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A La Carte (2/18)

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What’s the Point of Marriage? – “There’s nothing like a bunch of marriage books to make your head spin. Mostly I avoid them—too many guilt-producing suggestions about the ‘must-dos’ of a relationship—but I’ve been writing a seminar on the topic, so it was time to hit the books.” This article is good both for its reflections and its mini reviews.

Bridges & Begg – Take a short, powerful book by Jerry Bridges, have Alistair Begg narrate it, and offer the resulting 2-CD audiobook set for a bargain price. That’s a good plan. Who Am I? – Identity in Christ unpacks Scripture to bring believers eight clear, simple answers to perhaps the most important question anyone can ask. (This is a book published by Cruciform Press of which I am a co-founder.)

Praying in a Second Language – “To speak and pray in a ‘second’ language, you don’t need Rosetta Stone. Everyone has an opportunity to think, speak and pray in God’s language — Scripture, the foundational language of the universe.”

The Best Books for Preachers – Al Mohler has put together his annual “Preaching Survey of the Year’s Best Books for Preachers.”

A Fractured Vatican – Washington Post: “[The] Pope’s leaked papers show a fractured Vatican: Pope Benedict XVI’s correspondence shows tales of betrayal and rivalries, allegations of corruption and systemic dysfunction.”

Preaching that Cuts to the Heart – Tim Keller responds to one of the compliments people pay him about his sermons. He’s got some good quotes in there, like this one: “Remember that according to the Bible, the heart is not primarily the emotions but rather the seat of our fundamental commitments and trusts, and therefore it is the control center of the whole life. So to preach to the heart means to go right for the commanding commitments of people’s lives that drive their desires, thinking, feeling, and action.”

The strength of all sin, whether simple or scandalous, is the lie that God can’t do what it can. –Sam Storms (reference)


  • The Tallest Trees

    The Winds Blow Hardest Against the Tallest Trees

    Through the weekend had many questions about Christian leaders who fall. And I expressed that just as the winds blow hardest against the tallest trees, so temptations may press hardest against the leaders who rise the highest. Just as floods press against shallow roots, so seductive desires rise up against those whose fall would bring…

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    A La Carte (April 21)

    A La Carte: Toxic servant leadership / Taking our stress to the Lord / The problem with habits / Is it wrong for Christians to choose cremation? / Why does your church meet in a house? / Big book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • Expectations

    Why We Ask So Little of God

    Most Christians expect little from God, ask little, and therefore receive little, and are content with little. Though the Bible calls us to pray and though it promises that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working,” we can still have very modest expectations of what God will accomplish through…

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    Weekend A La Carte (April 19)

    A La Carte: Why man needs God / Why nails matter / Kids’ picture books / MLK’s famous letter changed a DC church / How to mentor / A tearless eternity / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (TGBC)

    This weeks Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by The Good Book Company. They are giving away a bundle of their best-selling Good Book Guides that are designed to guide your head and your heart through God’s word. Each Good Book Guide includes a concise leader’s guide in the back.  The Bundle includes: Giveaway Rules: You…

  • A Light on the Hill

    A Light on the Hill

    In early 2020, CHBC, along with almost every other church in the world, was forced to contend with the opening days of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time Caleb Morell was working as Pastor Mark Dever’s personal assistant. Dever tasked him with finding out how the church had responded to the Spanish flu epidemic a…