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A La Carte (September 29)

I’ve returned safely from Switzerland, having combed its museums and cathedrals looking for objects related to church history. And I found some incredible ones! But I will have more to say on that soon. For now, here are some articles to read:

Matt Chandler’s Village Church Ends Multisite Era

I find this very encouraging: “The Village Church, the multisite Texas megachurch led by Matt Chandler, will transition from several campuses across the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex to individual autonomous churches within the next five years, leaving behind a multisite model for a deeper commitment to local ministry and church planting.”

One Man’s Dream Destroyed Millions

As you’d expect, many people have written about the death of Hugh Hefner. Desiring God covered it well, as did Joe Carter and Russell Moore

This Sporting Life

Carl Trueman: “Amid the hoo-hah surrounding the clash between Donald Trump and the NFL, perhaps the most important question does not concern the righteousness of the two sides’ positions. Rather, it concerns why any of us should allot special importance to the political views of a group of men whose sole claim to fame is the ability to play a schoolyard game with exceptional competence.”

Make Church Announcements Great Again

Tim Scheiderer looks at three ways churches do announcements poorly. “The problem with these delivery styles is that the stated motivations don’t match the glory and weight of what the congregation is being asked to participate in. The magnificent blessing of the event or service opportunity is masked by the mediocre delivery system. Churches shouldn’t take an event intended to display the truth of God and serve it on a platter of mediocrity.” He offers a better way.

When Transgender Children Are Harmed by the People Who Intended to Help Them

I fear we will begin to hear more and more stories like this one. “Here’s a heartbreaking story out of Australia about a boy and his mother who circumvented the law (with the ‘help’ of doctors) in order to start his transitioning process at age 12. He has since decided he wants to be a boy after all, but now he has to have surgery to reverse results of the hormone treatments.”

A New Kind of Youth Ministry

I’m not sure where this series is going to go, but it gets off to a fascinating start with its history of youth ministry.

A Truck Full of Nails

This is kind of a funny story: “A truck driving through Metairie dumped thousands of nails all over Interstate 10, as though seeking vengeance against cars.”

Flashback: All Those Things I Will Leave Undone

Life is a vapor, too short, too fleeting. But I believe this: I may not have time to do everything I would like to do, but I have all the time I need for those things that God expects me to do.

The fondness we have for self furnishes another long rank of prejudices.

—Isaac Watts

  • Prepare for Christmas

    Now’s the Time to Prepare to Prepare for Christmas

    It’s probably a bit too early to begin preparing for Christmas. But it’s not too early to begin preparing to prepare for Christmas. For example, if you want to use a guide or devotional in the lead-up to December 25, this is the time to start looking into your options and buying the one you…

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    A La Carte (November 8)

    A La Carte: Guard kids’ eyes and hearts online / The game is up for the mainstream media / The church’s unsung hero / Dear New York Times / Bear one another’s burdens / Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (November 7)

    A La Carte: Where abortion policies stand now / Misconceptions about sports betting / You shall surely die / Does evolution care about you? / Ministering to orphans in Africa / Book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • Not a Complimentary Gospel

    It Is Not a Complimentary Gospel

    I think we have all felt the temptation to modify the gospel, to preach a gospel that is inaccurate or incomplete. I think we have all felt the desire to avoid the reproach that may come upon us when we preach the whole gospel and true gospel—the gospel that is so very bad before it…

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    A La Carte (November 6)

    A La Carte: A warning about having children / Leave church a little tired / Making virtues out of what isn’t virtuous / Is Exodus a myth? / A theology of leisure / Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (November 5)

    A La Carte: Why women use pornography / I want God’s wrath on my enemy / Looking at photos with my mum / 10 things you should know about your conscience / I love being a pastor / and more.