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A La Carte (August 25)

friday

Aileen and I have had a wonderful time on this twenty-fifth anniversary trip to New Zealand. But the time to leave is drawing near. We will see a few more sites on Saturday, worship with a nearby local church on Sunday, then make our way home on Monday. The Lord has been very kind to us.

On sale this week at Westminster Books is one I’ve very much been looking forward to reading.

The Death of Church and Pub

Carl Trueman spent some time in England and now reflects on the death of the church and the demise of the pub.

5 Resolutions for the Weary and Worn Out

“There is a certain weariness that comes in the summer, when we suddenly realize half the year has flown by and things aren’t better than it was in January—or have gotten worse. Maybe your relationships need work, and you’ve found yourself fighting with family and friends. Maybe there’s trouble at home and brokenness in your family. Maybe you’re tired of running the Christian race and your spiritual life has grown stale.” Aaron Lee offers help.

Pastors and Social Media

Samuel James lets us in on some of the questions he might ask a candidate for a ministry position if he was serving on a pastoral search committee.

Pastoral Q & A: How Often Should I Confess My Sin?

How often should a Christian confess his sins? Wes offers a good answer to the question.

Corinthian Enthusiasm

Derek Thomas: “Only one book is absolutely essential to save us, to equip us to obey God’s will, and to glorify Him in whatever we do. Only one book gives us undiluted truth —the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Only one book serves as our ultimate and final authority in all that it affirms. That book, of course, is the Bible, God’s Holy Word. … And yet the irony is that if we use only this book, we may in fact be in disobedience to it.”

The Basics — The Order of Salvation

Kim Riddelbarger continues his series on basic Christian theology with a brief description of the ordo salutis, or order of salvation. This is important theology, so worth reading about.

Flashback: The Rise of Digital Technologies and the Decline of Reading

There was once a time reading came easy, but now it seems to be hard. The difference, they say, is all these new technologies…Let me offer a few thoughts on the rise of digital technologies and the decline of reading.

The gospel teaches us we are unworthy. We are saved by grace, not by worth.

—Sinclair Ferguson

  • Bible writing

    If You Had Written the Bible

    Have you ever thought about what the Bible would be like if you had been in charge of writing or editing it? Whatever you would do, I am quite certain you would end up with something that would bear far more resemblance to a systematic theology text than the Bible we hold in our hands…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (October 20)

    A La Carte: Assisted suicide / The future of Anglicanism / Busyness / When dad will not lead / When you are maligned / Surprised by his goodness / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Bible

    No Guarantee of Life and Vigor

    Many cold and lifeless churches testify to the fact that the mere presence of the Bible is no guarantee of spiritual life and vigor. Many churches have a Bible tucked neatly into every pew, but teach a message radically at odds with the words of that very Book.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (October 18)

    A La Carte: The trans train / 3 kinds of forgiveness / It’s better to die / A helper corresponding to him / A former social-mediaholic / Honest church leadership / and more.

  • Anxiety

    You Were Made To Tremble

    Christians have an unusual relationship with trials. While we do not wish to go through trials, and while we generally try to avoid them, we also know that God uses them to accomplish his good purposes in the world and in our lives.