Category: PASSION Collections

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

The last few weeks we have focussed on just one issue for Passion Points.  As a result, a lot of good posts have piled up.  Here they are – happy reading!

First, on the issue of pride.  Gospel Centric gives us a self-diagnostic test with fifty fruits of pride to see if we are in fact proud.  From Gospel Centric we also get five things to know about pride and 10 thoughts on overcoming pride.  Meanwhile Thabiti Anyabwile gives us what I would consider the secret for overcoming pride.  And John Piper gives us a good song about thinking much of God instead of ourselves.

Second, some good posts on the gospel and sanctification.  Josh Moody gives us good definition of the gospel – which includes a new life now.  Jared Compton discusses how the gospel is good news now – how changes our lives.  Crossway gives us thoughts on how to fight for personal sanctification.

Third, three more good posts on various issues:

Hope you have a great weekend!

Passion Points – Family

On By BrianIn Family Collection, PASSION Points

In keeping with the theme of the last few posts, here are some good links on marriage and the family.

First, Jared Wilson gives some direction for a grace-driven marriage.  Justin Taylor gives some thoughts from John Piper on the husband’s call to lead in reconciliation after the inevitable quarrels of marriage.

You might also check out some helpful booklets on marriage from RBC Ministries that you can view on-line:

Building Blocks To A Strong Marriage

What Is The Promise of Marriage?

Abigail & Leah: Living In A Difficult Marriage

When The Flame Flickers: Rekindling Intimacy In Your Marriage

Finally, here are some helpful links related to some family issues recently in the news:

Albert Mohler gives some helpful commentary on President Obama’s recent announcement that the Justice Department will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act.  You might also consider John Piper’s reaction.

Meanwhile, Joel Northrup, a high school student in Iowa, refused to wrestle  against a girl in the state championship wrestling tournament.  Despite there being good moral reasons for Northrup to take this stand, much of the media has lambasted him.  Albert Mohler and John Piper again give helpful commentary on this clash of worldviews related to the family.

Passion Points – Single Life

On By BrianIn Family Collection, PASSION Points

In keeping with our theme this week, here are some good articles about the single life:

Tim Keller reminds us that singleness is a good Biblical option in a world that either trivializes or idolizes family.

Brooks Waldron considers the meaning of singleness.

Finally, Dave Egner has a booklet in pdf format you can read online that explodes myths, considers Scriptures, and addresses issues related to the single life.  Highly recommended for singles and indeed anyone in the church.

Next week, we’ll continue looking at the single life as we consider benefits, as well as the right focus.

Passion Points – Valentine’s Day

On By BrianIn Family Collection

Being Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d pass on some helpful links on love and marriage:

Love:  Paul David Tripp unpacks what love really looks like.  Do we love people like this?

Marriage: Tripp discusses the important place of worship in marriage.  Gary and Betsy Ricucci show the difference between pride and humility in marriage, and consider how the gospel changes our marriages.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

A few good posts on the grace and evangelism for your weekend reading:

Grace: A good illustration from Tullian Tchividjian reminds us that we are saved by God’s grace and not by works.  And then, a quote from Jerry Bridges calls us to remember God’s transforming grace in  our daily lives. 

Evangelism: Four pointers for evangelism from J. Mack Stiles.  And then, Mark Altrogge clears up a common misunderstanding that predestination and evangelism don’t go together.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with God and his people!

Next week, we will look at the single life….

Passion Points – The Church

On By BrianIn Church Collection, PASSION Points

This weekend’s recommended posts all relate to the church. 

First, a helpful reminder of what the church is.  It is a Bride, a Building, and a Body. 

Our approach to gathering as a church on Sunday will make a big difference.  Tullian Tchividjian gives us a prayer of preparation.  Meanwhile Joshua Harris encourages us to come eager, expectant, and early.  Tim Challies gives us ideas for before the service, during the service, and after the service.  And if you must come grumpy (which you shouldn’t!), Chris Brauns reminds you not to spit in everyone else’s Sunday Dinner (of the Word)!

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some suggested posts for your pondering pleasure this weekend:

First, some good posts on prayer.  Stephen Altrogge encourages us to not lose our intensity in prayer, while Mark Altrogge encourages us to pray expectantly.  Meanwhile my friend Mike at Hunger and Thirst has a great post on how trusting God’s promises needs to impact our prayers.  And Trevin Wax fleshes out the Lord’s Prayer with related Scriptures.

Meanwhile, on other topics:

Finally, the quote of the week comes from J.I. Packer via Justin Taylor addressing our lack of focus on communion with God.  Read this quote – and let it impact your life!

Passions Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

It has been a busy week with little time to write or reflect on anything to write.  But here at the end of the week are some good posts from others for you to consider:

Mark Altrogge reminds us that Christian growth takes time.  Growth isn’t instant, yet it is simple.  We can get caught up in so many details and disciplines, but in the end, Stephen Altrogge reminds us it comes down to one thing.  Certainly one discipline that can help us do that one thing (you really need to follow the link to find out what it is), is to be in the Bible.  Ray Pennoyer gives us a fresh challenge from a recent movie and a one of my heroes of the faith to be in God’s Word.  Don’t let the habits of the “hero” cast you down – most of us don’t have the time he had to devote to such things, but do let his example challenge you to hunger more for the Word.

Meanwhile, over at Crossway we get some excerpt’s of C. J. Mahaney’s new book Don’t Waste Your Sports, addressing the important issues of  humility and the temptation to play for our glory rather than God’s.  While focused on the athlete, the principles can be applied to all of life.

That is probably enough for this week.  Have a blessed Lord’s Day as you gather with God’s people to worship our great God!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Happy New Year!  As we begin a new year, I have decided that Web Weekly is a serious misnomer since it is anything but weekly.  So we are renaming this periodic collection of worthwhile posts.  Passion Points keeps that great alliteration, and describes well what I want to do – share points from others related to the Three Passions theme.  So enough with introductions, here are some important posts to check out:

We’ll start with some good summaries of the gospel from Scotty Smith posted by Tullian Tchividjian.  Then a reminder from Sinclair Ferguson (via Tchividjian again) that the gospel should drive our sanctification.  But what does sanctification look like?  Kevin DeYoung shares these ten visible signs of sanctification from J. C. Ryle.  DeYoung further discusses why we do not seek holiness, and 20 motivations for holiness from 2 Peter.  May the gosepl drive us forward in holiness this year, or to put it another way: may the saving effects of Christ’s passion lead us to grow in our passion for God and compassion for people.  Amen.

Web Weekly – Christmas Edition

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some interesting posts as we think about Christmas:

Gospel – Matt B. Redmond reminds us that Christmas is for those who hate it.  Stephen Altrogge reminds us of how the gospel should change our Christmas expectations.  Tullian Tchividjian points out that Christmas is the beginning of our great hope.  Kevin DeYoung shows us why Jesus came.  Chris Brauns points out the problems with the Grinch.

Family – Chris Castaldo gives four practical suggestions for discussing the gospel at family get-togethers.

Carols – I’m not the only one sharing the history and lyrics of old Christmas carols.  Kevin DeYoung looks at Of the Father’s Love Begotten.

History – Kevin DeYoung tells us about the origins of Santa Claus in two parts – Part One and Part Two.

Xmas – R.C. Sproul shows why the X doesn’t take Christ out of Christmas.

Culture – Ross Douthat considers our celebration of Christmas in the context of how we as Christians should interact with our culture.

Humor – A great picture.  The Drummer Boy.  Some must have lawn ornaments.

Hope you all have a merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior!  Next week – posts to help us evaluate our lives as a new year begins.