Round Up

Spiritual Schizophrenia – If I watched a video of your everyday life for the past six weeks, would I conclude that your faith shapes everything you think, desire, say, and do?

The Book of Job – The book of Job is not answering a theoretical question about why good people suffer.  It is answering a practical question: When good people suffer, what does God want from them?

You Are going to Die – You know, it’s possible that God’s plan for us is littleness. His plan for us may be personal failure.

How To Count It All As Loss – What does it mean to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ? What does it mean to renounce all that we have for Christ’s sake?

Quote:

As we preach the word of God, we must have our toes on the very brink of eternity.  For our voice may be the last voice that many will ever hear. – Steve Lawson

Daily Roundup

Behold Your God – This website talks about a new 12 week church study course that is soon to be released.  There is also information on a conference in Memphis, TN that takes place in January.

Ripping the Heart out of Sunday School – Tony Reinke looks at why we attend Church on Sundays.

The Kingdom is Now – R C Sproul, Jr. takes a look at the ‘already, not yet’ aspect of the kingdom of God.

9.5 Theses on Martin Luther Against the Self-Indulgences of the Modern Church – In light of many Reformation 500 posts happening this week, Carl Trueman tries to bring us back to the true Martin Luther and how the modern Church should view him.

Heretics Are Usually Nice Guys – Jared Wilson looks at a message by John Piper from 2006 that is very true

Quote:

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. – Eph. 1:4

God’s eternal election is the basis both of our calling and of all the benefits that we receive from him… The timing of our election shows that it had to be free and could not have depended on any works of ours. …

Holiness and blamelessness are the fruits of election…. Those who are not elect retain their natural disposition, which cannot change except by divine intervention…. This verse is also a reminder that there is no room of licentiousness among the elect, because holiness of life is tied to the grace of election… Nor does this mean that we attain perfection in this life. We have the goal set before us, but we do not reach it until our race is done. Why do some people think of predestination as a useless and even poisonous doctrine? No doctrine is more useful, as long as it is handled properly, as Paul does here. It reveals the infinite goodness of God and gives us our knowledge of his mercy…. Election is the ultimate proof that we cannot claim any righteousness for ourselves. – John Calvin

Daily Roundup

Good People – We need to take a long hard look at our definition of “Good People.”

The Leniency of the Lord – Have you ever thought about how lenient the Lord is?  R. W. Glenn has.

I Don’t Know – The importance of the Pastoral ability to admit you don’t know.

God’s Love Demonstrated Through The Cross – a 28 minute video by Jarvis Williams.

Pat Robertson Advises Wife-Beating? – I am more and more convinced that someone needs to tell Pat to move on with his life.  But then what do I know?

What is Spiritual Formation? – I tell you that it is important and you can find out more about it from John MacArthur.

Quote:

Though the wicked are in prosperity, and are not in trouble as other men; yet the godly, though in affliction, are in a state infinitely better, because they have God for their portion. They need desire nothing else; he that hath God, hath all. Thus the Psalmist professes the sense and apprehension which he had of things: Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. – Jonathan Edwards

Daily Roundup

Defining Religious Liberty Down – An Op-Ed Piece by Ross Douthat that talks about some of the recent controversy regarding religious views of private citizens/groups.

The Gospel:  Simple Yet Not Simplistic – The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple; yet, it is not simplistic. In other words, although it is fundamentally simple and easily understood, Jesus Christ is the “Lamb slain” from before the beginning of the world.

Is the SBC Divided? Yes and No – An article that talks about some divisions within the SBC, but more importantly, it talks about what unifies the SBC.

But God… – Have you ever noticed how brutal the Bible can be?  Ephesians 2 starts out incredibly brutal towards mankind.

The Father’s Love in the Cross – God does not love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us.

Doctrines of Grace: A Categorized Scripture List – Nathan Pitchford has put together an outstanding list of scriptures dealing with the doctrines of Grace

Daily Roundup

The Power of the Gospel’s “Already” and “Not Yet” – Great post on the Gospel causing us to look back and also forward.

You Might Be Envious If… – Well, the link says it all!

Is Your Leadership Driven by Ability or Jesus? – Joe Holland gives some pointers on leadership.

Jesus’ Diary – Barry York asks if you would read Jesus’ diary if it were to be published.

Husbands Test Your Wives – Kind of a tongue-in-cheek title, but an interesting article geared towards men by Mark Lamprecht.

How Can A Pastor Help His Children Appreciate His Work, Not Resent It – Brian Croft of Practical Shepherding fame has more helpful advise for Pastors.

Killing Calvinism – Frank Turk’s review of the book.  I’m planning on buying this one, but not because of the review, just because I think it would be a good read.

You Cannot Live The Gospel – An excerpt from “What Is The Gospel” by Voddie Baucham.

 

 

Daily Round Up

What Kind of God?  This is a brief article on the nature of God’s love and judgment by Tim Challies.

5 Messages on Ephesians by John Stott.  Classic series from the mid 1970’s by John Stott.

A Little Leaven.  A website devoted to some really crazy stuff that could be going on in a church right down the street from you.

Is Christianity a Religion or a Relationship?  A reasoned response by Voddie Baucham.  A good read.

Do Christians Need The Gospel?  A interview of Michael Horton and Rod Rosenbladt by Tullian Tchividjian

If Christ is True, Boredom is a Sin.  “Boredom is a sin so long as Christ is infinitely beautiful.” – From Gospel Deeps by Jared Wilson