• Prohibiting Prayer in Australia. Carl Trueman writes “The state of Victoria in Australia just passed a bill that will considerably intensify the conflict between religious freedom, individual choice, and identity politics. And it might well become a model for laws elsewhere in the democratic world.”
• The Way Home: Dr. Carl Trueman on the Modern Self and the Sexual Revolution. On this episode of The Way Home podcast, Daniel Darling is joined by Carl Trueman to talk about his new book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. Daniel Darling states “I think this is one of the most important books written in the past decade, as it helps us make sense of the moment we’re in.”
• Ravi Zacharias and the Judgement of God. Collin Hansen writes “Ravi Zacharias may have escaped justice in this world. But no one escapes justice in the next.”
• ‘You Are One Step Away from Complete and Total Insanity’. David French writing about Ravi Zacharias, and RZIM’s attempt to cover up his sins, states “Christian ministries are populated by leadership teams who derive not just their paychecks but also their own public reputations from their affiliation with the famous founder. They’re admired in part because the founder is admired. They have influence in part because the founder has influence. When the founder fails, they lose more than a paycheck. There is powerful personal incentive to circle the wagons and to defend the ministry, even when that defense destroys lives.”

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

• More interesting article links
• Favorite Quotes of the Week

• Lamenting Evil and the Legacy of Ravi Zacharias. Pastor Scott Sauls shares his thoughts about the distressing news regarding Ravi Zacharias.
• The FAQs: What You Should Know About the Pro-LGBTQ Equality Act. Joe Carter addresses these questions and answers about the radical Equality Act. The bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to “prohibit discrimination” on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

• Do My Sins Hinder My Prayers? On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “Do all of our sins hinder the effectiveness of our prayers?”
• Am I Not Elect Because I Don’t Know the Moment I Was Born Again? Should a Christian question his salvation if he doesn’t know the moment when he was born again? From one of Ligonier’s live events, B.Charles Jr., Steven Lawson, and Derek Thomas provide pastoral wisdom for concerned believers.  
• Whom Has Christ Authorized to Baptize? Can Parents Baptize a Child at Home? Are parents authorized by Jesus Christ to baptize their children at home? Can a Bible study privately partake of the Lord’s Supper? From Ligonier’s online event Made in the Image of God, Burk Parsons and Stephen Nichols consider who may legitimately administer the sacraments.
• Why is Baptism Important? On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper answers these questions from a newer believer “Why do I need to be baptized? What does it mean? And why is this an essential step for me to take?”
• Does God Predestine People to Hell? Does God predestine some people to endless punishment in hell? From one of the Ask Ligonier events, Robert Godfrey interacts with this doctrine and addresses how even the difficult teachings of Scripture are given for our spiritual benefit.
• What is the Meaning of Life? On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “Can you renew my vision for life? Can you explain to me: What is the meaning of life?”
• How Should We Pray When Natural Disasters Strike? How should we pray to our sovereign God when hurricanes beat against the coast and wildfires sweep the land? From one of the Ask Ligonier events, Sinclair Ferguson counsels us to pray for what truly matters when disaster strikes.

• Fearing God is a Matter of the Heart. Michael Reeves writes “The fear of God is not a state of mind you can guarantee with five easy steps. It is not something that can be acquired with simple self-effort. The fear of God is a matter of the heart.”
• Why Prayer is Necessary for Revival. On this episode of The Gospel Coalition podcast, listen to B. Charles deliver a message titled “The Necessity of Prayer in Revival, originally preached at the The Gospel Coalition’s 2019 Arizona Regional Conference.
• God’s Good Pleasure in Election. R.C. Sproul writes “Though the reason for our salvation does not rest in us, that does not mean that God is without a purpose in choosing His elect. He does have a purpose, and it is a good one.”
• The Fear of the Lord. Watch this video with Michael Reeves, Burk Parsons and Ligonier CEO Chris Larson as they discuss the fear of God. They consider why this neglected and often-misunderstood subject is so important for Christians living in a world that treats God lightly.

• A Proper Christian Response to Sexual Sin in Our Culture. To any Christian who is surprised by the kind of sexual behaviors and sexual identities we’re seeing emerge at the moment, Carl Trueman, in this short video, gives a two-fold answer.
• The Seductive Sin We Never Talk About. Trevin Wax writes “For the sake of the church and the world, let’s no longer be seduced by this sly and seductive sin that would rob us of our joy. Abandon the pity party you’ve thrown for yourself, and join the gospel party God calls you to throw for others.”
• When (and How) to Avoid Contentious People. Dan Doriani writes “We live in a contentious age. The combative mood of the media and many politicians seems to influence Christians, pushing them toward a more truculent manner in the church. It’s easy for us to “be conformed to the world” instead of being “transformed by the renewal of our minds” ( 12:2). Many churches have suffered from hot debates about politics, masks, and related topics in recent months.”
• No Condemnation, But What About Consequences? Courtney Reissig writes “Of all the lessons I’ve learned in the last year, this one shines the brightest. And I don’t know if this is a truth you need to hear for yourself, but there is no sin you’ve committed that his grace is not deeper still. “Our sins they are many, his mercy is more,” the song goes. It’s true.”

• Everyone’s a Theologian. Watch all of the messages from the recent Winter Conference of Reformation Bible College. The theme was “Everyone’s a Theologian”. Speakers included Stephen Nichols, Ken Jones, Keith Mathison and more.
• Karl Marx Meets the Devil: A Conversation with Historian Paul Kengor. On this episode of the Thinking in Public podcast, Albert Mohler visits with Paul Kengor, professor of political science and the senior director of The Institute for Faith and Freedom at Grove City College, about his most recent book The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism’s Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration.

---

• If you grasp the gospel of grace, a clearer view of your flaws and sins will make Christ’s love for you all the more precious, electrifying, and amazing. Christians have a unique identity, based on Christ’s performance not ours. Tim Keller
• The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less. Tim Keller
• It is one thing to believe in God but it is quite another thing to trust God. Tim Keller
• Your greatest fears are ignited when the thing you have put your hope in is threatened or has failed. Hope in God is where sturdy rest and security of heart is to be found. Paul Tripp
• Ministry to the poor is a crucial sign that we believe the gospel. Tim Keller
• We get angry when we feel like God owes us a better life than we have. Tim Keller
• One of the greatest characteristics I most admire in a man is empathetic kindness, particularly kindness that is authentically shown to others who cannot do anything for him in return. Burk Parsons
• You can’t believe in Jesus and not believe in hell. R.C. Sproul
• One of the world’s greatest sins is presuming upon God by mistaking his long-suffering for tolerance of sin. It’s also one of our greatest sins. Burk Parsons