A few days late, but here are some noteworthy links from the past week (and in same cases older).
First, some good links on prayer: wandering prayer, morning prayer, and a prayer for generosity.
Justin Taylor quotes D. A. Carson about how we tend to drift from holiness, and ways we try to justify it.
Finally, some important questions for us to ponder from Chris Brauns and Coram Deo.
A few gems from the past few weeks. First Chris Brauns challenges us to get serious about fighting sin with a great quote from Billy Sunday. He also challenges us to get serious about preparing to hear God’s Word preached with a quote from Spurgeon.
Meanwhile Justin Taylor quotes Tim Keller on how salvation by grace encourages our outreach. And Kevin DeYoung gives us some helpful thoughts on assurance of salvation.
Finally, He Is My Delight asks us, “What were we made for?“
It has been a few weeks since I have surveyed some of the best from the web, so here is a compilation of the last few weeks.
Tullian Tchividjian quotes from Sinclair Ferguson with a necessary reminder that our focus must not be on ourselves, not even on our spiritual growth, but rather our focus must be upon Christ – and then we will grow.
If we focus on our our own growth instead of Christ we will either get big heads thinking (falsely) that we have arrived, or we will mope about as we realize how far we have to go. It is this moping constant guilty feeling that Kevin DeYoung addresses, as he reminds us of our need to cling to the gospel.
There are a number of good articles to read about various spiritual disciplines that help us grow (habits of love), including confession (DeYoung), Scripture memory (John Piper), and church membership (DeYoung again quoting from Jonathan Leeman).
Finally, Crossway gives us a portion of Tullian Tchividjian’s new book Surprised By Grace. This portion deals with one of the recurring themes here on this blog – the important issue of idolatry that steals our passion for God.
All kinds of good stuff this week!
First, Crossway has several excerpts of Trevin Wax’s new book Holy Subversion. This is a book I have wanted to read – even more so after reading the excerpts. These excerpts all relate to how we use our free time. The last one relates to my last several posts on being a church family as he addresses relationships and free time with application for the church. See here, here, here, and here.
First Things shares the secret to appreciating church – and it closely relates to being a church family.
Also related to being a church family, and especially unity amidst offenses is Ray Ortlund’s helpful post on guarding and repairing relationships.
Finally, Donald Whitney has a great strategy for outreach that shows real compassion for people.
The best around the web this week that I found deals with spiritual disciplines – habits that help us grow in love for God and people, and indeed that are expressions of our love for God and people.
Coram Deo reminds us of the need to keep it simple, coming back to the basic disciplines of life. Chris Brauns calls us to consistent prayer with a quote from Bryan Chappell. He Is My Delight gives a great example for compassion in outreach.
Here are a few posts I recommend checking out from this week:
Trevin Wax addresses the issue of idolatry in relationship to blogging. Idolatry is something we slip into so easily. If you blog (or even if you Facebook) check out this link. May God help us to find our contentment in him.
This blog often focuses on Christ’s passion for us and our passion for God, but we can’t forget the compassion for people part. Kevin DeYoung gives us a great example from James Davison Hunter of how to love people consistently in the small things. He also notes seven habits of highly evangelistic Christians from Thom Rainer. If we really love people, we have to point them to Jesus.
Here are some recommended links from the past week related to Three Passions living:
Tullian Tchividjian uses a quote from Elizabeth Elliot to help us ask the much needed question – why do we serve? He also provides a wonderful quote from Cornelius Plantinga that reminds us of who truly satisfies. Timothy Keller likewise calls us to find our contentment in God alone, and not in what he does for us. It strikes me that all three of these links ultimately deals with the issue of idolatry.
Finally Joshua Harris gives us a poem from Kevin Hartnett that helps us reflect upon the cross.
I have decided to start a new weekly feature collecting some of the best things I’ve found on the web related in some way to living with a passion for God and compassion for people in response to Christ’s passion for us. So here are a few links to check out:
Coram Deo reminds us to live for God’s glory, including a great quote from one of my favorite author’s – A.W. Tozer.
Tullian Tchividjian reminds us of the need to trade in our sinful individualism for gospel shaped Christian community. This interview addresses a great need in the church today. In two parts – Part 1 and Part 2.
Christianity Today has an excerpt of J. I. Packer and Gary Parrett’s new book: Grounded in the Gospel. This book is high on my reading list, and the excerpt reminds us of the need for the church to be trained “in the gospel and its implications for doctrine, devotion, duty, and delight.” Their answer is foreign to my growing up years, but has slowly become a conviction for me. The church is filled with too many untrained Christians and here is at least part of the answer.
Finally, Collin Hansen at Christianity Today responds to John Piper’s recent announcement that he is taking an eight month sabbatical. Hansen reminds us that we can become so focused on kingdom work that we ignore our families and our own spiritual health. Too much Martha and not enough Mary. I needed to read this, and you may too!
Trust that you will have a restful Easter glorifying God and reflecting on the truth of Christ’s resurrection with your church!
For a poetic reminder of the deception of things and the true path to joy, visit here.
Brian J. Mikul 