Skip to content ↓

A La Carte (August 25)

friday

Aileen and I have had a wonderful time on this twenty-fifth anniversary trip to New Zealand. But the time to leave is drawing near. We will see a few more sites on Saturday, worship with a nearby local church on Sunday, then make our way home on Monday. The Lord has been very kind to us.

On sale this week at Westminster Books is one I’ve very much been looking forward to reading.

The Death of Church and Pub

Carl Trueman spent some time in England and now reflects on the death of the church and the demise of the pub.

5 Resolutions for the Weary and Worn Out

“There is a certain weariness that comes in the summer, when we suddenly realize half the year has flown by and things aren’t better than it was in January—or have gotten worse. Maybe your relationships need work, and you’ve found yourself fighting with family and friends. Maybe there’s trouble at home and brokenness in your family. Maybe you’re tired of running the Christian race and your spiritual life has grown stale.” Aaron Lee offers help.

Pastors and Social Media

Samuel James lets us in on some of the questions he might ask a candidate for a ministry position if he was serving on a pastoral search committee.

Pastoral Q & A: How Often Should I Confess My Sin?

How often should a Christian confess his sins? Wes offers a good answer to the question.

Corinthian Enthusiasm

Derek Thomas: “Only one book is absolutely essential to save us, to equip us to obey God’s will, and to glorify Him in whatever we do. Only one book gives us undiluted truth —the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Only one book serves as our ultimate and final authority in all that it affirms. That book, of course, is the Bible, God’s Holy Word. … And yet the irony is that if we use only this book, we may in fact be in disobedience to it.”

The Basics — The Order of Salvation

Kim Riddelbarger continues his series on basic Christian theology with a brief description of the ordo salutis, or order of salvation. This is important theology, so worth reading about.

Flashback: The Rise of Digital Technologies and the Decline of Reading

There was once a time reading came easy, but now it seems to be hard. The difference, they say, is all these new technologies…Let me offer a few thoughts on the rise of digital technologies and the decline of reading.

The gospel teaches us we are unworthy. We are saved by grace, not by worth.

—Sinclair Ferguson

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 21)

    A La Carte: Lessons from Trump’s and Harris’s social media campaigns / What is my spiritual gift? / The messages we receive / 10 mistakes I’ve made in preaching / Big Kindle and book sales / and more.

  • Finn

    I’m a Grandfather!

    Yesterday Abby and Nathan welcomed their first child into the world: Finnegan Safir Nicholas Elfarrah. Because they live just minutes away, Aileen and I were able to be there shortly after his birth to rejoice with them and to meet our first grandchild. We are thrilled beyond measure. And he is cute beyond belief. They…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 20)

    A La Carte: Pray till you pray / Do children need to consent to puberty? / Pleading for Sodom / A thought experiment / 10 mistakes when reading the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 19)

    A La Carte: Good night, my son / The longing for justice following sexual assault / Daughter of encouragement / Mistakes I made as a theological student / The dangers of disordered love / Kindle deals / and more.

  • What Grieves the Heart of God

    What Grieves the Heart of God?

    What pleases God? What delights his heart? And what displeases God? What grieves his heart? If asked, I think most of us would assume that if we ever grieve the heart of God it will be through denying the gospel or committing a grave moral scandal. Or if we do so as a local church,…