• Will We Learn in Heaven? Randy Acorn writes “We’ll be learners, forever. Few things excite me more than that.”
• What is the Gospel? Robert Godfrey writes “The church needs to preach the gospel in both its broad and narrow senses.”
• Is the Church Breeding Loneliness? Monica Geyen interviews Rosaria Butterfield. As they talked about friendship and boundaries, they narrowed in on loneliness, especially among single women.
• Does God Direct All the Details of My Life? On this episode of the “Ask Pastor John” podcast, John Piper answers the question “How much of our daily life is sovereignly directed by God?”
• Were the First Christians Socialists? Kevin DeYoung writes “Despite the initial plausibility of a socialist reading of Acts, there are at least two realities that make the sharing in the early church different from socialism and especially communism.”
• What Is the Relationship between the Holy Spirit’s Work and Our Effort in Sanctification? How does sanctification take place? From one of the live Ask Ligonier events, Sinclair Ferguson considers how the fruits of the Spirit become evident in our lives.
• Intelligent Atheists, Intelligent Christians: Who Gets It Right? Scott Sauls writes “The resurrection and absolute lordship of Jesus Christ come as a package deal. If Jesus is risen from the dead, then it means we are accountable to allthat Jesus said, namely, that we are sinners who are without hope apart from him, and that our lives belong completely to him.”

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• What Does the Bible Say About Abortion? Dan Darling writes “As Christians, our first reaction to this issue should not be to ask what our political parties or politicians think but to ask what the Bible says. So, what does the Bible say about abortion?”
• Is It OK for a Christian to Date a Non-Christian? Listen to Tim Keller answer that question.
• Are There Contradictions in the Bible? R.C. Sproul writes “When it comes to studying the actual consistency of Scripture, it’s not long before we have to deal with allegations that the Bible is full of contradictions. This can be devastating to the Christian faith, because we know that if the Bible has real contradictions, it’s not a consistent account, and if it’s not a consistent account, it can’t be divinely inspired.”

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• Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter Rededicates His Life to God. I really enjoyed this video about Chris Carpenter.
• When Being a Christian Isn’t “Decent” Anymore. Denny Burk writes “This is the new reality for Christians who hold the line on biblical sexual ethics, and I don’t see any signs of things letting up. On the contrary, this kind of open animus only seems to be spreading.”
• 3 Things to Tell Your Children About Gender. Dan Doriani, who I enjoyed two classes with at Covenant Seminary, writes that he seeks “To equip parents to talk to their children about gender. It is vital to offer compassion and care to all who experience body dysphoria – the sense that they inhabit the wrong body.”
• Francis Chan Explains Why He’ll Share a Stage with Benny Hinn. Kate Shellnutt writes “Why would a respected evangelical leader like Francis Chan agree to speak at major events that also feature controversial prosperity gospel preachers? The short answer: to share the truth.”
• Mental Illness, Jesus and Me. Scott Sauls writes “I am one of those ministers who has endured a handful of seasons of anxiety and depression. Most of the time, thankfully, the affliction has been more low-grade than intense. On one occasion, though, it pretty much flattened me physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. I call this particular season my ‘living nightmare.’”

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• Is Eternal Punishment in Hell Fair? Watch this short video clip from Ligonier Ministries’ 2016 National Conference in which R.C.Sproul explains that God is infinitely perfect, so even one sin is a heinous crime against Him.
• Is It OK to Be Angry with God over Difficult Things? Randy Alcorn writes “Sometimes we legitimize being mad at God, and we need to start by correcting that. There’s a difference between being profoundly disappointed, discouraged, or even depressed by a bad situation, and being mad at God about it. Being mad is blaming God, and saying, “It’s your fault.” And blaming God is a dead-end street, because in doing so we turn away from our greatest source of comfort.”
• My Girlfriend Affirms Homosexual Love – Is This a Deal-Breaker? On this episode of the “Ask Pastor John” podcast, a listener states that his girlfriend, who he wishes to marry, has told him on several occasions she doesn’t believe homosexuality is a sin. He asks if this is a deal-breaker for their relationship.

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• What Do Christians Have Against Homosexuality? Tim Keller responds to a question from David Eisenbach at the 2011 Veritas Forum. Keller offers suggestions on how Christians should treat homosexuals.
• How Much Entertainment is Too Much? In this episode of the “Ask Pastor John” podcast, John Piper addresses this question “In the world we live in today, is it a sin to claim time for things other than reading the Bible or praying? Things such as watching a movie or playing a game are very enjoyable to me, but I wonder if God is disappointed in me for using some of my free time to do these things instead of claiming time for him.”
• Are There Distinctions of Sin in Hell? Is everyone punished equally in hell? Or are there distinctions of punishment? Watch this four-minute video clip from the 2016 Ligonier National Conference in which C.Sproul, Steven Lawson, and Albert Mohler explain that more heinous sins receive greater condemnation.
• How Do You Define a False Teacher? How do you define a false teacher? How much error is needed before they are considered false? R.C. Sproul, Albert Mohler, and John MacArthur respond to this question during the 2017 Ligonier National Conference.
• How Do You Define Heresy? Heresy is not simply an error. It’s an error so serious that it would deprive one of salvation. From one of the Ask Ligonier events, Robert Godfrey defines heresy.

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• Teach Your Teen How to Read Their Bible. Jen Wilkin writes “Parents contact me frequently to ask what devotionals or young adult Bible studies I would recommend they do with their teens. As our kids enter the teen years, our responsibility as their parents is to help them develop good habits of interacting with the Bible. Finding an approach that is age-appropriate and manageable is key. My encouragement is to simply read the Bible with your teen in a way that models and trains Bible literacy—no special teen resource required.”
• Get a Basic Overview of the Bible.C. Sproul writes “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.”

PREACHING THE WORD

• Do You Have Any Advice for New Ministers in the Bible Belt Surrounded by Charismatic Influence? How should pastors minister in a context surrounded by charismatic influence? From one of the live “Ask Ligonier” events, Sinclair Ferguson explains how to refocus on Christ and the gospel.
• Kevin DeYoung on Heroes in Pastoral Ministry. Watch this four-minute video in which Kevin DeYoung offers two kinds of ministry heroes. First up is the famous pastor, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, whose influential preaching shaped generations of pastors. Second, DeYoung points to the faithful elders who serve in his church, giving up-close examples of ministry and pastoral care.
• David Platt Drops 50-Point Sermon From Revelation at CROSS Conference. Jonathan Howe writes “David Platt may be known for his radicalways, but when he stepped to the stage January 5 at the 2019 CROSS conference, no one expected to get a 50-point sermon.”

• Why Should I Become a Formal Church Member? When you commit yourself to Jesus Christ, you also commit yourself to His church. Watch, Sinclair Ferguson explain why church membership is of supreme importance.

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