Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?

This sponsored post is adapted from volume 12 (Hebrews–Revelation) of the brand-new ESV Expository Commentary—a series designed to strengthen the global church with a widely accessible, theologically sound, and pastorally wise resource for understanding and applying the overarching storyline of the Bible.   A Difficult Passage 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness …

How to Pray Like a Pastor

Of all that is unique about the Christian faith, this aspect stands apart: Its leaders are not called to their positions because of rare skill, raw talent, or overwhelming desire. They are not qualified by the charismatic personality, the ability to draw a crowd, or skilled rhetoric. Rather, Christian leaders are called and qualified by godly character. In passages like 1 Timothy 3:2-7, Titus 1:6-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-3 we read what a man must be if he is to …

A La Carte (September 24)

Today’s Kindle deals include quite a lot of interesting books. There is a selection from Crossway, a couple by John MacArthur, and even more besides. (Yesterday on the blog: Thank God for the IMB) I Hate That There Has To Be Adoption “As an adoptive mom who is walking alongside kids who grieve what they have lost, I grieve over the flippancy that my culture treats biology and its bonds. In an age of Tinder and no-fault divorce, more and more …

Thank God for the IMB

As I continue my year of so much travel, and as 2018 begins to draw to a close, I find myself pondering themes. What are some of the themes I have seen or experienced as I’ve traveled 16 countries across 5 continents? What are some of the common elements I can identify? I’ll have much more to say about this in the future, but for today I want to tell about the one that continually that rises to the top: …

Weekend A La Carte (September 22)

Today’s Kindle deals include a pretty good list of deals on some new books, some older ones, and a very good study Bible. (Yesterday on the blog: How We Ordain a Pastor) What’s the Main Concern for Christian Parents When It Comes to Gender? “In teaching classes and seminars, I have noticed that what the older generation rejects, and what the middle generation isn’t sure of, the youngest generation likely adopts. But adopting culture’s understanding of sex and gender requires jettisoning …

Free Stuff Fridays (Moody Publishers)

This week the giveaway is sponsored by Moody Publishers, who also sponsored the blog this week. Moody is giving away 10 copies to 10 winners, of the new book by Robert Wolgemuth, Lies Men Believe: and the Truth That Sets Them Free. Here’s how they describe the book: You are being hunted. Like a seasoned angler, our enemy opens his tackle box and selects the lure most likely to attract his intended prey—usually the one you and I are least …

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How We Ordain a Pastor

One of the solemn-but-joyful events in the life of a church is the ordination of a pastor (or elder, if you prefer). This is a rare event compared to many others, so is a time of special celebration. We have recently been able to enjoy it in our own church and in one of our church plants and have been greatly blessed. I thought it might be helpful to share the ordination vow our elders take before the church, and …

A La Carte (September 21)

To this point we have been thrilled with my son’s freshman experience at Boyce College. If you have children gearing up for college, you may want to consider attending the upcoming Preview Day, since that is what convinced us (and him) it was a place he could thrive. Use the code PREVIEW18 to skip the registration fee. Logos users will want to read this quick guide to all that’s on sale this month. (Yesterday on the blog: A Day With Amy Carmichael) …

A Day With Amy Carmichael (EPIC: India)

Nine months into my round-the-world EPIC journey, I finally visited India where I was able to spend a day at Dohnavur Fellowship, the incredible organization founded by Amy Carmichael. Here is a little bit of what I saw and experienced. This video was sponsored by Zondervan, and they would like you to know about the new book Know How We Got Our Bible by Ryan Reeves and Charles Hill. If you’ve never read a biography of Amy Carmichael, perhaps consider …

A La Carte (September 20)

There are, once again, a few different Kindle deals to check out. It has been a pretty good week! (Yesterday on the blog: The Joys (and the Limitations) of Male-Female Friendships) If We Lose the Meaning of “Justice,” We Lose the Gospel I really appreciate Amy’s careful distinction between justice and mercy. “Our ability to explain the gospel to people in our culture depends on our culture’s ability to understand the concept of justice. Because of this, over the years I’ve become …

The Joys (and the Limitations) of Male-Female Friendships

Newton’s third law tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Though this law pertains to physics, it seems equally true in the realm of ideas. Recently, a renewed emphasis on the value of the Billy Graham/Mike Pence Rule as a means of protecting sexual fidelity has provoked an equal and opposite emphasis on the value of male-female friendships. To be clear, what’s under discussion here is not whether it’s okay for couples to be …

A La Carte (September 19)

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple of minor deals. You may be interested in gaining access to a free teaching series by Ligonier Ministries. (Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for September) Grace Means Christians Should and Can Live Differently “Sickly saints that are on the mend give glory to the Doctor and instruct others to go to him. To profess to have found him, and bear no change, is to cast a shadow on the name …

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Book Reviews

Sacred Feathers

Sacred Feathers

Donald Smith

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New and Notable Christian Books for September

It’s that time again. I get a lot (a lot!) of books in the mail. I don’t have time to review them all, but once in a while I like to let you know about some that may be of particular interest to you. Here they are.  These are the books I introduce: Moses and the Burning Bush by RC Sproul Gender: A Conversation Guide for Parents and Pastors by Brian Seagraves and Hunter Leavine Time Out!: The gift …

A La Carte (September 18)

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of new deals from Crossway. (Yesterday on the blog: The Bit of Heaven the Heaven Tourism Books Never Touched) Parenting Daughters toward Godliness not Marriage Two aren’t incompatible, of course, but many put too little emphasis on the first of them. “My daughter has always been her own person. But I’m growing increasingly aware of how little time there is left there for me to fulfill my calling to help her became the kind of …

Act Now. Pay Later.

This week the blog is sponsored by Moody Publishers and is written by Robert Wolgemuth the author of Lies Men Believe. Very late at night and into the morning, over runny cheese omelets and cold toast at an all-night diner with my friend, we had one of those conversations I was sure I would never forget. I haven’t. A phone call from the guy’s wife led to this man-to-man talk. I had known them both for several years. He was …

The Bit of Heaven the Heaven Tourism Books Never Touched

I am sure you remember all the heaven tourism books that cluttered the shelves of Christian bookstores a few years ago. This was a fad that was never going to last long, which is why authors and publishers were so quick to frantically churn out their own tales of unlikely visits to heaven. There was money to be made and they weren’t going to miss out on their share of it! But like most fads, this one collapsed almost as …

A La Carte (September 17)

There is a pretty good list of Kindle deals to look at today. I have returned from my week-long trip to India. I was there primarily to visit sites related to my EPIC project, but I also had the opportunity to speak at a conference for pastors and to spend many, many hours getting to know Indian brothers and sisters from all across the nation. I enjoyed the trip, but am glad to be home! (Yesterday on the blog: How We Worshipped: …

How We Worshipped: Frequently Asked Questions

For the past year I’ve been sharing occasional examples of orders of worship from Grace Fellowship Church, and have been doing so under the heading of How We Worshipped. Along the way I have received quite a few questions and requests for clarification. Today I’ve compiled a small list of answers to some of the most frequent. Why don’t you take up a collection? We do, of course, allow and expect the members of the church to give, but we …

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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