“So we begin to see already that God intentionally brings woundedness to those he loves. And in fact, those God uses the most he breaks, in some manner, for his sovereign purposes. Think about your life. Perhaps there is a physical scar or debilitating condition you carry. Or maybe the scar or weakness is much more subtle and unseen by the human eye, but no less profound in its effect on your life. God used Jacob to show us that he uses such people not despite their weakness but rather because of and through these very weaknesses.” (Michael S. Beates, Disability and the Gospel: How God Uses Our Brokenness to Display His Grace)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Despite all the political discussion in the news concerning Brett Kavanaugh, here are some links that will point you Godward.

• Digital ink is still being spilled on The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel, and I wanted to keep you all updated. Tom Ascol is beginning a series of articles explaining each of the 14 articles of affirmation and denial. The first one is on Scripture, so get to it!
• Along with that new series, articles are still being posted on the official website. Tom Ascol wrote an article on white privilege, while Calvin Beisner focuses on answering whether Scripture requires wealth redistribution and equalization or not.
• At the TMS blog, pastor Ace Davis writes a three-part series on self-control: what it is and how it applies in our lives, three areas to practice self-control, and four walls to cultivate self-control in your life.
• Parents, how can you rebuild authority in the lives of your kids if you feel like it’s starting to wane? Julie Lowe gives some wise words about this current cultural crisis that has been affecting many homes.
• Darrell Bock interviews DTS student Paul Golhashem, a convert from Islam, about how to engage in conversation with Muslims. Watch and learn.
• Tim Challies writes some questions to go along with the Westminster Larger Catechism regarding the ninth commandment in relation to our use of social media. This is a two-parter, so be on the lookout for the second article!
• How can you explore your emotions biblically? Counselor Brenda Pauken gives many passages of Scripture that exposes our emotions and God’s emotions, and how we can deal with ungodly emotions as well. This is definitely one to bookmark!

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the youth and collegians, as they meet tonight at church for Bible study. Have a blessed time at church this Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“The idea that the Bible is ‘infallible’ means that it does not deceive. To say that the Bible is ‘inerrant’ is to make the additional claim that it does not assert any errors of fact: whether the Bible refers to events in the life of Christ, or to other details of history and geography, what it asserts is true.” (Timothy Ward, Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Another week has come, and the Lord has been good, including some links for your reading (and listening and viewing) pleasure. Here are this week’s links!

• Since Al Mohler’s remarks about why he didn’t sign the Statement on Social Justice & the Gospel, one of the authors, pastor and apologist James White, responded to some of the objections Mohler raised. Just making sure you’re all aware that there is a back-and-forth taking place between prominent evangelicals that we would respect. Not only should we respect them still, but we should also emulate their behavior towards the other side. Amy Hall, at Stand to Reason, gives a clear distinction between justice and grace that has a lot to do with the idea of social justice. If we aren’t clear on justice, we won’t be clear on our gospel proclamation.
• Alasdair Groves interviews David Powlison on how to minister to those in the church who have a psychiatric disorder at CCEF’s On the Go podcast. You may be the one who is called to help those in need, so take a listen.
• If you have ever doubted God’s goodness in your life, this little post from Peter Pike at Triablogue can be a good place to review the big truths of God’s Word in dealing with or anticipating doubt.
• There’s times in the Christian life where our focus can be short-sighted to the point that we lose our joy in Christ. There are a couple of ways that believers tend to do this, and Tim Chester points them out, as well as how to recover from this short-sightedness.
• If you haven’t heard of scientism, it’s the philosophical position held by many in society today that science is the only or main source of knowledge. J.P. Moreland explains 10 things you should know about this worldview. Aaron Brake at Stand to Reason points out not only what science presupposes, but also what it can’t account for (he also links to a video where this is pointed out to an atheist to great effect). This will be helpful to keep in mind as you speak of the truth of the Christian worldview wherever you go.
• TGC Australia has an article critiquing Bethel Church’s theology and practice in Redding, CA, and their influence in Australia through their Awakening Australia event. Very eye-opening, to say the least, and not in a good way.
• Can a man and a woman be good friends? What would that look like, especially in the church? Tim Challies gives some thoughts on this issue. This is definitely worth discussing, brothers and sisters.
• Pastor Jon Lee writes of a common situation in a family home where the father comes home with a certain agenda that doesn’t involve God, and the other where it does. It’s a small taste of what the sufficiency of Scripture looks like in practice, and the differences couldn’t be more clear. May we all pray to be as molded by the Word as the second situation calls for.

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

Soli Deo Gloria

“We were made to enjoy Him. Our minds were shaped and fashioned to think about God, to reflect and meditate on His majesty and beauty and to experience the intellectual thrill of theological discovery. Our emotions were made to feel His power, love, and longing for us. Our wills were made to choose His will and ways; our spirits were formed to experience the ecstasy of communion with Him; our bodies were fashioned to be the temple where He Himself would delight to dwell!” (Sam Storms, Pleasures Evermore: The Life-Changing Power of Enjoying God)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Our focus this week is on the issue of social justice, archaeology, and biblical counseling. Without further ado, here are your links!

• In a recent Ask Anything Live event, Al Mohler was asked a few times to address the issue of social justice amongst believers. Here is the link with the proper background info to the recent posting of the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel. Speaking of which, articles from the perspective of the initial signatories of this statement have been popping up this week, including articles by Josh Buice and Tom Ascol. Kevin DeYoung answers the question “Is social justice a gospel issue?” Justin Taylor, in referencing DeYoung’s article, highlights D.A. Carson’s article from 2014 on what should be considered a gospel issue. Whatever your position on these issues, it’s always best to stay informed from the primary spokesmen on both sides of the aisle. May we all speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
• Biblical counselor Mark Shaw writes on the issue of men and their middle-age crisis in two parts (one and two) from a biblical perspective. It’s always a breath of fresh air when a Christian worldview is applied in contrast to the wisdom of the world.
• How can you talk more like Christ? This is a great question, with a great answer by biblical counselor Lucy Ann Moll.
• How can you grow in your listening skills? Ed Welch gives some great counsel on valuable listening.
• Youth are called to remember our Creator in this stage of life. Why should we do that? David Murray gives four reasons to do so. May all our youth remember the One who made us.
• Alasdair Groves sits down with CCEF counselor Mike Emlet to discuss how he personally engages with Scripture on their most recent On the Go podcast. Listen in!
• The Associates for Biblical Research, in their most recent episode of Digging for Truth, present a pastoral perspective on archaeology and the Bible. You will learn much and appreciate God’s faithfulness in verifying what He has said in His Word.

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

Soli Deo Gloria

by Stephen Rodgers

So there’s a lot going on in the world, but we’ll try to keep this simple and short. As always, here’s some free resources that might be helpful.

• How to Battle Depression and Suicidal Thoughts by Ray Comfort (free audio book) – This is the free resources for the month by christianaudio.com. I really can’t vouch for it one way or the other, but it’s there if you think it would be something that would be helpful.
• Preaching and Teaching the Last Things: Old Testament Eschatology for the Life of the Church by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. (free Logos resource) – Again, I don’t have first-hand knowledge of this particular book, but Kaiser is a reputable scholar who has done some good work, so if you’re a Logos person, this might be worth clicking a few buttons for.
• “Between Two Worlds” (September Tabletalk) – Look, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Tabletalk is awesome. This month the theme is the Christian as a dual-citizen. Highly recommended.
• “Idolatry” (CredoMag) – Last but not least, there’s a new issue of CredoMag on the topic of “idolatry.” They lead with Calvin’s famous quote (which you might expect), but they certainly don’t leave it at that. Another recommended resource.

Well, it’s September. Fall. Back to school. Just a few more months until Christmas. Take a deep breath, remember what’s important and what endures, and live for the glory of God.

Pro Rege.

“Prayerfully, you will discover that Christianity is not relegated to a couple “spiritual” activities a week, but you will see how the gospel invades our work, our leisure, our errands, and our families. In short, the gospel redeems and transforms all of life.” (Jason K. Allen, Being a Christian: How Jesus Redeems All of Life)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The week has come and gone, but the links are here to stay. Enjoy!

• Do you believe singleness to be a curse? Have you been treated as if you’ve been ‘infected’? What would be a loving, biblical approach to helping those who feel the loneliness that often attaches to singleness? Greg Morse at Desiring God gives some timely words that will serve to point you back to Christ. Read it and pray, whether single or married.
• Parents, ideas about marriage are many and varied, and your kids will either learn about them from you or from the culture. However, will you also teach and model marriage as God designed it? Dani Ortlund argues that as believers, we need to show and instruct our children the beauty of marriage first.
• Tim Challies gives some pointers on how to raise our children to be in but not of the world.
• Recently, atheist scientist Richard Dawkins announced plans to write a book for kids and another for teens, advocating for outgrowing God as equivalent to atheism. Over at Christian Mom Thoughts, Natasha Crain writes of five terrible reasons your kids may think they can outgrow Christianity. Fascinating read.
• One year ago, CBMW published the Nashville Statement, which gave an evangelical perspective on biblical sexuality. In light of this, they held a symposium with seven articles written by seven of the original signatories. It would do you well to see how a clear articulation of a biblical worldview concerning this topic continues to be needed in our day.
• What books would John Piper recommend a believer read to grow in his/her faith? Make sure you have the budget, because there’s a lot to choose from!
• Heath Lambert helps us to think about understanding fear biblically.
• Does God change his mind? Paul Tautges writes a concise answer that will be sure to get you into Scripture.
• How would biblical counselor Ed Welch answer the question, “How is the church doing at caring for one another?” Well, here’s his answer. Remember, he wrote a couple books about the matter.
• Do inconsistencies in the gospels undermine Scripture’s inerrancy? SBTS professor Robert Plummer responds.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for the youth and collegians, as they meet for the start of the new year! See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“One purpose for which God caused Scripture to be written is to train us that we might be ‘equipped for every good work.’ This applies to all of life. If there is any ‘good work’ that God wants a Christian to do, this passage indicates that God has made provision in his Word for training the Christian in it. Thus, there is no ‘good work’ that God wants us to do other than those that are taught (at least in a broad sense) somewhere in Scripture: it is written to equip us for every good work.” (Wayne Grudem, Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! God has sustained us this week, and though it may be time to take a break from work or school, we can’t leave you without giving you a look at what has been blessing the church by way of the blogosphere. So here are this week’s links!

• If you’re looking for a short and sweet summary of the life of John Owen, look no further.
• John MacArthur continues his series on social justice and the gospel by recounting his ministry defending the gospel from those within the church and how currently, social justice seems to be another evangelical fad not worth embracing.
• How should we minister the gospel to Mormons (until recently, LDS President Russell Nelson, has requested they no longer accept being labeled as such)? DTS Professor Darrell Bock and Richard Hornock discuss the issue on the most recent The Table Podcast.
• How are we called to live in what has been recently identified as a ‘post-truth’ culture? Sean McDowell asks this of RZIM speaker Abdu Murray, who has written a book on the same topic. He also provided tips on how to engage the culture apologetically and evangelistically. Great insights!
• Many youth are starting college this year, and a question that needs to be asked and answered is this: will you lose your faith in college? John Piper would have some much-needed advice he would give himself if he were 22 again.
• What should you consider when confronting a friend in their sin? Ed Welch provides five things for us to think through in our pursuit of one-another care.
• Rick Thomas provides some help in knowing where to start when discipling a younger believer. Don’t assume you know where to start, since that may be the beginning of a number of problems. Know the one you’re trying to help.
• How do we deal with anxiety? Biblical counselor Paul Tautges has written a devotional on this very topic, and can be a great pointer to the true comfort we receive in Christ. Read, and act in faith.

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer as we wrap up our summer Bible study with a focus on God’s holiness. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Radically ordinary hospitality is this: using your Christian home in a daily way that seeks to make strangers neighbors, and neighbors family of God. It brings glory to God, serves others, and lives out the gospel in word and deed. If you are prohibited from using your living space in this way, it counts if you support in some way some household in your church that is doing it. The purpose of radically ordinary hospitality is to build, focus, deepen, and strengthen the family of God, pointing others to the Bible-believing local church, and being earthly and spiritual good to everyone we know.” (Rosaria Butterfield, The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope your weeks have been filled with recognizing God’s grace in your life, and pray these week’s links are a continuation of that theme.

• How do you deal with doubts as a believer? Do you ignore, run away, or walk through it? That is the topic of discussion on The Impact 360 Institute podcast, where Jonathan Morrow interviews Alisa Childers (ZOEgirl, anyone?) on how she overcame her many doubts about Christianity in her early 30s. Pass it along!
• With a recent interview pastor Andy Stanley had with Jonathan Merritt about a controversial sermon Stanley preached on unhitching ourselves from the Old Testament, Michael Kruger revisits his response to Stanley’s view of Scripture back in 2016 that is worth (re-)reading. Make sure to check out Al Mohler’s response to Stanley, too.
• What is lust? John Piper, in his Look at the Book series, provides a lab of defining lust in the light of Scripture. Now, how should Christians battle lust? Heath Lambert in his most recent Truth in Love podcast gives five ways to deal with this common temptation.
• Over at the Gentle Reformation blog, Aimee Byrd is interviewed about her newly published book, Why Can’t We Be Friends? Avoidance Is Not Purity. She discusses the Billy Graham/Mike Pence rule, and practical suggestions for how to cultivate healthy friendships with brothers and sisters in Christ.
• Denny Burk reflects on the Trinity debate that occurred two years ago between many influential evangelical theologians, and links to a sermon he preached a few weeks back on 1 Corinthians 11:3, a crucial text in the debate.
• When you make an upcoming big decision in life, how should you go about it? Marshall Segal suggests something many believers at times neglect: asking someone older (and godlier) than you for counsel.
• Andy Naselli asks a couple of questions to the Director of Keswick Ministries, Dr. James Robson, concerning past Keswick theology (“Let go and let God”), and its current stance on progressive sanctification. Don’t miss out on Naselli’s previous work on the issue.
• Pastor Jordan Standridge specifies the lost art of hospitality and lists four areas in the Christian life that benefits from a life of hospitality. May we all grow in our love for our neighbor through this neglected practice.
• Clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson has become somewhat of a YouTube personality, celebrity, and even substitute father-figure for many young men. How are Christians to think through some of his thought and writing? English theologian Dr. Alastair J. Roberts gives some insight into how a believer can process some of Peterson’s views.
• Pastor John MacArthur began a new blog series that plans to address the contrast between “social justice” and the gospel of Christ, beginning with a couple of stories you may have never heard about MacArthur before. You won’t want to miss this!

That’s all for this week! Continue to pray for our all-church Bible study tonight, as we learn about the God who rules. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“The lordship of Christ is the criterion by which gifts are assessed. In other words, our gifts aren’t a manifestation of ourselves or of our own abilities but are intended to communicate the truth that Jesus is Lord.” (Thomas Schreiner, Spiritual Gifts: What They Are & Why They Matter)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! We’re back, after a bit of a break, but the good stuff keeps on coming, so here are this week’s links!

• John Piper, in light of the doubted veracity of John 7:53-8:11, argues very well for the trustworthiness of the New Testament in the light of the discipline of textual criticism. This is a great intro to knowing how blessed we are to have as many manuscripts as we do in order to determine the original reading.
• Is God in control when tragedy strikes? Cameron Cole, who suffered the loss of his three-year-old son, provides a direct, biblical answer to the question. This is one question that needs to be informed by Scripture, and not our feelings, so make sure you read and meditate on the glorious truth of our glorious and sovereign God.
• CCEF celebrates its 50th year of biblical counseling ministry, and has put out a special edition of their yearly magazine, CCEF Now, entitled CCEF Now and Then. Articles include reflections over these past 50 years, interviews with current staff, tracking growth in biblical counseling, and even international ministry efforts. This is definitely worth your time.
• How would you share the gospel with a teen? Jacquelle Crowe, based on her recent book This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years, wrote a tract that lays out in a way that will speak to a youth-aged person how Christ can save a sinner as young as they are. Read, be encouraged, and pass it on to a youth!
• The Cripplegate blog has been quite busy lately, writing a number of posts that look to benefit the church as a whole. Some examples include a Q&A on race, justice, and the church’s mission, three passages to study with unbelievers, and answering a difficult question related to Christians and suicide.
• Phil Johnson gave a talk on whether the apostolic gifts have ceased, based on 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. Make sure you give some time to watching this.
• What are some of the toughest questions people are asking today about the Bible? That’s the topic of this week’s Biola podcast, Think Biblically. Jonathan Morrow is the guest, who authored the book Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible’s Authority.
• Ligonier Ministries, in hosting their many conferences, have accumulated a number of answers to questions many Christians have been asking. They are now putting together a series of videos where many pastors/scholars/theologians give succinct and biblical answers to these very questions, some of which you may have yourself. This will definitely be a place to bookmark and refer back to.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for tonight’s study in God’s attribute of omniscience. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

by Stephen Rodgers

So we’re back from the July hiatus and are easing back into our monthly schedule. So here’s just a small handful of free resources for you to kick off your August.

• The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards (free audiobook) – Highly recommended; you should definitely grab this.
• Two Horizons Commentary on Joshua (free Logos resource) – Never heard of it; if you’re a Logos user, why not?
• The 18th Century (Tabletalk magazine) – There’s no such thing as a bad issue of Tabletalk, so this is another no-brainer.
• Themelios 43.2 (free journal) – Always worth a skim to see what Carson and Schreiner are writing about. Also worth perusing the book reviews to see if anything jumps out one way or the other.

Ok, that’s it! Enjoy!

Pro Rege

“If your primary concern in life is protecting yourself, you are going to create a prison for yourself in your mind and throw away the key. But if your primary concern is glorifying God by His grace, by the enabling work of the Spirit who produces power, love, and a sound mind within you, then you’ve found the key to be free even if your body is locked up in a real prison.” (Wayne A. Mack and Joshua Mack, Courage: Fighting Fear with Fear)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s that time again! I hope these links will be an added bonus as we come to the weekend.

• In the case of Christian florist Barronelle Stutzman, who denied a same-sex couple her services to their wedding ceremony due to her religious convictions, the Supreme Court decided to send her case back to the lower courts. This comes in light of the new decision by the Court in favor of Christian baker Jack Phillips. Joe Carter has an update on Stutzman’s case. Also in recent news, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of pro-life pregnancy centers for the sake of free speech, leading to implications involving religious freedom as well.
• For parents and Children’s Ministry staffs, here are four ways to bring the Bible to life for kids, eight things to remember when teaching your kids theology, five reasons churches should teach theology to kids, and one very important thing parents can do this summer. For more ideas to do this summer, here are four that parents can do with their kids, a great way to not waste your and your kids’ summer.
• Have you ever wondered if indulgences constitute a fundamental denial of the gospel of Jesus Christ? If so, you’re in luck! James White recently debated Catholic apologist Peter D. Williams on that very topic! Check it out!
• Greg Welty wrote a new book dealing with the problem of evil, which has been endorsed by a number of solid pastors/theologians/philosophers. He was recently interviewed by Fred Zaspel, where they dive into some of the issues raised in the book. You might be convinced to purchase a copy and learn how to be more equipped on the matter.
• Can beauty be evidence for God? Ann Gauger argues yes, and points out the alternative if there is no God. Short and (very) sweet.

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

Soli Deo Gloria