Category: PASSION Points

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.

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn Idolatry, PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

First, some posts about the gospel.  Tullian Tchividjian talks about the important connection between the gospel and our Christian growth in two posts here and here.  Meanwhile, Trevin Wax suggests that worry comes from a failure to grasp the gospel.

Second, another post on idolatry.  Thabiti Anyabwile gives us a quote from Paul David Tripp that ties our desires, idolatry, and spiritual adultery together.

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for the weekend to challenge you to grow in your walk with the Lord:

First, Ray Ortland quotes Simone Weil with the reminder that worship is inevitable – the only question is whether we will worship God or an idol.  If we want to worship God, Kevin DeYoung provides us with 20 Biblical ways to glorify God. 

Second, Stephen Altrogge reminds us that we should seek to live in such a way that others can imitate us, and that we should seek others that we can imitate.  While we follow Christ, it is helpful for us to see what that means fleshed out in one another.

Third, there are a number of posts related to spiritual disciplines worth looking at.  Chris Brauns invites us to the habit of true confession to one another toward the end of reconciliation (the comic alone is worth looking at).  Then Stephen Altrogge asks four people about godly habits they have cultivated.  There are some interesting ones to consider.  Here are the links to this four part series:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.  What is a godly habit that has helped form you that you might share with us?  Comments are open.

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

I’ve been busy getting ready for winter which could be here any day where I live, and so blogging has had to move to the back burner for a bit.  But hopefully I’ll be blogging again this week.  To kick-off, here a few posts of interest to check out:

First, Crossway gives us an excerpt of Darrin Patrick’s new book Church Planter, which among other things addresses different types of idolatry. 

Stephen Altrogge addresses the issue of being too busy to delight in Jesus.  And Mike Wittmer calls us to slow down to notice the love of God in our daily lives.

Finally, Mike Wiitmer calls us to stop living like atheists, and run to God in prayer.

Happy reading!

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn PASSION Points1 Comment

Highlights from around the web:

Give yourself a spiritual check-up.  Don’t like the results?  C.J. Mahaney gives some Biblical help for your spiritual dehyrdration. 

Another test – how do you know when you really understand the gospel?

And then back to our old problem of idolatry.  Here are some helpful questions to help you identify your functional saviors.  And have you ever considered that your idols are like a pacifier? 

Finally, remember to pray for God to powerfully work in your pastor’s preaching of the Word for the building up of Christ’s church and the glory of God.

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn Idolatry, PASSION Points

Some links to check out for the week:

First, a few more links addressing our problem of individualism.  As Justin Taylor reminds us, it can affect the way we read the Bible.  As John Stott notes, individualism also infects our understanding of salvation and the church.  Against this individualism, Trevin Wax notes one of many reasons that we need the church.

Second, Darrin Patrick addreses the idolatry issue by reminding us that we are all worshippers.   Thabiti Anyabwile gives us great quote from Thomas Watson on the true believer’s desire for Christ.

Third, Tullian Tchividjian reminds us that God calls many to secular jobs which they are to do to the glory of God.  An excerpt:  Martin Luther was once approached by a working man who wanted to know how he could serve the Lord. Luther asked him, “What is your work now?” The man replied, “I’m a shoemaker.”  Much to the cobbler’s surprise, Luther replied, “Then make a good shoe and sell it at a fair price.”  He didn’t tell the man to make “Christian shoes.”   I love that last sentence.  I can see it now:  Shoes with a Christian fish on them – that would make them Christian, right?  Spare us!  Read the rest of the link to think further about secular callings.

Fourth, how do we decide what to do in those so called grey areas?  Justin Taylor gives us eight helpful questions to ask to help us answer the grey area question.

Fifth, J. D. Greear gives a thought-provoking post on how generosity and the gospel necessarily relate.

Finally, consider Trevin Wax’s helpful prayer for humility.