Curated content for Christians
A Calvinist Revival – The NY Times (of all places) has written an article on the Reformed resurgence. (I guarantee you’ve never seen Mark Dever looking cooler than he does here.) From 1994 – Well, though it doesn’t quite align with biblical theology, this short film still highlights the joy of life and the grief…
Worship Leader Resolutions – This is some brilliant and hilarious writing from Jamie Brown. “In this new year, I think all worship leaders can agree on a few resolutions that, if adopted, would dramatically improve the corporate/sung worship in our churches.” My favorite: “Octave jumps are so 2013. It’s time to take it to the…
Cross Conference – Justin Taylor rounds up the recent Cross conference saying, “Only time will tell, but it seems that the first annual Cross student missions conference was a historic event, perhaps a key moment in mobilizing God’s people to help the nations be glad in him.” C.S. Lewis at War – Andy Naselli introduces…
Happy new year and welcome to 2014. I continue to take it easy through the holidays, but did put together an edition of A La Carte this morning. This month’s free audiobook from ChristianAudio is the Hear the Word ESV Bible! Logos users will want to download their free book of the month (a real…
A Year-End Editorial – Read this one! “We should look beyond ourselves at the end of the year. After all, our lives are bound up with the Story of God’s redemptive plan being accomplished in history. So, as Christians, our year-end remembrances are never to be selfish exercises of navel gazing self-condemnation or self-congratulation, but…
5 Ways to Bomb a Sermon – There is some very helpful counsel in this article. While it’s directed specifically at those who preach to young people, it’s applicable to anyone who preaches or speaks before others. Centered On One or the Other – “What does it mean for a church to be gospel-centered? That’s…
The Most Courageous Resolution – Jon Bloom on resolutions: “Resolves are intentions with strategies attached to them. You don’t just hope something is going to happen; you are planning to make it happen. To be resolved is to be determined.” He proposes a resolution for you. Duck Dynasty Wins – WORLD: “The gay lobby’s power…
‘Tis the season to discuss Bible-reading plans for the year to come. Justin Taylor offers a long list of options; Ligonier does as well and includes downloadable guides; Peter Krol has some suggestions as well as a list of benefits. CROSS – The CROSS conference kicks off this afternoon (schedule); you can watch it all…
Dude, Where’s Your Gravitas? – “Our culture wants men to be featherweights when it comes to conviction, seriousness, responsibility, discipline, courage, and truth. The Creator of these men does not. He wants gravitas.” Obviously we can overcorrect here, but it’s well worth thinking about this article. Earthrise – Here’s a video about the iconic photo…
The Violence of Christmas – “Do yourself a favor before Christmas. Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth. Then read Genesis 1-3. Then read Revelation 12. Then throw in Romans 16:20 for good measure. That’s the whole Christmas story. It’s not simply the poetic and sweet story of a child’s birth, welcomed by stars and…
Toronto Ice Storm – My family headed south for Christmas Saturday morning; this hit our city Saturday evening. I’m glad we fled when we did! 5 Things Christian Should Stop Saying – Jason Johnson: “We mean well, don’t we? But sometimes our attempts to say something spiritual actually come out unbiblical, or at a minimum,…
Aren’t There Enough Christian Books Already? – We’ve probably all asked the question at one time or another. Barnabas Piper answers well. “So, are there enough Christian books out there? Yes – of the boring, repetitive, prescriptive variety. Yes – of the all flash, no substance type. Yes – of the boring type. But that’s…
Top-Ten Theology Stories – Collin Hansen says, “before we turn to 2014, it can be encouraging or at least instructive to take stock of the last 12 months. Perspective is a rare gift in our social media age.” To do that, he offers up this top ten theology stories from the past year. I Offended…
Re: Mark Driscoll – I really appreciated Jared Wilson’s article on Mark Driscoll. He says it well and with great care and kindness. You Have Been Warned – Al Mohler responds to the controversy surrounding the show Duck Dynasty. When Nothing Created Everything – Joe Carter has written what our culture has been missing for…
Ligonier has added three new volumes to R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series, all of which are free: How Can I Develop a Christian Conscience?, What Is the Church?, and What Is the Lord’s Supper?. Also consider A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson. And if you missed yesterday’s long list of deals, be sure…
Don’t Pull a LOST – Jamie Brown writes about our worship services and compares them to the show LOST. He doesn’t mean it as a compliment. The Right to Do Anything – Mounce looks at 1 Corinthians 6:12 and shows how important it is to get the translation correct. Westminster Books – Westminster Books has…
The Danger of a How-To – I really appreciated this article and it’s big point: “In the end, evangelicals are evangelicals not because we follow four principles, five keys, or six secrets. In the end, evangelicals are evangelicals because we build our lives on the gospel alone. Let us then go and preach and minister…
The Legalism Boogeyman – This is true! “The legalism card often gets overplayed. More and more I’ve interacted with Christians humbly and faithfully working out their salvation with fear and trembling, only to have the legalism card slapped on them. As such, they’re being fallaciously warned about legalism bogeymen. There are many I’ve heard of…
Seven Messages in the Meals – Most of us have been on both sides of this one. “To the family to whom we are giving a meal because they are going through a challenging time: When we hand you a dish with homemade lasagna and a salad kit, or spaghetti casserole, or a turkey hot…
The Greatest Obstacle – “Most people think that sinning is the best way to happiness. Otherwise, why would so many spend their days figuring out how to sin bigger and better?” David Murray looks to Ralph Venning. Moral Revolution at Warp Speed – Al Mohler: “Six months. That’s how long it took to get from…