So many of us are in love with this present world, yet it seems we’d rather keep the world — or, more accurately, its sinners — at much more than arm’s length. Far too often we’re a happy and hope-filled people as long as our churches are prospering, as long as we have a seatContinue reading “"Evangelism As Exiles" – Elliot Clark”
Category Archives: Recommended Reading
“Altar Ego” – Craig Groeschel
You are not yet who you are supposed to be. You were made for more than you’ve settled for. We all self-identify in different ways; if you want to know how you view yourself, think about what your first answers are when someone says, “Tell me about yourself.” We often start those answers with ourContinue reading ““Altar Ego” – Craig Groeschel”
“Crazy Love” – Francis Chan
I grew up believing in God without having a clue what He is like. I called myself a Christian, was pretty involved in church, and tried to stay away from all the things that “good Christians” avoid-drinking, drugs, sex, swearing. Christianity was simple: fight your desires in order to please God. Whenever I failed (whichContinue reading ““Crazy Love” – Francis Chan”
“Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible” ed. Grudem, Collins, and Schreiner
…God has a unified plan for all of history. His ultimate purpose, ‘a plan for the fullness of time,’ is ‘to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth’ (Eph. 1:10), ‘to the praise of his glory’ (Eph. 1:12). God had this plan from the beginning. -Vern S. Poythress IContinue reading ““Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible” ed. Grudem, Collins, and Schreiner”
“Explicit Gospel” – Matt Chandler
For some reason – namely, our depravity – we have a tendency to think that the cross saves us from past sin, but after we are saved, we have to take over and clean ourselves up. This sort of thinking is devastating to the soul. We call this the “assumed gospel,” and it flourishes whenContinue reading ““Explicit Gospel” – Matt Chandler”
Rewind: Words, words, words
I have always enjoyed reading. When I was a kid, I read all kinds of things, from some terrible Sci-Fi novels to Shakespeare (the title is a Hamlet quote, by the way; Act 2 Scene 2). What I haven’t always enjoyed was reading books that would teach me something. Especially after college, I found it really difficultContinue reading “Rewind: Words, words, words”
“Unfashionable” – Tullian Tchividjian
Christians make a difference in this world by being different from this world; they don’t make a difference by being the same. What does it look like to live a Christian life? When people look at us, what should they see? Should Christians stand out, visible against a backdrop of non-believers? Should they have thatContinue reading ““Unfashionable” – Tullian Tchividjian”
“Weird” – Craig Groeschel
Normal infects our faith as well, both what we believe and how we live it out. When we consider how people relate to God, it’s normal to either reject God altogether or believe in him while living as if he doesn’t exist. In churches, normal is lukewarm Christianity, self-centered spiritual consumerism, and shallow, me-driven faith.Continue reading ““Weird” – Craig Groeschel”
Words, words, words
I have always enjoyed reading. When I was a kid, I read all kinds of things, from some terrible Sci-Fi novels to Shakespeare (the title is a Hamlet quote, by the way; Act 2 Scene 2). What I haven’t always enjoyed was reading books that would teach me something. Especially after college, I found it really difficultContinue reading “Words, words, words”
“How Do You Kill 11 Million People?” – Andy Andrews
The answer is breathtakingly simple. And it is a method still being used by some elected leaders to achieve various goals today. How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Lie to them. The holocaust is universally viewed as an absolutely horrible event. We have pictures and movies documenting the atrocities carried out by the Nazi’sContinue reading ““How Do You Kill 11 Million People?” – Andy Andrews”
Driven 