Here are some good posts to read as we wrap up 2016 and look towards 2017:
My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2016 – Collin Hansen (TGC)
10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2017 – Tim Challies
Bible Reading Plans for 2017 – Nathan Bingham (Ligonier)
5 Bible Inputs To Grow, Grow, Grow – Colin Adams
What will you read in 2017? Here is a collection of favorite books from some other bloggers to give you some ideas.
My Top Books of 2016 – Tim Challies
10 Favorite Reads of 2016 – Trevin Wax
My Top 10 Books of 2016 – Jared Wilson
Top Ten Books of 2016 – Kevin DeYoung
2016 TGC Book Awards – Collin Hansen & Ivan Mesa (TGC)
50 Books J.I. Packer Thinks You Should Read – Matt Tully (Crossway)
Here is another collection of good Christmas posts:
The Irrepressible Christ of Christmas – Sam Storms
Why I Changed My Mind on Nativity Scenes – Alistair Begg (TGC)
Christmas Songs Are Freedom Songs – Stephen Miller (TGC)
10 Things You Should Know about the Incarnation – Stephen Wellum (Crossway)
10 Things You Should Know about Christmas – Andreas J. Köstenberger (Crossway)
The Fullness of God Dwelled in a Womb – Jared Wilson (FTC)
Hope you have a wonder-filled Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus!
Here are some good posts for Christmas:
Jesus Isn’t Threatened by Your Christmas Gifts – Tim Challies
10 Ways to Be a Christian this Christmas – Kevin DeYoung
How to Show Your Kids Grace This Christmas – Jessica Thompson (Crossway)
3 Ways to Become a Christmas-Loving Pastor – Ronnie Martin (TGC)
Here are some good posts for dads:
10 Reasons I’m Thankful To Be a Dad – Tim Challies
Dad Enough to Sing – David Mathis (DG)
Why Daughters Need Their Dads – Meg Meeker (Lifeway)
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Using Self-Examination for Spiritual Formation – Joe Carter (TGC)
The Christian life requires frequent self-examination to ensure we are overcoming sin and growing in obedience.
Fears and Fleeting Faith – Tim Challies
…there is no situation beyond God’s knowledge, no condition beyond God’s control, no circumstance beyond God’s power. The one who holds us in the storm is the very same one who holds the storm.
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Helping the Hurting– Dave Furman (TGC)
No one wants to be like Job’s friends. We have hurting people in our lives, and we want to help them, but how do we manage to not make fools of ourselves? And how can we actually help hurting people without discouraging them even more?
The Best Day of the Week…for Your Kids – Nick Kennicott (TCC)
Here are eight ways we can help our children view Sunday as being the best day of the week…
Hope you have a great best day of the week!
Here are some good posts on preaching:
8 Reasons to Preach Through Books of the Bible – Jared Wilson (FTC)
The 5 C’s of Preaching – Jared Wilson (FTC)
What Questions Should a Pastor Ask Himself after Preaching a Sermon? – R. Kent Hughes (Crossway)
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Practical Suggestions for Cultivating Communion with God – Kelly Kapic (Crossway)
But interpersonal relationships are not “things” to be accomplished. They are more about “being” than “doing,” and they need attentiveness, mutual exchange, and care to flourish. Relationships cannot be life-giving sources of strength if we are not present in and to them. Communion with God is a deep need for every human, whether we acknowledge the need or not. Communion with God is how we were made to function, and it is ultimately about a loving and very present relationship with the triune Creator.
The Hidden Power in Every Idol – Tim Challies
If we worship the idol of the perfect body, the sweeping curves or the chiseled abs, we will become as vain and self-focused as the models in the magazines. If we worship the idol of money, we will become as greedy, selfish, and cut-throat as the worst wolf on Wall Street. If we worship athleticism, we will imitate superstar athletes in their arrogance, their moral depravity, their self-obsession. If we worship the idol of power we will mimic the flip-flopping, anything-goes, popularity-obsessed politician. On and on it goes.
5 Reasons Not to Waste Your Leisure Time– Jeff Robinson (TGC)
In today’s work force, some researchers have found the average work week for an American man is creeping beyond 50 hours. Thus, after a long and laborious work week, our finite bodies and minds often stand in need of refreshment. God set a pattern in the created order (evening/morning/end of the day) for six days, and then established a day of rest on the seventh.
Why the Local Church Really Matters – Tim Challies
As we prepare to worship God tomorrow, it may do us good to pause for just a few moments to consider the local church. What is the church? Why has God called us into these little communities? Does the local church really matter? It does! The local church is foundational to God’s plan for his people.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!
Here are some good posts for Thanksgiving:
The Lost Art of Feasting – David Mathis (DG)
Millions Will Eat, But Miss the Point – Stephen Witmer (DG)
10 Questions to Ask at Your Thanksgiving Gathering – Donald Whitney (Crossway)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
3 Motivations to Hate Sin – Erik Raymond
Until sin is actually hated for its odious and repulsive character we will not make true progress in godliness.
Kindness Changes Everything – Stephen Witmer (DG)
We open ourselves to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit when we ask him to produce in us kind hearts that overflow through kind lips.
18 Prayers to Pray for Unbelievers – Tim Challies
A friend asked the question: How do I pray for unbelievers? How do I pray effectively? I trust that every Christian regularly prays for family or friends or colleagues or neighbors who do not yet know the Lord. And while we can and must pray for matters related to their lives and circumstances, the emphasis of our prayers must always be for their salvation. Here are some ways the Bible can guide our prayers.
Why We Desperately Need the Body of Christ – Paul David Tripp (Crossway)
Your walk with God is a community project. The isolated, separated, loner, Jesus-and-me religion that often marks modern church culture is not the religion that is described in the New Testament.
Brian J. Mikul 