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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

  • Weekend A La Carte (July 18)

    This weekend’s collection of long-form and think-pieces covers declining fertility rates, the Boy Scouts, The Odyssey, AI and the elderly, and Gen Z, plus reader recommendations.

  • A Solid Defense of a Very Defensible Position

    Some issues in the church seem to arise once, but then get permanently put to rest. Others, though, seem to arise time and time again, often in slightly different forms. Gender roles are squarely in the latter category.

  • A La Carte (July 17)

    Setting a financial finish line / A manifesto on generative AI writing / What the Bible teaches about karma / Dang it, social media / D.L. Moody’s commitment to God / Playing to not lose / Book reviews / Sales and deals / and more.

  • A La Carte (July 16)

    Gen-Z revival / Devotional material that hinders spiritual growth? / Does the day end in night / When you cannot sing, let the church sing for you / Three prayers for prodigal children / The ordinary and enduring gifts of the Spirit / and more.

  • Harder to Change

    I’m Finding It Harder to Change

    As 2026 began, I decided to change up my devotions. I have followed roughly the same pattern for the last 15 or 20 years and thought it would be nice to freshen things up a little bit. It went poorly.