“I am not contending that grace removes all the allure of sin, but our love for it (which gives sin its power) is broken by the greater love grace produces. This dynamic signals the real power of change in the Christian life: we are ultimately controlled by whatever we love the most…Real change—real power over seemingly intractable patterns of sin and selfishness—comes when Christ becomes our preeminent love. When that happens, all that pleases and honors him becomes the source of our deepest pleasure, highest aim, and greatest effort. We honor him not merely out of duty and resolve—or to keep our distance from an angry God—but because our greatest delight is pleasing the One we love the most. The result is that the joy of the Lord becomes our strength (Neh. 8: 10).” (Bryan Chapell, Unlimited Grace: The Heart Chemistry That Frees from Sin and Fuels the Christian Life)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Spring has come, and so have the links. Here you go!

• John Piper was recently asked if there is a way to climb the corporate ladder at work in a way that honors the Lord. If you’re curious, here’s his response.
• If you have ever been in a conversation with someone about the issue of abortion, chances are your use of the word ‘human’ may not mean the same thing to the other person. How can we get a handle on this topic? Joanna Bai, at Justice For All, articulates a crucial distinction that is usually missed in a lot of dialogue between those on opposing sides. This can be useful in future dialogues, so check it out!
• For parents, your children may be experiencing doubt about the truth of God’s Word, and you’re not sure where to turn or what to do. Jon Bloom at Desiring God lays out seven lessons he’s learned in raising five kids, two of whom are entering adulthood while the other three are entering adolescence. This may be of some help to you to pray and consider.
• Marrieds, have you ever stopped to spend time with the singles in your church? Over at the True Woman blog, Paula Marsteller gives some great advice on how to help (and not hurt) the singles in your midst. This is must reading, and should be applied immediately.
• Does having faith really reduce the risk of divorce? Seems like it, according to Glenn Stanton, though it does not enter into specifics about how the Christian faith uniquely provides a deterrent to divorce. This is one example of how psychological observations can correspond with a biblical worldview.
• With the coming of Easter, criticism is bound to come up by those who reject the truth of the resurrection. One objection is the idea that Jesus’ resurrection was invented by the church at a later point in time, not at the start. Sean McDowell provides four reasons why that just isn’t true. For a good summary of who Jesus is, Impact 360 Institute put out a video that is well worth watching.
• On Biola’s new podcast, “Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture,” Stephen Meyer is interviewed about the massive tome, Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique. Very informative and insightful.
• Does the book of Genesis teach about gender and sex? You may be surprised at the answer.
• Ever wondered whether there are arguments for God’s existence? Well, wonder no more. (Caveat: this comes from a self-proclaimed evidentialist apologist, while we would generally subscribe to a presuppositional apologetic. However, I do not see an incompatibility with arguments for God and a Christian worldview, but a complementarity that puts those arguments in its proper context within a biblical framework.)
• As you may have guessed, I have a deep interest in apologetics and biblical counseling, so when I see a combination of the two, I can’t pass up the opportunity to let you know about it. Over at Veritas Domain, Pastor Jim Lee gives a few reasons why those who engage in apologetics should read books on biblical counseling. To that, I give a hearty amen!

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the many flocks that are meeting tonight, that their discussions would be fruitful and the fellowship would deepen their love for God and each other. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria