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A La Carte (October 2, 2014)

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Twenty-Two Problems with Multi-site Churches – Jonathan Leeman offers “22 misgivings I have about the multi-site model.” His focus is multi-site churches that use video for the preaching.

What Is Domestic Violence? – “The month of October has been designated Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The goal of this month is to raise public awareness about domestic violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to domestic violence.”

Gordon College – Here’s a soon-to-be-common situation at Gordon College. “Gordon College has been given 18 months to recant. If they do not change the standards for sexual behavior in their ‘life and conduct statement’ (which prohibit ‘sexual relations outside of marriage’ and “homosexual practice”), they will lose their accreditation…”

The Hound of Heaven – Here is a trailer for a new short film from N.D. Wilson that is about to make its debut.

On Not Doing Nothing – “The only wrong thing you can do with the gospel is nothing. Not telling the gospel shows you don’t trust it; you don’t trust Jesus or the one who sent him. It shows your heart. God cannot be fooled, even if we fool ourselves.”

My Best Pastor-Member Meeting Ever – I appreciate this little anecdote that makes a great point.

Brooks

Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins.

—Thomas Brooks

  • The Phrase that Altered My Thinking Forever

    This week the blog is sponsored by P&R Publishing and is written by Ralph Cunnington. Years ago, I stumbled repeatedly on an ancient phrase that altered my thinking forever.  Distinct yet inseparable. The first time I encountered this phrase was while studying the Council of Chalcedon’s description of the two natures of Christ. Soon after,…

  • Always Look for the Light

    Always Look for the Light

    For many years there was a little potted plant on our kitchen window sill, though I’ve long since forgotten the variety. Year after year that plant would put out a shoot and from the shoot would emerge a single flower. And I observed that no matter how I turned the pot, the flower would respond.…

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    A La Carte (March 18)

    A La Carte: God is good and does good—even in our pain / Dear bride and groom / Sin won’t comfort you / Worthy of the gospel / From self-sufficiency to trusting God’s people / The gods fight for our devotion / and more.

  • Confidence

    God Takes Us Into His Confidence

    Here is another Sunday devotional—a brief thought to orient your heart toward the Lord. God takes the initiative in establishing relationship by reaching out to helpless humanity. He reveals himself to the creatures he has made. But what does it mean for him to provide such revelation of himself? John Calvin began his Institutes by…

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    Weekend A La Carte (March 16)

    A La Carte: I believe in the death of Julius Caesar and the resurrection of Jesus Christ / Reasons students and pastors shouldn’t use ChatGPT / A 1.3 gigpixel photo of a supernova / What two raw vegans taught me about sharing Jesus / If we realize we’re undeserving, suddenly the world comes alive /…

  • Ask Pastor John

    Ask Pastor John

    I admit it: I felt a little skeptical about Ask Pastor John. To be fair, I feel skeptical about most books that begin in one medium before making the leap to another. Books based on sermons, for example, can often be pretty disappointing—a powerful sermon at a conference can make a bland chapter in a…