Today’s Kindle deals include a whole long list from Matthias Media.
(Yesterday on the blog: How Calvin Responded When Luther Went Full-Out Luther)
Where Can Women Teach? Eight Principles for Christian Churches
Mary Kassian has written a helpful article that shares some principles to help clarify teaching roles within the church. “Where is the line when it comes to women teaching men? May women preach on Sunday mornings? Teach a Sunday school class? Lead a small group? Instruct a seminary course? Speak at a conference? At a couples’ retreat? On the radio? May women ever teach from Scripture when men are in the audience? Should men even be reading this article?”
3 Huge Downsides to a Busy Church
It’s too easy to confuse a busy church with a faithful church. “Many churches are incredibly busy and many church calendars are filled with too many things. It would seem some church leaders believe the pithy ‘If Satan can’t make you bad, he will make you busy’ for congregants but not for the congregation.”
Two Free Reformation Resources (SPONSORED LINK)
What led Martin Luther to make a courageous stand for the gospel in his day? Until Reformation Day, October 31, Ligonier Ministries is offering free digital downloads of R.C. Sproul’s video teaching series Luther and the Reformation plus the ebook The Legacy of Luther, edited by R.C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols.
What’s the Biblical Understanding of Conversion? (Video)
“It’s one thing to say that God is totally sovereign in salvation. But it’s another thing entirely to let that conviction shape and constrain how your church actually does ministry.” Nathan Malpass explains.
The Messiness of Being Human
Here’s an interesting series on the messiness of being human. (You can find part 1 here.)
Must We Count All as Loss to Follow Christ?
Jason Meyer addresses a tricky passage.
How Do You Figure Out Who To Work With?
“Most of us – even dyed-in-the-wool independents like us – want to have a level of inter-connectedness with other churches. Whilst there are certainly some isolationist churches out there, who cannot countenance working with anybody beyond their own four walls, I suspect that isn’t most of us. At the same time, whilst there are others who seem happy to work with absolutely anybody at all – Christian or otherwise – I suspect that isn’t the position of most churches either. The vast majority of us have a line somewhere.”
Is Scripture Sufficient for Counseling?
Ed Welch: “How does this inform the question of Scripture’s sufficiency in counseling? Sufficiency does not mean that Scripture provides a script for all occasions. That would oppose my dependence on Christ and essentially put me under an endless series of detailed laws. It also doesn’t mean that I keep my nose in Scripture and don’t get help from anywhere else. Instead, I hope to be a desperate learner who looks anywhere for ideas and help.”
Flashback: An Explanatory Lord’s Supper
Last week we dedicated the entire service to an “explanatory Lord’s Supper.” In other words, we not only celebrated the Lord’s Supper, but we also explained each part of the service to ensure our members do not only know what we do, but also why we do it.
What can an enemy do? Quite a bit. But no enemy can restrain God from remembering and acting on your behalf. No enemy will ultimately triumph.
—Ed Welch
