Over the past few years an old form of Bible reading and interpretation has resurfaced and made quite an impact. It is known as Lectio Divina. I appreciate David Helms’ critique of this method in in his little book Expositional Preaching. Where others have, I think, come up with novel ways of critiquing it, Helm…
Headed for a Crash – Jamie Brown attended “the National Worship Leader Conference, hosted by Worship Leader Magazine, featuring many well-known speakers and worship leaders.” He spotted a disturbing worship trend that we all need to guard against. The Trauma of Abuse – Wendy Alsup writes about the trauma of abuse and the blessing of…
It began with two devastating words: “tumor” and “incurable.” If they are not words you have ever heard, they are probably words heard by someone near you, someone you love or loved. They were words David McDonald heard as well. McDonald had pastored for just about twenty years and by 2011 had decided to begin…
The Real Proverbs 31 Mom – “She was a new member of the church and asked me how she could get more involved. I mentioned several things including women’s ministry and when I did her countenance changed and she said, ‘I just cannot take another Proverbs 31 study!’” Mahaney and Harris Leave TGC – In…
I enjoy a good war movie every now and again. I’m not talking about the senselessly violent ones that exist only to find new and creative ways of showing splatter and gore, but the realistic, or at least mostly realistic ones. There is something useful about those movies, I think, and something helpful about seeing…
The Irony of the Overprotected Child – This is a fascinating article on overprotecting our kids. It seems there is a difference between the freedom afforded children in days past and children today. Lighten Up, Christian – There’s something to be said for this attitude. Common Problems in Modern Preaching – I appreciate the list…
Mack Stiles has a new book called simply Evangelism. I haven’t read it all yet, but I sure did enjoy this quote about the power of a church that evangelizes. Don’t you long for this kind of a church? I long for a church that understands that it—the local church—is the chosen and best method…
Jesus and Non-Violence – “Does Jesus’s teaching in the sermon on the Mount to “turn the other cheek” and not resist evil require pacifism on the part of Christians?” Here’s a good little article from the Crossway blog. Law-Gospel Off the Rails – I post this only because of Tullian’s popularity as a blogger and…
This week’s Free Stuff Fridays is sponsored by CBD Reformed. As they always do, they will be giving away 5 prize packages, and each of them will contain 3 great books: In addition, CBD Reformed is offering a 4-day sale (May 16 – 19) on the following three products: Again, there are 5 prizes to…
Looking Back – Is looking back to past relationships a good idea? Here’s some simple advice. Stung by Joy – Christianity Today profiles Matt Chandler. Die As a Christian – Denny Burk shares a story of a Nigerian Christian man who was shot by Boko Haram terrorists for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. Gratitude…
A few weeks ago I set out on a series of articles through which I am scanning the history of the church—from its earliest days all the way to the present time—to examine some of Christianity’s most notable false teachers and to examine the false doctrine each of them represents. Along the way we have…
So Little of the Bible – Al Mohler writes about why so many Christians hear so little of the Bible in their churches. Be warned: “The biblical formula is clear: the neglect of the Word can only lead to disaster, disobedience, and death. God rescues his church from error, preserves his church in truth, and…
What is the process to set up a Church Plant Media website? As mentioned in a previous post, Church Plant Media builds websites for a wide spectrum of gospel ministry endeavors. We have worked hard to make our setup process as simple as possible. The following steps are all it takes to get up and…
The evening service may well be going the way of the dinosaur. What was once a staple of Christian worship, at least in some traditions, is increasingly being relegated to the past. Or so it would seem. I, for one, consider it a significant loss. I grew up with an evening service—or an afternoon service,…
How Many Children Should I Have? – I know this is a big topic and one for which some people have very strong convictions, but I quite like David Murray’s handling of it. The Secret Things of the Lord – “What is the will of God for my life? In this excerpt from his Foundations…
Daddy, why is it so hard to say goodbye?” She asked the question with tears rolling down her cheeks. She had come for the ride, and for a final chance to kiss me goodbye, as my wife dropped me at the curb outside terminal one. Her sister, eight years old, had come along too. An…
It Multiplied – Ray Ortlund: “Church growth takes planning. Let’s do it. But church multiplication takes miracle. Let’s be open to what only God can do.” A Face-to-Face Debate – I’m with Carl Trueman: I think this would be a very healthy debate. Same-Sex Attraction in the Church – Sam Alberry lists a number of…
Not too long ago a good friend of ours [I am co-writing this with Sean Harrelson] attended an evangelical pastors’ conference to tell people about his ministry to the disabled, to their families, and to their churches. There were nearly one thousand godly, theologically-astute, gospel-enamored leaders in attendance. What an opportunity, right? As we spoke…
A Sharp Turn to the Right – Here’s a fascinating update from a blog I follow: “I am writing this on a high speed train from Kaohsiung, Taiwan to the island’s capital, Taipei. Why am I here and not in mainland China? In short, because I have been deported from China. To tell the long…
A short time ago I launched a new series called “The Bestsellers.” The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association tracks sales of Christian books, and awards the Platinum Book Award for books whose sales exceed one million, and the Diamond Book Award for sales exceeding ten million. In this series I am looking at the history and…