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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

  • Conform

    You Can Conform to Christ Even if You Don’t Conform to Me

    One of the aspects of the Christian faith that I find particularly perplexing is the freedom God gives his people to obey him in different or even opposite ways, so that one person’s obedience is another person’s disobedience. Even as two people take the same action, one might be obeying him and the other disobeying…

  • A La Carte (June 10)

    Does prayer make a difference? / Portrait of an abortionist / Pushing back against the black tax / Bring your whole self to work / Blessed are the weak / When service isn’t a transaction / A pastoral analogy / Bill C-9 will soon be law in Canada / and more.

  • A La Carte (June 9)

    Thawed embryos, reproductive rights, and the grey marshlands of ethical ennui / 14 World Cup stars who follow Jesus / The God of small churches / How a critical theorist influenced the sexualization of everything / When culture trumps strategy / Fasting and feasting / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Six Counsels for a Sending Church

    Sacrificial obedience to the One who sends is what it will take to reach every language. Join us October 14 to 16 in Dallas–Fort Worth for The Lord Who Sends as we reflect on God’s word and the lives of missionaries who followed the Great Commission.

  • The Two Kinds of Content You Consume

    The Two Kinds of Content You Consume

    At some point we all began to refer to articles and video as content. And today we are drowning in it! Here is a simple filter for telling content created to serve you apart from content created to serve its maker.

  • A La Carte (June 8)

    The humbling I needed / There must be blood / How to read the Bible when your heart feels cold / The delightful duty of married sex / Are we forgiven for the sins we can’t remember? / All things without complaining or arguing