A La Carte (July 11)
Like everyone else, I’m intrigued by Threads. If you’re there, why not connect.
As you probably know, it’s Prime Day. While Amazon doesn’t tend to do deals on Kindle books, they do have deals on Kindle devices (and, of course, tons of other stuff) in case you’re after one.
Today’s Kindle deals include an edition of Calvin’s Institutes that is a great value.
(Yesterday on the blog: When You Don’t Like Your Wife, Love Your Wife)
Bad Readers and Their Twitter Swarms
I consider this a very important article if we are ever to learn to behave ourselves on Twitter (and other social media). “Gregoire’s treatment of Pearcey’s argument would be laughed out of any serious classroom for how plainly dishonest and manipulative it is. But on a social media platform optimized for sneering that same treatment is rewarded. The only way to combat it, I think, is to refuse to be manipulated, to refuse to participate in swarms, and to instead actually take the time to do what our critics consistently refuse to do themselves.”
Do the Evil People in Our Churches Mean Our Theology is Evil too?
“I remember believing my parents knew everything—when I was five years old. Any question as grand as God’s eternality to as simple as the thoughts of ladybugs. Any question I had, they could answer it. Or so I believed.” Ah, the innocence of youth…
“Paul Washer. . . stands in stark contrast to the trifling superficiality of our generation.”—John MacArthur
“Washer understands and remains committed to the value and preeminence of the gospel, and he writes about it with passion and clarity. I love what he has done in this book, skillfully explaining the gospel, describing its incredible legacy, demonstrating its inestimable worth, and arguing convincingly for the gospel to have its rightful place—first place—in the study, conversation, fellowship, and worship of Christians individually and the church collectively.” —John MacArthur (Sponsored Link)
Mother to the Exploited: Meet Amy Carmichael (1867–1951)
This is a lovely introduction to the amazing Amy Carmichael. (One of my great memories of my Epic journey was meeting one of the last children she personally received and prayed for prior to her death.)
Is conversion necessary for the salvation of the elect? (Video)
Derek Thomas has a good answer to the question.
Hospitality is an Everyday Endeavor
“Ask most people in the church what hospitality is meant to look like, and they will probably describe a meal in someone’s home or an overnight stay with friends. We have been trained to think of it as food, tables, napkins, centerpieces, or more recently, opening the doors of imperfect homes to usher in friends and strangers alike. These examples of hospitality aren’t bad, but when we think of hospitality as an event, we lose a lot of the meaning behind its purpose. ” Melissa has something else to consider.
It Is What It Is
“‘It is what it is,’ he shrugged. ‘Nothing we can do about it now.’ I sighed in frustration. Was that all? No anger? No complaining? I wanted to bemoan it for awhile. To vent my frustration. But that little phrase sucked the air out of my protest.”
Flashback: Are You Living Worthy of the Gospel?
…there’s a call on every Christian to acknowledge our heavenly citizenship and then to live in a way that is consistent with it. As we sojourn in this world as citizens of heaven, people around us are paying attention.
…we think of holiness as giving up the pleasures of sin for some worthy but drab life. But holiness means recognizing that the pleasures of sin are empty and temporary, while God is inviting us to magnificent, true, full, and rich pleasures that last forever. —Tim Chester
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Free Stuff Fridays (Nelson Books)
This week Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Nelson Books. They are giving away ten copies of Misled: 7 Lies That Distort the Gospel (and How You Can Discern the Truth) by Allen Parr
ABOUT MISLED:
The gospel is under attack today–not only from outside cultural forces but also from within the church. In Misled, popular YouTuber and Bible teacher Allen Parr equips readers to identify and withstand seven of the most common false teachings that undermine the gospel and lead many well-meaning Christians astray.
For an anxious and weary world, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the one true source of deep peace and lasting joy. But today, many supposedly Christian teachers are spreading ideas that amount to what Paul called “another gospel.”
The result? A generation of believers confused about what God really says, what he offers, and what he wants for his children. From the heavy burden of legalism to an overemphasis on prosperity or spiritual gifts to warped understandings of grace, every false teaching has two things in common: they all use half-truths that look and sound biblical (making them very difficult to identify) and they all harm and discourage those who are trying to follow the way of Jesus.
In Misled, Allen Parr weaves together stories from his own spiritual journey and the lives of those he’s ministered to show the painful consequences of following false teachings and to provide clear explanations of what the Bible really teaches about the gospel. Readers willlearn about seven of the most misleading and harmful messages that run rampant within the church today;
be equipped to identify not only “wolves in shepherd’s clothing” who peddle counterfeit gospels, but also well-intentioned teachers whose half-truths are no less harmful to the church; and
discover how they can find the freedom, peace, and joy that only comes from embracing the gospel in all its purity and simplicity.With the same balanced, Bible-based approach that has made Parr’s YouTube channel a go-to resource, Misled offers clarity and hope for anyone who has felt discouraged or confused in their spiritual journey—and invites readers to find everything they’ve been searching for in the true gospel.
Enter Here! -
My Epic Documentary Series Is Now Free to Watch
In 2020 I teamed up with Zondervan to release Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History. This is a two-part product that takes the form of an illustrated book and a ten-part documentary video series. While the book and documentary can each be enjoyed on their own, they also complement one another well. Epic is ideal for group studies, homeschool curriculum, and enjoying either alone or with the whole family.
I am pleased to let you know that the ten-part documentary video series is now available for free on YouTube.
Of course, Epic is best when the documentary is paired with the book, so I recommend you also buy the softcover book which you can find discounted at both Amazon and Westminster Books. The two products are ideal companions for one another and together will help you both see and understand the history of the Christian faith.
To watch the videos, you can visit YouTube or challies.com/epic/.
Beginning with Jesus and the early church, I look at:The importance of graffiti on an ancient jail cell
The creedal significance of a carving on a museum statue
The enduring importance of ancient manuscripts and books
And much more!Along the way, you’ll discover the story you’re already a part of.
Epic features:An epic journey: 24 countries, 6 continents, 75 flights, 80 museums
Beautiful full-color book design featuring the objects and Tim’s journey
The complete experience: a 10-episode documentary is now available for free, taking you on location and providing an immersive experience for understanding the history of ChristianityAs I said, it is now entirely free on YouTube or at challies.com/epic/.
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A La Carte (March 9)
Good day! May the Lord bless you and keep you today.
There are lots of good books in today’s list of Kindle deals.
Good Habits from Painful Beginnings
This article considers the way that good habits often have their genesis in painful beginnings. “How often does God allow something negative or painful in our lives so that we begin something new—a new habit that is for our own good?”
Pastors Aren’t the Brand
“We’re told these days how important it is to develop a personal brand.” Yet as Darryl tells us here, neither the pastor nor the church should be a brand.
Is your church website accomplishing the right things?
It’s the first impression people have of your community. It can be a powerful tool for communication with your congregation. Is it doing what it needs to do? The team behind WhiteHorseInn.org, ElisabethElliot.org, and even Challies.com, also makes sites for local churches! In March only, mention ‘CHALLIES‘ to receive 30% off your first year of service with MereChurch. (Sponsored Link)
This American High
“Thirty-five years ago, I loved foolish bits of sticky paper. Thirty-five years from now, what will be my lament? Today I cling to my home, my security, my liberty – the very things I view as blessings from God – but will I have used them to serve and save eternal souls? Or will these ‘blessings’ have distracted me from what is most important?”
Are You Standing in God’s Way?
Can we stand in God’s way? “You may dismiss this question on its face. After all, how could anyone resist omnipotence? Who could thwart his plans and purposes? In an absolute sense, I agree. We can no more resist God than an ant can resist a boulder rolling to land upon its sandy domicile.”
The Goal Is to Make the Metaverse our “Primary” Reality
As we begin to hear more and more about the metaverse, it’s good to remind ourselves of the total and sweeping goals of those who are designing and advocating it.
50 for the 50th
RYM is collecting top-ten lists of Christian books and sharing them here.
Flashback: The Celebrity Pastor We’ve Never Known
The holiest moments of pastoring are the ones that are seen by the fewest people. And in the end, I’m convinced these are the ones that mean the most. Most people will forget most of your sermons, but they’ll remember that when they called, you came.The keeping up of appearances is an exhausting way to live. —Dane Ortlund
