SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
- Get a Basic Overview of the Bible. R.C. Sproul writes “Here’s my recommendation: begin with an overview of the Bible. Get the basic framework first. Once you understand the basic framework, you are much better equipped to read the Bible. Here is a pattern I recommend for people who have never read the Bible.”
- 5 Good Reasons to Read the Entire Bible Every Year. Jeff Robinson writes “There are many, many benefits of reading through the Bible every year, and here are five ways I have been helped.”
- Repentance that Sings. Listen to this message from Bryan Chapell on Mark 10.
- Will We Have Physical Bodies Between Our Death and Resurrection? In an interview with Pastor Todd Wagner, Randy Alcorn shares some thoughts related to this question.
- 2016 Gospel Coalition National Women’s Conference. Registration is open for the third National Women’s Conference (#TGCW16), “Resurrection Life: In a World of Suffering”, which will be held in Indianapolis June 16-18. The conference will feature 49 speakers, including Nancy Guthrie, Tim Keller, John Piper, D.A. Carson, Rosaria Butterfield and many more.
MOVIES:
- 5 Things You Need to Know about the Movie Captive. Jonny Zachary writes “This fall, a movie is coming to the theaters that so blatantly proclaims the Gospel that its tagline is, “Faith. Redemption. Survival.” The movie is called CAPTIVE, and it stars David Oyelowo (SELMA) and Kate Mara (FANTASTIC FOUR). The movie is a true story about Brian Nichols, an escaped convict who goes on a shooting rampage during a court case and kidnaps and holds a young woman, Ashley Smith, as a hostage.”
- Review: War Room. Jesse Johnson reviews the faith-based film War Room.
CHRIST AND CULTURE:
- How Marginalization can Empower Christians on Mission. Trevin Wax writes “If the university is a microcosm of the rest of society and a sign of where our culture is headed, then Christians can expect hostility and marginalization to increase in the coming years. The good news is: if Christian organizations on campus are any indication, this marginalization could become the catalyst for more effective mission.”
- The Former Backstreet Boy Who Rejected Fame and Fortune for Christ: The Burk Parsons Story. Kevin Halloran shares the amazing story of Burk Parsons, who now serves as Co-Pastor with R.C. Sproul at Saint Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida.
- This Is the Best of Times, and the Worst of Times. John Piper offers four things to do to live in a day like ours.
- Rosaria Butterfield on Sexuality and Identity. In this less than 3-minute video, Rosaria Butterfield shares some helpful and unhelpful ways Christians often talk about their sin, struggles, and identity as children of God.
- Desire. Derek Thomas speaks about desire on IA a new podcast from First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina.
- How to Fight Addiction in a Pornographic Culture. In this five-minute video, Voddie Baucham exposes the pornographic nature of our culture and provides men and women with a key tool necessary to fight addiction.
- Divorce for Pornography? David Murray writes “I’ve been asked this question a few times, and was asked it again last week: “Is heavy use of pornography grounds for divorce?” Until last week, I’ve usually come down on the “No” side, but having seen and heard more and more about this kind of sin, last week, for the first time, I found myself moving towards a hesitant “Yes.”
- Four Reasons Why Christians Should Support Kim Davis. Richard Phillips writes “Christians have different reactions to Kim Davis. Many have criticized her for failing to perform her duty as the law requires, often citing Romans 13. But put in biblical and historical context, Christians should be supporting Davis, praying for her and rallying to her cause. Let me offer four reasons for this perspective.”
- Blessed are the Risk-Takers. J.D. Greear writes “Where do you need to take a risk? Is the Spirit of God leading you to start the application process, or write the check, or walk across the street to knock on the neighbor’s door?”
Doug Michael’s Cartoon of the Week
- Conversion is a great and glorious work of God’s power, at once changing the heart, and infusing life into the dead soul. Jonathan Edwards
- You are worse than you think you are, but also far more loved than you feel you are. Tim Keller
- When you say, “Come in Jesus as my caregiver, stay out as my Lord,” he can’t. He’s both. Tim Keller
- If you come from insignificance and when you die you return to insignificance, then nothing is significant now. Tim Keller
- Church hoppers are like wandering dogs. If they are not regularly patted on the head, they will go elsewhere until they are. Steven Lawson
- If you miss Christ you miss everything, and if you have Christ you have everything. Steven Lawson
- Perhaps God brought you into this mess so that he can bring you out of it for his glory. Kevin DeYoung
- You will fear something or someone. The Bible says the wisest way to go about your life is to fear God. Kevin DeYoung
- The human dilemma is this: God is holy, and we are not. God is righteous, and we are not. R.C. Sproul
- We are secure, not because we hold tightly to Jesus, but because He holds tightly to us. R.C. Sproul
- Faith never requires us to crucify our minds or deny our senses. R.C. Sproul
- If you’re not content, start naming everything you don’t deserve. Burk Parsons
- Who’s sins do you hate the most, others’ sins or your own? Burk Parsons
- The glory of the salvation of souls belongs to God, and to Him alone. Charles Spurgeon
- If you may have everything by asking in His Name, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how vital prayer is. Charles Spurgeon
- Hell will be filled with people who were avidly committed to Christian values. Albert Mohler
- If words like “obedience”, “transformation,” “change,” make you think about legalism, not God’s grace, that needs fixin’. Scotty Smith
- Calvinism is the consistent endeavor to acknowledge the Creator as the Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will. J.I. Packer
- Following Jesus is not about conjuring up the moral fortitude to lead good lives. It’s about loving God and enjoying Him. Francis Chan
- The heart of the gospel is that God took the initiative in Christ to satisfy his holy anger, and make himself our Treasure not our Terror. John Piper
- Though you have sinned much, that is no reason why you should despair, but only why you should love much, having so much forgiven. George Whitefield
- If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me. John Wooden
- Thanks to the Eagles and Coach Kelly for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love! Romans 8:28 Tim Tebow
- Why is hesed love so important? Because life is moody. Hesed is a stake in the heart of the changing seasons of life. Paul Miller
- Millions of homeless, vulnerable refugees and all the attention goes to Kim Davis. Lord have mercy. Scott Sauls
- We should never intentionally offend, but if you follow Jesus, you will offend religious people. Darrin Patrick
- God made the world out of nothing, and as long as we remain nothing God can make something out of us. Martin Luther
