• What is Spiritual Formation? Matthew Bingham states “The term spiritual formationis not explicitly used in the Bible per se, but the concepts behind it are very much biblical.”
• Because of Jesus, Our Best Years Are Always Ahead of Us. Randy Alcorn writes “The words “finish well“ mean more to me than they ever did, and I am more determined than ever to complete my race to the glory of God. Especially because I know that after the finish line, what awaits us is eternal goodness, glory, beauty, a restored earth, and a depth of relationship with God and each other beyond what we can imagine.”
• Is Sunday a Sabbath, a Secular Day or Something Else? Paul Sadler writes “Scripture may not bind every Christian to a Sabbatarian framework, but it does call us to recognize that this day uniquely belongs to the risen Lord. How do you honor the Lord on the Lord’s Day? In what sense do you see it uniquely belonging to Him?”

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• More interesting article links
• Favorite Quotes of the Week

• The Trans War Is Not Over. Carl Trueman writes “The sober conclusion we should draw is that “they” are still coming to “trans” your kids, not so much in terms of their sex (although that fight is not yet over) but at the much deeper level: that of their very humanity. We may be winning the trans battle, but if we are not careful, we may just lose the trans war.”

• How Does God Speak to Christians? Sinclair Ferguson explains how God does and does not speak to Christians.
• Wasted Talents. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “In 1 Corinthians 13:1–3, Paul teaches that spiritual gifts, though valuable, are meaningless without love. He explains that no matter how impressive or beneficial a gift may seem, whether it’s speaking in tongues, prophesying, or even giving away all our possessions, it all amounts to nothing if it isn’t motivated by love. A spiritual gift plus that gift put in action minus a motive of love equals nothing. That is a powerful warning. How does this challenge our understanding of the role of spiritual gifts in the church? And why do you think Paul places love above even the most powerful spiritual abilities?”
• Fur Babies and Pet Stewardship. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “You seem like a man who loves dogs. I do, too, which is why I love the end of APJ 1001, ‘Do Pets Distract the Christian Life?’ There you mentioned your goldendoodle, Dusty, and all that she taught you, and in an April 2014 article, you mentioned in passing a dog in your childhood in South Carolina. What do you think of this society in which we live increasingly treating dogs and other pets as children or child replacements by single women who have a nurturing instinct? Or especially by married couples who could have children, but chose instead to spend their discretionary money pampering those pets with unnecessary clothes and expensive food, flying them on jets, using resources that would easily support a child, and throwing it to the dogs, as Jesus puts it in Matthew 15:26. I’m sure you’ve seen this. How does it strike you?”
• What Are We Missing If We Neglect The Psalms? In this video, Robert Godfrey explains the importance of the Psalms.
• Don’t Let Her Die Before You Say This. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “My mother, who has battled cancer four times since she was eighteen, is now facing what appears to be her final fight at the age of 51. As a believer of only two years, I am heartbroken, knowing she could pass away without the peace found in Christ. I’ve shared the gospel with her and will continue to do so, trusting in God’s sovereignty. While staying by her side to comfort her, how can I, as a young Christian, navigate this difficult situation in a way that honors God and reflects his love to my mother?”
• Ten Seconds After You Die. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “I have been studying 1 Thessalonians 4, and as I do, I am getting more confused about what happens when believers die. When I read that passage about the dead in Christ rising first and then meeting the Lord in the air, it sounds like believers who have already died don’t actually meet Jesus until his second coming. Perhaps their souls are just sleeping or waiting somewhere until the resurrection happens, and that’s when they first encounter Christ face to face? But I’ve always been taught that when Christians die, they go immediately to be with Jesus. So, which is it?”
• What Misconceptions Can Christians Have About Worship?  In this video, Derek Thomas mentions two misconceptions Christians may have about what is and what is not biblical worship.
• Suffering For Joy. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the question “How would you challenge someone who believes Christianity is mostly about emotional healing and feeling good again? They don’t want to suffer. They want relief. They want to rid life of all discomforts. For that fix, many would believe in Christ. How does this book we are diving into now, 2 Corinthians, point us to a God who doesn’t just fix pain, but who intends to use our most challenging experiences in life in order to deepen our joy?”

• On Losing Tim and Why Kathy Keller Published His Sermons on Sin. On this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen visits with Kathy Keller about sin, grace, and the gospel.
• In the Library with Josh Hawley. On this episode of In the Library, Albert Mohler speaks with Senator Joshua Hawley. They discuss Christianity and the American founding, Christianity and conservatism, the future of conservatism, serving as a Christian lawmaker, ordering society according to God’s Word, encouragement for young men in our society, the next step in the fight for life, and more.
• The Battle for Religious Liberty and Conservatism in a Secular Age – Professor John Wilsey. On this episode of Thinking in Public, Albert Mohler visits with Dr. John Wilsey, professor of church history and philosophy. He also serves as chair of the Department of Church History and Historical Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His two most recent books, Religious Freedom: A Conservative Primer, and God and Country: Upholding Faith, History, and National Identitythat are the topic of conversation on this episode.

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• There is no commentary that opens up the Bible so much as sickness and sorrow.  J.C. Ryle
• Grace often grows strongest where conviction of sin has pierced deepest. Sinclair Ferguson
• No man ever perished and went to hell from the foot of the cross. If you can do nothing else, lie down at the foot of the cross. J.C. Ryle
• What my people need most is my personal holiness. Robert Murray M’ Cheyne
• Repentance begins in the love of God, and ends in the hatred of sin. Thomas Watson
• Your personal testimony is not the Gospel. R.C. Sproul
• God is more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. J.C. Ryle
• Happy is the man who is happy in his wife. Charles Spurgeon
• Take everything that is on your “worry list” and put it on your “prayer list”.  H.B. Charles Jr.