• Sorrows Surprised by Happiness. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to a question that reads in part “I recall you mentioning a season in your life where you were deeply affected by an emotional state that was hard to understand, even to the point of sobbing without clear cause. Reflecting on those experiences, have your thoughts on unhappiness — its roots and how Christians should approach it — changed? Also, looking back at Battling Unbelief, do you still agree with the perspectives you shared, or have your views shifted in light of more recent experiences or understanding?”
• How Does Union With Christ Affect Our Daily Lives? In this video, Sinclair Ferguson describes how union with Christ affects the believer’s daily life.
• Sexual Purity is an Act of Love. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to a question about 1 Corinthians 7:9, which can be summarized as “What advice can you give to a young man who is tempted to burn with desire but who wants to wait?”

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

• More interesting article links
• Favorite Quotes of the Week

• Was Jesus Tempted by Evil Desires? On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question which reads in part “If James 1:14connects temptation with evil desires, how can I understand this in light of Hebrews 4:15? It doesn’t seem right to say that Jesus had evil desires, yet these passages seem to contradict each other. How can I fit these two verses together and understand how Jesus could be tempted in all the ways we are, yet remain sinless?”
• How Should I Deal with the Shame of Returning to the Same Sin? How Can I Pursue Lasting Change? What should Christians do with the shame of a recurring sin? Michael Reeves offers biblical counsel for finding hope and pursuing real change in the face of ongoing temptation.
• How Should We Interpret the Bible? In this video, Joel Kim suggests principles to aid Christians in their study and interpretation of the Bible.
• Does God Punish From His Heart? On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question which can be summarized as “How can God’s judgment and anger be in accordance with his heart’s intention, yet Lamentations says he does not afflict from his heart?”
• Nine Steps to Find a Home Church. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “I moved to a new city, and there are — wonderfully! — several doctrinally faithful churches in my area of town. It’s a great problem to have, I know. If you were in my situation, how would you narrow down these good options? I don’t want to make my decision merely on my preferences. But what role do preferences make in a church decision like mine?”
• How Does Christianity Differ From Other Religions? Many people today might say, “All religions essentially teach the same thing.” Stephen Nichols points out how the Bible’s teaching that Jesus is the only way to God differs drastically from false religions.
• What Are Some Common Misconceptions About the Reformation? In this video, Stephen Nichols points to some misconceptions and unifying principles about the Reformation.

---

• 2 Little Words That Have 5 Big Effects On Your New Life. Paul Tripp writes “The doctrines of justification and union with Christ are the best pieces of news sinners in this sin-scarred world could ever hear.”
• The Problem with Comer’s Cafeteria Approach to Spirituality. Matthew Bingham highlights three significant ways Practicing the Wayby John Mark Comer diverges from the model of spiritual formation commended by the reformers and, he argues, the Bible itself.
• 5 Key Concepts in the Reformation Understanding of Justification. Kevin DeYoung writes “The chief concern for Martin Luther and the other reformers was the doctrine of justification. It was, to use Calvin’s language, the “main hinge on which religion turns.” And the doctrine of justification is no less important today than it was 500 years ago.”

---

• Goodbye “Big Eva,” Hello “Gig Eva”. Carl Trueman writes “The era of Big Eva seems to have run its course. The conservative Protestant scene in the U.S. is no longer dominated by a few big-name celebrities or by a handful of large conferences. While those large conferences still exist and are often well-attended, they do not grip the popular evangelical imagination as they once did.”

---

• It is a sweet mercy to have to go through the floods, if some filthiness may thereby be removed. Charles Spurgeon
• The music must not turn the church into an audience enjoying the music but into a congregation singing the Lord’s praises in His presence. John Calvin
• We must strive to hold ourselves accountable to practice forgiveness and reconciliation. Our mutual love for one another is how the world will see who Jesus is. Tim Keller
• Genuine and earnest prayer proceeds first from a sense of our need, and next, from faith in the promises of God. John Calvin
• We rejoice not because we have done enough but because Christ has done enough. Sinclair Ferguson
• Anything you have decided will give you a life of joy and power without God becomes a monster. Tim Keller
• Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation. Tim Keller
• Every family ought to be a little church, consecrated to Christ and wholly governed and influenced by his rules. Jonathan Edwards
• The only thing that the church can provide to the world that is truly unique is the gospel. Michael Horton