Logos users can now gain access to all of the March Matchups sales. That includes 60% off the new Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, 57% off the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Collection, and other great deals.

(Yesterday on the blog: A Christian Father’s Last Will and Testament)
What Book of the Bible Should a New Believer Read First?
I was asked this question just the other day. “Great question. There are so many to choose from! I’m going to suggest two options. Before I make my case, I want to give you some general encouragement. Then, I will explain why I think you may want to begin your Bible reading adventure either in Genesis or John.”
Despairing Over the Culture? There’s Still a Reason to Get Out of Bed Tomorrow
Carl Trueman answers some pressing questions. “One of the questions that Christians ask repeatedly at the moment is whether there is any hope or should we simply despair? Is the world so intent on dismantling what it means to be a human being that society is doomed to collapse, or at least committed to shunting Christians and Christianity to its far margins?”
Excellent Parenting is Remarkably Ordinary
Brad Hambrick: “In this article, I want to offer you three ‘ordinary’ encouragements that will allow you to be an excellent parent.”
If Putin Deploys a Tactical Nuke, How Should the U.S. Respond?
Bruce Ashford offers a very interesting answer to how the US could or should respond if the war in Ukraine goes nuclear. (Speaking of Ukraine, this site offers very urgent and helpful updates from a Ukrainian pastor.)
Why Christians Resist Transgender Speech-Codes
Denny Burk: “I write this post to explain briefly why Christians are resisting the totalitarian speech codes of transgender propagandists.” (And, on that topic, this is another one from Denny, Do you know what a woman is? Ketanji Brown Jackson Doesn’t.)
3 Philosophies of Sermon Application
“I want to give you three philosophies of sermon application that I have seen and heard from different faithful preachers.” This is a helpful breakdown.
Flashback: Why Do We Add To Our Trouble?
We are so often drawn to bad news more than good, to evidences of depravity more than evidences of grace. Why then should we be surprised that our feet grow heavy, that our pace begins to falter?

Western theology tends to ask why God allows suffering more than how he uses it. —Elliot Clark

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

There’s a nice little list of Kindle deals for the collectors.
(Yesterday on the blog: The Best Friendship in the World)
The Countries Where It’s Most Dangerous to Be a Christian in 2022
Joe Carter looks at a recent report about the countries where it’s most dangerous to be a Christian.
Ten Words for a Broken Society (#9: No False Witness)
Bruce Ashford continues his interesting series on the Ten Commandments. “Whereas the third commandment forbids us from telling a lie about God or attacking his name, the ninth commandment prohibits us from bearing false witness against our neighbor, i.e., from attacking our neighbor’s name: ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor’ (Ex 20: 16). And while this speaks specifically to courtroom situations, its implications are much broader.”
3 Things God Will Never Do with Your Sin
“Consider for a moment how we ‘deal’ with others. We keep fresh in our minds their injustices toward us. We nurture the memory of their faults and failings. We never let them forget what they did and we often make sure others are mindful of it as well. We seek every opportunity, often secretly and surreptitiously, to make them pay for their transgressions. We hold it in our hearts and over their heads and persuade ourselves that it’s only fair that they be treated this way.”
Marks of Manhood
Nick Batzig: “At a time when there is more confusion in the culture about gender and role relations, it would help us to take a step back and consider what Scripture sets forth as the model of manhood, namely, the Lord Jesus.”
When the Nest May Never Be Empty
Parents typically look forward to the day the nest will be empty. But for some, that’s just not reality. “When independence is the end goal for following Jesus, or for parenting, our faith is, unrecognizable from what God himself describes.”
A Proverb on Having Your Cake
I find idioms fascinating, perhaps especially when they originate from a different culture.
Flashback: Aging Brings Life-Shaping Decisions
In every way, we must be disciplined in our pursuit of God, we must build habits of holiness. We must not succumb to the ease of complacency.

They are fools that fear to lose their wealth by giving, but fear not to lose themselves by keeping it. —John Trapp

This weeks giveaway is sponsored by B&H Publishing. They are giving away 3 sets of the Holman Handbook Series. Each set will include the Old Testament Handbook, New Testament Handbook, and the forthcoming Church History Handbook.

Why is history important? Most people rarely pause to consider this. Perhaps without realizing it, some have been conditioned to esteem the study of history as legitimate for reasons they cannot identify. Maybe it’s for the sake of preserving the human legacy for posterity. Maybe it’s because of a sense of patriotism and heritage for a given country or culture. Or maybe it’s mainly for the sake of meeting societal standards of what it means to be an educated and well-rounded individual. Many, however, will cite the famous George Santayana quote: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  

While there is some validity to these reasons, we as Christians should approach the study of the past with an even more reverent mindset. If God is the Creator and Sustainer of the world, then he is also Lord of history, the one who declares “the end from the beginning and from long ago what is not yet done” and who says, “My plan will take place, and I will do all my will” (Isa 46:10). In short, history is coherent and meaningful because of God.  

The history of the church is both the history of God’s faithfulness and the history of our waywardness, much like the history of Israel that we find in the OT. Though beyond the book of Acts we do not possess a supernaturally inspired record of the church’s “warts and all” experiences and contributions, we nonetheless can learn from the records we have by measuring them according to Scripture. We will make mistakes like those who came before us, but the same God who preserved His people in the past will continue to preserve His people into the future.  

Accordingly, the contents of the Church History Handbook are intended to serve as a means to the end that is the Great Commission, namely, the preservation and empowerment of God’s people for their God-given mission of proclaiming the truth of the gospel to the world. By equipping the church in the present to learn from her past, we set her up to remain faithful into the future. As we study church history, may God be glorified in the church throughout all generations.  

“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph 3:20–21).  

To celebrate the release of the Church History Handbook, we would like to give away three sets of the Holman Handbook Series. Enter for your chance to win a 3-volume set of the Holman Handbook Series including the Old Testament, New Testament, and Church History Handbooks. The three winners will receive their copies once the Church History Handbook becomes available for shipping (after 4/15/25). Entries are limited to North America.