There are many ways we may respond to the sudden onrush of some new pain or the sudden onset of some fresh sorrow. There are many options set before us when health fails and uncertainty draws near, when wealth collapses and bankruptcy looms, when a loved one is taken and we are left alone. There…
A La Carte: What are demons and how should we think about them? / It’s time to stop bagging out the “average church member” / Alistair Begg and the loving thing / The internal contradiction in transgender theories / Seeing in color / The sad relief / and more.
A La Carte: Evangelicals need a constructive vision / He’s with you, no matter what / Keeping singing the (whole) gospel / Abundant life in room 129 / On pastors and professors / Was Jesus confused by the cross? / and more.
This week the blog is sponsored by Thomas Nelson Bibles. This post is adapted from the introduction of the Timeless Truths Bible by Matthew Z. Capps, Sr. Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church (Apex, NC), who served as its general editor. What is the most important thing you need to know about the Bible? In my…
You probably heard about the recent mishap with Alaska Airlines flight 1282. Shortly after it departed Portland, a door plug blew out of the aircraft’s hull which caused the immediate and uncontrolled decompression of the cabin. The pilots quickly descended to an altitude at which the air was breathable and subsequently brought the plane and…
A La Carte: Winter’s wait / Babel and the sin of glorifying ourselves / 10 things you should know about American criminal justice / A call for churches and individuals to ministry among the elderly / Kindle deals / and more.
It is a question we all wonder at one time or another: What can we do to repay the debt we owe to Christ? What can we do for the One who has done so much for us? What cost would be sufficient and what length of service would be adequate? James Edmeston once pondered…
Weekend A La Carte: Listening well to domestic abuse survivors / The only way to satisfy the longings of your soul / Confronting a loved one with narcissism / Missed opportunities and the best of all possible timelines / Hopeful for the future of disability ministry / and more.
New year, new books! As a new year begins, publishers have been hard at work with new releases. I sorted through the many options and arrived at this list of new and notables. In each case, I’ve provided the editorial description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there’s something…
A La Carte: Is ‘gentle parenting’ biblical? / The challenge of choosing between bitter and better / Is that wise? / The spiritual promise the cinema can’t deliver / What is the church? / and more.
A La Carte: Shepherding our children through hardships and trials / Redeem time in the age of TikTok / God is for you, no matter where, who, or what / Three reasons Christians should oppose abortion / 5 signs our inner peace might be a deceptive calm / and more.
I have yet to meet the Christian who has mastered prayer. In fact, I have yet to meet the Christian who feels like much more than a beginner in the school of prayer. Though I know many who pray, I know few who are convinced they really understand prayer. In a strange way, I find…
A La Carte: How to persevere in winter seasons / The paper dolls of polyamory / The shame of a prodigal daughter / Fish story / Seek God’s face before his hand / Seven things church leaders need to consider / and more.
A La Carte: Back in my day vs for such a time as this / You are not the only one / Dangers in interpreting circumstances / When consequences are irreversible / To lead quiet and peaceful lives / and more.
Today’s blog is sponsored by the D3 Youth Conference, March 8-9, 2024 at Boyce College in Louisville, KY. Some words become so familiar they risk losing their meaning. For Christians, the term “disciple” carries just such a risk. We read about Jesus calling forth disciples in the pages of the Gospels. We recognize the command…
I once heard of a ship that was crossing the Atlantic from Europe to South America, and as it neared the end of its crossing, it escaped a close call that would have sent it to the depths and would have taken the lives of many of its passengers. After departing Dover, the ship had…
A La Carte: Dancing in an empty theater / Do you assume motives? / Why I’m a better pastor for you than… / Consider your attitude to the local church / Orthodoxy is a friend of the young / Lord’s Supper is not a pot luck / Kindle deals / and more.
God’s plan and God’s expectation is that those who are saved will bear fruit. And not only will they bear fruit, but they will bear fruit quickly and abundantly. Fruitfulness is evidence of both salvation and sanctification.
Weekend A La Carte: Ministerial platforms, self-praise, and self-glory / The traits of false teachers / Grace from the God who guards your life / Beware the devil’s normal schemes / Actual trust / and more.
I still remember, and may never forget, the first time I stopped to consider envy. I was reading a book by Os Guinness and was blindsided by a section on that particular sin. I immediately understood that it was prominent in my life and immediately began to take steps to address it. The process took…