• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

Blogging Theologically

Books, Theology, and Gospel-Centered Living

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Books and films
  • Book Reviews
  • Speaking

Kindle deals

Aaron Armstrong / September 24, 2016

Weekend reading (9/24)

Weekend Reading at Blogging Theologically

Today is the last day to get these books on Scripture on sale:

  • Ancient Word, Changing World by Stephen Nichols and Eric Brandt—$3.99
  • Understanding Scripture edited by Wayne Grudem—$4.99
  • Why Trust the Bible? by Greg Gilbert—$4.99
  • Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith? by James Hoffmeier—$6.99

Also worth considering are

  • Table Grace by Douglas Webster—$2.99
  • The Social Church by Justin Wise—99¢
  • Til He Come: Communion Meditations and Addresses by Charles Spurgeon—99¢
  • Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective by Fred Sanders and Klaus Issler—$2.99
  • Mere Humanity by Donald Williams—$2.99
  • Lewis Agonistes by Louis Markos—$2.99

LifeWay Resources on Racial Reconciliation

LifeWay Resources has launched a new webpage that is designed to help church leaders navigate the issue of racial reconciliation. At the webpage Racial Reconciliation, leaders can find small group studies, articles, and video lectures from leaders like Russell Moore of the ERLC and Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

Why America Burned Spurgeon’s Sermons

The answer may surprise you.

Are You Going to Hurt Me?

Tim Challies:

I hate the fear I see, I hate the questions their eyes ask me, but I don’t begrudge them. I don’t—can’t—know their wariness, their fear. I get to run confidently in the darkness, without backward glances, without ears pricked. But from all I hear, all I know, all I’ve read, their fear is well-earned and their questions legitimate. I have a privilege they do not, a privilege I take for granted.

Decision Making & “I Have a Peace About It”

Eric Davis:

Perhaps you’ve said it. “I have a peace about it.” Sometimes it takes on a different form. “I have prayed about it, so it’s God’s will.” Or, “I have a peace about it, so God is calling me to…” Those words are often-assumed gateways to what God wants me to do in the throes of life. But, is my “peace” God’s enthusiastic permission slip for my “it”? Is my prayer and peace heaven’s approval for whatever “it” may be in my life?

Let’s demand honesty in refugee rhetoric

Matthew Hawkins:

If politicians claim to act on behalf of our security, and if the refugee program is the most rigorous of all U.S. visa screening, then shouldn’t they also scrutinize all the less secure ways people enter our country from around the globe? If security is all the rage this election season, why hasn’t any representative held a hearing or introduced legislation for increasing security on any of the nonimmigrant visa categories, all of which require less screening than refugees?

Older, Restful, and Reforming

Jared Wilson:

I also think, ten years later, the younger members of our tribe seem less restless than we did when we started. For all the flack the millennials take in the wider culture, the millennials I meet in the gospel-centered tribe seem more mature, more settled. They love the gospel and the local church and seem less enamored with big names and big ideas than my generation (X) was, as we were still not fully weaned off what the Boomers fed us.

Your Testimony Isn’t About You

Jordan Monson:

Though some personal testimonies are on the mark, many boil down to this: “Look! God is great because me me me.” These are not road-to-Damascus stories, but spiritually tinted selfies.


Should we always expect God to heal?

A favorite from the archives:

So many Christians wonder about whether or not God still heals miraculously today, as we see Him do in the both the Old and New Testaments. Depending on who you ask, you’ll get some interesting answers.

My answer is somewhat simple, but then again, maybe not so. Here’s how I answer the question:

We should expect God to do what will bring God the most glory. 

Sharing is caring

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Aaron Armstrong / September 22, 2016

Links I like (9/22)

Links I like

If you’re looking for an interesting read, you should definitely check out The Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis ($1.99). Also consider:

  • Unveiling the Kings of Israel by David Down—$1.99
  • A Better Way by Michael Horton—$2.99
  • Postmodernism 101 by Heath White—$1.99
  • The Lotus and the Cross by Ravi Zacharias—$1.99
  • Preaching the Farewell Discourse by Scott Kellum—99¢
  • The New Guidebook for Pastors by Mac Brunson & James W. Bryant—$2.99
  • Spirit-Led Preaching by Greg Heisler—$2.99
  • Homiletical Handbook by Donald L. Hamilton—$2.99
  • Pastoral Leadership is… by Dave Earley—$2.99
  • The Preacher as Storyteller by Austin Tucker—99¢

Slaying the Sin of Pride in the Pulpit

Jared Bumpers:

Rarely does this pride or self-glorification manifest itself in obvious forms. Seldom does the preacher directly call attention to his speaking ability or his giftedness. It is usually subtler than that. It can manifest itself in our selection of words, as we use theological terms or technical expressions in order to impress our congregation with our knowledge rather than communicate the gospel with clarity. Sure, we use the terms to communicate the gospel, but we also desire to draw attention to our education or intellectual abilities. Or it manifests itself in our illustrations, as we select stories that portray us as the hero or reveal how funny we are. Yes, we hope people see the beauty of Christ, but we also hope they notice how intelligent, humorous, and articulate we are. You want people to hear the gospel, but you also hope they notice you. Be honest: if you have preached more than a handful of sermons, you’ve felt the pull to give in to your pride and draw attention to yourself or to seek the applause of men. The pulpit truly is “a perilous place for any child of Adam to occupy.”

If You Circumcise Your Son Is He Severed From Christ?

Mike Leake:

“You’ve got a healthy baby boy,” exclaims the nurse as she slaps your new child on the bottom. In no time you’ll be signing papers, taking a ton of pictures, and answering all sorts of questions. One of those questions—one you likely haven’t thought much about, is whether or not junior is going to be circumcised.

Why Giving to the Church is Different from Paying Your Bills

Erik Raymond:

How do you view giving in the local church? As I listen to what Christians say and read what they write I get the impression that many people think of giving simply as paying another bill. Giving is just like paying the utility or cable bill. Is this what you think?

Tim Kaine, Genesis 1, and Same-Sex Marriage

Trevin Wax:

If the diversity of the family should be celebrated, not condemned, then we shouldn’t judge any family as being more ideal than another, right? Shouldn’t Obama buck up, stop talking about the hole in his heart from missing his dad, and realize that any gender or number of parents should have sufficed?

Theological Objections

Kim Shay:

I’m taking a systematic theology course, and on the first day of class, we were asked to raise our hands if our study of theology had elicited objections from friends or family. I, and about half of the class raised our hands. For the first part of the lecture, we discussed some of the objections we have heard. I want to share two of them, because I think they are probably the most common objections. And they are objections I’ve heard from women, especially.

How the Church Can Save Us From Our Smartphones

Russell Moore:

Years ago, one would sometimes see a sign advertising a church — usually an evangelical or Protestant congregation — with the words, “The Church Alive Is Worth the Drive.” Apart from the commodification of the worship of God implied in such advertising, there’s an even deeper problem: the definition of what it means to be “alive.” In most contexts, the “alive” church is one with bustling ministries, a cornucopia of activities, and a worship service choreographed so that there is no “dead space” — no silence — between singing and talking, talking and singing.

Save Your Soul: Stop Writing

Lore Wilbert:

My distance from writing has given me greater perspective on the supply-and-demand of the publishing industry in which I work. More and more, transparency is the new currency. Writing is all about expressing ourselves, bearing our personal stories, and revealing our hidden secrets. Writers in the church aren’t immune to these tendencies, either. In the last decade, we Christians have made a collective effort to be our authentic, real selves but in so doing, we’ve lost the deepest root of these fruits: true vulnerability (and not the “tell-all blogger” type). Vulnerability is not pretty or publishable. It quakes with smallness and finiteness. It stands before the throne of God and says, “Woe to me” (Isa. 6:5). It cowers under the greatness of God’s majesty and offers quietness, humility, smallness, and stillness. It is passive in the same way authenticity is active.


Sin makes smart people stupid

A favorite from the archives:

Not too long ago I read an article from the National Post called, “Children’s media use cuddly animals to reinforce ‘racist’ and ‘socially dominant norms,’ researcher says.” According to academics Nora Timmerman and Julia Ostertag, “Most animals portrayed in children’s books, songs and on clothing send a bad message.”

Sharing is caring

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Aaron Armstrong / September 17, 2016

Weekend reading (9/17)

Weekend Reading at Blogging Theologically

In case you missed it earlier this week, Zondervan’s Counterpoints series is on sale with 31 titles marked at $3.99 each. This deal will end soon, so if you’ve been putting it off, now might be a great time to get them. Also on sale are:

  • Unseen Realities by R.C. Sproul
  • NIV Zondervan Study Bible edited by D.A. Carson
  • NIV Archaeological Study Bible
  • Four Views of the End Times by Timothy Paul Jones
  • The History of Protestantism by J.A. Wylie

Finally, today is the last day to Crossway’s entire Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition Series for $2.99 per volume: Arts and Music, Christian Worldview, Ethics and Moral Reasoning, The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking, History, The Liberal Arts, Literature,The Natural Sciences, Philosophy,Political Thought, Psychology.

3 Ways Spurgeon Conquered His Secret Sin

Christian George:

Spurgeon had much to be proud of. Crowds hung on his every word. Biographers lauded his popularity. Kings and queens sought his company. Spurgeon was a red-carpet celebrity.

Yet his Achilles’ heel was not influence. God had answered his youthful prayer “that prosperity and fame may not injure me” (Letter to his father, Angus Library, Oxford). Spurgeon was not seduced by the fame and fortune afforded by a royal London lifestyle.

6 Things Church Members Need to Know About Pastor Burnout

Marty Duren:

Following the resignation of a high-profile Tennessee pastor last weekend the issue of burnout and failure again occupied the conversation of ministers and church members.

“Was he really just tired?”

“How can a pastor with that many staff get tired?”

“That can’t be all there is to it.”

Sometimes that is all there is to it, and this is what church members need to realize.

Brandon Smith also wrote a really helpful article on this theme at For the Church. Both his and Marty’s are well worth your time.

3 Godly Ambitions for the Christian

Tim Challies:

When Paul says “make it your ambition” he indicates that this is the good, right, and honorable way for them to live their lives—and for us to live our lives. Over against all the other things we could aspire to, we are first to aspire to these, for these are matters of first importance. He highlights three godly ambitions for the Christian.

Desiring to Rule Over Genesis 3:16

My friend Nick Batzig writes a really helpful article laying out the differing views on what Genesis 3:16 could mean.

Three Theological Reasons Why We Can’t Afford Not to Pray for Each Other

Chad Ashby:

For nearly ten minutes, I spun in my desk chair playing out the familiar scene line by line:I’ll open with this probing question, then I’ll bring up the sin and point to this Scripture, and after I’ve listened for a while I’ll really dig in hard this time because this is just unacceptable! Why does this member keep slipping back into the mud? I mean really, I’ve got better things to do than to deal with this problem for the hundredth time.

Be Careful Not to Minimize Your Sunday

Erik Raymond:

I was thinking about this paradigm for sports the other day, and I wandered down a similar path about ministry. It seems to be a trend to talk about certain Sunday gatherings as “big days.” Giving people the benefit of the doubt, I think I know what they mean. They are saying that this Sunday is big because people are getting baptized or because we have an announcement about church planting or we are going to have a special guest. All of these are good things that should properly be anticipated and celebrated. However, I have a couple concerns with casual elevation of certain Sundays over others.

10 Ways to Practice Normal Evangelism

Juan Sanchez:

Many of us find evangelism daunting, even frightening. However, evangelism should take place as we naturally converse with people. As we have normal conversations, we are to look for opportunities to speak to people about Christ. In a normal evangelism culture, we will pray together for the unbelieving, and we will celebrate gospel conversations, not just “deals closed.”


Should you separate the message from its messenger?

A favorite from the archives:

But what was strong about his defence was what he ultimately pointed to. He didn’t simply encourage the Corinthians to look at the fruit of his ministry, though he could have. He didn’t tell them to consider his teaching. He told them to look at how he conducted himself in ministry—his humble disposition and his refraining from taking financial support from them so that it would not be a stumbling block.

You could look at Paul himself—not the results of his work, but the man—and discern whether or not the criticism he faced was valid.

Sharing is caring

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • …
  • Page 184
  • Next Page »

Footer

Listen & Subscribe


The Latest Review

What I read in August

Normally I like to share a breakdown of everything I read every month, including the books I abandoned. I do this because it gives me an opportunity to introduce you to books you might not have had an opportunity to read while practicing the art of writing concise book reviews. Because I spent my entire […]

Sharing is caring

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

The Gospel Project

Copyright © 2019 · Digital Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • About
  • Books and films
  • Book Reviews
  • Speaking
  • Contact
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.