The God of peace be with you today.

Did you know Sinclair Ferguson has a new daily devotional out? Westminster Books has it at 40% off. They’ve got some other devotionals discounted as well.

Today’s Kindle deals include a variety of interesting titles. Remember that I’ve got an X account at @challiesdeals that shares some of them each day.

Carl Trueman spends a fair bit of time with Roman Catholics and was recently asked why he isn’t Catholic. He answers at First Things (which, of course, is a Catholic publication). “Confessional, orthodox Protestants should take no satisfaction in Rome’s increasing resemblance to the old enemy of liberal Protestantism. Rome still has the money and institutional weight to make a difference in these great struggles over what it means to be human. If Rome equivocates and falls on these issues, the world will become colder and harsher for all of us. To quote Elrond, our list of allies grows thin. And Pope Francis is not reversing that process.”

Ain’t this the truth! “To conquer a city you need a well-trained army, a thorough knowledge of its weak spots, strategy, patience, and perseverance through losses. It takes grit. The Bible tells us that as hard as that is, ruling your spirit is even harder.”

Even though our cultural moment might feel uniquely complex and chaotic, history is full of examples of similarly uncertain and tumultuous eras, as Amy Mantravadi proves here.

“It’s conventional wisdom today that a key step between dating and marriage is for a young man and woman to ‘test-drive’ their relationship by living together, sharing the same house and almost always the same bed. According to a recent Barna poll, 65 percent of American adults believe cohabitation is a good idea. Even many evangelicals are ambivalent about living together and having sex before marriage…”

You’ll enjoy this grandmother’s celebration of the news that there will soon be another grandchild.

Now here’s a good idea: Let’s ensure that whatever else we do in 2025, we deliberately allow the Bible to form us.

When God goes big, my first tendency is to go small. When God speaks universally, my first thought is to look for exceptions, for the nuances that allow me to wiggle out from under his commands.

Is not he a fool that will believe a temptation before a promise?
—Thomas Watson

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you on this fine day.

Today’s Kindle deals include quite a selection of interesting titles. Tim Keller’s Prayer is especially good, as is the book for worriers.

(Yesterday on the blog: Now’s the Time To Consider a New Year’s Resolution)

This article is both seasonal and fun.

I appreciate Andrew Walker’s response to a common question.

Stephen expresses something important here. “If the church recognises that the bar to eldership is not so high, and these men are there to to emulated, the fact that they’re just ordinary Christian blokes makes godliness more attainable than many seem to believe. As I said recently to my church: if you don’t think my godliness is any great shakes, and yet you can see I meet these criteria here, that should encourage every member that godliness is absolutely attainable.”

“I’m strange when it comes to Christmas – I recognise that. I didn’t grow up celebrating Christmas. So, by the time I became a convictional follower of Jesus later in life, I came to Christmas largely as an outsider. Consequently, with many of the elements of Christmas that others, including Christians, find normal, I found (find) them… unusual. Even jarring.”

I think we are all guilty of this one, aren’t we? “We eventually get to prayer, but not as soon as we should. You would think that now that our kids are moving into adulthood, we wouldn’t still fail in this area. Yet, here we are, so we need the following two reminders from Scripture. Perhaps you do, also.”

What sorts of things do you get zealous about? That’s what Wes wants you to consider as you read this article.

We who follow a hated Savior cannot be surprised when we experience a measure of his suffering, when we bear a measure of his shame.

The best preachers are plagiarists. All they do is tell people what God has said.
—Thabiti Anyabwile

The Bible says nothing about New Year’s resolutions. It does, however, say a lot about resolutions in general—about the determination and resolve to improve our character, to sharpen our habits, and to live better in the future than we did in the past. In other words, the determination and resolve to be more like Christ.

The trouble, of course, is that we can often make resolutions that are inconsistent with God’s purpose for our lives, that are selfish instead of selfless, or that focus on the minutiae while neglecting the weightier matters. For that reason, there is great value in putting a lot of thought and prayer into our resolutions and then attaching them to truth—to making resolutions that are thoughtfully grounded in a Scriptural command, emphasis, or promise. To that end, here are some ideas for those who may be considering making a resolution to guide them in the year to come.

Family

For the one who has been lax in showing spiritual leadership in the home. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

For the wife who has not been loving or respecting her husband. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22–24)

For the husband who has not been loving or cherishing his wife. “Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)

For parents who have been neglecting their duty toward their children. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

For children who have been neglecting the honor they owe their parents. “…Let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.” (1 Timothy 5:4)

Devotion

For the person who has been neglecting to read the Bible. “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)

For the one who has been drifting back into bad habits. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…” (Philippians 1:27)

Character

For the one who has been lax in pursuing sanctification. You were taught to “…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22–24)

For the one who is prone to grumbling. “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15–18)

For the one who has been downcast and not seeking the Lord’s help. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

For the one who has been anxious and not taking those anxieties to the Lord. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

For the one who spent too much of the past year in anger. “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27)

For the person whose mind is too often filled with things it shouldn’t be. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

For the one who always seems to be in the center of conflict. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)

For the one who has been convicted about a foul mouth. “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:4)

For the one who has been abusing substances of any kind. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

For the one who has been neglecting to show love and compassion to “the least of these.” “Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.” (Romans 12:16)

For the one who has been struggling with contentment. “…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11–13)

For the one who has not been guarding his words. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

For the one who has been suffering because of the actions of another person. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:14;21)

For the one who has not had an open home. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)

For the young Christian. “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

Vocation

For the one who is convicted about meddling in other people’s affairs. “…we urge you, brothers … to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thessalonians 4:10–12)

For the one who is laboring for his own glory. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

For the one who has failed to put full effort into his work. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24)

Time

For the one who wastes too much time. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16)

For the one who has been giving in to laziness. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)

For the one watching too much of the messaging. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

Relationships

For the one who has felt bitterness settle into her heart. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31)

For the one who has been harsh and unforgiving. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

For the one who wishes to impact the unbelievers around her. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

For the one prone to comparison. “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

For the one who is prone to treat others with harshness instead of gentleness. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)

Church

For the one who has been rebellious against pastors. “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13)

For the person who is quarrelsome within his church. “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

For the one who has been growing distant from his local church. “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)

For the one who has grown convicted that he is not loving others in the way he should. “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)

Good morning. May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include options for parents, youth workers, counselors, and more. Friesen’s excellent Decision Making and the Will of God is a great pick as well. If you’ve been wondering what to think of Megan Basham’s Shepherds for Sale, it’s on sale as well, as is Rod Dreher’s Live Not By Lies.

If you’re interested in trying out some new Christian music, Tim Briggs has got you covered with his picks for the best of Christian folk and worship of 2024.

Collin Hansen has a tradition of rounding up his top theology stories of the year. Here is his 2024 edition.

Bethel McGrew shows how people on both the right and the left can fail to show mercy. “Christians are good at spotting vitriolic leftists like Lorenz as our enemies. At the same time, we should be mindful that the political opposite of Taylor Lorenz is not necessarily the friend of Christians. An ideology that abandons true justice for oppressor/oppressed class narratives must be consistently rejected, whomever it targets.”

John Stevens runs through the seven “P”s of prayer. “It helps to have some framework for prayer that shapes our thinking and speaking. I find it helpful to bear in mind the following aspects of prayer, both for my personal praying and public prayers…”

Though we are accustomed to being scolded for giving and receiving stuff at Christmas, Brianna explains why stuff actually matters (and, hence, why you shouldn’t feel bad about giving it this time of year).

TGC has published a new edition of their Themelios journal. There are lots of articles and reviews to go through!

I have watched people I only ever knew to be whole and strong fade until they were broken and weak. I have watched them accept the reality that their time was short and the Lord was calling them home. And through it all, I’m convinced that I’ve seen their faith shine all the brighter.

…the most important thing is laying our children at the foot of the cross and praying that Jesus will call them to Him. He is the author of their souls, and He is the only one who can reign in a broken soul.
—Sarah Mae

Today’s Kindle deals include a long list of great titles. Among them you’ll find many of P&R’s excellent “Great Thinkers” series which introduces and engages with some of history’s (and today’s) most important thinkers.

If print books are more your thing, then look at this page where I’ve rounded up current deals from a number of different booksellers.

(Yesterday on the blog: Those Who Sing Songs in the Night)

This is good and needed counsel for men and women alike. “Let me say a word here about what will not protect you from an affair: a great sex life. And what will not cause you to fall into an affair: a cold sex life. It’s certainly true that the warmth of a healthy marriage, which includes sexual intimacy, makes the allure of temptation less appealing. But like all safeguards, temptation can always find a way. And in the end, you have agency. You have the agency to choose to follow your temptations or not, because Christ has freed you from the bondage to sin.”

Yes, there is a key difference between meaningful ritual and empty ritual.

“I wept quietly, hoping no one would notice, as I sat among our church family at the annual Christmas concert. I had never heard the song before, but the first line was like a sucker punch after many years of trials.”

John Piper answers a question from a person who is single but does not wish to be. “Before I saw this question yesterday and had time to think about it, I was sitting in my chair over my Bible, pondering how pervasive and inevitable deep disappointments are that will never be turned around in this life.”

There is something to be said for just getting out of the way, isn’t there?

“What if sheep had a shepherd? What if pastors weren’t elevated on the stage or locked behind the closed doors of the office? What if shepherds ‘smelled like their sheep’ and knew and spent time with people? What if the proportion of pastors to people allowed for pastoral care? What if we valued pastoral practice over eloquence and business acumen?”

“Thy prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.”

Jesus did not come to impress the crowds, but to die for sinners.

—D.A. Carson

This week the blog is sponsored by Propempo International which invites you to explore a revolutionary take on missions on today!

What would happen if the local church took its rightful role in global missions?

Providing a refreshing look on missions, “Missions on Point,” written by experienced church planter and missionary David Meade, proposes this simple thesis:

The Bible teaches that God has always planned to declare His wisdom and glory through local churches.

The New Testament shows local churches as the quintessential means and ends of His design for proclaiming the Gospel to every people group on earth.

Missions ministries on the field and all stakeholders of the global missions enterprise would be more effective if aligned with this understanding.

This thesis encourages the repatriation of missions to the biblical local church-centered framework. “Missions on Point” presents the biblical defense of church-centered missions. Then, it outlines principles for implementation by local churches and all those involved in missionary training and sending.

On earth, our goal is for believers to worship Christ together in healthy, indigenous churches. Share

“Missions on Point” will include some anecdotes of churches we’ve helped to become aligned with this teaching. Woven through the book is an illustrative, composite serial narrative of “Hopewell Bible Church” based on real experiences. It is all based on real-life situations, anonymized for privacy and security purposes. That story fleshes out the highlights of applying the principles presented. The book also has plenty of resources in the Appendices for further study and development. The goal is to align missions with its core priority. Missions begins and ends with local churches.

On earth, our goal is for believers to worship Christ together in healthy, indigenous churches. The way to achieve it is through the sending church’s ownership of missions ministries, which results in better-equipped missionaries, less attrition from the field, and more effective, long-term field ministries for the glory of God alone.

The position proposed by “Missions on Point” does not imply that local sending churches do all the equipping, sending, field management, and shepherding on their own. It does, however, awaken and challenge church leaders, missions leaders, missionaries, and everyone involved in the support and administration of missions to align with God’s plan for His glory in and through the local church. All stakeholders are offered suggestions for adjusting practices to a more biblical local-church-centered reality. These principles have been proven by a thoughtful examination of biblical values, decades of experience in the missionary field, cross-cultural missions leadership, and local church pastoral experience.

Though most missions organizations founded their organization to serve local churches in the missions’ geographical, cultural, institutional, or technical specialty, they typically become independent in operation and in calling, which they unashamedly protect, promote, and propagate. Yet, they expect churches to support the agency rather than vice versa. Rarely does the agency enable and facilitate the local church’s missions ministry. Vision, field strategy, personnel management, and accountability have become the agency’s exclusive realm. Missions agencies may too easily show little or no respect for the rightful role of the local church in missions.

Local churches bear some blame here. They have too easily given up their biblical role and responsibility to missions agencies (even to denominational entities). Local churches should reclaim their ownership. It’s prime time for them to repatriate world missions to the local church while seeking appropriate partnerships with sending agencies to lend their particular expertise. This book aspires to provide a pathway to corrective change in this state of affairs.

Buy your copy of this revolutionary take on missions on Amazon today!

Imagine that you are sitting in a prison cell. This is not some posh or even stark 21st-century prison cell, but a primitive Roman one. Your back is pressed against cold stones. Your stomach is aching with hunger. Your nose is assaulted by terrible smells. Your heart is filled with despair. You know your death must be fast approaching.

And then, somewhere off in the distance you begin to hear the sound of singing. You realize this song is not coming from outside the walls but from within, not from visitors but from inmates. As you listen you realize these were the men who were dragged in the previous evening, men who were arrested, beaten, and jailed for freeing a woman from oppression and professing the name of Jesus Christ. You realize that their song is a kind of dirge, a complaint against man and God alike. In a minor key it expresses frustration with God for these circumstances and pronounces curses on their enemies. It blames God for failing to prevent this expression of his providence and tiptoes perilously close to cursing his name. Though you had heard of this God and been intrigued by some of what you had learned, you can now feel your interest waning and your heart turning.

But we should stop and rewrite our story a little bit because this is not what happened in Acts 16 where we read of Paul and Silas being accosted and assaulted and imprisoned. Though they had done nothing worse than free a woman from oppression, they were severely flogged and confined to the darkest of dungeons—the very place I’ve told you to imagine yourself. And in that dungeon they began to pray and sing—to sing songs that flowed out of their love for their God, their confidence in his gospel, and their hope in his purposes. Let’s pick up our corrected version of this story.

Somewhere off in the distance you begin to hear the sound of singing. You realize that this song is not a dirge, not a complaint, not an imprecation, but a song of praise, a song of joy, a song of triumph. It is not in a minor key but a major key and tells not of defeat but of victory. Along with the other prisoners you listen, some perhaps out of mere curiosity but surely others because they are intrigued. When so many inmates have turned their back on their god, why do these men continue to express their love for theirs? And what is it in these dark circumstances that compels them to continue to trust him and continue to sing his praises? As you listen, you feel your heart stirring, your sorrows lifting, your hope rising.

There is something holy, something attractive, something magnetic about those who praise God in their sorrows Share

There is something holy, something attractive, something magnetic about those who praise God in their sorrows, about those who sing songs in the night and praise God in the darkest of valleys. In fact, I believe eternity will prove that often the reason God has seen fit to permit such sorrows is that he means for his people to prove to a skeptical world and to wavering saints alike that faith can survive the greatest of shocks, that love for God will endure even the greatest of losses, that God’s people ultimately love him for who he is, not for what he has given them. God means for his people to prove that they will love him whatever his providence dictates and however it directs.

So this is the sacred calling given to those who suffer—to lift trembling hands, to raise tear-stained eyes, to sing with wavering voice, to praise God as much in taking as in the giving. This is the sacred calling that proclaims that love for God will survive any trial. This is the sacred calling that brings great glory to his name.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a wide selection of devotionals, commentaries, and other books.

Garrett Kell has a must-read at TGC. “My two earliest memories of my mother couldn’t be more different. The pleasant one is our evening routine: She’d pull me onto her lap to recite the Lord’s Prayer and sing ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ until I fell asleep. The other is her sobbing in her bathroom, telling me how badly she wanted to die. This perplexing tension between Mom’s two sides carried on for 40 years or so until my mother went to be with the Lord earlier this year.”

Susan Lafferty offers a seasonal reflection on chasing memories.

“We are witnessing the dual rise of two troubling issues: narcissism and body dysmorphic disorder. These challenges, amplified by social media and cultural expectations, are taking a profound toll on women’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health. While this is not a psychology blog, my heart is burdened to address these challenges in a way that I pray will offer hope, healing, and biblical encouragement.”

Robert Rothwell explains how Christians should think about the wrath of God.

Phil Hunt wants every believer to accept the call to meaningful ministry. “In the ancient world, religious duties were typically reserved for a specialized priestly class. Yet here was Paul, declaring that every believer has a vital role in building God’s church. This democratization of ministry wasn’t just revolutionary then – it’s transformative now.”

“As long as there is time, let us not give up on friends, family, and everyone whom God sends into our lives. We are called to be patient and faithful while leaving the results to God. Let us continually minister in love and grace because God has also been loving and gracious towards us. Let us reflect on the love we have received from God. Let us beg God for the grace to be loving when our love is tried and tested by people who are so hard to love.”

Is obedience to parents permanent or is it temporary? Does honor always require obedience? If I want to honor my parents do I need to continue obeying them throughout my life?

It may help us if we will always remember, when we find it hard to get along with anyone, that this is only a new lesson in loving set for us.
—J.R. Miller

Many Christians experience a contradiction between what we believe to be true about the Bible and our actual practice of reading the Bible. Often our theology is superior to our habits. We profess that the Bible is infallible, inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient, but we then neglect it in our daily lives. We agree with David when he says of God’s words, “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). Yet in our lives we show little hunger for those good, pure, sweet, nourishing words.

How can this be? It is because we allow other things to take the place that should be reserved for God and his Word. It is not that we lack time, but that we lack desire. It is not that we lack ability, but that we lack interest. Robert Chapman says it this way: “The great cause of neglecting the Scriptures is not want of time, but want of heart, some idol taking the place of Christ.”

I think each of us can agree and admit that we too often permit the presence of some idol, something that displaces in our lives the place of prominence that only God deserves. Whether it is entertainment, work, socializing, or something else altogether, we will not prioritize God until we uproot that idol.

I am thankful to Insight Counseling for sponsoring the blog this week. Insight’s trained and trustworthy counselors offer online counseling from the comfort of your own home, office, or another location that is convenient for you. Learn more here.

Today’s Kindle deals include several more titles from the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. There are other titles to look at as well. (Do you prefer print books? Then look at this page with deals, discounts, and specials on print books.)

(Yesterday on the blog: 10 Christian Mega-Projects Released In 2024)

Joe Carter put together one of his helpful FAQs to explain what recently transpired at the U.S. Supreme Court and why it matters. “On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, an important case that will determine whether states have the right to protect children from medical attempts to change their bodies for the purpose of ‘affirming’ gender identity.”

Stephen Steele draws an important lesson from Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son. “Many of the same people who are outraged by Biden’s behaviour (or who will be outraged if Trump follows suit) expect God to do the same thing. The German poet Henrich Heine was asked by a priest on his deathbed if he expected God to forgive him. He is reported to have replied: ‘Of course God will forgive me; that’s his job’. That is still a common attitude today.”

Should Christians view (or create) creepy, darker media? John Piper takes on the question here.

Tim explains one thing that many people get wrong about Doubting Thomas.

Seth Lewis has some counsel for those who are approaching midlife to help them head off a full-blown midlife crisis.

Should Christians pray only to the Father, or can we also pray to the Son and the Spirit? I appreciate Fred Sanders’ answer here.

Each of us has the joy and the sacred responsibility of displaying the beauty, the glory, of a foreign land here in this broken world.

If you are not concerned about holiness, you are not concerned about the Great Commission.
—Kevin DeYoung