Here are some good posts for your Thanksgiving:
But Where Are The Nine? – Kevin DeYoung
Six Ways to Cultivate Thankfulness and Joy – Mark Altrogge (TBC)
Thank You, Father – John Piper (DG)
An Ancient Prayer of Thanksgiving – Kevin DeYoung
Category: PASSION Collections
Ministry Collection
Here are some good posts for pastors:
Duties of the Ministers of the Gospel – Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Bits and Pieces for Young Ministers: Discipleship, Rest and Reading – Thabiti Anyabwile
Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry – Nicholas T. Batzig
Current
Here are some helpful posts to help the church think through the Syrian refugees issue. If you only have time to read a few, read the last two – and dream about the possibilities.
What You Should Know About The Syrian Refugee Controversy – Joe Carter (TGC)
Should we really close the border to refugees? Here’s why fear drives out compassion. – Trevin Wax (WP)
Immigration Policy Must be Based on More than an Appeal to Compassion – Kevin DeYoung
Refugee resettlement process leaves Syrian Christians in the cold – Cody Derespina (FN)
Why evangelicals are torn about admitting refugees to the US – Trevin Wax (RNS)
Syrian refugee screening process reveals progress and pitfalls – Cody Derespina (FN)
We Opened Our Church to Muslim Refugees and Something Unexpected Happened! – Caleb Suko
Building His Church in a Refugee Crisis– David Crabb (DG)
Current
Here are some good posts about current events and issues related to the church and culture:
The Transgender Movement and Government Overreach: Why it Matters – Andrew Walker (ERLC) – In response to the Education Department’s rejection of an Illinois school policy.
The Blind Eyes of Abortion – John Knight (DG) – In response to the latest undercover video release about Planned Parenthood.
Christmas Is Not For Cranks – Kevin DeYoung – In response to the Starbucks red coffee cups.
Ministry Collection
Here are some good posts for the pastor:
Ten Commandments for Pastors – Joel Beeke
1. Give priority to your personal communion with God. Put your own soul first: your maintaining communion with God is a prerequisite for being an effective pastor to your people….
The Pastor’s Personal Holiness – Jason Helopoulos
As I reflect over the past decade of watching fellow brothers in the pastorate fail morally, the threats seem to come in four primary categories. Dear pastor, be on-guard against each….
What is the Most Common Ministry Priority Neglected by Pastors? – Brian Croft
Pastors, I know your schedule is busy. I am aware of the great demands on your time that pull on your conscience. But, don’t forget to pray for your people this week. Pray with your people. Set time aside in a quiet place and cry out to God for your people. Make the other pastoral matters wait. It is safe to say they are less important than prayer.
Passion Posts
Here are some really good posts for your weekend reading:
You Were Made for the Godward Life – John Piper (DG)
A Godward life is lived leaning toward God. We turn our face toward him and not away from him. We enjoy the consciousness of his presence moment by moment. We remember him and do not forget him. At every turn of the day, we put our trust in him.
Why You Should Be Praying the Psalms – Don Whitney (CBS)
Praying the Bible means talking to God about what comes to mind as you read the Bible. Usually you might read the passage first, then go back and pray through what you just read.
When Routines Become Idols – Christina Fox (CBMW)
Some of us are so attached to and defined by our routines that we can’t stand when they are interrupted, changed, or tampered with in any way. That’s because of what our routines represent to us. Comfort. Ease. Control. Peace. When we trust in our routines and cling to them, we are relying on them to give us comfort.
When Your Heart Isn’t In It – Joe Thorn (FTC)
We are made by our triune God to worship him in spirit and truth. In him we find grace and mercy and fullness of life. He speaks in his word, hears our prayers, and delights in our songs of praise. And when we engage in these disciplines by faith we are sanctified. We experience more grace. And despite all of this we sometimes just don’t want to do it.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!
Church Collection
Here are some good posts on prayer in the church:
Persevere in Prayer! – Tim Challies
7 Ways to Ruin a Prayer Meeting – Tim Challies
3 Reasons We Need to Pray – Tim Challies
Doctrine Collection
Here are some helpful posts on the doctrine of election:
How the Doctrine of Election Fueled Jesus’ Work – Hannah Ploegstra (GTF)
Being chosen in him means that our lives and mission will mimic his. The Bible’s glad doctrine of election should give us the same courage, clarity, and joy that it gave to Jesus in the work he has left us to do.
Before Galaxies Stood Forth, He Knew You – Jim Essian (FTC)
The cosmic love and wisdom of God should be a truth that collides with our heart (for it is personal to us) and explodes in our soul (for it will stir you to worship).
Ten Reasons to Revel in Being Chosen– John Piper (DG)
The adversaries may seem powerful and numerous and dangerous and dominant. But look again. You are God’s chosen ones, a “people for his own possession.” O, dear suffering Christians, Peter would say, do you feel what that means? Revel in being God’s chosen ones!
Passion Points
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
What Is Reformation Day All About? – Robert Rothwell (Ligonier)
But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates?
Reformation Day: Jesus Came Knocking – Jon Bloom (DG)
In fact, given the prosperity that most of us in the West are experiencing and the arid spiritual climate most of us live in, it may be that the best way we can observe Reformation Day is to do some serious, prayerful soul-searching…. And we should ask ourselves, is Jesus knocking — or pounding — on our door? Are we hearing him? Are we ignoring or even resisting him? Are we tolerating and justifying any idols?
How To Lose Your Zeal for Christ – Tim Challies
Are you zealous for Christ? Do you have a genuine zeal to live for him and to advance his cause in the world? Or have you lost the zeal that once marked you?
Two Ways To Sing To God – Joel Limpic (D&T)
Psalm 81:1 commands us to “sing for joy.” How does this command play itself out practically in our worlds, particularly when we feel joyless? I want to propose that to fully embrace this command, we must learn to sing in two ways: from affection and for affection.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day singing for joy to the Lord!
Family Collection
Here are some good posts on parenting:
Parenting Well in a Digital World – Tim Challies
Even at the best of times there is nothing simple about raising children. But throw in a million new technologies—new devices and social networks and apps—and things get far more complicated still. This is every parent’s challenge today.
I Pray This for My Children – Gregory Harris
Part of my answer to those who asked me about raising our children would be that we repeatedly prayed for them….Here is what I prayed (and still pray) for my children….
The Most Important Thing My Parents Did – Tim Challies
Here is one thing I learned from my parents: Nothing can take the place of simply living as a Christian in view of my children.
Brian J. Mikul 