The World Is a Seducer
R.C. Sproul:
The world is a seducer. It seeks to attract our attention and our devotion. It remains close at hand, visible and enticing. It eclipses our view of heaven. What is seen vies for our attention. It entices our eyes, preventing us from watching for a better country whose builder and maker is God. It pleases us—much of the time, anyway— and, alas, we often live our lives to please it. That is where conflict ensues, for pleasing the world seldom overlaps with pleasing God.
Why Youth Ministers Need to Be Theologians
Very interesting discussion between Cameron Cole, Liz Edrington, David Plant:
Are Millennials Less Godly than Previous Generations?
Barnabas Piper:
Young people are leaving the church at an alarming rate. At least that’s the narrative you hear over and over again. As the narrative goes, these godless, self-centered, me-first, consumerist millennials are abandoning the church, the body of Christ, for individualistic spirituality. No more will organized religion suffice for them. They are forsaking the faith of their fathers. We should be concerned, very concerned!
Assuming that young people are, in fact, leaving the church in droves it raises a question: are millennials more godless than previous generations? It seems like obvious answer is “yes”; they’re leaving the church after all. But such a question deserves closer examination.
Kindle deals for Christian readers
This week, there have been a lot of great deals at Amazon. Here are a few highlights along with some new deals:
- Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem—$5.99
- The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? by F.F. Bruce—$2.99
- Basics for Believers by D.A. Carson—$2.99
- A Basic Guide to Eschatology by Millard Erickson—$1.99
Also on sale:
- Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung—$3.99 US / $1.99 Canada
- Augustus Toplady by Douglas Bond—$3.99
- Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones by Eryl Davies—$3.99
- Matthew Henry by Philip Eveson—$3.99
- John Knox by John J. Murray—$3.99
- Thomas Cranmer by John J. Murray—$3.99
- Which Bible Translation Should I Use? by Andreas Kostenberger—$4.99
- Creature of the Word by Matt Chandler—$2.99
By J.I. Packer:
- Taking God Seriously: Vital Things We Need to Know—$1.99
- Growing in Christ—$1.99
- Weakness Is the Way: Life with Christ Our Strength—99¢
- Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging—99¢
And lastly, several titles by R.C. Sproul:
- Pleasing God—$2.99
- God’s Love—$2.99
- The Promises of God—$3.99
- How Then Shall We Worship?—$2.99
- Not a Chance—$2.99
- Saved from What?—$4.76
The Preacher’s Calling Reduced to Five Powerful Words
Albert Mohler:
There is no calling as majestic as the Christian ministry, and yet the central task of ministry is breathtakingly uncomplicated. We read the Bible aloud, we read it clearly, and then we explain what we have read, so that hearers understand the meaning. Of course, no one said it was easy. This is an arduous calling, but it is incredibly simple in design.
Delicate Tastes
Derek Rishmawy:
I can think of maybe one sermon I’ve heard on the subject of gluttony. Whether for fear of shaming portlier parishioners, or because our pastors have noticed how much closer the pulpit has moved to their own waistlines, it’s not a subject we address much in church. Yet precisely for that reason our thinking on the issue has become so shallow and one-dimensional, leaving the church, especially our affluent, North American congregations, exposed to a much less obvious, and all the more deceptive form of the temptation.
