“The Christian really has a double task. He has to practice both God’s holiness and God’s love. The Christian is to exhibit that God exists as the infinite-personal God; and then he is to exhibit simultaneously God’s character of holiness and love. Not his holiness without his love: that is only harshness. Not his love without his holiness: that is only compromise.” (Francis A. Schaeffer, The Mark of the Christian)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Very diverse set of links this week, so I hope there is something for everyone to enjoy!

• A great, short video by Stephen Meyer shows two doubts concerning the neo-Darwinian evolutionary account of life’s origins. Great visuals, and the link provides a study guide for further reading! Looks like a great resource to pass along! Note: Meyer is an old-earth creationist, so be aware of the dates he provides, specifically with respect to the Cambrian explosion.
• Biola University professor Fred Sanders is interviewed this week on The Crossway Podcast on the doctrine of the Trinity, how it is related to the gospel, and answering common objections to the Trinity. This is a must-listen.
• Here’s a neat little tool you can incorporate on your blog: the ESV Audio Player. It allows you to post audio clips of passages of Scripture without needing to downloading it onto your computer and hosting it there. You can just enter the passage you want to incorporate, and then use the HTML code to embed wherever you would like. Have at it!
• Crossway has partnered with various ministries to get the Word of God out to people in countries that do not have easy access to it like we do. One such ministry is Faith Comes by Hearing, which provides Scripture recordings in 1,315 languages spoken by 6.1 billion people. Check out this interview with president and cofounder Jerry Jackson for more.
• CCEF On the Go podcast focuses on the issue of spiritual leadership in the home. CCEF Director School of Biblical Counseling Alasdair Groves interviews CCEF New England counselor Robyn Huck on this very important topic.
• CCEF counselor Ed Welch answers, in his conversational style, a very common question, “Is Scripture sufficient for counseling?”
• John Lennox gave a talk on how to talk to people about Christianity, of which was highlighted on Triablogue.
• Are Christians commanded to engage in apologetics? Stand to Reason speaker Tim Barnett argues, yes! (Note: At 1:06 in the video, the passage cited is actually from 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, not 1 Corinthians 10:4-5.)
• Kevin DeYoung highlights some thoughts and reflections from a pastor of 30 years at his church who is retiring. Wise words are always good to think and reflect on.
• Joe Carter is back with nine things you should know about modern Satanism.

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for all who are going to their first flock tonight, as well as the flock leaders and hosts. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Gracious gratitude should spring up as a flowing fountain as we are ever mindful of God’s character. Gratitude of this kind for the attributes of God shows that the Holy Spirit is truly at work in our hearts. It is a defining characteristic of a Christian, since while unbelievers may thank God for his gifts, only Christians thank God for his holiness.” (Mary K. Mohler, Growing in Gratitude: Rediscovering the Joy of a Thankful Heart)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s been awhile, but the links just keep on coming! Hope it fills you up!

• Crossway has been very busy posting some great articles this week. Here they are in order: the Crossway Podcast interviewed author Joe Rigney on C.S. Lewis’ life and books. Fascinating stuff! Regent College president Jeffrey Greenman writes on the importance of seeing Christian discipleship as a life of intellectual discipline in all areas. Ed Welch gives a model for asking others to pray for you. Joe Rigney wrote a great post on seven important lessons about masculinity that he is seeking to form in the lives of his two boys. John Piper explains how to pray when you’re in physical pain. Author Ian Smith explains the cosmic effect of the resurrection and its importance of mentioning it while sharing the gospel. Laurie Matthias writes on how professors can integrate faith and learning, a very stimulating read.
• DTS Voice podcast interviews author and Moody Bible Institute professor Christopher Yuan about how to engage the culture about issues of sexuality effectively and lovingly.
• How can you be prepared for when people knock on your door and want to present an unbiblical worldview? Creation Ministries International Information Officer Lita Cosner gives some short summary statements on what we believe as Christians and how that can be used in conversation with those who come to our door.

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for our member’s meeting, as we will be discussing important matters for the life of the church. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Lament can be defined as a loud cry, a howl, or a passionate expression of grief. However, in the Bible lament is more than sorrow or talking about sadness. It is more than walking through the stages of grief. Lament is a prayer in pain that leads to trust.” (Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope you have been given many opportunities to thank God for all that He provides, whatever that looks like in your life, primarily the provision of His saving grace! Here are this week’s links!

• This week on The Crossway Podcast, Dane Ortlund is interviewed on the life and legacy of Jonathan Edwards. That should be enough to have your attention.
• No matter how long you have been in the faith, do you examine your life to see if it is bearing fruit? Meaning, does your life show a life of repentance and growing in godliness? Author Lindsey Carlson gives some clear markers from Scripture to know where to examine growth in your life. May it be a regular practice for those who love Christ to show our love by examining ourselves.
• Pastor Michael Riccardi considers the often-neglected question: “Can I adapt the gospel message to make evangelism easier?” This is a very good post.
• When you hear Romans 8:28 quoted, you may wonder if it applies to you. You may agree with what it says, but wonder if it specifically applies to you. How can you know whether God is for you? Sinclair Ferguson provides some context to the verse that is very hope-giving. Give it a read.
• Have you ever wondered whether it is required to believe in Christ exclusively to be saved? Have you ever been asked to show where in Scripture does it say that Jesus is the only Savior? Theologian Bruce Ware provides much by way of biblical support for the exclusive view of Christ as sole Savior and a conscious faith in Him to receive forgiveness of sins and salvation from judgment. If you are not sure of Scripture’s position on these twin issues, this is an excellent place to start. This may be the most important link I’ve shared in a long time. Read and meditate on this!
• The Grace to You blog has been featuring snippets from John MacArthur’s book Final Word, which focuses on the necessity, trustworthiness, and sufficiency of Scripture. This week, he covers the unequally yoked relationship between our desire for Scripture and our desire for sin. It cannot be mixed, and the apostle Peter points out why. This is solid food.
• There are certain Christian cliches that tend to go around among believers, yet may be hard-pressed to find them in Scripture. Practicing discernment is key to knowing what sounds good from what actually is good. Pastor Derek Brown covers the common cliche, “Bloom where you’re planted.”  If you think you know where this falls under, read on.
• Another Christian cliche is “God says it…that settles it!” Thankfully, more can be said about that!
• ACBC counselor Julie Ganschow writes of how to give hope to a suffering believer through the book of 1 Peter. This might apply more to you than you originally thought.
• Ever wonder what a biblical response to mental health looks like? Well, you will definitely be glad to know that a recent conference was held that covered that exact topic! CCEF counselor Ed Welch and ACBC Executive Director Dale Johnson spoke on the issue in eight sessions! From the sufficiency of Scripture to address such issues, to a biblical view of anxiety, to depression, and more, this definitely looks to be worth your time.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the youth and collegians, as they meet tonight for Bible study, and for Salt n Light as they enjoy a day at the park tomorrow. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Worship is any essential expression of service rendered unto God by a soul who loves and extols Him for who He is. Real worship therefore should be the full-time, nonstop activity of every believer, and the aim of the exercise ought to be to please God, not merely entertain the worshiper.” (John MacArthur, Worship: The Ultimate Priority)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s been awhile, so I hope this will give you much to chew on. Here are this week’s links!

• IBCD (Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship) had their summer institute conference on the issue ‘Identity Crisis’ a few months ago, and have announced the posting of all the general sessions and workshops on their website. 38 audios that are sure to inform, equip, and encourage. Don’t miss out on this rich resource!
• The Crossway blog has been busy with some great posts. Early in the week, John Piper was interviewed on the Crossway Podcast on the sovereignty of God, pastoral burnout, and racism. Another blog recounts, in brief, the history of Crossway’s tract ministry.
• The Gospel Coalition podcast highlighted one of their conference talks earlier this year on biblical principles for resolving conflict from Danielle Sallade. It’s never enough to hear the Bible’s view on dealing with conflict God’s way. If you’re in a conflict right now, this may be of help to you.
• Leslie Schmucker, mom of three, grandmother of six, and former public school teacher, gives some ideas for how to use reason and logic to point your kids to Christ.
• Denny Burk writes about the case of Barronelle Stutzman, the florist who declined to participate in a same-sex wedding. She had already won her case in the Supreme Court, but Washington state refuses to heed the decision made by the Supreme Court justices. For that reason, she is making an appeal to the Supreme Court. The video alone lays out what happened and what led to Stutzman appearing in court. This is still worth paying attention to.
• Remembering the tragedy of 9/11 can bring a flood of emotion to those immediately affected by the loss of loved ones, as well as Americans who were alive and can vividly recall where they were when that took place. Denny Burk mentions his story, as well as the sermons that were preached across America the Sunday after, 9/16. He highlights sermons from Pastors John Piper and Tom Nelson.
• Greg Koukl and Amy Hall of Stand to Reason were recently interviewed on DTS The Table Podcast about how to have spiritual conversations with people who disagree with us about Christianity. If you want a simple introduction to their ambassador approach, this is a great place to start!
• The case against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt for “wire-tapping” conversations with key leaders of Planned Parenthood have started this week in San Francisco. Pastor Jesse Johnson points out five incredible revelations from this ongoing case in court. This is another case that needs more exposure.
• It turns out the peppered moth and Darwin’s finches seem to start pointing towards intelligent design and away from evolution, given a couple new studies about their complexity early on in the discovery of their fossils and current state. So much for these ‘icons of evolution.’

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the youth and collegians, as they meet tonight for Bible study. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“What God desires is unity, not uniformity. Instead of avoiding all conflicts or demanding that others always agree with us, we can celebrate the variety of God’s creation and learn to accept and work with people who simply see things differently than we do. Unity means we are of one purpose, one mind, one heart. Uniformity means we are clones of each other, with everyone looking, thinking, and acting the same.” (Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson, Resolving Everyday Conflict)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Short, unlike the weekend! Here are this week’s links!

• What does it mean to keep ourselves in the love of God, according to Jude 21? Paul Tautges gives a short but meaty answer.
• Kelly Needham writes 13 signs you can tell of a friendship gone wrong.
• With the church in China suffering more from persecution these days than in recent history, four Chinese pastors provide some lessons they have learned along the way as they seek to be faithful to God in their planting of house churches.
• Leave it to Joe Carter to give a list of nine things we ought to know about Ulrich Zwingli.
• John Piper wrote a short biographical sketch of John Bunyan, celebrated preacher and author of many books, most notably The Pilgrim’s Progress.
• With the recent departure by former pastor Joshua Harris from the Christian faith, some of the issues raised has popped up on secular and Christian blogs and radio. Justin Brierley recently interviewed Jessica van der Wyngaard, director of the documentary ‘I Survived I Kissed Dating Goodbye,’ on his podcast Unbelievable? The documentary chronicled Harris’ rejection of ideas in his first book. Brierley also included Christian apologist Sean McDowell in the interview to provide a believer’s perspective.
• Melissa Cain Travis highlights some good conversation talking points from the show The Good Place to go deeper with an unbeliever. I may not agree with everything written, but this a good example of taking what people watch, and turning it to a discussion of what really matters in life.

That’s all for this week! See you all on Sunday! And enjoy Labor Day!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Since the Reformation, the church (in general) has been better at seeing sin and idols than seeing and celebrating love. We have a clear vision of what we shouldn’t be, but a dull vision of what we should be. Our wonderful Reformation emphasis on sin and grace needs to be enlarged to encompass a vision of beauty and love. Otherwise, we’ll get stuck in the darkness. Our cynical age amplifies this tendency because cynicism is the craft of seeing evil in others’ motives. If we are not captured by a larger vision of the beauty of Jesus, we will see evil everywhere— especially in the church.” (Paul E. Miller, J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s been a while, but glad to be back and ready with a fresh new set of links for you to enjoy!

• Greg Koukl answers a common question asked of Christians: does Jesus endorse blind faith?
• At the Founders blog, Alex Kocman points to the source of biblical boldness, and our call to meditate again on the gospel to be faithful witnesses of Christ.
• 9Marks published their newest journal, and the title alone should excite you: “The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement.”
• On the most recent Truth in Love podcast, Stephen Yuille talks about how the Puritans counseled with the Word, leading to their well-deserved label, “physicians of the soul.”
• Al Mohler earlier this year gave a talk on how to raise children in this day and age, and The Gospel Coalition recently made mention of it on the blog. Less than 30 minutes, so I’m sure it can fit in your commute somewhere.
• Becket Cook, a successful Hollywood set designer, was interviewed on TGC about his new book, A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption. A fascinating testimony to the power of the gospel.
• True Woman blogger Christy Britton confronts a common sentiment found in the church: casual Christianity. There is much to reflect and, possibly, repent of.
• Amy Hall at Stand to Reason points to the unwarranted criticism people have leveled at ‘purity culture,’ some responses, and calls all believers to continue to pursue obedience of our faithful God.
• Do humans and chimps differ? There are a number of reasons to think so, and also why they most likely aren’t our ancestors. Evolution News points to Wesley Smith’s article and Ann Gauger’s four-part series covering this topic.
• Can you help your teen study the Bible? Katherine Forster, a teen, believes so. She writes five tips to get you started.

That’s all for this week! See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Every attack on the Bible is an attack on divine truth and God’s holy nature, no matter where the attack originates. And what is most shocking in this endless battle is how often Scripture is hit by friendly fire. Perhaps no doctrine has been as consistently assaulted from within the church as the inerrancy of Scripture.” (John MacArthur, Final Word: Why We Need the Bible)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Another week has come to an end, and the links just keep popping up. So here are this week’s links!

• The Discovery Institute has begun a series of videos contrasting common scientific slogans with science. This week, episode 4 came out, challenging Bill Nye’s “I suck” comment about the supposed insignificance of everyone in this world as a speck of specks. A great conversation-starter! For a good overview of the series, and all the previous episodes in one spot, click here.
• SBC Pastors Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore discuss the importance of manhood in light of the SBC’s attention on sexual abuse within the church on this week’s Sheologians podcast.
• Yet again, Stand to Reason’s Tim Barnett deals with another pro-choice meme meant to silence those against abortion, and not create opportunities for dialogue.
• Biblical counselor Mark Shaw addresses the recent decision by the World Health Organization to label “gaming disorder” as an disease and an addiction. Some heart questions are definitely in order here.
• How are teens tempted to embrace a false gospel? What are some of the most common false ideas influencing teens today? Biblical counselor Ellen Castillo gives four and good reason to hope for both counselor and teen.
• How do we understand the book of Job? Tyndall House writer-in-residence Christopher Ash gives nine guidelines to get a better grasp of this complex book.
• As complementarians, what is our responsibility towards women in the church and in our homes? Hohn Cho wrote a very helpful post detailing our role before God to care for our sisters in Christ.
• Pastor Robert Cheong lays out four priorities in the essentials of gospel care. This is definitely worth bookmarking and referring back to if you provide any counsel to those in need.
• In this week’s Crossway Podcast, medical doctor Kathryn Butler discusses her experiences as a trauma surgeon in the ICU, common misconceptions about intensive care medicine, and counsel she has provided to those who are reaching the end of their life.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for Salt and Light, as they will be having their Table for 5 event tomorrow. See you all on Sunday, at church and at FITS!

Soli Deo Gloria

“This is why we need our faculties trained by Scripture to discern the difference between the apparently spiritual and the truth of the gospel. A regular diet of biblical teaching helps to develop in us an instinctive wisdom. And thus discernment protects us from ‘super-spiritual’ teaching that attributes its own wisdom to God, and in the process confuses others, sometimes creating in them a painful sense of guilt and uncertainty. So, growing in spiritual discernment is an essential element in spiritual maturity. Our lives are shaped in part by our ability to persevere in the important but unspectacular exercises that build Christian character—the ministry and study of the word, worship and fellowship, prayer, and serving the Lord day by day in all the ordinariness of life. This is what forms Christian character. So if we want to become mature Christians we must set our hearts on long-term goals and devote ourselves privately and steadfastly to their accomplishment.“ (Sinclair Ferguson, Maturity: Growing Up and Going On In the Christian Life)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Short and sweet, just like you like it! Here are this week’s links!

• What are some common temptations women face? Sheologians posted a great podcast on that early this week. Check it out!
• John Piper is interviewed this week on The Crossway Podcast. He talks about some of the verses that has changed his life and ministry.
• Greg Koukl was interviewed on his book Tactics and asked questions on how to engage in conversations with unbelievers about spiritual topics. This is definitely worth taking notes.
• David Powlison’s influence is still being felt since his being with the Lord. If you haven’t seen the memorial service, you can watch it here. Crossway posted an article from him on four ways to read the Bible for personal application. Kyle Johnston writes of Powlison’s impact on biblical counseling in South Africa. Steve Midgley writes about his influence in the UK. Sacha Mendes writes of Powlison’s influence in Brazil.
• Denny Burk has been posting some good stuff lately. He responds to a New York Times article critiquing purity culture, and a bit of historical background and theological clarification of the word complementarianism.
• Shona Murray writes five myths about leisure that I’m sure some of us have no doubt believed at some point in our lives.
• Families, how should you pray when preparing for a family vacation? This is something I know some families are currently planning, so you may want to check out this post from Andreas & Margaret Köstenberger.
• What are the requirements to be an elder? Glad you asked! Justin Taylor provides a list from the ESV Study Bible.
• Joe Carter writes an excellent post of an FAQ about what Christians should know about vaccines.
• Tim Keesee gave an excellent talk at the 2019 TGC National Conference earlier this year on the unstoppable, global gospel. Definitely worth a listen!

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer, as some of us are attending the IBCD Summer Conference this weekend. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“What kind of picture of reality makes room for the fact that people matter most? I suggest that the Christian picture of reality makes good sense of this aspect of our lives. In other words, the picture of reality presented by Christianity grounds and explains our values and aspirations concerning the importance of people. A simple observation is enough to show this claim to be true: In the Christian story, the most fundamental reality is personal…Because God has purposes for us, our meaning does not depend on how we feel about our lives on any given day.” (Gregory E. Ganssle, Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The school has finally come to an end, and I couldn’t be more excited for the summer! Here are this week’s links to start you off right!

• Have you ever wondered who wrote Deuteronomy 34, the chapter on Moses’ death? Do we have any reason to doubt the inspiration of God’s Word due to this question? Old Testament adjunct professor Richard McDonald lays out some of the proposed authors, but also reminds us of the trustworthiness of God in answering some of the hard questions.
• What role does testosterone play in impacting men? Medical doctor and biblical counselor Dan Dionne is interviewed about this on this week’s Truth in Love podcast.
• Biola professor and philosopher J.P. Moreland was interviewed about his new book on anxiety and the implications of intelligent design in the area of mental health and science on the ID the Future pocast.
• David Powlison, former CCEF Executive Director, died last week after battling stage IV pancreatic cancer since November 2018. A number of tributes have been written about him already, and I wanted to pass along some of them to you, in order to get to know the man who influenced many within the biblical counseling movement. Randy Alcorn linked to a few tributes, and posted one from Ray Ortlund. The Biblical Counseling Coalition dedicated this week to Powlison’s work and example: a post he wrote on how sanctification works, a tribute by Bob Kellemen, a focus on what David loved, and a small reflection from BCC director Curtis Solomon. Justin Taylor posted five questions to ask when you are suffering, from Powlison’s latest book on suffering.
• Stand to Reason speaker Tim Barnett deals with another example of bad science with respect to abortion arguments in the form of a tweet from comedienne Heather Anne Campbell.
• What is the reformed view of predestination? R.C. Sproul wrote a very helpful answer.
• Joe Carter gives a detailed FAQ on the recent release of a report by the SBC on sexual abuse within the denomination.
• Donn Arms, ministry co-laborer with biblical counseling pioneer Jay Adams, gives some very important advice for any student studying biblical counseling: read Jay Adams!

That’s all for this week! Please pray for all the graduating seniors! Congrats to all of you! See you on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Why do we seek spectacles? Because we’re human—hardwired with an unquenchable appetite to see glory. Our hearts seek splendor as our eyes scan for greatness. We cannot help it. ‘The world aches to be awed. That ache was made for God. The world seeks it mainly through movies’—and in entertainment and politics and true crime and celebrity gossip and warfare and live sports. Unfortunately, we are all very easily conned into wasting our time on what adds no value to our lives. Aldous Huxley called it ‘man’s almost infinite appetite for distraction.'” (Tony Reinke, Competing Spectacles: Treasuring Christ in the Media Age)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope your week has been a blessed one of growth in Christlikeness. Here are this week’s links!

• According to many in our culture today, science will eventually be able to explain away God as an explanation. Is this true? Christian apologist Tim Barnett gives a succinct answer that will move this conversation forward.
• What are some of the false messages directed at Christian women today, and how can they deal with an increase in anxiety and depression amongst believers? Author Lydia Brownback is interviewed on The Crossway Podcast this week about these topics and more.
• Pastor John MacArthur calls for every believer to pursue integrity relentlessly. May we all be faithful in this.
• How should you move in a conversation, especially when offering counsel, when the person you’re talking to has a moral relativistic mindset? ACBC counselor Lucy Ann Moll gives some helpful wisdom for you to consider.
• Is there benefit in using a certain cleaning method if Christ is not mentioned? Many have recently benefited from using the KonMari Method to cleaning their homes, but hold some reservations about some of her tips. Stephanie Anderson of Eternal Perspective Ministries points out the blessings of using Marie Kondo’s cleaning method, but suggests an examination of our own hearts to be a higher priority than the decluttering of our homes.
• Whenever you hear of a personal quiet time, what comes to your mind? How does it look like in daily practice? Do you even have one? In their Making Disciples Podcast, Pastor Robby Gallaty provides some helpful tips for how to begin a quiet time, and why many don’t do it. I think this is one you shouldn’t pass up.
• What does it mean to live well with others? Pastor Clint Archer explains 1 Peter 3:8 in answer to this question by laying out five characteristics of Christian relationships. I pray this is characteristic of every friendship within the body of Christ.
• Joe Carter at The Gospel Coalition fact checks the claim that U.S. churches could take care of the orphan crisis alone. Whatever the numbers, we as a church should pray for those who are without one or both parents in need of care.
• Kenneth Samples gave some family characteristics of secular naturalism in two parts. This week, he posted part two. Make sure to read part one!
• Paul Tautges posted a snippet from Wayne Mack’s Your Family God’s Way, specifically 22 benefits of fearing God. Coming from a section specifically written for husbands, this applies to both men and women who fear the Lord. Very humbling, and very hopeful for every believer!

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for all who are meeting for flocks tonight and tomorrow. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria