Tag: Church

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

A Simple Way to Pray Every Day – Nick Aufenkamp (DG)
The problem of our prayerlessness is not simply with our smartphones or schedules. The problem is with our hearts. So, if we really want to grow in our prayer life, we must take aim at something much deeper than surface distractions: our most inward affections and desires.

Pride Is Poisoning Your Happiness – Jonathon Woodyard (DG)
But how do we lean away from pride and toward humility? There are a number of strategies for the fight, but let me focus on just one: consider fighting pride with pleasure.

How Much Entertainment Is Too Much? – Tim Challies
It is good for us to consider the place of entertainment in the Christian life. What is the purpose of entertainment? How much is enough? How much is too much?

Boring Church Services Changed My Life – Daniel Darling  (CT)
Because somewhere in your congregation are children singing words they don’t know, listening to Scripture they don’t understand, and fighting sleep during a sermon that doesn’t hold their interest. They don’t realize it yet, but the Spirit of God is pressing the gospel message, through yet another “boring” church service, deep within their hearts.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

What A Wonder – Tim Challies
You, Christian, are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God makes his habitation within you. He has joyfully, willingly, come to you so you can be near to him. This knowledge, this wonder, has powerful consequences…

Give Yourself to Constant & Committed Prayer! – Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Every Christian has at his disposal the most mind-boggling wonder. The weakest saint can come before the throne of Almighty God in heaven in simple prayer.

From Flight to Fight: How Christians Struggle with Sin – Greg Morse (DG)
The paths we take from various temptations will differ, but the principle is the same: seek to find refuge in Christ. Passivity will not keep us from tasting the forbidden fruit. So we actively flee to Christ through well-worn paths such as prayer, Bible intake, camaraderie with fellow soldiers, confession, repentance, accountability, and private and corporate worship.

God Knows What You Need in Worship – Nick Roen (DG)
We come together each week — this multifaceted mosaic called the body of Christ — and somehow, God meets us where we are.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping the Lord with your local church!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

4 Reasons to Soak Yourself in the Psalms – Chris Bruno (TGC)
For centuries faithful Israelites read, sung, and memorized the entire Psalter. Jesus likely knew all 150 Psalms by heart. For generations stretching back thousands of years, the Psalms have been the hymnbook of God’s people. Indeed, until recently, being part of the church for any length of time meant regular and systematic exposure to the Psalms.  So I decided to read through the Psalms once per month for a year. As I did, my eyes were opened to fresh depth and richness. Here are four reflections.

Don’t Waste Your Ambition – Tim Challies
Ambition is a powerful trait. It is the trait of visionaries, of leaders, of people who change the world and improve lives. Ambition sent missionaries around the world. Ambition build the ministries we love, the ministries God has used to bless and challenge us. Ambition planted the church you attend and serve. Ambition is good, but not as a trait that stands on its own. Ambition is good, but it needs to be strengthened by at least two other crucial traits: character and self-discipline.

How to Play and Watch Sports as a Christian – Gavin Peacock (TGC)
It’s no secret that sports often compete with Jesus in the hearts of many Christians. So how are we to think about, engage in, and enjoy sports without making them idols?

7 Things Your Church Needs From You – Tim Challies
Would the people of your church weep as they remember you for all the good you did to others? Find the place you can serve your church, and serve there without fail, without excuse, without requiring praise and accolades. Do it for the good of others and the glory of God.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Mark 1:40-45

On By BrianIn Mark Hymns

MusicNotes

Once I was filled with leprosy
And filthy from all my sin
I heard that Jesus could help me
I ran and knelt before Him
With love he reached out and touched me
Cleansed me and made me brand new
I spread the news of his mercy
My friend – Jesus can save you
Tell me the story of Jesus
Write on my heart ev’ry word
Tell me the story most precious
That I might live what I’ve heard

(Some words by Fanny Crosby, to the tune of “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”)

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

10 Things You Should Know about Sanctification – Sam Storms
We all hear a great deal about Christian sanctification, but what precisely is it, and how does it work? Today we look at ten things about this crucial biblical truth.

When You Feel Dead On The Inside – Jedidiah Coppenger
So what do you do when you feel dead on the inside? What do you say to your loved ones when they feel this way? I’ve found that people who reflect on the following 10 diagnostic questions find the life and energy they’ve been missing more quickly and deeply than those that don’t. The way you answer these questions will determine what steps you need to take next.

Reading Out of Love for Others – Tim Challies
Reading is a solitary pursuit. You grab your book, you kick back on the couch, and the hours roll by. But even though reading is a solitary pursuit, it is not necessarily a selfish one. Reading can actually be an important way to love others. Here are five ways to love others in your reading.

What We Need to Learn from the Early Church – Tim Keller (TGC)
The earliest church was seen as too exclusive and a threat to the social order because it would not honor all deities; today Christians are again being seen exclusive and a threat to the social order because we will not honor all identities.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Ministry Collection

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some helpful and challenging posts on prayer:

10 Reasons Pastors Must Be Prayer Warriors – Nathan Busenitz (TMS)

Moving Prayer to the Center of Ministry – Jay Harvey (ref21)

The Power of Public Prayer in the Church – Kent Hughes (WTS)

Pastoral Prayer as Worship – Josh Buice (DBG)

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Spiritual Disciplines and the Sinkhole Syndrome – Donald Whitney (Ligonier)
Pursue the Lord with a relentless, lifelong, obstacle-defying passion. Resolve never to let your daily life keep you from Jesus daily.

Lay Aside Every Suitcase – Tim Challies
A suitcase is a perfectly good thing that may just kill you in an emergency evacuation. It is a perfectly good thing, but it isn’t good enough to risk your life for. And our lives are full of good things that may just slow us down, that may just hinder us from matters that are far more important—matters of eternal consequence.

Thank God For Your Job (Doesn’t Matter What Your Job Is!) – Tim Challies
As you enjoy rest from your labors, why don’t you take a bit of time to thank God for your labors. No matter what they are, they are evidence of his kindness and mercy toward you.

How to Help Your Children Become Better Sermon Listeners – David Prince
These thoughts are certainly not exhaustive and you may have other creative ways that come to mind, but the key is to not act like getting them in the building is the end of your parental responsibility.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!