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A La Carte (November 27)

A La Carte Thursday 1

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and family! May this be a day in which you truly give thanks to God for his many mercies. Check in tomorrow for my annual roundup of Black Friday deals for Christians.

Today’s Kindle deals include yet another roundup of books that should be of interest to Christian readers.

(Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for November 2025)

What False Teachings Should Make Me Leave a Church?

We all know that false teaching may require us to leave a church. In this article, John Piper considers the kinds of false teaching that would require this.

Everything Is Television

This article is not by a Christian writer (so far as I know) but is really interesting in the way it shows how sooner or later all of our new media end up mimicking television. It offers lots of helpful food for thought. (On a somewhat similar note, this video: You didn’t lose your attention span. It was stolen.)

Is it Satan or God?

“There are multiple instances in the Bible where Satan (or an evil spirit) acts with malicious intent toward a human, but where the Bible indicates that God is working behind the scenes—even moving events toward the fulfillment of his purposes (which are always good and wise).” This is a crucial dynamic to understand.

Treat People like Adults

“I fear that, without really intending to, churches have a habit of infantilising people. We should treat people like adults.” I do not disagree with this!

The Hard Way Is the Easy Way

Reagan Rose: “It’s a lesson we have to drill into our heads: Every time we choose temporary comfort over doing the hard thing, we aren’t avoiding the pain; we’re just putting it off. Eventually, procrastination has to be paid back with interest. Laziness promises peace now, but compounds pain in the future. It makes the fool’s bargain of trading temporary discomfort for long-term regret.”

Backward Progress

Jacob writes about backward progress. “Backward progress is the progress that is made by reversing course. Just like the person who has to go backwards to make the correct turn, sometimes the only way forward is to turn around.”

Flashback: How I Review a Book

A question I often receive is this one: “Can you give me some advice on writing a book review?” …I typically use a loose formula that I think can be helpful and that often resonates with readers.

If you experience gratitude as a burden, you don’t know gratitude, because true gratitude is not an exertion of the will; it’s an overflow of a sense of being treated better than you deserve.

—John Piper

  • Works and Wonders May 17

    Works & Wonders (May 17)

    Works & Wonders features Nate Bargatze vs. Beyoncé, Eric Church & Jonathan Haidt, houses for €1, “Gone Away with a Friend,” hymn sings, a Sunday devotional, and more.

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    Weekend A La Carte (May 16)

    Long form and think pieces on Ben Sasse’s miracle drug / The tragedy of Mrs. Dr. Seuss / Birthrate collapse / 30-minute meetings / Your Gen Z employees / The clippening / One awkward moment / Chatfishing / and more.

  • Gods Great Big Global Church

    Teach Your Children About God’s Great Big Global Church

    My new book releases today, and I would love it if you’d buy a copy for the children in your life! God’s Great Big Global Church, a beautifully illustrated picture book, will introduce them to 10 kids and their churches from all around the world.

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    A La Carte (May 15)

    A tough means of grace / In defense of purity culture / You can’t love the church in the abstract / A promiscuous past and a Christian marriage / The Lord of the traffic jam / Divorce and remarriage / Hillsong, Bethel, Elevation / and more.

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    A La Carte (May 14)

    Angels / Dimensions / A Christian view of UFOs / Having a baby has slowed me down / What you can’t give your children / Performative busyness / His Father’s Son / Natural theology / Deals / and more.