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A La Carte (December 24)

tuesday

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple of books. Maybe people don’t buy books on Christmas Eve.

What are the essential ingredients of a true church? (Video)

It’s important to know the historic marks of a true (versus a false) church.

The Closed Lid

“Throughout the Bible, God uses illustrations to teach His people specific truths about Himself. Sometimes it’s about His character, sometimes it’s instruction on how to relate to Him, and sometimes it is to remind us of the ways in which He proves His love and care for us.”

Remember the good old days when it was Christians who wanted Harry Potter banned?

How the tides have turned…

How one company changed the way we watch television

It’s interesting to consider how entertainment has been utterly transformed over the past decade. Netflix has taken the lead.

The Problem With My Christmas Traditions

“Ask anyone in my family and they’ll tell you—probably with a wry smile—how much I love traditions. I want things to be done like they always have been. Especially at Christmas.”

VFX Artist Reveals the True Scale of Atoms

This is kind of a neat way of illustrating the microscopic world.

WHAT WAS THE STAR AND HOW DID THE WISE MEN KNOW TO FOLLOW IT? (SPONSORED)

“What was the star and how did the wise men know to follow it? These are questions people are curious to have answered, especially this time of year. During the Christmas season, many who are hostile to anything Biblical, won’t object to hearing about the ‘Christmas Story’. Often, they welcome it with curiosity! When would be a better opportunity for some undercover evangelizing than when gathering with our friends and family during Christmas week?”

A Thrill of Hope

Jared Wilson: “I don’t know where this Christmas week finds you, but it may be in a very darkened place. Emotionally, psychologically, or spiritually you may feel dry and despondent. Christmas feels thin to you, hollow. The sentimentality of the holiday is a weak antidote for what ails you. I want to urge you for a moment to look beyond the wrapping to the Gift. You can find hope this Christmas.”

Flashback: Why We Know So Little About Jesus’ Birth

When it comes to the birth of Jesus, we get all the details we need to understand one thing with the utmost clarity: Jesus comes as the least.

So great and boundless is God’s wisdom that he knows right well how to use evil instruments to do good.

—John Calvin

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    A La Carte (December 2)

    A La Carte: Lab rats for gender drug tests / How your church can serve the poor / Cross-cultural ministry / Cross-cultural marriage / The gift of nothing to do / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Self Loathing

    Don’t Think Lower Thoughts of Yourself than God Does

    I can be prone to self-loathing. Sometimes this takes the form of thinking about things I’ve done or recounting words I’ve said and detesting myself for them. Sometimes it takes the form of thinking about who I am and hating who God has made me to be, or thinking about the way God has gifted…

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    A La Carte (December 1)

    A La Carte: Should I stay or go? / Dust / Worshiping God at the ends of the earth / Why many reject penal substitutionary atonement / We have not arrived yet / Every human an image bearer / and more.

  • Sing

    Singing Is Not Filler Time

    While it may be rare to find a church that dedicates a substantial portion of the service to prayers and Scripture reading, it would be rare to find a church that fails to dedicate a substantial portion of the service to singing. Christians love to sing, and we have always regarded it as an essential…

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    Weekend A La Carte (November 29)

    A La Carte: What’s the point of longevity? / The 12-hour rule / Thank the Lord for the hard stuff / People aren’t homogenous blocs / Before you say no to childcare / Kindle deals / and more.