May the God of love and peace be with you on this fine day.
(Yesterday on the blog: We Must, We Can, Bloom for Him)
A Church Only Explained by the Gospel
It is so important, this. “The gospel of Jesus doesn’t just make strangers into friends. It makes enemies into brothers and sisters. The church is a family created by grace. Just as Jesus called fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots into his flock. And when Christ is our God, everything else falls into proper orbit around him. He is exalted above our preferences and affinities. And thus our motley band of worshipers makes Jesus look very big.”
Meet Baby Olivia (Video)
Live Action has put together a wonderful video about a baby’s development in the womb.
If All My Sins Are Forgiven, Why Pursue Holiness?
Not surprisingly, John Piper answers this question very well. “Over and over, the New Testament’s answer is this: If you go on living in sin — that is, if sin is your pattern of life, and you do not make war on your sin, but instead you make peace with your sin — you have no warrant to believe that you are in Christ.”
Reclaiming Friendship
“Men don’t know how to be friends anymore. Have you noticed?” I have. Here are some tips on being and becoming friends.
What Kingdom Story Are We Telling?
Kevin DeYoung points out, rightly, that “we can’t tell the story of the Bible in all its fullness without talking about the kingdom.”
A Greater Longing
“Our greatest desire guides every decision we make. When faced with options, we will choose what we want and what we perceive to provide the greatest benefit. Oftentimes, we have competing desires and we’ll make our choice based on the greatest desire in that moment.”
On Quenching Our Spiritual Thirst
Amber Thiessen: “We all know about the critical need for water to help plants grow and produce. Not only that, but water represents life, survival, and cleansing. Challenges this last year have pushed our limits, made us question our values, and revealed tension we never thought could exist. We long for rest, to be away from it all. Almost unprepared to tango with another calamity.”
Flashback: Meatless, Cheeseless, Crustless Pizza and the Evangelical Church
If there is something your church can offer every week that has the power to save, teach, reprove, correct, train, and mature, wouldn’t you want to emphasize it? Wouldn’t it be foolish not to offer that to the people week by week?
When you are discontented you will find out the root of any discontent if you study your heart well.
—Jeremiah Burroughs
