Theology will kill you if it does not kindle a deep and abiding love for the God of the Bible, and if it does not inspire a desire for his glory, and not ultimately our own. (Marshall Segal)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The weekend is here, and so are the links! Time to click away!

• In conjunction with Stephen’s Church History class, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary’s blog, Theologically Driven, has written a post that gives, in seed form, the reasons why (saint) Patrick was not a Roman Catholic, then broadening it to the mistaken notion that the church fathers were Catholic. They also give some good book recommendations, particularly of the church fathers, some of which you can read online for free.
• What is your view of heaven? Justin Taylor, pointing to John Jefferson Davis’ new book on meditating on God’s Word, points to his thoughts concerning three misconceptions some Christians have on heaven. Do you need to readjust your thoughts and expectations of heaven?
• If you happen to believe that God created the universe, to be consistent requires you to believe God has revealed Himself as Triune, because Scripture has revealed the act of creation as a Trinitarian work. Aaron Armstrong points to some great quotes from theologian Herman Bavinck, showing that creation and the Trinity stand or fall together.
• Recently, the Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (IBCD) led a marriage seminar at Westminster Seminary, covering God’s design for marriage, the husband’s and wife’s roles in marriage, and keys to preserve and strengthen marriage. All the talks and notes from that seminar are now available! Praise God for His loving wisdom toward His children in designing marriage to reflect Christ and His bride, the church!
• Denny Burk has been a shining example of one who stands for the truth of the gospel and the effects of the gospel upon the hearts of sinners, particular of men and women who struggle with same-sex attraction. He highlights a recent radio discussion on the issue of whether the church is failing gay Christians, and a Q&A he recently moderated with pastor Sam Alberry, who struggles with same-sex attraction. Alberry gave two previous talks, all of which can be viewed online.
• Ever wondered how a Christian worldview would influence ethics? Well, wonder no more! Make sure you catch the comments below as well, as there are even more recommendations worth looking into.
• How do you know whether you are making theology an idol or not? Marshall gives nine diagnostic questions that will help you see clearly if your god is about being knowledgeable about God as opposed to knowing God.

That’s all for this week! We hope you all have a great time at flocks this week, and can’t wait to worship our God together this coming Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

A well-rounded approach to Bible study recognizes that the Bible is always more concerned with the decision-maker than with the decision itself. Its aim is to change our hearts so that we desire what God desires, rather than to spoon-feed us answers to every decision in life. (Jen Wilkin, Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! There’s something in here for everyone, so I won’t beat around the bush, and just get straight to it!

• Last week, I mentioned the audio/video for the Shepherds’ Conference Inerrancy Summit was posted. This week, seminar audio from that summit has been posted, and I’ve been told Michael Vlach’s presentation on using Scripture in our defense of the faith is one worth listening to. In case you haven’t been able to watch all the sessions, here are some takeaways from the conference from some Grace to You staff.
• If that wasn’t enough, the international arm of The Master’s Seminary, The Master’s Academy International (TMAI), had a symposium that dealt with the issue of inerrancy and missions that has also been highly recommended for me to listen to. The link provides the audio for most of the sessions, as well as an opportunity to receive a new book written by various faculty of TMAI training centers around the world. You do not want to miss out on this!
• In a blog series dealing with equipping biblical counselors in the local church, a couple posts stood out that I thought were very pertinent to the issue of counseling others: Pastor Jim Newheiser gave eight reasons biblical counseling training centers reinforce the local church, while Tim Lane writes two reasons the church should be involved in counseling others. As Christians, we are called to serve and love one another, and if we affirm biblical inerrancy, counseling each other biblically will follow. May our church live in light of the perfect and unchanging Word of God.
• For pastors, what benefits are there to being ‘forced’ to be at church all the time? May this post, which gives four reasons, be an encouragement to you.
• Have you ever wondered what it looks like to discuss the differences between a presuppositional apologetic and a classical apologetic? Well, if you’re wondering now that I asked, Fred Butler provides some interaction he had with a representative of a very popular form of defending the faith. This is also a model for how to engage other believers who you might differ with, which is something we are bound to encounter.
• If you didn’t know, this month is Pastor’s Wife Appreciation Month! If you would like to encourage/serve your pastor’s wife, here are five ways to get you going. If you are a pastor’s wife, I’m sure finding strength in weakness is a huge help. To the church: does she know she is loved by you? Be the first to show her your appreciation for all that she does!
• For you moms out there, a new resource came out that provides a Bible study on how to walk with God during your time of motherhood. Melissa Kruger, the author, provides some back story for her book that I hope will be a blessing to you.
• Men, 9Marks regularly comes out with a journal addressing different topics relevant to church health. This month, they came out with an issue dealing with complementarianism in the local church. I would challenge every man at our church to read through this journal, and work at growing in your role as a man, whether single or married. This couldn’t be more timely.

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to seeing all of you this coming Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

‘Abiding in Christ’ does not denote an absence of conscious effort on our part; rather , it indicates an all-out effort on our part, but an effort made in total dependence on the Holy Spirit to mediate the life of Christ to us. (Jerry Bridges, True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Quite an eventful week, so let’s get caught up!

• Pastor Andy Davis reflects on 20 years of discipling young men, with some principles that will help the older disciple the younger. Seasoned wisdom from a veteran discipler. Why wouldn’t we learn from his faithful example?
• I truly loved this article giving three reasons women need good theology. It truly is a beautiful thing to see ladies loving God with all their heart, mind and strength. Men, we need to encourage all the women of Lighthouse to be lovers of God and His Word!
• Recently, a gym opened access for men identifying as transgender to be able to enter the women’s restroom as an application of ‘non-judgmentalism.’ A woman complained, and ended up losing her membership. Denny Burk identifies the absurdity of such a view, and highlights the possible danger for women in using public restrooms.
• Should we follow our heart? Probably not.
• News regarding the upcoming Supreme Court case that will decide whether same-sex marriage is a constitutional right continues to be an issue worth paying attention to. Briefs have been filed from plaintiffs in four states, awaiting the Court’s decision in the summer. In response, the Heritage Foundation published a memo arguing for the states to decide what is constitutional, that state marriage laws are constitutional, and that marriage can be defined along anthropological, biological, and social realities.
• The Shepherd’s Conference Inerrancy Summit ended last week, and all the videos for the main sessions have been posted. The Cripplegate have a recap post with short summaries of each session, with link to the videos and audio. This may be their most important conference to date.
• Tim Challies is very helpful when it comes to technology and how Christians should be discerning in that area. To prove that point, consider two of his recent articles: on living well in a digital world, and parenting well in a digital world. This covers everyone, so read on!
• If you attend a secular university, you are bound to be taught, or hear about, the theory of evolution. Recently, a schoolteacher contacted the Discovery Institute (an Intelligent Design thinktank) and informed them that their district, in providing material in teaching biology, included an article that frames the debate over science and religion. Casey Luskin responds to that with an article of his own that gives the proper framing of the debate.
• Dr. Vern Poythress, professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary (who also obtained a PhD in mathematics), was recently interviewed about his new book Redeeming Mathematics: A God-Centered Approach, continuing his series of books that give a biblical worldview on different subjects, many of which can be read for free online. This will be helpful if you are a math major, or tutoring a student in math who may be unsure of the purpose of math.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the Singles, as they will be in Pine Valley for their retreat this weekend!

Soli Deo Gloria

Universalists and atheists share this in common: apologists for each position devote enormous amounts of time, passion, and energy to attacking opposing positions and laboring to make everyone agree with their viewpoint–even though, if they are right, what anyone happens to believe or do in this life makes absolutely no ultimate difference in the long-run. (Steve Hays)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! This week has proven to be a very fruitful one from the (digital) ink used up to produce posts that are a blessing to the church. So let’s dive right in!

• Spreading the Gospel to other nations has been an ongoing fulfillment of Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. Unfortunately, some work done in the name of missions has led to false reporting of the numbers of converts and churches formed in distant lands. I want to point you to an Indian convert who calls the West to Gospel sanity in the work of missions to India.
• Nabeel Qureshi, a Muslim convert to Christianity, recently wrote a book about his conversion, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, depicting his struggle to reject Islam, yet was loved deeply by a Christian to come to know Christ. If you haven’t read the book yet, but would like to see how God works through a believer who knows the Scriptures and offers Christlike love, you’ll enjoy this review.
• For moms who feel overwhelmed with caring for the little ones, this Q&A will hopefully be of some help.
• Ever wondered what Scripture says about the age of the earth and whether God created the world in six 24-hour days? Well, other than reading Genesis 1-2, Steve Ham writes a helpful post discussing these very questions.
• Ladies, is it possible to love your husband before you even meet him? Carolyn McCulley believes so, and here are her reasons.
• Rob Bell recently published a book on marriage that endorsed same-sex marriage. He was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, and New Testament professor Michael Kruger has written a response to some of the claims Bell made in that interview. Don’t be surprised if you come across these assertions, but be prepared.
• How can you discern with wisdom whether someone in your circle of friends may be a young believer or may not even be a Christian? What are some signs worth keeping in mind? Aaron Armstrong has some thoughtful words.
• Pastor Derek Thomas gives some wisdom on the necessity and benefits of expository teaching, both for the preacher and for the congregation. If you are under expository preaching regularly, time to thank God for His Word and your pastor for preaching that Word.
• The folks at Grace to You remind us of need to exercise our belief in the sufficiency of Scripture in relation to psychology and counseling. In our therapeutically-minded culture, this is one message we all need to hear loud and clear.
• In an exciting new series (at least, for me), Joe Carter begins writing about memorization and the added benefits of memorizing Scripture to “feed our imaginations.” This first post will whet your appetite to dive in and begin memorizing to the glory of God.
• Phil Johnson, Dan Philips, and Frank Turk of Pyromaniacs fame, recently held a conference on the sufficiency of Scripture, called “Sufficient Fire,” a follow-up to the “Strange Fire” conference and a precursor to the upcoming Shepherds Conference. Audio and video has just been posted. This is time well worth spending.
• Speaking of conferences, Ligonier Ministries also just released audio and video of their most recent national conference, “After Darkness, Light,” which was about our need to be “revived and restored to a high view of God, His law, His people, and His plan for the world.”
  

That’s all for this week! May God be glorified in our love and honor of His character and His Word. Don’t forget to worship God together on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

[T]he Bible’s account of origins (along with its other accounts) must be true. Only the God described in the Bible can provide the foundation for the things we take for granted. Without God’s Word, we would not have a good reason to believe in the preconditions of intelligibility: the basic reliability of memory and senses, laws of logic, uniformity of nature, morality, personal dignity and freedom… (Jason Lisle, The Ultimate Proof of Creation)

Feliz Friday! I hope your week has been a blessing and a joy! To help with that, here are this week’s links!

• Sometimes we need to look at believers who have been faithful in their callings as singles to see our need to be faithful, and have a ‘tangible’ picture of how that applies to our lives. One example is Pastor Voddie Baucham’s daughter, Jasmine Baucham Holmes.
• In light of the recent killing of 21 Christians by ISIS, one helpful perspective with respect to Islam has been pastor and apologist, James White. Here is his article giving a Christian response, followed up with thoughts on his podcast.
• Doug Wilson is at his best in responding to atheist actor Stephen Fry, who recently ranted about what he would say to God if He existed. This is a perfect example of Wilson’s summary of the tenets of atheism: 1. God doesn’t exist. 2. I hate Him.
• If you’ve ever considered cross-cultural/overseas missions at some point in your life, you probably struggled with deciding whether to learn the community’s native language or not. If you’re unsure which way to go, it may be best to consider whether language learning will glorify God or not. I think what is shared in those posts applies to learning languages in general, not strictly for travelling as a missionary.
• GirlTalk has some great articles focusing on turning to God when dealing with broken relationships with other believers, biblical attitudes to express during that time, and practical aspects of forgiveness. You do not want to miss out on these great posts.
• The Master’s College had their Truth and Life Conference last month, and the audio has just been made available. The theme was on “Practicing the Biblical ‘One Anothers.’” If you haven’t studied those passages before, or are in need of biblical teaching on how to relate to those in the church, consider this a jump start to growth.
• The Grace to You blog has been posting a number of articles related to inerrancy and the controversy surrounding creationism. Here’s their most commented to date: “Evangelical Syncretism: The Genesis Crisis.“
• In this week’s PeaceMeal, attention is drawn to the temptation to want to win the conflict rather than preserve the relationship. Wise words to heed.
• If you were tasked with coming up with clues for faithful, biblical preaching, what would you come up with? Well, The Cripplegate already has a list of marks of faithful preaching. Guess you have your work cut out for you.

That’s all for this week! Make sure to prepare for this Sunday’s service to our Lord, and also celebrate the joy of baptism with our brothers and sisters!

Soli Deo Gloria

Ultimately, pride is a worship issue . We cannot think about ourselves less unless we think about something else more. The rivers of self-forgetfulness flow down from the Godward heights of worship. He is the only God (1 Tim. 1: 17) and the only Sovereign (1 Tim. 6: 15). No one can outlast God in foolish opposition because he is the King Eternal (1 Tim. 1: 17). God has opponents, but he has no rivals. He, and he alone, is worthy of all worship and praise. (Jason Meyer, Killjoys: The Seven Deadly Sins)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Lots to look at, so make yourself cozy, and click away!

• In light of recent events regarding ISIS and mentioning the Crusades in light of that, Ligonier Ministries have uploaded Robert Godfrey’s lecture on the Crusades. Take it as a small glimpse of church history, which, by the way, will be taught in Sunday School in the next couple of weeks.
• With the unfortunate release of 50 Shades of Grey, many will decry and devalue Scripture’s view of morality in favor of immorality portrayed in the film. Denny Burk has some telling observations, and biblical clarity, in relation to this upcoming feature. Marshall Segal writes of 10 promises that are truer than any fantasy. Al Mohler gives a worldview analysis of the book, along with the cultural acceptance of this distorted view of reality.
• In light of a new book coming out from the “Theologians on the Christian Life” series focusing on the creator of “Amazing Grace,” Tony Reinke has linked to all of Pastor John Newton’s writings into one spot, free to download. Please don’t tell me I’m the only one excited about this!
• Valentine’s Day, another day to put our hope in God, not in someone else.
• This looks to be a refreshing post on what it really means to be a Proverbs 31 woman…kind of.
• Jonathan Dodson is back with another great post on evangelism, this time answering the question, “How is the gospel good news to those we evangelize?“
• In a series on biblical counseling and women’s issues, Julie Ganschow writes about the difference between “Stop It!” and biblical counseling. Very helpful to see the contrast. Don’t miss the previous posts, which are linked at the top.
• People often struggle with reading the Bible, some even calling it a “chore.” Why is that? Aaron Armstrong gives three reasons, and some helpful correctives.
• Ever wonder how to evaluate films from a Christian worldview? Well, let John Frame and Brian Godawa be your guide.
• Eric Davis at The Cripplegate wrote an article about reasons why he isn’t a Mormon. He follows that up with five reasons why he isn’t a Jehovah’s Witness.
• How can churches engage believers and unbelievers who experience same-sex attraction? Hear from those who have/still struggle with it.

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to spending time with you all this coming Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out. (Ravi Zacharias, Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s flocks week, and though our various affinity groups may be on break, this week’s links are not! So, without further ado, here they are!

• Do you know your church history? If not, here’s a recommended list of books that will put you on the right track.
• How do you deal with emotions when tempted to make decisions based on them? Christina Fox gives some timeless wisdom on this roller-coaster of a topic.
• How would you counsel a student if their biology teacher teaches evolution, assuming any alternative is false? Here is a concise answer that will be of help to anyone who currently faces this situation or will be facing it soon.
• What does biblical godliness look like? Many would answer spending time in the Word and in prayer, evangelizing the lost, going on missions, etc. However, if there’s one area that is sorely missing in people’s minds about a true mark of godliness, it’s the practical outworking of loving others. Pastor Sam Byers challenges us to reconsider our priorities in light of what we already agree is essential to true godliness.
• Desiring God has been producing some quality content of late, and I wanted to point you to only two (there’s more) of their very wonderful articles: John Piper’s reflections on his 69th birthday and the ultimate purposes of God, and a mother’s reflections on her miscarriage, and the goodness of God.
• Though written for a specific audience in mind, pastor Mark Jones asks some questions that I think everyone needs to grapple with, not just for this upcoming Sunday, but for every Sunday. Will your attention be diverted from Christ on Sunday because of the Super Bowl? Please read and consider before the big game comes on.
• Confirmation of Scripture coming from God has included His power in fulfilling prophecy, but many doubt that Scripture has fulfilled prophecy within its pages. Nathan Busenitz gives five responses to common objections on prophecy that every believer should be ready to explain to doubters and skeptics. Very informative and faith-affirming.
• Denny Burk highlights the naive attempt on the part of the Mormon church to support protections for LGBT people with the hope that their religious freedoms will be protected. He provides insightful analysis and links to responses from other Christian leaders.
• Do you find church to be boring and/or disappointing? Maybe a mind-shift is in order.
• Should we teach our kids early that life isn’t fair? Candice Watters believes so, not just to make them ready for the real world, but because it can always point us back to what we ultimately deserve: an eternal hell separated from God. Storing this for future reference.

That’s all for this week’s links! I hope and pray that you all continue to pursue God with all your heart, mind, and strength! Let’s worship our Lord with our hearts full of praise together on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

 If you invented a religious system, it’s unlikely that you would imagine a god who became like the people he created. But God did even more. He became like his creatures and willingly suffered a horrifying death so that they could be spared. Even the men and women who studied Scripture didn’t anticipate that God would come this close. They never guessed that the Messiah, God himself, would suffer in the way he did. If you think God is far away and indifferent, here is the surprising revelation. From the foundation of the world, God knew your sufferings and declared that he himself would take human form and participate in them (which means that we too could share in his). (Ed Welch, Heart of the Matter: Daily Reflections for Changing Hearts and Lives)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The weekend has arrived, and so have our links!

• Alex Malarkey, who suffered from a car accident and claimed to have gone to heaven, has posted a retraction letter concerning the book that bears his name as co-author, The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven. Phil Johnson (whose post includes Alex’s letter) and The Cripplegate have written about the story.
• In light of the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Christian rap artist Lecrae recently discussed his public confession of encouraging an ex-girlfriend to abort their baby with John Piper and John Ensor, president of Passion Life Ministries. The confession came in the form of a song called, “Good, Bad, Ugly.” Not only do they discuss his past sin, but the power and freedom of confession and forgiveness available to all who have engaged in this act. A powerful testimony to the grace of God. The Cripplegate wrote a post highlighting the number of articles written about abortion on their site. Russell Moore reminds us that not only have many lives been lost in light of Roe v. Wade, but so have the consciences of many men and women, which is where the gospel must be directed.
• Are we on the wrong side of history when it comes to the issue of marriage and same-sex marriage? Pastor David Murray answers in the negative in light of Time magazine’s foray into evangelicalism’s dividing on this issue. Denny Burk rightly questions the use of the word ‘evangelical’ when it comes to those fully embracing the culture’s revisionist view of marriage.
• Knowing that there may be some at our church who are currently unemployed, a very helpful post has been written with practical, and biblical instruction, on how to choose a job. If you haven’t looked into it before, this would be a great place to start.
• News has come out that a New Testament manuscript may date to the 1st century. This may become the oldest fragment/witness to Scripture’s reliability. Not wanting to jump the gun, Justin Taylor gives a measured response which includes links to biblical scholars who have commented thus far.
• Paul Tripp continues writing about us being glory junkies, adding 5 more signs that would diagnose us in being one. A great help is his recognition, as we all should recognize when discussing this with others, is that we are not doctors looking down on others in diagnosing them, but recovering addicts. Let this post be a mirror into your soul and see where you stand.
• How do you respond when the words of another stings? Paula Hendricks gives some helpful insight in the words we say after the hurt has come.
• Here’s a question I’ve heard asked before (along with an answer): “Should I make my daughter have a quiet time?“
• How early are Christian beliefs in the history of the church? Believers would say, since the very beginning, obviously. Many biblical scholars would disagree. How do we settle the issue? One way is to see how early Christians argued or defended the Christian faith. Such an example comes from the pen of Aristides, who wrote a summary statement of the faith in the early second century. Michael Kruger gives some bite-sized commentary.
• What are the current scientific problems with the theories of biological and chemical evolution? Justin Taylor highlights a succinct response from the Discovery Institute that may just be worth bookmarking for future reference.

That’s all for this week’s links! Looking forward to our study of 2 Samuel this coming Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

Healthy relationships have two essential character qualities. First is the humility of approachability. When both people step out from behind protective walls and open up to the perspectives and help of others, each individual— and their relationship— will be given an opportunity to grow and change. The second quality is equally important. In fact, these two qualities cannot live without one another. The second is the courage of loving honesty. Not only do we defend ourselves from the opinion of others, but we avoid uncomfortable moments by failing to say what needs to be said. In the fear of disagreement, tension , and rejection, we choose to be silent about things that, if addressed in love, could be used to bring new insight to one another and a fresh start to the relationship. (Paul Tripp, What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! A new year means a new week of links for the blessing of the church. Without further ado, here are this week’s links!

• Are you a glory junkie? Paul Tripp argues we all are, to some degree. Find out what his diagnosis of a glory junkie is, and give thanks to God for the clarity of seeing yourself as you really are.
• An upcoming documentary about the archaeological evidence for the Exodus is being shown in selected theaters throughout the U.S. that was made by a Christian, yet gives ample time for both sides to make their case that it either happened or didn’t happen. Joe Carter and Andy Naselli give their thoughts on the film. Creation Ministries International reviewed it as well.
• How do you approach friendship? Is it based on common interests, common experiences, stage of life, etc.? Is there a biblical aspect of friendship that may be neglected in your life? Nicole Whitacre over at GirlTalk writes about a biblical approach to friendships that focus on bringing glory to God. This is good stuff, even for us guys to consider.
• Do you love the idea of a healthy church more than you love your own church? Pastor Jonathan Leeman has some kind words of admonishment for you.
• If you have read The Trellis and the Vine, you have learned about the mind shift that takes place when the focus in ministry is people, not programs. How that shift plays out in day-to-day ministry is a common question the authors received. In response, they have since published a workbook that focuses on what Scripture says we are, and where we’re going. Tim Challies highlighted it on his blog this week, and it looks to be a helpful resource.
• Al Mohler regularly stays informed of news events in the US and even abroad with insightful analysis from a Christian worldview. You would be much the wiser upon reading his articles on the firing of Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran and the terrorist attack in France of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
• Right before Christmas, a Newsweek article came out attacking the Bible and Bible-believing Christians in an attempt to argue the ‘error-filled’ history of the Bible to circumvent its authority. Many responses have come from the pen of Michael Kruger, James White, and Albert Mohler, but I want to draw your attention to Darrell Bock’s and  Robert Gagnon’s response. Bock thoroughly refutes the article, noting the irony of the author in misrepresenting Scripture when condemning believers who ‘misrepresent Scripture.’ Gagnon lays out the issues clearly and focuses on the issue of homosexuality.

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to celebrating the joy of Christ as our mediator as we sing to Him together this Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

To take up your cross does not mean to move forward with courage despite the fact you lost your job or your spouse. It means you are under sentence of death; you are taking up the horizontal cross-member on your way to the place of crucifixion. You have abandoned all hope of life in this world. And then, Jesus says, and only then, are we ready to follow him.

(D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Here are your week’s links:

• Dane Ortlund answers a fundamental question that many do not ask, or cannot begin to answer: What was the incarnation? R.C. Sproul explains the incarnation as the reason we (should) celebrate Christmas.
• Tim Challies cautions us to be careful about what we post on social media, for we may post what we may not actually agree with. He highlights a popular Christmas video that is made and promoted by Mormons. In tandem, Mormonism Research Ministry discusses the difference between how Christians view a gift, and how Mormons view a gift.
• Well, the new movie Moses: Gods and Kings came to theaters this past Friday. Al Mohler weighs in.
• As the year ends, some blogs are posting their best posts for the year. One blog is the Biblical Counseling Coalition with their top 14 posts for this year. If you haven’t accessed the blog, now would be the time to do it. Consider it a year’s digest of biblical counseling material. Bob Kellemen follows in the same vein with his list of top 14 biblical counseling books published this year.
• As a continuation of his 9 basic bullet points for presuppositional apologetics, Fred Butler deals with the common objection that this method of apologetics ignores the use of evidence and tends toward fideism. He also argues differences between presuppositional and classical apologetics.
• Continuing from a previous Weekly Link, if you were given an opportunity to counsel someone through depression, how would you begin? Here are some helpful questions and homework to think through.
• Logos has made available sermons from John Wesley for free! A $27 book is not worth passing up. Get it while you can!
• John Piper has written 16 reflections that are worth pondering related to issues in the news that brings our hearts Godward.
• Greg Koukl shares a tip on how to prove the Scriptures teach Jesus is God to a Jehovah’s Witness.

That’s all for this week! May God be honored in the growth of understanding of His Word, and our hearts more and more amazed at His sovereign grace.

Soli Deo Gloria