Free Stuff Fridays (A Book Bundle!)

This week the blog has been sponsored by the Ministry Network by Westminister. And today they are giving away a great book bundle! Church life is filled with joys and trials, tragedies, and triumphs. Along this journey, Ministry Network offers encouragement and support. On our podcast, you can learn from the experience and advice of leading Christian thinkers. Ministry Network Podcast (audio, video) Today, we’re excited to give away a special book bundle inspired by the topics of our podcast speakers …

New Religions for a Godless World

We’ve all heard by now of the rise of the “Nones,” that growing demographic that, when filling out a census, marks their religious affiliation as “None.” While until recently they made up only the smallest minority in America (and the rest of the Western world) they may now come close to forming a majority, especially among the younger generations. A common narrative among Christians is that people are migrating away from traditional Judeo-Christian faiths in favor of liberal secularism. But …

A La Carte (September 18)

Today’s Kindle deals include a book by Mark Jones that has gotten very good reviews. How Shall I Love My Neighbor? By Keeping the Law! Dan Doriani writes about love and law and how they are connected. Jabberwocky (Video) Jabberwocky is one of my favorite poems to recite during a microphone check. I very much enjoyed this recitation and visual interpretation. But that’s the joy of the poem, isn’t it? We can make it mean whatever we want… What Makes …

A La Carte (September 17)

It’s not the most exciting day ever for Kindle deals, though there are at least a few to look at. (Yesterday on the blog: The Local Church Was Made To Serve The Christian, Not The Christian The Local Church) 2 Reasons Bully Pastors Rise Up in the Church Yikes! “our definition of a leader now is—strong personality, quick witted, forceful, domineering, able to win the day in a discussion or argument, can cast vision and collect people. I’m going to …

The Local Church Was Made To Serve The Christian, Not The Christian The Local Church

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. Sabbath is a gift God has given us for our good. We are feeble creatures who need rest, yet foolish creatures who would otherwise work ourselves to the bone. The sabbath is a reminder of our weakness, of our finiteness, of our inability. It is a reminder of all of these in a physical sense and, more ultimately, in a spiritual sense, for so much of what is true …

A La Carte (September 16)

Today’s Kindle deals include a great Westminster Seminary Press edition of Machen’s classic Christianity & Liberalism that has all kinds of new essays and other content. Cancelling the Weapons of “Cancel Culture” We need to be careful that we don’t wield the world’s weapons. “It is obvious to all that 2020 has proven to be quite the revealing year for professing Christians. The way in which we deal with one another over our differences on conclusions about racial matters, masks, …

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"Heaven, in biblical terms, is not primarily a place. It is a shorthand for the full blessing of relationship with God. It is the prodigal son come home. It is the bride being embraced by her husband with tears of joy." (Rebecca McLaughlin)

"Heaven, in biblical terms, is not primarily a place. It is a shorthand for the full blessing of relationship with God. It is the prodigal son come home. It is the bride being embraced by her husband with tears of joy." (Rebecca McLaughlin) ...

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"Sometimes, chasing your dreams can be “easier” than just being who we are, where God has placed you, with the gifts he has given to you." (Michael Horton)

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"Fiery trials make golden Christians." (Theodore Cuyler)

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Paul, Timothy, and Podcasts

This sponsored post invites you to enjoy lively discussions with the most respected teachers from Westminster’s new MinistryNetwork. Paul and Timothy enjoyed a special relationship. In 2 Timothy 1:4, Paul writes: “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.” Paul didn’t just teach Timothy. He embraced his young spiritual son with care, honesty, and vulnerability. Timothy knew what made Paul, Paul. That’s true mentorship—a gift that many people in ministry lack. We look up …

A La Carte (September 15)

Caring for the Souls of Children, on sale this week at Westminster Books, seems like an important and long-awaited title. There’s an eclectic little mix of Kindle deals there today. (Yesterday on the blog: 7 Books To Help You Understand the Times) A Parent’s Cry Sometimes we need the simplest reminders. “My husband and I started a practice to ease the tension. Check our words. Take a deep breath. He would look at me. Or I would look at him. …

7 Books To Help You Understand the Times

You do not need to be a particularly astute observer of society to understand that we have entered into a time of great transition and even great upheaval. A new worldview based around a very particular conception of social justice is quickly gaining traction. Traditional understandings of sex and gender are being overthrown. New words and new ideas have suddenly sprung into our common parlance. And while it’s true that you do not need to be a particularly astute observer …

A La Carte (September 14)

Here’s a final reminder that the good folk at Faithlife have asked me to let you know about an upcoming free webinar for church leaders who are preparing for fall ministry in light of COVID. It’s not the best day ever for Kindle deals, but I did unearth a few at least. Enjoying Imperfection “Only God does all things perfectly. In a world that has written God out of the story, we have written ourselves into the role of perfection-attainment. And …

God Will Disclose His Heart To You Today

Today the great majority of the people who read this site will be heading to church (or perhaps still taking in a service through a live-stream). As we assemble to worship, we will have the privilege of hearing the Bible read and preached. And in this brief quote from Harold Senkbeil we are reminded of what a privilege this is. Read it and be encouraged as you consider God’s precious word. In our digital age, we’re swimming in gigabytes of …

Weekend A La Carte (September 12)

My friends at Faithlife asked me to let you know about an upcoming webinar for church leaders who are preparing for fall ministry in light of COVID. My gratitude goes to ONE Audiobooks for sponsoring the blog this week with their offer of a free audiobook every month. Today’s Kindle deals include mostly classics. (Yesterday on the blog: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus’s Wife) How Perfectionism Makes You a Spiritual Quitter You may find …

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Book Reviews

New Religions for a Godless World

New Religions for a Godless World

Tara Isabella Burton

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A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus’s Wife

It is more than a little ironic, and more than a little disturbing, that some of the most prominent “Christian” scholars in the world are not Christian at all. At least, not by a definition that would require their assent to the doctrines outlined in the historic creeds and confessions. To the contrary, many of the most significant scholars at the most significant universities tend to deny the doctrines of the Trinity, of the divinity of Jesus Christ, of his …

A La Carte (September 11)

Westminster Books has a wide-ranging back to school sale going on right now. Lots of deals! Yet again today there’s a pretty good little list of Kindle deals to look through. What Are We Arguing About? Kevin DeYoung suggests that we need to do a better job of defining where our differences lies. He explains that, then provides a bunch of examples. Helping Your Church Survive Election Season In a somewhat similar vein, here’s some help on helping your church …

A La Carte (September 10)

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of good books, one of them suitable for those struggling with pornography (or attempting to help someone who is). (Yesterday on the blog: Learning To Thrive as a Diverse Church) Why Unhealthy People Crave Controversy This is good and important. “Quarrels sometimes come, and sometimes those controversies are what it takes to be faithful to the Spirit. But just as one engaged in sexual immorality can always convince himself that this is a special …

Learning To Thrive as a Diverse Church

Toronto is the most diverse city in the world which means that Toronto churches are among the most diverse churches in the world. If over fifty percent of the people who live in the city were born in a country other than Canada, which is exactly the case, then in all probability over fifty percent of the people who attend church in the city were born in a country other than Canada. It is rare that a church here does …

A La Carte (September 9)

I want to remind you of my new site SquareQuotes where you can find quote graphics on a wide variety of subjects. They are all free for the downloading… It is another pretty good day for Kindle deals and they include several titles by Wiersbe on key books of the Bible. The Ministry Goal No One Talks About This is a good one! “What happened May 31 is not only something I’ll probably never see again, it’s a ministry goal …

Get a Free Audiobook Every Month!

This week the blog is sponsored by ONE Audiobooks who is offering access to a free audiobook, every month, no strings attached. Click here to get this month’s audiobook Depression, Anxiety, and the Christian Life: Practical Wisdom from Richard Baxter by J.I. Packer and Michael S. Lundy. This timely resource was endorsed by Sinclair B. Ferguson with the following words, “Depression, Anxiety, and the Christian Life is simultaneously a manual for pastors and counselors, a resource for study groups, and …

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My Books

Do More Better Cover

Do More Better

by Tim Challies

I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today’s digital world. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. Read More