My gratitude goes to 316 Publishing for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about the Legacy Standard Bible as well as Bella Paper calendars and stationery. (Save on any purchase with code CHALLIES.) Sponsors keep the site free to readers like you so I appreciate each and every one. (Yesterday on the blog: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church) 3 Steps Christian Institutions Take from Orthodoxy to Sexual Immorality Joe Carter does some interesting analysis here. “It might be presumptuous to imply the path from orthodoxy to heterodoxy is the same for all institutions. Yet there does seem to be a recurring pattern that includes three steps.” A Spiritual MRI of the Heart It would take a long time to work all the way through this spiritual MRI, but it is likely to be prove valuable to you. Christian Maturity and Secular Infancy “Christianity entails many divine ironies—the dead man lives; the humble woman is exalted; the servant is the King; finding life is losing it; salvation is not by works; the Son of God became man so that men might become sons of God. Another irony less noticed by many Christians is this—increased Christian maturity always brings more child-like dependence.” What is a benediction? (Video) Derek Thomas explains the origin and purpose of a benediction at the close of a worship service. Do Unbelievers Get a Second Chance After Death? Do unbelievers get a second chance after death? There’s a passage in 1 Peter that could imply this. John … Continue reading Weekend A La Carte (November 19)