A La Carte (May 20)
I very much enjoyed a week off with my family. And now, back to work and back to normal blogging. (Kind of back to normal—I’m also heading to Albania this week to speak at an event there.)
Today’s Kindle deals include four different titles by John Piper.
(Yesterday on the blog: One Measure of Greatness)
“Late in February, an active-duty US Air Force airman set fire to himself outside of Israel’s embassy in Washington, DC; afterwards, some journalists rushed to try and provide historical context for the practice of ‘self-immolation.’” Noah Diekemper just how badly they did in trying to show how this is somehow a Christian practice.
“It’s so sweet to walk into a church and know that God’s people are gathered for worship. Of course He is near. A holy moment. But isn’t it a holy moment, too, when you are sitting in a doctor’s office, holding hands with your faithful wife, enduring the bad news with faith? As believers we tread on holy ground in every school building, nursing home, leafy forest floor, and in every possible scenario we could dream up.”
This is such a good new song by CityAlight.
If you read the title and guessed “Carl Trueman,” you’d be correct. “Regardless of the political stakes, at ground level the births, marriages, illnesses, and deaths continue. Pastoral ministry goes on, day to day, year to year, whatever the political officer class, right and left, are debating. And so in this context, the Church must continue to do that to which she has been called: proclaim Christ in Word and sacrament. The big problems of life—sin and death—remain, whoever wins the election in November 2024. And so the Church needs to remain faithful to her appointed task and not become simply an arm of those vying for political power.”
I think this article is especially important for pastors and other church leaders. “If we affirm the regulative principle for the Sunday morning gathering, shouldn’t we also apply the same conviction to the rest of our discipleship ministries?” That’s worth considering!
Dr. Andrew Walker offers some thoughts on thinking well about social justice.
There is always the danger that we regard children as little projects more than real people. There is always the danger that parenting becomes abstract rather than deeply personal—the mere following of principles instead of the careful shepherding of souls.
…we cannot receive what God has to give when our fists are clenched and our eyes shut, concentrating on our own moral exertion. We need to open up our fists and our eyes and lift both heavenward to receive his love.
—Dane Ortlund
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A La Carte (October 3)
Grace and peace to you today, my friends.
Today’s Kindle deals include Jon Nielson’s reader-friendly introduction to systematic theology and Abbey Wedgeworth’s compassionate book for women who have suffered a miscarriage.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Victim of a Grave Injustice)There is a lot of merit to this—to not making jokes about the ways kids make our lives difficult. And I think the same should be said of husband/wife jokes.
Why is God’s name “hallowed” as we say in the Lord’s Prayer? “Because his fatherly hand touches everything. Because he fathers-forth the entire universe without being seen. Because his wildly creative and loving care is imprinted on mussel shells and magpie nests. God’s holiness is always wrapped up in his fatherly care—a mysterious love that goes before us and beyond us.”
Go beyond knowing Jesus saved you to having a lived experience of him–of enjoying him and being a joy to him, of loving him and being loved by him. Find out more in Tim Chester’s new book, Enjoying Jesus. Get 25% off with code ENJOYJESUS. (Sponsored)
Christianity Today has a long and interesting article about the Gettys and the modern hymn movement they have helped build and steer. (You should be able to read it, though you may need to register for a free account.)
Now that I consider it, it seems to be the case that internet culture is increasingly becoming the culture. “Christian thinkers and writers recognize the power of the internet and have been at the forefront of writing about the dangers of smartphone addiction, excessive social media use, and internet pornography. But where secular internet culture writers often approach their topics from a live-from-the-scene-of-the-crime perspective, Christian writers are frequently on the outside looking in. Both perspectives are important, but if we want to seek and save the lost where they are found, we cannot approach internet culture solely from the safety of the sidelines.”
Marty Machowski expresses how important it is that we teach our children not only to read but to value reading.
Karen considers the slow work of sanctification. “After we accept Christ, he places us on the potter’s wheel. For the rest of our lives, the wheel spins as God shapes us into the best version, the Christ-like version, of ourselves. The version he created us to be. Our hearts and souls are shaped as we live through experiences over time under the guiding hand of God.”
If we live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven—which is to say, if we live like Jesus—we will be out-of-step with the values of the kingdom of this world and people will hate us for it.
Fighting sheep are strange animals, and fighting Christians are self-evident contradictions.
—C.H. Spurgeon -
A La Carte (April 17)
Logos users, you’ve got a couple of weeks left to save on new or upgraded packages. If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to start with the Reformed packages. Also, be sure to grab Jerry Bridge’s The Bookends of the Christian Life and John Stott’s God’s Word for Today’s World, both of which are free. Finally, take a look at the monthly deals and remember that the Reformed Expository Commentary series is discounted through April.
Meanwhile, Westminster Books is offering half-price on a unique resource on the Gospel of Mark—one that can be used for personal growth or for sermon preparation.
And yes, there are some Kindle deals as well.“Young people want to be courted by the church, welcomed into fellowship, entrusted with responsibility, and shown they matter. But more than anything, they want to be ushered into splendor, not superficiality. They’re looking for an antidote to the shallow life of swiping and scrolling through endless entertainment.” In other words, stop making church trite and silly.
Have you ever thought about this before, that each of us has a secondhand or hand-me-down faith?
This is absolutely true and important to consider, especially during opportunities to evangelize. “The devil loves to get us talking about good things, so long as we are not sharing the best thing.”
This is a reality I have considered a lot. “You don’t really need a bucket list. Or maybe, you need a different kind of bucket list: one that stretches into eternity. You will have endless time to enjoy all of God’s renewed creation along with the best of every culture. There will be so much to explore. Who cares if you can’t fit it into our brief lives here?”
Andrea tells and celebrates the best of all stories.
“Seasons of suffering do not aways produce our clearest and most logical thoughts. The coming together of things like shock, sadness, anger, and confusion can sometimes lead to some wildly unhealthy and even irrational conclusions and decisions. And yet, I would argue that those difficult seasons of our lives can also end up being the moments when we see things with a surprising amount of clarity.”
…despite the sufficiency of Christ’s work, we can so easily slip back into an old mindset in which we become convinced there is still something left for us to do.
Sooner let us have an honest death than a counterfeit life.
—Charles Spurgeon -
New and Notable Christian Books for September 2024
September has very nearly faded into October but before the month ends I’d like to tell you about some of the new books that it brought our way. I’ll remind you first that my book Pilgrim Prayers was released this month and encourage you to give it a look! Beyond that, here are 12 new and notable titles that I hope will be of interest to you.
Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul David Tripp. “Christians know that daily Scripture reading is an essential spiritual discipline. But sometimes opening the Bible day in and day out can feel like a burden rather than the joy and gift that it is. Spending a few minutes reflecting on the truths found within God’s word can strengthen your faith, help you resist sin, and inspire you to live for the eternal, unshakeable kingdom of God. In the Everyday Gospel devotional, Paul David Tripp provides a roadmap for readers who want to spend a full year in God’s word. Tripp, author of the bestselling New Morning Mercies, has now written a second daily devotional, offering 365 fresh, engaging entries that follow an annual Bible reading plan from Genesis through Revelation. Brief and practical, these reflections connect the transforming power of Scripture to all you will experience in your everyday Christian life.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Parenting without Panic in an LGBT-Affirming World: Discipling Our Kids with Jesus’ Truth and Love by Rachel Gilson. “As Christian parents, we long to equip our kids as they venture out into a culture where LGBT is affirmed and celebrated. We want them to know what God says, and to love what God says. But, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s where this book can help. Author Rachel Gilson helps you to teach your children proactively and positively about God’s beautiful design for human sexuality, gender, and relationships. This book will help you to provide your children with a Christian framework for sexual ethics, rather than letting the culture lay the foundations of their worldview in this area. Rachel writes with understanding and clarity to help fellow parents engage with the wider LGBT narrative with faith rather than fear. Since she herself experiences same-sex attraction but has chosen to follow the Bible’s teaching, she has put much thought into this topic. She reassures us that Jesus gives us everything we need to be faithful disciples in a fallen world, and that God works out his perfect purposes despite human sin. She also shares her wisdom on how to respond with grace and truth to people with different beliefs in this area.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Bible Basics: What Is The Christian Faith All About? by Stephen J. Nichols. “Are you looking for a great overview of everything you need to know about the Bible? This book offers some Bible basics as the foundation for discipleship and doctrine. Here you will find an overview of the biblical books, places, and events. We’ll look at the big picture of the Bible by exploring the idea of the covenant. You’ll find some key biblical passages to meditate upon and memorize, as well as prayers from the Bible. You’ll also find some key ideas from the centuries of church history. Together we’ll walk through some basic doctrines in order to have a better grasp on what the Bible teaches. You’ll even find some hymns. These basics provide a foundation upon which to build a solid faith. In fact, all of us, no matter where we find ourselves in our Christian walk, need these fundamentals. We need to go back to the basics. Repeat. Repeat again.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ by Jonathan Holmes. “Grounded in Grace gives parents a guide to understanding how a child’s identity is formed in today’s world and why it leads to insecurity and confusion. Children and teens face a tremendous amount of pressure from their peers and culture to find their identity in their activities, feelings, or performance. This modern way of looking at identity can be challenging to navigate for parents who grew up with a traditional view of identity rooted in predetermined roles. What if they could help their children and teenagers find their identity in something that never went away and never changed based on their ability or performance—an identity grounded in God’s grace? Jonathan Holmes explores the five core areas of identity struggles most common to teens: sports, academics, moralism, sexual orientation, and gender confusion. He provides parents with a biblical foundation to work from and practical tools to help their teen find their identity based on who God says they are.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Gospel of God: A Bible Study on Romans for Women (Vol. 1) by Keri Folmar. “In The Gospel of God: A Bible Study on Romans for Women (Vol 1), wise and helpful questions guide you deep into the text using the three basic steps of all sound Bible study: Observe, Interpret, Apply. This is an 18-week inductive study guide for women: Each week’s chapter is divided into sections for 5 days of study; Volume 1 covers Romans 1:1–8:39; Ideal for small groups, individuals, or 1-on-1 mentoring; Lots of extra white space for journaling; Spiral-bound for lay-flat ease of writing. When we study the Bible inductively we want to know what the author meant when he wrote to his original audience. This involves reading Bible passages in context and asking questions about the text. The goal is to find the meaning and significance from the text itself. We do this automatically every day when we read news, social media, or even recipes! Not surprisingly, it is also the best way to study God’s word.” (Buy it at Amazon)
On the Christian Life: A New Translation by John Calvin (Translated by Raymond Blacketer). “For centuries, Christians have read John Calvin’s On the Christian Life to answer a fundamental question: What does it mean to live faithfully as a Christian? This fresh translation of what is often referred to as Calvin’s ‘Golden Booklet’ features an all-new introduction, robust citations, and explanatory footnotes–introducing a new generation of readers to a classic work of Christian spirituality. In the book–a portion of the Reformer’s magnum opus, Institutes of the Christian Religion–Calvin suggests that a deep understanding of theology is worthless if the gospel has yet to ‘penetrate into the most intimate affection of the heart.’ Touching on essential themes like self-denial, submission to God, bearing one’s cross, enduring suffering for the sake of righteousness, and meditating on the life to come, this accessible work will help believers reflect on their lives as Christians and lean on the grace of Jesus in everyday life.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Modernized in Seven Volumes) by J.C. Ryle. “This seven-volume boxset brings Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospel to a new readership. Featuring a high-quality quarter-bound design that evokes artisanal bookbinding each volume will sit in a boxed case to aid use and increase longevity. The design, paired with Mary Davis’ lightly modernized text, enables Ryle’s voice and tone to remain authentic while making it accessible to a new generation. It is a great read for: Bible teachers & students, those wanting to dive deeper into Scripture, and those unfamiliar with Ryle’s wisdom. Its key features include Ryle in modern English, accessible & reliable wisdom from the past, and artisanal design that stands the test of time.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Sin and Temptation (Volume 15) by John Owen. “Regarded as one of the greatest theologians in history, 17th-century pastor John Owen remains influential among those interested in Puritan and Reformed theology. The Complete Works of John Owen brings together all of Owen’s original theological writing, including never-before-published work, reformatted for modern readers in 40 user-friendly volumes. Volume 15, The Christian Life—Sin and Temptation, includes the treatises ‘Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers’; ‘Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It’; ‘The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin’; and ‘A Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace.’ Each work has been edited with extensive introductions by Kelly M. Kapic, Justin Taylor, and Shawn D. Wright. Released over a number of years, The Complete Works of John Owen will inspire a new generation of Bible readers and scholars to deeper faith.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Revering God: How to Marvel at Your Maker by Thaddeus Williams. “Discover profound insight into God’s attributes and learn practical ways to live a God-centered life that bridges the gap between abstract theology and awe-inspiring devotion. The chief reason we exist is to glorify and enjoy God. But for many, God remains a vague cloud of cosmic kindness, a super-sized projection of ourselves into the sky, or an impossible-to-please killjoy. Who is God, really? Who is this being we should thank for our next breath? Written in the great tradition of classic discipleship works like A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God, J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, and R.C. Sproul’s The Holiness of God, this discipleship guide stands out as our generation’s invitation to good theology that yields profound, reverent, God-centered living. Bestselling author of Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth invites you to live a more theologically robust and biblical life as you learn how art, cinema, music, philosophy, psychology, apologetics, church history, and most importantly Scripture, can deepen your understanding and enjoyment of God.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Twelve Classic Christmas Stories: A Feast of Yuletide Tales by Timothy Larsen. “Celebrate this magical season with some of the greatest literary figures in history. The wisdom and warmth of Christmas are wrapped in the stories of beloved and gifted authors such as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, O. Henry, G. K. Chesterton, Willa Cather, Conan Doyle, Washington Irving, George MacDonald, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anthony Trollope, and other classic storytellers. Not only will you be immersed in the Christmas spirit, but you will draw from the insight of historian Dr. Timothy Larsen who introduces each tale, sharing with readers the history, background, and inspiration behind the literature. This collection invites us to contemplate and savor all that is good and true about God’s redemptive story and our call to be Christ-like. The stories call us to generosity, reconciliation, and sacrifice. They encourage us to live with joy and gratitude. Hope and wonder abound as gather your family around the fire and read aloud the Twelve Classic Christmas Stories.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Perfect Priest for Weary Pilgrims: A Theology of Hebrews by Dennis E. Johnson. “The book of Hebrews can be intimidating for modern-day Christians due to its connection to Old Testament text. However, once understood, this New Testament epistle offers great insights into the superiority and sufficiency of Jesus—rightly justifying his place as high priest. In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Dennis E. Johnson highlights the main biblical-theological themes of Hebrews. Johnson explores how Jesus fulfills perfect priesthood by becoming the covenant mediator and the trailblazer who leads his people into a better inheritance. Hebrews calls Christian believers, both of the early church and today, to hold fast to their faith even when faced with persecution and exclusion. It reminds us to cling to the eternal Son who offered his body and blood as the everlasting sacrifice for our sin.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Fly Through the Bible: A Brief Introduction by Colin Smith. “The view from above is majestic. Have you ever experienced that thrill of looking out the window of a plane? The beauty of the mountain, the vastness of the water, the lights of the city—it all just looks so amazing from above. You might be familiar with the area, but you’ve never seen it like this. You think to yourself: This. Is. Stunning. That’s what it’s like to Fly Through the Bible. With pastoral heart and insight, Colin Smith helps you find the right altitude to take in the big-picture landscape of God’s story. In this journey, you will meet five people from the Old Testament, explore five events from the life of Jesus, and discover five gifts God gives to every Christian. Even if you’ve never opened the Bible, this short flight will introduce you to God’s Word and leave you marveling at how it all fits together.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
