Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a Christian worldview


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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Spiritual Formation and the Reformation: Comer, Willard, Calvin. Is spiritual formation that moves beyond the practices of the Reformation what we need to help with our disillusionment with evangelicalism? Michael Horton discusses the contemporary spiritual formation movement most notably associated with John Mark Comer and heavily influenced by the late Dallas Willard, and compares its emphases to the hallmarks of Reformation piety.
  • How to Let Scripture Interpret Scripture. Benjamin Gladd and Nancy Guthrie outline principles for making sound biblical connections, tracing themes in the text, and avoiding common pitfalls of biblical interpretation.
  • FOREVERGREEN. Enjoy the Academy Award nominated animated short film with a gospel message. The thirteen-minute film was directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears. Read Brett McCracken’s interview with Engelhardt and Spears about the making of Forevergreen, how Christian artists tell stories, and what they think of AI’s disruption in the arts.

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • How We Can Pursue Joy in the Midst of Suffering? In this video, John Piper shares how we can pursue joy in the midst of suffering.
  • Sabbath. After completing His work of creating the world, God rested—but not because He got tired and needed a break. On this episode of Simply Put, Barry Cooper explains how the Sabbath reminds us to regularly rest in God and enjoy the ultimate rest that He has given His people in Christ.
  • Hospitality: What it is, and What it’s Not. Rosaria Butterfield addresses this question in this short video.
  • How to Study the Bible. In this message, R.C. Sproul will introduce some of the more important tools and concepts that are necessary in order to properly study and understand the Bible.
  • What Did You Give Up When You Became a Christian? Tim Challies writes “You have exchanged what is fleeting for what is lasting and what brings death for what brings life.”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Christians Must Resist Assisted Suicide. Local pastor Andy Huette writes “Yet in the fog of sorrow and difficult decisions, Christians should resist the cultural tide of euthanasia that undermines the value of human life. Instead, we should value God’s gift of life even amid suffering.”

  • If God Is Sovereign, Why Bother to Share Your Faith? Timothy Witmer writes “God has ordained not only the end but the means to that end. He has ordained not only whowill be saved but how they will be saved.”
  • Find Sabbath Rest as a Family. Steve Eatmon writes “So how can families create space for rest? From one busy parent to another, here are four tips to create margin for rest in this wild season of life.”
  • I Don’t Have an LGBTQ Neighbor – And Neither Do You. Rosaria Butterfield writes “If we think we have gay neighbors, we are making the kind of category mistake that weakens our prayers, discourages our hope, and tacitly condemns our loved ones to slavery to sin.  Without intending such harm, we replace the power of God’s justifying work in the lives of His people and our participation in God’s sanctifying power with the man-made category of personhood called “Sexual Orientation.” It’s one or the other.”
  • Comfort for Those Grieving a Pet or Preparing to Say Goodbye to One. Randy Alcorn writes “Sometimes the best stewardship is relieving our pets’ suffering. It helps me knowing they have a Master in Heaven who loves them. When an animal is clearly suffering with no hope, we need to do the hard but necessary thing. Our pets trust us to act in their best interest. We should trust God the same way.”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza Wins Heisman Trophy While ‘Always Praising Jesus Christ’. Kevin Mercer writes “Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the college football history books on Saturday evening, becoming the latest winner of the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza is the first Hoosier ever to win college football’s highest award.
  • New Year’s Goal-Setting for People with Actual Lives. Joe Carter writes “What we need isn’t a better to-do list but a better grid for making wise decisions across every domain of life, whether we’re planning our fitness goals or our prayer habits. Such a grid should work for anyone, in any season, pursuing faithfulness in any calling. Three biblical priorities can serve as this grid: Prioritize your priorities, prioritize your energy, and prioritize your limits.”
  • A Roundup of Roundups. Tim Challies offers a roundup of his various roundups for 2025.
  • My Favorite Movies of 2025. Brett McCracken shares his favorite movies and documentaries of 2025.
  • God Wants Your Resolve. On this episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper responds to the questions “In the Christian life, can New Year’s resolutions serve a meaningful purpose in helping to align our lives with God’s will, or do they often lead to frustration and spiritual burnout? Are they truly helpful in fostering growth and obedience, or are they ultimately harmful, perhaps setting us up for inevitable failure in our pursuit of holiness? And as we seek to approach this topic from a biblical perspective, how does Scripture guide us in navigating the art of goal-setting, resolutions, and the pursuit of personal change in a way that honors God and reflects the grace he offers?”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2025. Collin Hansen shares his “To 10 Theology Stories”, an annual compilation of the top stories that have shaped evangelical life, thought, and mission over the previous year.


  • How We Fight: A Devotional Message by Sinclair Ferguson. The Apostle Paul called his young friend Timothy to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). This same call is for all of God’s people. But how are Christians to engage in this spiritual battle? In this devotional message, Sinclair Ferguson exhorts us to be courageous witnesses for the gospel, conducting ourselves with integrity and faithfulness to the Lord.

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • 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?”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Voddie Baucham: A Faithful Witness to Christ. Robert J. Pacienza writes “On September 25, 2025, the church lost one of its great voices. Voddie Baucham is now with the Lord. The news of his passing struck me deeply, not only because Voddie was a personal friend and ally, but because his absence leaves a void in an hour when his voice was needed most.”
  • Voddie Baucham (1969–2025) on the Resurrection. “Voddie Baucham (1969–2025) has gone hometo be with the Lord. In light of the common hope we hold as Christians, we’re looking back at his message from The Gospel Coalition’s 2015 National Conference.”
  • My Life’s Journey with Dr Voddie Baucham Jr. Conrad Mbewe writes “I am greatly indebted to Voddie for the nine years he invested spiritually in our people in Zambia and in Africa. I thank God for the friend he gave me in this man whom I now look forward to meeting in glory together with our son Mwansa. Farewell, Voddie, see you in the morning!”

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THIS & THAT: A Gathering of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Thoughtful Christian Responses to Charlie Kirk’s Death. Tim Challies writes “A week ago, I created a roundup of immediate responses to Kirk’s death. Today, I offer a second roundup, and this one offers some mature and thoughtful reflections. Their purpose is not so much to explain what happened, but to consider what it means and how Christians ought to respond.”

  • Are You Worshipping God in Vain? John Piper writes “Almost everyone would agree that biblical worship involves some kind of outward act. The very word in Hebrew means “to bow down.” Worship is bowing, lifting hands, praying, singing, reciting, preaching, performing rites of eating, cleansing, ordaining, and so on. But the startling fact is that all these things can be done in vain. They can be pointless, useless, and empty.”

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