Today is not much of a day for Kindle deals, unfortunately. We will hope for better things tomorrow.
(Yesterday on the blog: Who Gets To Rule Our Hearts This Week?)
More Than a Shibboleth
Lots of churches emphasize the ordinary means of grace, but there’s an important distinction still to be made. “While professing a commitment to the God-ordained means of grace is right and good, it is altogether possible for pastors to neglect vital biblical nuances concerning the administration of the ordinary means. It is obligatory for us to be committed to a right administration of the ordinary means of grace, and not simply that we are committed to them.”
Cool Christianity Is (Still) a Bad Idea
Brett McCracken reflects on his book Hipster Christianity ten years after its release. “It’s telling that the majority of the “hip Christian figureheads” I profiled in the book are now far off the radar of evangelical influence. Donald Miller is a marketing consultant. Mark Driscoll’s Seattle megahurch dissolved. Rob Bell is a new-age guru endorsed by Oprah and Elizabeth Gilbert. And so forth. That many of the names and trends highlighted in Hipster Christianity a mere decade ago are now nearly forgotten (and would be replaced with a whole new set of personalities and trends today) proves the book’s point.”
Discourse with the Foolish
“Proverbs 26:4–5 tells us: ‘Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.’ I have to confess that I love these verses. But let’s be honest. Many believers have stumbled over this text and even more have been challenged by unbelievers with this text. Don’t be intimidated.”
The Suburb Is Dead: Long Live The Suburb
Lots of people have been talking about the current or coming migration from the city to the suburbs. In this one Stephen McAlpine reflects on the long-forecasted death of suburbia.
Five Ways Churches Will Have Changed One Year From Now
Speaking of forecasting, here are some predictions from Thom Rainer on some of the ways churches will have changed a year from now. “While it is admittedly difficult to project trends in typical times, it is exceedingly difficult to do so in a time of pandemic headed for, hopefully, a post-quarantine era. Because we hear from so many church leaders and church members, allow me to venture where local churches will be in one year.”
Can Unbelievers Do Good Deeds?
R.C. Sproul answers in his inimitable way.
Carrying a Knapsack
I benefited from this reflection on what it means for each of us to carry our own load.
Flashback: Treasure Your Marriage
Your wife thrives when she can count on the rock-solid assurance of your commitment to her; she withers in distrust and broken vows. Do you love your wife in a steadfast way?
If the first mark of a true and living church is love, the second is suffering. The one is naturally consequent on the other. A willingness to suffer proves the genuineness of love.
—John Stott
