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A La Carte (November 11)

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Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of excellent books by Derek Cooper that will help you understand other religions (and cults). You’ll find some other good picks as well.

Westminster Books is offering a good discount on Tim Keller’s posthumous book What Is Wrong with the World?.

(Yesterday on the blog: When It Feels Like the Temptation Is Coming From Outside)

A Significant Action for a Ministry to Move From Addition to Multiplication

Here’s a neat little observation about the way the early church went from addition to multiplication.

The Post-Literate Pastor

“Johann Hari recently described his screen-addled godson as ‘whirring at the speed of Snapchat, somewhere where nothing still or serious could reach him.’ If that description starts to characterize the up-and-coming generation of pastors, the future is grim. I want my generation’s pastors to succeed. But I believe that will require them to be better readers and learners. So if you’re a seminary professor or a mentor of aspiring pastors, train them to be rigorous readers and don’t bless their entrance into ministry until they’ve proven an aptitude for reading.”

10 Things to Pray for Children Who Have Walked Away From Jesus

Parents who are laboring in prayer for children who have walked away from Jesus may benefit from considering these 10 different prayer points.

To My Almost-Adult Kids: Don’t Be Afraid of These Three Words

Amy shares a letter she has written to her children in which she gives them three words they should never be afraid to say. “I try not to tell you about all my worries. But one fear that I want you to know about? I worry you will be afraid to say these three words…”

Shame Today Is Worth It

John Piper does a great job explaining these tough words: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

When We’re All Grown Up: The Goal of Our Soul Care

As we care for other people’s souls (and our own), it’s important that we keep in mind the goal of spiritual maturity. “When we are all grown up, we will finally do the right thing without a struggle. That’s because we will want to do what Jesus would–submit unreservedly to the will of our Heavenly Father. Our good works will become perfect works. But, strangely enough, this will include resigning ourselves to suffering.”

Flashback: Doctor Google, Influencer Moms, and the Local Church

We have become so accustomed to Googling everything, relying on the expertise of digital experts, and experiencing community online that we may fail to make use of the resources God has given us and means for us to take advantage of.

Money can be an expression of love but never a substitute for love.

—John MacArthur

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    A La Carte (February 17)

    A La Carte: Abstaining from communion / Get married young / When the world shifts under your feet / Eliminating envy / Messiah complex / Making temptation flee / Kindle deals / and more.

  • How to Evangelize and Disciple in a “Live Your Truth” World

    Our culture lacks any coherent, unifying worldview. We’ve moved on from post-truth postmodernism to “Live your truth” metamodernism, where good vibes matter more than consistent ideas. In this world, few see the conflict between “trans-affirming” and “pro-woman.” And the same person using mushrooms to aid spiritual “connection” tells us to “trust the science” about human…

  • AI

    A Simple Way To Ensure You Use AI Well (And Not Poorly) 

    Every new technology introduces both benefits and drawbacks to its users and to the wider culture. The world being what it is, there are always plusses and minuses, so that even as a new tech gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. We are quickly learning that Artificial Intelligence is no exception…

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    A La Carte (February 16)

    A La Carte: God is glad to forgive you / Gen Z needs this doctrine / The draw of Eastern Orthodoxy / Rest for the restless / Finding love after loss / Kindle and book deals / and more.

  • Duty

    For Our Good, Not For Our Bondage

    Matthew Henry once said that when we are out of the way of duty, we are in the way of temptation. Yet Jerry Bridges warns that the spiritual disciplines are privileges to be used, not duties to be performed. So are they duties or are they not?

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    Weekend A La Carte (February 14)

    A La Carte: Satan wants you alone this Sunday / The discipline of unlearning / Asking a pastor to step down / Holy humor / Intentional thankfulness / and more.