus suggest early Christian house churches often retained many pagan elements. Wall niches used as household shrines appeared in about 35–50% of preserved ground-floor rooms and held statuettes, reliefs, lamps, altars, and incense burners. The discovery adds context to Acts 19 and 1 Thessalonians 1:9, showing how conversion involved more than new beliefs; it also meant renegotiating inherited traditions. (Biblical Archaeology Society)

Sight & Sound’s “Biblical Broadway” Shows Will Stream on Wonder Project July 15: Sight & Sound’s large-scale biblical stage productions will begin streaming on Wonder Project, a faith-based Prime Video subscription service, starting July 30. One title will release every two weeks through the fall, including Jesus, Ruth, Moses, Noah, Queen Esther, David, Samson, Daniel, and Miracle of Christmas. Sight & Sound, founded in 1976, draws nearly 2 million annual attendees to its theaters in Pennsylvania and Missouri. (RNS)

Anglican Leaders Share Plan to Plant 1 Million Churches by 2036 July 14: Anglican leaders have proposed Vision36, a plan to plant or restore 1 million churches — and welcome 20 million new believers — across the Anglican Communion by 2036. Presenting the initiative at the Anglican Consultative Council in Belfast, Canon Robert Sihubwa said the goal is to bring churches closer to people. The proposal also links to JC2033, a global interdenominational movement marking the 2000th anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection. (Christian Daily)

New Research Explores Impact of Youth Group on Christian Teens July 13: A new study found that while many Christian teens are participating in youth group, far fewer show consistently active faith. Using six measures of faith formation including spiritual practice, evangelism, and service, the study found that only 18% of U.S. teens — and 29% of recent youth group attendees — qualify as strongly faith-activated. The findings suggest that while youth group helps, it does not on its own ensure deep, holistic discipleship. (Barna)

Amazon’s Biblical Drama “House of David” Renewed for Season 3 July 13: Prime Video has renewed the biblical drama House of David for a third season, continuing David’s journey from shepherd and warrior toward kingship. The new season is expected to focus on the darker stretch of his story, including exile, pursuit, and the personal cost of destiny. No premiere date has been announced yet. (RELEVANT)

Pope Leo Urges Christians to Pray With Scripture During Vacation July 12: Pope Leo is encouraging believers to use vacation time not only for rest and recreation but also for prayerful engagement with Scripture. Reflecting on the parable of the sower, he emphasized that God continues to sow his Word generously in human hearts and urged people to make space during the summer for silence, reading, listening, and meditation on the Word of God so they can return to daily life renewed in both body and spirit. (Aleteia)

European Pastor Using Minecraft to Reach Unchurched Youth July 12: A Reformed pastor in Switzerland is using the video game Minecraft as a digital mission field, hosting weekly devotionals that attract about 20 participants at a time, with roughly half having no prior church connection. The gatherings use in-game building challenges to illustrate biblical themes, showing how gaming spaces can function as meaningful communities where churches meet younger or unchurched people in familiar environments. (Christian Daily)

South Korean Church Leaders Prepare for Nationwide Spiritual Renewal July 11: South Korean Protestant leaders are intensifying preparations for a major interdenominational evangelization gathering in 2027, intended not merely as a single event but a call for nationwide spiritual renewal. Organizers say the initiative will mobilize churches across denominational and generational lines and emphasize repentance, prayer, Holy Spirit renewal, next-generation evangelism, regional rallies, and expanded digital outreach. (Christian Daily)

Archaeologists Uncover Ancient Christian City in Egyptian Desert July 10: Archaeologists in Egypt’s Dakhla Oasis have uncovered the remains of a Byzantine-era (4th-century) mudbrick city with an organized street plan, homes, a basilica, watchtowers, and a fortress. Among the most significant finds are homes linked to named Christian figures, coins bearing imperial and Christian imagery, and about 200 inscribed pottery fragments in Greek and Coptic, suggesting active religious, social, and economic life in the oasis community. (Jerusalem Post)

Tim Tebow Launching Mobile-First Faith-Based Video Platform July 10: Tim Tebow is joining a new effort to bring faith-based entertainment into the fast-growing vertical video space, with a mobile-first platform focused on short, family-friendly drama series. Through a partnership between Lighthouse Verticals and Studio316, Tebow will help produce mini-episode content designed for smartphone viewing, with more than 30 original series reportedly planned across genres and age groups. (Christianity Daily)

The Great Isaiah Scroll’s 12,000 Mile Journey From Qumran to Jerusalem July 9: The Great Isaiah Scroll, one of the best-preserved Dead Sea Scrolls, is now on public display in Jerusalem for the first time in decades. Discovered near Qumran in 1947, it eventually traveled through private hands and the United States before being returned and placed in the Israel Museum. Its preservation and display underscore both its historical significance and importance for understanding the transmission of the biblical text. (All Israel News)

New Theory Proposed for Unusual Ancient Tunnels in Judean Desert July 9: A new hypothesis suggests some unusual ancient tunnels at Nahal Sekhakha in the Judean Desert may have been part of a sophisticated water-management system. The tunnels might have helped capture flash-flood water and direct it underground to recharge local groundwater, supporting wells and agriculture in an arid region. If validated, the theory could reshape understanding of ancient desert engineering in the biblical or Hasmonean era. (Times of Israel)

New Exhibit Shows Mosaics, Village Life in Ancient Galilee July 9: A new exhibit near the Sea of Galilee is giving the public its first close look at major finds from ancient Huqoq, a Jewish village that flourished in the Roman-Byzantine period. Its centerpiece is an original synagogue mosaic showing Samson carrying the gates of Gaza, alongside a cache of bronze coins and other artifacts from the site’s underground complex. The exhibit presents a picture of Jewish communal life, worship, and resilience in ancient Galilee. (Jerusalem Post)

Ancient Inscription Offers Evidence of Christianity Replacing Mithraism July 8: A 1,700-year-old inscription in southeastern Turkey may offer rare direct evidence of Christianity supplanting Mithraism in the late Roman Empire. Archaeologists say the Aramaic text, found near the entrance of an underground Mithras temple alongside a carved cross, may mark the sanctuary’s closure under Christian authority. If so, it’s an unusually clear look at the once-prominent mystery cult’s displacement as Christianity gained dominance. (Christianity Daily)

Christianity Growing Despite Increasing Global Persecution July 8: A new global persecution report says Christians increasingly face pressure through religious nationalism, transnational repression, terrorism, and surveillance-enabled authoritarianism. The report highlights severe regional pressures, especially jihadist violence in parts of Africa and intensified restrictions in places like China, Iran, India, and Nicaragua, while noting that Christian communities continue to grow in some hostile environments despite the risks. (Baptist Press)

New Study Shows Analytical Thinking Does Not Affect Religious Belief July 8: A recent psychology study found that increasing analytic thinking did not meaningfully reduce religious belief. In a second study, a debiasing task successfully boosted cognitive reflection but had no significant effect on self-reported religiosity. The findings challenge the common assumption that faith mainly persists where critical thinking is weak and suggest that religious belief and analytical reasoning are not inherently opposed. (Religion Unplugged)

Medieval Church Saved From Closure After Finding Gold Under Altar July 7: A tiny historic church in Melling, England, facing possible closure over roughly £750,000 in repair costs, received an unexpected boost after nine gold Britannia coins were discovered beneath the altar. The coins, apparently left anonymously in 2022 with a note signed “James, servant of the living God,” were sold for just under £30,000. The money won’t fund the full repair, but could provide seed funding to help secure grants and community support. (Christian Post)

Two Lost Sermons by Augustine Discovered in Poland July 7: A 12th-century manuscript at a monastery in Pelplin, Poland has yielded two previously unknown sermons by Augustine of Hippo, authenticated unanimously by 20 Latin scholars in autumn 2025. Both sermons address the theologically thorny account of the Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28, exploring whether Samuel truly appeared to Saul or whether God permitted an illusion. A critical edition is expected by year’s end. (Aleteia)

Over 120 Baptised in the Sea Near Bournemouth July 7: More than 1,000 spectators gathered on Boscombe Beach on consecutive weekends as a coalition of 14 churches baptized 43 people on June 21 and another 80 the following weekend. Last year’s gathering saw 92 baptisms. (Christian Today)

Anti-Christian Incidents Nearly Double in Israel July 7: The Religious Freedom Data Centre recorded 83 incidents of harassment against Christians in Israel from April to June, up from 44 the previous quarter. Spitting at Christians, clergy, and holy places accounted for 56% of incidents, with most occurring in Jerusalem. The spike is believed linked to Jerusalem Day and Shavuot celebrations in May. (Christian Today)

Nearly 30,000 Christians Killed in Nigeria in Six Years July 6: A 105-page report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) documents 28,551 Christian deaths across Nigeria between October 2019 and September 2025 — a death rate 4.4 times higher than Muslims in affected regions. Of 79,323 total deaths, 42,033 were civilians, with three-quarters occurring in attacks on farming communities. Christian hostages facing higher ransoms and greater risk of execution. (Christian Today)

Chinese Pastor Released July 5: Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, founder of Beijing’s underground Zion Church, has been released and reunited with family in Los Angeles after being detained in China since October. Jin and 17 other Zion Church leaders were arrested in one of China’s largest crackdowns on a single church in decades. At least 8 Zion members remain detained. (NPR)

Venezuelan Church “Overwhelmed” After Devastating Earthquakes July 4: Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck northern Venezuela on June 24, killing at least 1,450 people and wounding more than 3,150. According to Open Doors, churches already operating under government surveillance and restrictions are now scrambling to assist traumatized communities while facing significant losses of their own — including at least one collapsed church building. Some Christian communities have also reported being bypassed in aid distribution in favor of government supporters. (Christian Today)

Pope Leo Visits Lampedusa on July 4th, Invokes the Good Samaritan July 4: Pope Leo XIV spent the Fourth of July among the graves of migrants on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, celebrating Mass and calling the U.S. and Europe to act as neighbors to the world’s vulnerable. Drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan, Leo urged that “we become neighbors by acting as neighbors,” and issued a separate letter to the United States affirming religious freedom, the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, and the duty to welcome immigrants. (RNS)

Cru Missionaries Are Evangelizing in Virtual Reality July 2: For three years, missionaries with the evangelical organization Cru have gathered every Friday in VRChat to share the gospel with users in virtual worlds. Founded in 1951 as Campus Crusade for Christ, Cru has adapted its evangelism approach to reach people in digital spaces, drawing on a tradition dating to the 1990s when the Billy Graham Foundation trained Christians to evangelize in online chat rooms. (NPR)

Looking to 2033, Pope Urges Unity Among All Christians July 1: Pope Leo XIV is urging Christians of all denominations to look toward 2033 — the traditional 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s Resurrection — as a shared moment of witness and unity. He said Christians should approach the anniversary together as witnesses to the risen Christ, adding that in a divided and conflict-ridden age, greater cooperation among Christians matters not only for the Church’s credibility but for the future of humanity. (Aleteia)

Matthew 25 Emerges as Political Litmus Test Among American Christians July 1: A growing debate in American politics is turning on whether Jesus’ call to care for “the least of these” (Matt. 25:31–46) applies mainly to personal charity or also to national policy, with Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Raphael Warnock as representatives of those opposing views. The debate reflects a broader divide in American Christianity over whether faith should primarily address personal salvation or also confront social injustice. (RNS)

BBC Commissions Series Exploring Jesus’ Life and Early Church July 1: The BBC has commissioned a four-part series on the life of Jesus, set to air in 2027, that will combine Gospel accounts with archaeology, historical research, and new technology. The series intends to place Jesus within the political, social, religious, and cultural world of the first century while also exploring the rise of the Christian movement. It will include input from historians, Christian scholars, and Jewish and Muslim faith leaders. (Christian Today)

America’s Megachurches Report Strong Post-Pandemic Recovery July 1: America’s megachurches have rebounded strongly since the pandemic, with researchers estimating that about 1,850 megachurches now draw roughly 10 million worshipers on a typical weekend. A recent survey found that 67% report attendance above pre-pandemic levels, 84% say they are stronger than before COVID-19, and 86% describe themselves as thriving. (Christianity Daily)

Catch Up on June’s Bible News Stories  July 1: Don’t forget to catch up on all the biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible news stories of June 2026!