I have found myself intrigued by a new book by Chris Bruno and Matt Dirks titled Churches Partnering Together. I guess the title says it all–it is about developing bonds between churches so different congregations, and their leaders, can be on mission together. In one chapter the authors discuss the inevitability of confrontation and I…
Thanks to Zondervan and Jonathan Dodson for sponsoring the blog this week. Check out Jonathan’s new book The Unbelievable Gospel. Kevin DeYoung has a list of things Jesus Didn’t Say. Halee Gray Scott is concerned when Christians slam one another in the Spirit. Eric McKiddie comments on The Blessings and Curses of Being an Introverted…
This week’s Free Stuff Fridays is sponsored by CBD Reformed. As they always do, they are offering some great prizes. There will be 5 winners this week, and each of the winners will receive the following 3 books: Enter to Win Again, there are 5 prize packages to win. And all you need to do…
I say it without hyperbole: PrayerMate revitalized my prayer life. It has been at least a couple of years since I made the move from organizing my prayers in a book to organizing my prayers in an app, and, at least for now, I don’t ever see myself going back. I know that praying from…
The Church Needs Men and Women To Be Friends – Just because there are horror stories, it doesn’t mean we can’t have successful and meaningful friendships between men and women. Mentoring – There are lots of good takeaways in this article on mentoring. How ISIS Works – Here’s an overview of ISIS. 6 Reasons Women…
We are sinful people. We are sinful, forgiven people, who long to live in a way that pleases God. And there are few better tools for battling and overcoming sin than a close reading and application of John Owen’s classic work Overcoming Sin and Temptation. I have been reading through the book and came this…
The Ordinary Church – John MacArthur writes about ordinary life and ordinary church. “God works through ordinary means, ordinary people in ordinary churches, doing very ordinary things.” Friendless Millennials in a Digital Age – This is a worthwhile reflection on Millennials. You Can’t Catch Sin Like A Cold – Barnabas Piper writes about those who…
I would like to ask for your help, and all it will take is about 2 minutes of your time. Would you mind lending a hand? I have been at this blogging thing for a long time, but that certainly does not mean that I’ve got it all figured out. Today I am asking for…
Gospel Affection – Joe Thorn offers 10 practical ways to show love to one another in the church. “Consider what follows a simple encouragement to press into a life of love in practical ways. A life God has called us to, saved us for, and modeled for us.” The Death of Thomas Cramner – Do…
I have found that for short stretches of time I can convince myself that I am being faithful to God if I define faithfulness in terms of only one behavior.” That is an insight from Nate Larkin, author of Samson and the Pirate Monks, and I think he is on to something. We all have…
What’s All this Gospel-Centered Talk About? – Dane Ortlund: “As far as I can tell the phrase is used in two basic ways. One way is to view all of life in light of the gospel. We’ll call this a gospel-centered worldview. The other is to view Christian progress as dependent on the gospel. We’ll…
Jonathan K. Dodson is the founding pastor of City Life church in Austin, Texas. His new book is The Unbelievable Gospel: Say Something Worth Believing (resource website here). In the Huffington Post, writer Cindy Brandt recently declared she “kissed evangelism goodbye.” Many have joined her in the break up. According to one survey, two out…
I find addiction, and the bondage of addiction, to be very difficult to understand. It seems like overcoming addiction should be so simple, and especially for the Christian: Instead of doing that thing, how about next time you just don’t do that thing? Instead of opening that bottle, keep it closed. Instead of buying those…
I’ll Be Fine – I’ll Be Fine is a short documentary about a family, their home, and the trials of living with a nineteen-year-old son who has autism. It’s very well done. Look and Live – This is an excellent article from Matt Papa. Theological Impatience – “Theological impatience is one of the most troubling…
I love to find and share practical methods or techniques for living the Christian life—ways other Christians live out their Christian faith day-by-day. As I speak with people, as I read books, as I listen to sermons, I am always looking for these tips which I call “faith hacks.” I am going to share another…
Thanks to Books at a Glance for sponsoring the blog this week; their sponsorship keeps the virtual lights on for another week! Jeremy Walker writes about Gospel Ripples and the importance of preaching and hearing the gospel again and again. Denny Burk looks at what the Bible says about spanking. Is it a legitimate form…
This week’s Free Stuff Fridays is sponsored by Christian Focus. They are offering 5 prize packages this week, which means there will be 5 winners. Each of those winners will receive these books: Enter to Win Again, there are 5 prize packages to win. And all you need to do to enter the draw is…
There were two weeks left in summer vacation. For another two weeks, the kids would be off school and out of class. For another two weeks they would experience the freedom they long for through ten months of every year. For another two weeks they would be dead bored. I remember my summer vacations fondly.…
Why Not Sin? – I like this answer: “Paul could have talked about the misery that sin brings, the pain that it inflicts upon others, the consequences which flow from it, or the penalty that Christ had to pay for it. But that is not where he first turns. He wants Christians to understand that…
If you read what I’ve written here today, it will deepen your hatred for sin and spark your love for holiness. At least, I think it will. All I’ve done is summarize chapter two of John Owen’s classic Overcoming Sin and Temptation, a book that has been precious to generations of Christians as they have…