“Wisdom, according to the Bible, has nothing to do with how well you did on your SATs, with how many books you’ve read, or with your abilities in logical debate. Wisdom is a different kind of skill. (Notice in Exodus 28:3; 35:25; and 36:1 that skillfulness is the essential meaning of the Hebrew word wisdom.) Biblical wisdom is the skill of pleasing God that comes as a result of a personal, submissive relationship with Him—a relationship that affects every choice in your life.” (Chris Anderson, Joe Tyrpak, Carl Trueman, Gospel Meditations for Prayer)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Well, Thanksgiving has come and is almost gone, so I wanted to share some resources that relate to this holiday and beyond. Enjoy this (special) week’s links!

• Since we are celebrating Thanksgiving this week, here are a few links to share, thanks to the Crossway blog: 10 things to know about Thanksgiving, the connection between thankfulness and joy, nine passages to read on gratitude, the importance of food at Thanksgiving, five readings for your Thanksgiving gathering, and how to eat with gratitude this Thanksgiving.
• Desiring God Ministries shared some of their articles on Thanksgiving over the last few years, and included resources for Advent as well. Good time to start thinking about the first coming of Christ.
• As a way of showing thanks, Ligonier Ministries reminds us of their free Crucial Questions booklets, of which 28 have been written. These are very short answers to common questions Christians have throughout their walks with Christ. Don’t forget R.C. Sproul every year provides a free resource on Thanksgiving that is always worth listening to.
• Julie Lowe at CCEF writes on how to instill gratitude in your family. Parents, this can be a great teaching point for your children.
• Justin Taylor highlights an article by biblical counselor David Powlison called, “Does the Shoe Fit?” on unfair and fair criticism. Anything by Powlison is worth reading.

That’s all for this week! Hope you all are thankful to God for the gift of His Son, and spend this weekend thanking Him most of all. Hope you all can worship the Lord on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“You gain fluency in a language when you move from merely translating an unfamiliar language into a familiar one to interpreting all of life through that new language. It happens when you can think, feel, and speak in a language. In a sense, the new language becomes the filter through which you perceive the world and help others perceive your world and theirs…Gospel-fluent people think, feel, and perceive everything in light of what has been accomplished in the person and work of Jesus Christ.” (Jeff Vanderstelt, Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! A number of resources have turned up, and I’m excited to share what I’ve found!

• The Master’s Seminary just came out with their Fall issue, focusing on Christian responses to claims from those who identify as LGBT. Don’t miss their book reviews.
• The Gospel Coalition has announced a new learning platform called TGC Courses, online classes taught by many great scholars in their respective fields on topics as wide as church history, Old and New Testament, apologetics, doctrine, counseling, and more! The ones I’m personally most excited about is ‘Mining God’s Word’ and ‘Theology for Children’ songs. Dive right in!
• Speaking of free courses, Biblical Training has added a course by textual critic Dan Wallace to their Institute called Textual Criticism. This course requires a login to watch the lectures, but I promise it will be worth it!
• There have been a few cases that have been sent to the Supreme Court related to religious conscience that you may have heard about but don’t know much of the details. Kim Colby makes us aware of the three cases that are coming up, and it’s a good summary. Be on the lookout for them in the news, and pray for those involved.
• Listen in as Alasdair Groves talks with David Powlison about psychology. That alone should pique your interest.
• A new book critiquing theistic evolution is coming out at the end of this month called Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique, edited by J.P. Moreland, Stephen Meyer, Christopher Shaw, Ann Gauger, and Wayne Grudem. Moreland was recently interviewed about the book, and Andrew Naselli gave his initial take on the book last week, but it’s a convenient location to find a 79-page excerpt and a 9-minute video. Check it out!
• Lita Cosner and Dr. Robert Carter write a brief, but extremely helpful article for Christians on the amount of misinformation that exists on the internet, and how to wisely discern what is true from what is false. This should be required reading for any believer who uses the internet.
• Do you sleep less than Jesus? If so, you may need to read this article, then get some sleep, please.

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

Soli Deo Gloria

“What was the message of the Reformation? In essence, the main question asked and answered was: How does a person get right with God? This was the central issue. For Rome, sinners are saved by faithfully adhering to the dogma of the Catholic Church. But when the Reformers began to examine the Bible, they saw that salvation came by God Himself through the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Nate Pickowicz, Why We’re Protestant: An Introduction to the Five Solas of the Reformation)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s time to get your dose of informative links into your life, so here we go!

• The Grace to You blog has been featuring articles that deal with modern-day peddlers of indulgences within the church, including prosperity preachers and conservative pastors who demand tithes is a new covenant mandate. John MacArthur also preached on the issue of being a good steward of what we have.
• Al Mohler addressed the tragedy that took place in Sutherland Springs, TX, giving a Christian perspective on how to respond and the confidence we can have in God even in the midst of evil. With that said, Joe Carter focuses on seven different ways we can prepare our churches against violence.
• A standard claim amongst pro-choice people is that anyone who is against abortion is only so because of their religion, and for no other reason. Patrick Lee and Melissa Moschella argue that science is denied by those who affirm abortion, and point to embryologist’s own statements as verification, and address one obstetrics professor’s objections. This is a helpful article to present to those who truly think no one would be pro-life if the Bible didn’t argue against it.
• Al Mohler continues his series on apologetics by talking about the conviction all Christians have: “God is in charge of the universe.”
• John Piper gives some very sound counsel on how to love God more than entertainment. Marshall Segal point-blank asks the question, “why do you have a phone?” I hope both articles will give you much to think about, friends.

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

Soli Deo Gloria

by Stephen Rodgers

Alright everyone, free stuff time! Rather than highlighting all sorts of different resources, we’re going to try something a bit different this month. Given that last Sunday’s sermon was on the topic of Martin Luther and the Reformation, here are the three most recent issues of CredoMag, each of which focuses on a particular aspect of the Reformation:

• Luther at 500
• The English Reformation
• The Reformation of the Family

CredoMag has changed the way that they distribute their “magazine,” so each of those links is essentially a table of contents for the articles in each issue. So you can easily click and scroll through to find articles that are of particular interest.

Enjoy!

“Grace is that aspect of divine action by which God blesses his rebellious creatures, whether through preservation (common grace) or salvation (special grace). It characterizes the manner in which he deals with those who through their rejection of him as their Creator and sovereign deserve nothing from him and yet whom he still chooses to bless.” (Carl R. Trueman, Grace Alone–Salvation as a Gift of God: What the Reformers Taughts…and Why It Still Matters [The Five Solas Series])

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope this week gave you time to spend with the Lord in prayer and reading His Word. There are, of course, many links to help drive you back to both, so here they are!

• Last week I posted an article responding to a hypothetical scenario involving a five-year-old girl, and 1,000 embryos. Timothy Brahm at Equal Life Institute, gives four practical tips to remember when dialoguing with people who disagree with you on the issue of abortion. ()
• Joe Carter over at the TGC blog writes on the current STD crisis, and how it has become a pro-life issue for those in the womb.
• David Powlison, executive director at CCEF, was interviewed about the doctrine of sanctification and how it works, stemming from his new book on the topic. Very insightful.
• Desiring God is finishing up their series on the many heroes of the Reformation. This week they highlight John Calvin, Robert Estienne, Pierre Viret, Lady Jane Grey, and Theodore Beza. With these many heroes, you may think the Reformation was filled with awesome men who didn’t have many flaws. Well, you’d be sorely mistaken, and that actually gives us a lot of hope, as Scott Hubbard writes about pursuing the full context of each Reformer and not whitewashing our heroes.
• Is there anything to learn in your season of depression, should you ever encounter it? Shona Murray, wife of pastor and professor David Murray, writes of some unchanging truths and practical needs that she learned in that time, and hopes it will be of benefit to others.

That’s all for this week! Please pray for flocks tonight and tomorrow, as most of our church will be in homes reviewing the previous Sunday’s sermon, as well as getting to know one another from different affinity groups. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“While we must always remember that it is our responsibility to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is God who saves. It is God who brings men and women under the sound of the gospel, and it is God who brings them to faith in Christ. Our evangelistic work is the instrument that he uses for this purpose, but the power that saves is not in the instrument: it is in the hand of the One who uses the instrument.” (J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! It’s been a hot week, but the weekend is here, so make sure you have something cool to drink, and enjoy this week’s links!

• There was a recent conference in Vallejo called The Man of God Producing Men of God with Chris Mueller and Brian Croft as a couple of the speakers that seems worth listening to. Some of the sessions are for church leaders, not just pastors, so take a look!
• Cold case homicide detective and former atheist J. Warner Wallace was recently interviewed about his unique circumstances revolving his conversion and how he now uses the methods in solving homicide cases to making a case for the Christian worldview. If you have never heard his story, this will definitely worth your time.
• Tony Reinke interviewed historian Dr. Andrew Pettegree on the influence Martin Luther had with the use of the printing press and how it changed the way theology was disseminated to laypeople. Very fascinating to hear stories surrounding the Protestant Reformation.
• Speaking of which, Desiring God continues their Here We Stand podcast with profiles on Hugh Latimer & Nicholas Ridley, Ulrich Zwingli, Hans Gooseflesh, and Hellen Stirke.
• Ligonier Ministries, for a brief period of time, is making their new album Post Tenebras Lux: A Symphonic Celebration of the Protestant Reformation free to download! Beautiful music to highlight what God did 500 years ago, and continues to do today. Don’t miss out on this!
• A website called Church Clarity is seeking for megachurches to come out and declare whether they allow anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ to participate fully as a member of their church. Denny Burk exposes the lack of clarity this group seeks, both biblically and theologically.
• Matthew Barrett lays out a simple thesis: sola Scriptura calls for inerrancy. I would wholeheartedly agree.
• Patrick L. Tomlinson, a science fiction writer, believes his thought experiment that involves choosing to save a five-year-old girl over 1,000 embryos from a burning building proves those who are pro-life with respect to abortion truly do not believe their own position. Robert George and Christopher Tollefsen give a thorough response to Tomlinson, who claims he has not had a satisfying answer in the 10 years since proposing this scenario. I would say the wait is over.

That’s all for this week! Please pray that the youth and collegians will hear the Word of God preached tonight, and those participating in the College Life Evangelism Workshop will be further equipped to give the gospel to those in need of it.

Soli Deo Gloria

“Every Christian is called into full-time ministry. Once we step over the line and begin to follow Jesus, everything we do is supposed to be done in his name, representing him, with the goal of advancing his kingdom.” (J.D. Greear, Gaining By Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that Send)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Another week has come and gone, but the Lord is still in control, and He is good! I pray these links will be a further reminder of His goodness.

• How can we resolve most of our relational conflicts, when everything in us doesn’t want to do it? Jon Bloom at Desiring God offers some honest words of wisdom that will give you a better perspective on conflict that you may currently have.
• How is missionary outreach done in closed countries? TMAI provides some background information, and possible ways of continuing the advance of the Great Commission to those who need to hear the gospel. This is very good food for thought, and also worth praying for more laborers to be sent into the harvest.
• Are pastors called to preach Christ in every text of the Bible? Such is the mindset of some, who call for a Christocentric hermeneutic, as opposed to a grammatical-historical one. TMU Professor Abner Chou explains why this hermeneutic, though well-intentioned, has some issues that doesn’t square well with Scripture. This is some fascinating reading.
• Al Mohler continues his series of apologetics through the SBTS chapel messages every week. This week, he covers the statement, “Jesus is the only way to heaven.“
• Mohler also has made available a new e-book he has compiled, called The Gathering Storm: Religious Liberty and the Right to Be Christian. You can get a free download by signing up here.
• Former transgender Walt Heyer exposes the fact that there are people in the transgender movement who are seeking to leave because they have changed their minds. Many in the movement, whether transgender or not, are not very friendly towards those who leave, but the power of the gospel has been the means to draw out some and draw them towards Christ. May God be glorified to bring many to Himself again and again.
• What can be said to a married couple who is currently infertile? Maybe not a lot, but God is never without hope and encouragement, as highlighted in this article that lays out four truths they (and we) need to hear.
• Desiring God is still providing profiles of Reformers in their Here I Stand podcast. This week: Thomas Becon, William Tyndale, Martin Bucer, Marie Dentière, and Johannes Oecolampadius.

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

Soli Deo Gloria

“Churches that want to penetrate their world with the gospel think less about the Sunday morning bang and more about equipping their members to blast a hole in the mountain of lostness.” (J.D. Greear, Gaining By Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that Send)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! There’s a general theme with these posts (with one rare exception), so I hope you love learning more about what God has done in history, ad how He continues to grow His people. Here’s to celebrating God’s faithfulness in the church throughout its history.

• As this is still the month that we celebrate the 500th year of the Protestant Reformation, a number of resources keep popping up that I can’t help but share. John Piper speaks on the Five Solas of the Reformation and their biblical basis. He then addresses each one in a separate video: Grace Alone, Christ Alone, Faith Alone, God’s Glory Alone, and Scripture Alone. On the Here We Stand podcast, the first few people highlighted as heroes of the Reformation include Peter Waldo, Jan Hus, Girolamo Savonarola, Philip Melanchthon, Wibrandis Rosenblatt, and Wolfgang Capito.
• Pastor Deepak Reju writes about 11 different ways engaged couples can deal with their finances in the present. A great resource!

That’s all for this week! Short, and sweet! Tonight, please pray for the youth and collegians, as they meet tonight at church. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Just as genuine saving faith assumes that a person has repented from sin, so genuine repentance assumes that someone is turning to Christ in faith. Repentance from sin and faith in Christ are two sides of the same coin, two aspects of the same decision of the heart…Nevertheless, it still seems to me that a deliberate omission of the need to call people to repent of their sins constitutes a significant departure from New Testament patterns, and such a departure cannot be taught and practiced without significant harmful consequences to the church and to many of the people who hear such a gospel.” (Wayne Grudem, “Free Grace” Theology: 5 Ways It Diminishes the Gospel)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! The week is coming to a close, but it can’t be complete without some links to keep you occupied. So here they are!

• Do Christians suffer a case of circular reasoning by saying that we believe in the Bible to be God’s Word because it says so? Dan DeWitt explains why this isn’t as bad as you may think, and that everyone actually has to deal with the same issue.
• Will there ever be common ground between those who are pro-life and pro-choice on the matter of abortion? Baylor University Classics professor Julia Hejduk believes so, arguing for gift-motherhood, and providing some potential incentives and answering possible objections from both sides. There is much here to ponder, of which I am personally thankful to have read through.
• Joe Rigney recently spoke in a chapel address at Bethlehem College on the relationship between Scripture, natural law, and sexual ethics. There is much to commend in this lecture, and I learned a lot from it. I hope you do, too.
• Al Mohler has begun a series of messages on apologetics for chapel at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and it’s been quite timely. He takes an essential belief and asks the question, “Do you believe what you believe you believe?” This week, he focuses on the belief that Jesus is the Son of God. Your mind will expand as you listen.
• With all the talk about sexual identity and the culture’s trend away from biblical authority, different issues keep coming up for discussion and compromise in the church. CBMW highlights a Christian response to polyamory, or “open marriages.” May God bring about repentance for anyone who espouses this view.
• 9Marks came out with a new journal for the Fall on the reformation and your church. Great material to read on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Desiring God is also starting Here We Stand, a 31-day podcast that will highlight biographies of many of the heroes of the Reformation, both known and unknown. Stephen Nichols writes a brief article chronicling the life and influence of John Wycliffe.
• What does John Piper see as the great marriage killer? His most recent podcast deals with that topic, and more.

That’s all for this week! Please keep the youth and collegians in prayer, as they meet tonight in their respective Bible studies. Don’t forget, we have now moved to two services, at 8:30am and 10:45am. See you all then!

Soli Deo Gloria

“Young Theologs, if your main activity is discussing theology but it does not result in a deep love and concern for people, you are no heir of the Reformation, regardless of your theological positions. Pastors and those who desire to be pastors, if your idea of pastoral ministry is limited to the pulpit, then you are no heir of the Reformation regardless of the length or theological weight of your sermons. The Reformers, mirroring Christ and the apostles, were deeply involved in the lives of their people, aware that they would be called to account for the oversight of their souls (Heb 13:17). A passion for souls requires the knowledge of specific souls and involvement in the messiness of their everyday lives.” (Ray Van Neste, “The Care of Souls: The Heart of the Reformation,” Themelios 39.1)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Here are this week’s links! Enjoy!

• If you haven’t heard already, former Muslim and now Christian apologist Nabeel Qureshi died this past Saturday after battling stomach cancer for about a year. Ravi Zacharias posted a tribute to him and spoke at his memorial service. Please be in prayer for his wife Michelle and daughter Ayah, as he was a faithful spokesman for the cause of the gospel to Muslims and all who would hear him tell others about our Savior.
• Biblical counselor Stuart Scott continues his study of the Reformers and their relationship to the care of souls in their private ministry of the Word. We cannot divorce their profound theological impact from their profound care for the flock of God entrusted to them. May we all, not just our pastors, grow in our love for those who are in need of counsel.
• Church historian Stephen Nichols gives a four-minute recounting of the life and ministry of John Calvin. Fascinating, especially if hearing about his life for the first time.
• Are there bad reasons to leave a church? You bet, and Brett McCracken gives seven of them.
• How can you remind yourself of the gospel? Paul Tautges gives you four ways to do so. We need to remember the gospel in our daily lives. May this lead to that end.

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for the upcoming two services beginning this Sunday! See you all then!

Soli Deo Gloria