“Your battle with temptation is ultimately a battle for your faith— specifically, your faith in God as the all-surpassing treasure of your life.” (Bob Bevington, Good News About Satan: A Gospel Look a Spiritual Warfare)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s been quite a while since I’ve called a Friday feliz, but it’s time to bring back the habit of providing some help for your growth in Christ with links that I believe will help towards that end. With that, here are this week’s links!

• Ryan Anderson has written a post on the evidence that sex reassignment surgery does not work, explaining the detailed 30-year study conducted in Sweden and its further implications. Joe Carter writes on teen curiosity to self-identify as transgender as well as the triple likelihood they would identify that way in comparison to adults. He discusses the social contagion thesis as a factor in this increasing trend. There is much here to pray for, and be ready to discuss with anyone who asks.
• Joe Carter also has been writing a monthly series of articles on what Christians should know about bioethics. This month, Carter covers abortifacients.
• Apologist and Biola professor Sean McDowell interviews apologist (and mom) Natasha Crain about her recently published book, Talking with Your Kids about God: 30 Conversations Every Christian Parent Must Have. She speaks on the importance of being able, as parents, to answer some of the many questions kids will have as they grow up in this world, and provides a helpful guide to that end. I don’t know if I agree with everything that is written in the book, but these are great questions to tackle, nonetheless. Trevin Wax also addresses how Christian parents can encourage their kids to own their faith as they grow up. Scarlett Clay, a homeschooling mom, sounds a loud warning: homeschooling will not save your kids. Finally, Tim Challies gives some thoughts to the young believer: set an example.
• Is it possible to over- (or under-)think the Christian life? John Piper provides some sound, biblical counsel to point us in the right direction.
• What do you when you are afraid? How can God help you in your times of fear? Marshall Segal writes some very helpful words that points us to the God of the Word. Such a great reminder.
• Apparently, there is a growing trend among teens to engage in vaping. CCEF counselor Julie Lowe gives parents tips in how to communicate well with their teens about this dangerous new hobby.

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for our youth and collegians, as they will be meeting for Bible study at church tonight. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria