Tim Challies | Informing the Reforming Daily Since 2003

Skip to content ↓

The Best Complete Commentary Set for any Christian

Dec 17

Articles

3 min read

Those who are serious about collecting commentaries will almost invariably say that it is better to think in terms of individual volumes than complete series. And I agree: it is generally better to focus on acquiring the top three or four commentaries on each book of the Bible than to focus on collecting complete series. The reason for this is simply that every series is uneven, so that some volumes are especially strong while others are comparatively weak. While a complete collection may look great on a shelf, it may not prove the most beneficial for study. Yet I…
Continue reading →: The Best Complete Commentary Set for any Christian

A La Carte (December 17)

A La Carte: Marketing as stewardship / Intercultural humor / Freedom in devotions / When people leave your church / Calvinistic gospel partnerships / Sentimentality / Kindle deals / and more.

Dec 17

A La Carte

4 min read
A La Carte (December 16)

A La Carte: The Scopes trial at 100 / How do we measure maturity? / A pogrom on Bondi Beach / Are Evangelicals obsessed with sex? / Do the next thing / Book sales / and more.

Dec 16

A La Carte

3 min read
You Are in the Circumstances in Which You Can Best Serve

There are times when we all find ourselves lamenting our circumstances. These may be times in which we grieve life’s losses or suffer life’s indignities, or these may be times in which we grapple with the frustrations that come with life in this world—when our skills are underutilized, or our contributions are underappreciated.

Dec 15

Articles

4 min read
A La Carte (December 15)

A La Carte: Blood soaks into the sand of Bondi Beach / This year’s biggest religious trend / The best Christian music of 2025 / The challenges this Christmas / Micromanaging your habits / Notable Kindle deals / and more.

Dec 15

A La Carte

3 min read
A Moving Picture of the Gospel

As we gather on Sundays, we preach the Bible, read the Bible, pray the Bible, and sing the Bible. But that is not all, for we also “see” the Bible. Here’s how Mark Dever expresses it: “The ordinances are the dramatic presentations of the gospel. They are the moving pictures that represent the spiritual realities…

Dec 14

Articles

2 min read
Weekend A La Carte (December 13)

A La Carte: No one drifts into godlIness / Your subscriptions are holding you captive / Fighting sexual temptation / An orderly case for raising hands in worship / Kirk Cameron and remodeling hell / Kindle deals / and more.

Dec 13

A La Carte

3 min read

Free Stuff Fridays (Harvest House Publishers)

This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Harvest House Publishers. Meet 52 Unsung Heroes Throughout history, the stories of brave Black believers and their remarkable contributions to the Christian faith and our nation have too often gone overlooked. Passionate writer and educator Jasmine L. Holmes brings 52 notable Black Christians’ stories to life…

Dec 12

Giveaways

3 min read
My Top Ten Books from 2025 (+ a Bonus)

As another year draws to a close, I wanted to take some time to consider the books I read in 2025 and to assemble a list of my top picks. Apart from the first book, which I consider the best I read this year, the rest are in no particular order. In each case I’ve…

Dec 12

Articles

10 min read
A La Carte (December 12)

A La Carte: How to fight your phone idolatry / The weakness of God / Strong and fearless faith / Loving aging parents well / Changed by love / and more.

Dec 12

A La Carte

3 min read
A La Carte (December 11)

A La Carte: Gift giving in an age of abundance / Canada’s Bill C-9 / In memory of Jubilant Sykes / Motherhood is a refining fire / A gentle pastor isn’t a weak pastor / When God’s plans leave us distressed / and more.

Dec 11

A La Carte

3 min read
A Trip to Southern Africa

I don’t often write trip reports after I travel, except, of course, in the form of books and documentary projects like Epic and From the Rising of the Sun. Yet, I thought I would make a rare exception after returning from my recent journey to Southern Africa (and, strangely, Northern California). While I am accustomed…

Dec 10

Articles

8 min read
A La Carte (December 10)

A La Carte: Top 10 theology stories of 2025 / Mama, you don’t have to save Christmas / Giving up all your Sundays to advent / An empty chair at Christmas / Pray for the church in Rwanda / Kindle deals / and more.

Dec 10

A La Carte

4 min read
A La Carte (December 9)

A La Carte: Reforming generosity / Let the young man come to church / Your wife is beauty / Combating imposter syndrome / Be known, not impressive / Dan McClellan / and more.

Dec 9

A La Carte

4 min read

My Top Ten Books from 2025 (+ a Bonus)

As another year draws to a close, I wanted to take some time to consider the books I read in 2025 and to assemble a list of my top picks. Apart from the first book, which I consider the best I read this year, the rest are in no particular order. In each case I’ve…

Dec 12

Articles

10 min read
You Are in the Circumstances in Which You Can Best Serve

There are times when we all find ourselves lamenting our circumstances. These may be times in which we grieve life’s losses or suffer life’s indignities, or these may be times in which we grapple with the frustrations that come with life in this world—when our skills are underutilized, or our contributions are underappreciated.

Dec 15

Articles

4 min read
The Rise of AI Book Slop

We often hear these days of “AI slop,” a term that’s used to refer to the massive amounts of poor-quality AI-created material that is churned out and unceremoniously dumped onto the internet. This was once primarily artistless artwork and authorless articles, but has now advanced to much bigger and more substantial forms of content.

Dec 8

Articles

6 min read
A Trip to Southern Africa

I don’t often write trip reports after I travel, except, of course, in the form of books and documentary projects like Epic and From the Rising of the Sun. Yet, I thought I would make a rare exception after returning from my recent journey to Southern Africa (and, strangely, Northern California). While I am accustomed…

Dec 10

Articles

8 min read
Those Who Sing Songs in the Night

Imagine that you are sitting in a prison cell. This is not some posh or even stark 21st-century prison cell, but a primitive Roman one. Your back is pressed against cold stones. Your stomach is aching with hunger. Your nose is assaulted by terrible smells. Your heart is filled with despair. You know your death…

Dec 9, 2024

Articles

4 min read

The Rise of AI Book Slop

We often hear these days of “AI slop,” a term that’s used to refer to the massive amounts of poor-quality AI-created material that is churned out and unceremoniously dumped onto the internet. This was once primarily artistless artwork and authorless articles, but has now advanced to much bigger and more substantial forms of content.

Dec 8

Articles

6 min read
A La Carte (December 8)

A La Carte: A plea to older women / Let someone serve you in suffering / Why AI writing can’t compete / Influencers / The hidden danger in online sermons / Discipling young people / Excellent Kindle deals / and more.

Dec 8

A La Carte

3 min read
Pitch Perfect and Tone Deaf

God commands us to sing. Yet while some of God’s people are gifted singers, the plain fact is that others are not. In any congregation, it’s likely that some have near-perfect pitch while others are functionally tone-deaf. Those who struggle to sing may be self-conscious, tempted to stay quiet or to do no more than…

Dec 7

Articles

2 min read
Weekend A La Carte (December 6)

A La Carte: Rightly ordered desires / Ordinary wonders / For my good, not my comfort / Make room for special-needs families / Christmas spirit / Wisdom rarely makes you famous / and more.

Dec 6

A La Carte

3 min read
Free Stuff Fridays (Harvest House Publishers)

Free Stuff Fridays: Book Giveaway! #Sponsored

Dec 5

Giveaways

2 min read
Noteworthy New Commentaries from 2025

There are few resources I rely on more than I rely on my commentaries. Over the years, I have developed an extensive collection and turn to them often. I try to keep tabs on new commentaries and thought I would let you know about some of the best options that were published in 2025

Dec 5

Resources

12 min read
A La Carte (December 5)

A La Carte: Doug Wilson vs public schools / Your church needs you to sing / Wicca’s origins and Christian Nationalism / Out of season / Amish millionaires / Two wedding aisles to walk down / and more.

Dec 5

A La Carte

3 min read

Explore More

Collections & Series

Articles Collection cover image

Resources Collection cover image

Book Reviews Collection Cover Image

A La Carte Collection cover image

All collections and series →

Top Topics

All topics →

Top Scripture References

All Scripture references →

Recent Dates

All dates →