EVANGELISM
3 reasons we avoid evangelism (Matt Smethurst at The Gospel Coalition): It’s not easy to initiate gospel conversations in a secular age. There can be various reasons: perhaps unhurried interactions are rare, or the vibe isn’t conducive to serious moments, or we fall into relational and conversational ruts that make the thought of going there seem painfully awkward. But what if the reasons for our silence go deeper?
CHURCH
Christian unity is deeper than “Getting Along” (Trevin Wax at The Gospel Coalition): Jesus cares about church unity because it’s a testimony to the world. That’s the simple way of explaining what Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. But reading through John 17 again recently, I was struck by the deeper logic of the passage and the desire that his followers be one. There’s something more powerful at work here than “church unity is a witness to the world.”
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Those who walk in pride (Doug Eaton at Fight of Faith): Pride is a form of insanity because it is not based in reality. When we grow haughty of our accomplishments, we forget who gave us the gifts we used to achieve them. We also forget who gave us our lungs and the clean air we inhaled as we succeeded. The absurdity of boasting in our might is astounding. The fact that God can humble us without any effort proves how little strength we actually possess.
Grumbling disobedience: Resisting a common temptation (Joe Rigney at Desiring God): A major temptation for the obedient is to murmur and grumble in our obedience. That’s why Paul says to do everything without grumbling or disputing, without murmuring or complaining, without sulking or arguing, without whining or backtalk. A temptation for an obedient people is to offer frustrated, grumbling obedience.
Self-denial is more about looking up than saying “No” (Kyleigh Dunn at Gospel-Centered Discipleship): What images and ideas come into your mind when you think about self-denial? Pushing away chocolate cake? Putting down your phone? Biting your tongue before you lose your temper? Perhaps you picture an early church ascetic living on a pole or a monk performing painful penance. But what does Jesus have in mind when he says “deny yourself”? Saying no to treats and disciplining habits isn’t contrary to what God wants, but it isn’t the whole picture either.
MINISTRY
Find your way to help the hurting (Marshall Segal at Desiring God): Love in the local church, Paul says, should look a lot like the manna that sustained God’s people in the wilderness. Except instead of sending it from the clouds, God now delivers and provides through the body of Christ, the local church — more specifically, through you and me.
Are home groups really the best vehicle for Christian growth? (Stephen Kneale at Building Jerusalem): I think if you are going to have home groups you need to view them in their right place. That is, as a supplement to your teaching not a primary vehicle. For us, we use home groups to address questions people have from the sermon and to press more deeply into the applications for our particular situations. It is very much a supplementary bit of teaching to the preaching.
BIBLE INSIGHT
What is a church? (Chris Hutchinson at 9Marks): We need to be a part of a church. A real church. A church to which we are accountable. A church that knows us. A church that can remove us from their midst if we start living like the devil while still calling ourselves a Christian. A church where we’ll participate and serve and love and be an integral part of the body. In this stage of history, God’s “Plan A” is built around local churches—and there is no Plan B.
Why did God send bears to attack a group of boys? (Gary Miller at Crossway): Is this a shocking incident? Yes it is. As Matthew Henry says, “Let the hideous shrieks and groans of this wicked, wretched brood make our flesh tremble for the fear of God.” But this incident is also one that fits perfectly with the flow of 2 Kings 1–2, in which we see very clearly how God not only works in the darkness but will not be silenced, continuing to speak through this prophet. It is the response to this prophetic word that determines whether God’s people experience blessing or curse.