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A La Carte (July 17)

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The ESV Expository Commentary is an excellent reader-friendly series and this week Westminster Books has it heavily discounted as either individual volumes or the entire series.

Today’s Kindle deals include a long list of Christian and general market deals. There are tons of great picks today.

I also noticed that a lot of board games are on sale at Amazon in case that’s of interest.

Every Place Is a Place to Talk About Jehovah

“At the end of the day, every Christian who finds evangelism difficult and challenging asks these questions to themselves – Why don’t I just support the evangelistic efforts of those who are clearly more gifted at reaching out to unbelievers than me? Can I not just live a normal and peaceful Christian life, caring for and fellowshipping with those who are already in my church? Must I evangelize unbelievers around me?”

A Precious Mystery

Reflecting on the death of a church member, Melissa writes, “God’s ways are so mysterious. He gives and He takes away. He brings us joy and grief in the same moment. He teaches us peace and patience during the most harrowing experiences of our lives. He prepares a place for us when we don’t deserve it. He gives us opportunities to give and receive love, to experience true beauty, to find the value in great sorrow. He comforts us. And He teaches us how to love each other well.”

Interpreting the Bible Through the Lens of History

God has revealed Himself as Creator and Redeemer in the historical events of Scripture. Join Todd Chipman for free to study biblical interpretation through the lens of history with For The Church Institute at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College. (Sponsored)

Stop Calling the Church a ‘Family’

That might be slightly overstating the matter, but I think he raises some valid points. “I can find no real Biblical warrant for insisting on the use of the term family at all. If anything, it’s confusing and creates the wrong idea. Can we use it as an analogy? Of course, but we need to break down the natural confusion when we do by our words and our actions.”

How to Care for a Big Church

Pastors and elders will find some helpful ideas here for caring for the members of their churches.

How Marriage Shows the Beauty and Poetry of the Gospel

Darryl Dash: “God created gender. He created man and woman, and he instituted marriage. All of this was a gift meant for his glory and for our joy. But things went horribly wrong in the garden. Yes, they sinned, but part of that sin was the breakdown in how marriage is supposed to function.”

What Should We Learn From the Immensity of the Heavens?

“What other living being has searched the night sky and then pondered his own significance? What other creature has been awed and inspired by the beauty and majesty of the heavens or been curious to explore the far stretches of the universe?” That being the case, what should we learn from the sheer immensity of the heavens?

Flashback: If Satan Took Up Marriage Counseling

If Satan took up marriage counseling, he would want struggles or issues a couple encounters to be left festering and unresolved. “It’s fine and good to let the sun set on your anger.”

A half-truth masquerading as a whole truth becomes a complete untruth.

—J.I. Packer

  • When the Bible Seems Confusing, Lean in and Look Close

    When the Bible vexes us, when it befuddles us, when it talks over our heads or down to our sensibilities, guest writer and author of From Eden to Egypt, Alex Duke tells us this is an invitation to lean in and look close. #Sponsored

  • Foremost false teacher

    The World’s Foremost False Teacher

    In the days since Pope Francis died, I have seen a number of Protestants write about his legacy. Some of these writers have expressed great appreciation for him while others have expressed great concern. The reactions to these articles, and especially the critiques, have been interesting to me. Some people have expressed dismay that their…

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    A La Carte (May 5)

    A La Carte: Do you see the Holy Spirit? / Joy in a doom-and-gloom news cycle / Comfort when we least expect it / How to get people to be friends with machines / The internet perpetuates our spiritual dementia / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The Dark Shadow on the Short Grave

    The Dark Shadow on the Short Grave

    As the great Friend of children stooped down and leaned toward the cradle, and took the little one in his arms and walked away with it into the bower of eternal summer, your eye began to follow him, and you followed the treasure he carried, and you have been following them ever since. And instead…

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    Weekend A La Carte (May 3)

    A La Carte: When the world seems to be winning / Carson, Keller, Piper / Honesty over performance / Those who walk with sorrow / Why God allows temptation to remain / Failing and falling / and more.