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A La Carte (September 25)

A La Carte Collection cover image

May the Lord be with you and bless you on this fine day.

Today’s Kindle deals include a book on parenting, a helpful study through James, a reader-friendly introduction to biblical theology, and a devotional by Sinclair Ferguson. (Note: there was a huge and unexpected one-day sale today on tons of books; be sure to check in.)

(Yesterday on the blog: A Huge Batch of New Books for Children and Teens)

Day Shall Come Again

Amy Mantravadi looks to a favorite Tolkien motif to remind us that, no matter how dark it may seem, day shall come again. “Darkness is always present in the world—a dominating aspect of human existence on earth. Here I refer not merely to the absence of physical light, but the presence of evil. This darkness never truly disappears. It may wax and wane at times, but it is usually our perception that changes. Sometimes we pay more attention to the goodness in our world, and sometimes the evil smacks us in the face so we cannot avoid it. The sun may seem to shine on one person just as darkness engulfs another.”

Ordinary Sundays Have Dangerous Potential

It’s good to be reminded that the most ordinary of Sundays is still full of potential.

2026 Missionary National Conference: The Lord Who Sends

From October 14–16, 2026, Missionary will host its National Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Together we will search the Scriptures and see how God’s Word shapes our local churches for the glorious and sacrificial work of sending missionaries to reach the remaining unreached languages. Speakers include John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Mark Dever, Michael Reeves, Brooks Buser, Ian Hamilton, Chad Vegas, Aubrey Sequeira, Jonathan Master, and Paul Schlehlein. Save $150 when you register today. (Sponsored)

How Fast Should a Preacher Preach Words if a Preacher Could Preach Words?

I appreciate Benjamin sharing an awkward bit of his preaching ministry to open up a discussion about the pace of preaching. “I wonder how much better I would be as a preacher—how much better any preacher would be—if loving feedback from friends in the pews met humility and teachability from preachers in the pulpit. I’d like to spend the rest of my ministry finding out.”

Why Young Men Are Coming Back to Church

It sure seems like young men are coming to church (or coming back to church) in greater numbers than we have come to expect. This article suggests why that may be the case. Essentially, “Young men became poor. And now ours is the kingdom of heaven. Allow me to explain.”

Why Does Jesus Call the Canaanite Woman a Dog? (Video)

Dr. Daniel Stevens explains why Jesus appears to call a Canaanite woman a dog.

To Speak or Not to Speak: Thoughts on Making Public Comment

Everyone who has a public voice (or a social media account) has to wrestle with this at one time or another–when do I speak up and when do I remain silent?

Flashback: When You Long to Know the “Why” Behind Your Sorrow

Times of suffering are a tragic reality on this side of heaven. And as you endure them, I plead with you not to cheapen your tragedies by being too quick to assume you know God’s purposes in them. Rather, entrust them to the One who has proven worthy of your trust, your confidence, and your deepest devotion.

God does not bless what his word forbids.

—Matthew Rueger

  • 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.

  • Science and God

    Do You Have to Choose Between Science and God?

    Whatever else young people know today, they know that science and God are opposed to one another. At least, they think they know this, because it has been taught to them in a hundred formal and informal settings, from the classroom to the television. They have been taught that they must choose between science and…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (February 13)

    A La Carte: You don’t have a LGBTQ neighbor / Satan doesn’t use rubber bullets / John Piper on criticizing God / Tales that celebrate traditional families / The little things matter / and more.

  • 12 General Market Books I Have Enjoyed Recently

    While I am committed to reading and reviewing Christian books, I also enjoy reading a steady diet of books published for the general market. I suppose my interests lean toward history, but I do read other books as well. Here are a few of the titles I’ve enjoyed over the past couple of months.