May the Lord be with you and bless you on this fine day.

Westminster Books has a deal on a book for kids they’re describing as “Pilgrim’s Progress meets the Prodigal Son.” They’ve also published a new book, now available in EPUB format, that is on themes of identity and union with Christ.

Today’s Kindle deals include some excellent reader-friendly commentaries by Philip Eveson and a few other deals along with them.

Carl Trueman writes about the recent fall of Archbishop Welby. And while this is clearly an appropriate resignation, Trueman does make this point: “He has fallen for allegedly assisting in the covering-up of abuse. He should have fallen much earlier for covering up of orthodoxy. That he did not do so tells us all we need to know about the priorities of the church over which he so pointlessly presided for so many years.”

I only just saw this article from last month. It describes a church that decided to do a church-wide digital detox. What a neat idea.

These 24 readings will make December a month of celebrating the wonder of Christmas and the hope of Christ’s return. Find out more in Alistair Begg’s Let Earth Receive Her King. Get 25% off with code RECEIVE. (Sponsored)

Did Jesus in any way diminish his divine power in order to become human? This video explains a key doctrine.

Kevin DeYoung lists 10 different theories of the atonement. “Most of the models get something right, though some are much closer to the mark than others. We will look at ten models, concluding with penal substitution, which is at the heart of the atonement and the ‘theory’ that holds all the biblical insights of the other theories together.”

Jacob discusses the “Plimsoll line” he has instituted in his marriage to cope with the fact that he is an all-out extrovert while his wife is just the opposite.

What does Jesus mean when he tells his followers not to become “unsalty?” This article explains. “The world can be attractive. Society seems to live with no restraints and represses the guilt of sin. Then, all of life is about self, and forcing others to believe how you conduct life is ‘your truth,’ it is the world’s problem if you do not see things the way they do. Conformity to the world lessens your resolve and leads others to question whether you are a believer.”

We will eat, we will drink, we will feast, and our hearts will be at perfect peace. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Prayer is no petty duty, put into a corner; no piecemeal performance made out of the fragments of time which have been snatched from business and other engagements of life; but it means that the best of our time, the heart of our time and strength must be given.
—E.M. Bounds

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Ligonier Ministries, who also sponsored the blog this week. 

Sometimes one word is all that stands between the truth and a lie, between life and death. In the Reformation, that word was sola, “alone.” Ligonier Ministries is offering the ebook edition of The Heart of the Reformation as a free download for Challies readers. With this 90-day devotional on the five solas, spend time reflecting on core biblical truths that display the reliability of God’s Word and the depths of His mercy. Ten Free Stuff Friday winners will receive the paperback edition.
Learn more about the book here.

To Enter 
Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. When you enter, you agree to be placed on Ligonier Ministries’ email list. The winner will be notified by email. The giveaway closes on November 10, 2023.

Good morning!

If you didn’t check in yesterday, you’ll want to take a quick look at the updated list of Kindle deals for both yesterday and today.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Calm Will Be the Better)
7 Reasons Why Your Church Should Engage in Door-to-Door Evangelism
“Door-to-door evangelism tends to get a bad rap, and many Christians question its effectiveness. But in our experience, the people in our community have responded positively. At about half of the homes we visit, someone answers the door and a positive conversation ensues.” It’s hard to argue with that!
On Not Giving Up
Joe explains how pastoral ministry “seems to have changed from golf to hockey. Golf is hard, but it’s a game of technique. Improving your technique is the answer to most of your frustrations on the course. In hockey, you’ve got all the technique development challenges that go along with golf, but you also have to account for the reality that someone is trying to punch you in the face or check you into a wall at full speed.”
What is the difference between the Dutch Reformed view and the Lutheran view of baptism? (Video)
I don’t agree with either of these positions on baptism but do appreciate the way Dr. Godfrey distinguishes between them. Also, for Baptists like myself, this is a brief but helpful explanation of infant baptism: “Baptism comes to everyone baptized with the strong promise of God that God will save everyone who receives the promises of baptism in faith.”
Offerings at the Door of Eden?
Okay, so this may be conjecture, but it’s interesting to consider.
How to Pray at a Military Grave
“When we recently moved to Washington, DC, there was one tourist attraction on the top of my list to visit: Arlington National Cemetery. Eighteen years ago when I went for the first time, it was an interesting historic place. But as I prepared for my second visit nearly two decades later, it was different. Now I have friends buried there.” This leads to a helpful reflection on how (and how not) to pray at a military grave—or any other grave.
Reconstructing My Faith
“Ten years ago, I fled the only life I had ever known and escaped the abuse and control of the church where I grew up. For more than 25 years, my entire world revolved around church and what the leader told us to believe and how to live. Although we identified as an independent, fundamental, spirit-filled Baptist church, we had all the hallmarks of a cult. I never imagined that I would end up questioning everything and leaving it all behind.”
Flashback: Another Week in a Difficult and Hostile World
The people come to church each week weary and hungry, eager to be fed. And it is the task of the pastor to meet their need for spiritual sustenance, to equip them for their God-given duties, to feed them good food.

Why should the frail creature doubt the wisdom and the goodness of the strong Creator? Why should the child distrust the love and wisdom of the Father? —J.R. Miller