Over at Westminster Books you’ll find a great deal on a fascinating book: A City on the Hill by Caleb Morell.

Today’s Kindle deals include a commentary, a book on forgiveness, a book on overcoming lust, and much more. You’ve also got just two days to get the works of John Stott at a steep discount.

(Yesterday on the blog: Eric’s Greatest Race)

Young Men Wanted: A Missions Call for the Unmarried

Brooks Buser writes about former days when many young, unmarried men went to the mission field. “What has changed over the last couple of centuries? Let me offer three reasons for why I think young, unmarried men rarely make it to the front edges of gospel advance, along with three remedies that might help get them there.”

The Glory and Danger of Apologetics

Nicholas McDonald writes about James K.A. Smith and describes both the glory and the danger of apologetics.

God’s Guidelines for Sex Aren’t Arbitrary

Trevin Wax goes to some lengths to ensure Christians understand that God’s guidelines for sex aren’t arbitrary. “In a cultural moment saturated with sexual confusion, understanding the reasons behind God’s instructions about sexuality is vital—not just knowing what the Bible says but grasping why the Bible’s commands are good.”

How Much Is Our Church Worth?

“Last week, I was with a friend who is not a Christian and we were discussing the prices of properties in Ealing. He asked me, ‘What is your church worth?’ I was slightly shocked by the question and didn’t know how to answer. I knew he was asking about the value of the building, but it is a wonderful question: ‘how much is your church worth?'”

People Loved the Darkness Rather Than the Light

Mitch Chase: “Think of it: people love the darkness and hate the light. The very opposite should be true. But in a fallen world, we can observe tragic things that we wish didn’t happen. One such tragic thing is the hating of what should be loved and the loving of what should be hated.”

Themelios 50.1

Those who wish to do some in-depth theological reading may be interested in looking at the new issue of the TGC’s journal Themelios.

Flashback: Why We Cringe at “Submit”

The worldly thinking that constantly creeps into our minds is that our value and our dignity as people comes from our function or role, from what we do relative to other people. The Bible says something different. 

Often when you think everything has gone wrong, it’s just that you’re in the middle of a story.

—Paul Miller

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Eric’s Greatest Race is available today! This is the first book I’ve written for kids instead of adults. You can learn all about it right here.

Today’s Kindle deals include one that offers biblical answers to questions about race and racism and another about the grit of a God-fearing woman. There’s lots more as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: When God Plants an Acorn, He Means an Oak)

Has the Decline of U.S. Christianity Finally Stopped?

Joe Carter: “While media narratives often frame American religion as being in terminal decline, the data tells a more nuanced story. For church leaders, these findings point toward both significant challenges and also genuine reasons for hope, providing us with direction rather than just confirming our fears.”

Holding Space for Joy and Sorrow

Shobana Vetrivel considers the way joy and sorrow intermingle in our lives. “At the end of last year, I attended a wedding and a funeral on the same day. It was an experience of excruciating sorrow to witness the sudden passing of someone who was immensely loved and whose life, affection, and witness shaped my life in many ways. It was also a thrilling joy to celebrate the wedding of a couple I am deeply fond of, whose love for one another and deep friendship shone on their faces.”

A Farm with a Difference

See how Caring For Life, a Christian ministry, uses its ‘farm with a big difference’ to help broken and abused men and women find peace and fulfill their God-given mandate to work and use their gifts. Read how lives are being transformed through their many projects. (Sponsored)

‘No One Ever Hated His Own Body’ — Really?

What could Paul have meant when he wrote, “No one ever hated his own body?” After all, some people have a deep loathing of their body.

The Generous Life

“Two of the key idols of our age are self-fulfillment and monetary gain, and the second is often a pit stop on the way to the first. Monetary gain can serve as the key to unlock the door to the promised land of self-fulfillment, so both are pursued simultaneously at the cost of a life centered on God’s glory and others’ good. In contrast to the generous life, which sacrifices self-fulfillment for God’s glory and others’ good, the selfish, idolatrous life pours itself out in an effort to fill itself up.”

Wisdom Principles for Christian Parenting

Marny Köstenberger describes three important principles related to parenting.

The Article You Don’t Want to Read

Even though you may not want to, perhaps you should.

Flashback: The Great Man and the Local Church

It is good to thank God for those few men and few women who have been granted high podiums and wide ministries…But they are not the story of what God is accomplishing in this world. The true story happens when the church gathers as God’s local community here and there, near and far, week by week.

The single greatest support of truth in your preaching is the power of an exemplary life.

—John MacArthur

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Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of my favorite J.I. Packer titles (e.g. Finishing Our Course with Joy). Also, we are coming to the last few days of Intervarsity Press’ sale on all of their ebooks. If you haven’t yet done so, be sure to at least look at their amazing commentary selection.

(Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for April 2025)

Protestantism’s Conservative Catholic Converts

Carl Trueman considers some of the reasons that Protestants convert to Catholicism. “While I can’t speak to the true intentions of all converts, my suspicion is that much of the broader interest among intellectuals in Christianity, of which these Protestant converts to Rome are a small part, may prove to be more of a cultural or political phenomenon than a truly theological one. The real test will be the dogmatic one: will these intellectuals embrace not just the cultural heritage of Christianity but also its dogmas and its practices?”

A Short Prayer for Reading the Bible

This is a helpful short prayer for reading the Bible.

God’s Special Calling on Your Life

Does God have a special calling on your life? If so, how could you know?

How Healthy Is Your Pursuit of Health?

“If we do not want to overemphasize (or ignore) the pursuit of health, then we would do well to know the purpose for which we take care of our bodies at all. What is the ‘some value’ Paul speaks of in 1 Timothy 4:8? We might answer in several ways, but perhaps the greatest value of physical training lies here: As we train our bodies rightly, we train ultimately for godliness.”

Considering a Christian University? Investigate 2 Things.

If you are considering a Christian university, or perhaps helping your children do so, here are two important things to investigate. “No institution is perfect. At some point, every parent will be frustrated or disappointed by something within the college. But parents can and should expect schools to be honest about both our convictions and our aims. Here’s the good news: Families have no small number of excellent choices for this kind of experience.”

Testing the Teachings of Roman Catholicism

Paul Tautges shares a short and helpful guide meant to test the teachings of Roman Catholicism.

Flashback: Whatever Is Not Christ

And as marble needs to be carved to bring forth the image within, we oftentimes need to endure sorrows to bring forth the character of Christ.

The Lord’s tribes in our time sometimes magnify a very small difference, and the only difference between scores of denominations today is the difference between shibboleth and sibboleth.

—De Witt Talmage

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I’m grateful to Moody Publishers for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about Platforms to Pillars, a book meant to address the notion of platform. “Sayers takes a deep dive into the influence and allure of digital platforms on individuals and society, and he invites readers to envision a legacy that lives beyond themselves.”

Today’s Kindle deals are headlined by Carl Trueman’s newest book To Change All Worlds which I believe is on sale for the first time.

Yesterday I recommended Kristen Wetherell’s new book What Makes You Beautiful. I noticed that Westminster Books just put it on sale at a hefty discount, so now’s a good time to get a copy.

China Closed Christian Bookstores. Digital Publishing Grew in the Vacuum.

I found this article from CT really encouraging. It tells how Christian publishers in China are publishing and distributing really good books despite government restrictions. (You may need a free account to read the article.)

Every Pinch of Pain Has Purpose

John Piper explains how in God’s world every pinch of pain has purpose. “God sees to it that the troubles we have, whether persecution or some other heaviness of heart, are designed, not by Satan, not by wicked men, but by God for our holiness, for our fruitful righteousness, for our peace, for our strengthened faith, for our greater reliance upon God, and thus for our joy.”

Watch for the Thing After the Thing

Yes, this is wise counsel—to watch for the thing after the thing.

For Everything There Is a Time

Elyse Fitzpatrick: “It seems to me that God loves change. In all His creation there isn’t anything that stays precisely static. In fact, even atoms are subject to variation and seek disorder rather than order. What in all creation doesn’t change? Only God, the one who stands over the creation.”

What Pope Francis Can Teach Us About Preaching

Shortly before he died, Pope Francis told priests to preach for no more than 10 minutes. Geoff Gertzen draws a lesson from this for Protestant preachers.

Showers of Blessing

“Take a moment to reflect on answered prayers from your past or even blessings you never requested, but he gave them to you anyway. Now, think about your present condition. You might be facing manifold heaviness—the Lord who cared for you in the past still loves you today. Are you looking for the blessings, or have you taken your eyes off Jesus and only focused on the waves?”

Flashback: The Problem with Falling in Love

If love is something that just happens to us it is also something that can just un-happen to us. If it is the action of an outside force, that same force can depart or a competing force can displace it. Then we can blame these forces, as if love’s rising is the reason we began to love and its waning is the reason we ceased.

The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.

—Martin Luther

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May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include another extensive list. Heading it up are Jackie Hill Perry’s memoir Gay Girl, Good God and a new biography of John Bunyan.

John Piper Asks ChatGPT to Write a Prayer (Video)

This is just a short clip from the TGC conference, but I think it’s helpful. Piper shares a prayer ChatGPT wrote and explains why it would be appalling to pray it.

Man of God, Who’s Praying for Your Wife and Kids?

Trevin asks a good question here. A great gift you can give your family is the knowledge that they have been prayed for that day!

What Will Jesus Say to Pope Francis on Judgment Day?

Jordan Standridge, a Protestant pastor in Italy, brings a unique perspective to such a question. “I was hanging out with some Italian Believers, in Rome, when the news came out. One of the Major Basilica’s of Rome, ‘Saint Paul outside the City’ was in the background as we were discussing the death of Pope Francis together. … All these people have been impacted greatly by the Catholic Church. Perhaps no one on earth is more qualified to speak on the vicar of Rome, than a born-again Christian in Rome.”

Our Feet Shall Tread This Place Again

“This life is just getting the place ready, getting things in order for moving in, as it were. This confidence ought to keep us from dangers [already mentioned], and instead drive us to invest deeply in future generations, while living temporarily and taking nothing for ourselves… for now.”

What Should You Do When Your Dreams Include Sin?

Kevin offers counsel to Christians who feel guilty about their dreams. (I might just add that it would be worthwhile to honestly consider whether you have been fueling your dreams through sinful actions or fantasies, and if so, to repent of that.)

How Do You Know If You’re Called to Ministry?

This question comes up all the time and Jeremy’s answer is a good one.

Flashback: The Two Kinds of Conversation You Need To Have With Your Children

As you reduce the intimacy of your posture you can increase the intimacy of your conversation. You do this out of kindness to your child, knowing that it is easier for him or her to express or confess certain matters when not being forced to stare into the eyes of mom or dad.

Genesis ends with Joseph’s death. Deuteronomy ends with Moses’s death. Joshua ends with Joshua’s death. The Gospels end with Jesus’s resurrection. And that changes everything.

—Tony Merida

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Today’s Kindle deals include Brave by Faith by Alistair Begg, The Art of Rest by Adam Mabry, and The Pastor as Leader by John Currie, all for just a couple of dollars each. And that’s just the start! Also, note that the Kindle Colorsoft is on sale right now (probably for the first time since it’s so new).

Amazon’s big book sale continues. I added all kinds of new deals yesterday.

He Cares for Us

Paul Levy writes about being cared for and being a caregiver. “The truth of God’s care is one that we need to work hard to appropriate to ourselves. You are not a burden to God; He cares for you. Allowing this to sink into the very depths of our being will transform us. Our natural tendency since the garden of Eden is to think that God doesn’t care.”

Will the Pope Go to Heaven? (Video)

I appreciated this discussion with Leonardo Di Chirico and Rachel Ciano as they discuss what Pope Francis taught and believed.

The Ever-Present Search for an Easy Christian Faith

“My hunch is that many churchgoers quietly enjoy the benefits of an easy Christianity—a version that dispenses with commands, requires little effort in obedience, and celebrates a cross we may wear but never bear. We want the gift of the cross without the call of the cross.”

Chickens, Elephants, and the Illusion of Freedom

With a title like that you know you need to give it a look!

The Good We Cannot See

Kirsten takes some time to ponder the good we cannot see–the good God promises in our sorrow that we cannot see in the moment. “I know one day I will understand how this suffering, this loss, this confusion, this pain was worth it. It’s bringing Jesus more glory in ways I cannot comprehend. God has worked it for good in ways I cannot see. I don’t understand how this works right now.”

What We Miss When We Skip the Prophets

This article is meant to help you appreciate the prophets and not just skip past them when you read, preach, or teach the Bible.

Flashback: Optimistic Denominationalism

…today, rather than focusing on matters of disagreement, why not take the optimistic approach and appreciate what each emphasizes? Both do what they do to honor the Lord and celebrate his grace.

When your will is God’s will, you will have your will.

—C.H. Spurgeon

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Today is the beginning of Amazon’s big Book Sale. I have put together a list of deals on this page and will update it in the morning as more deals become available. So far there are already lots of good picks that cross a lot of categories.

Today’s Kindle deals include books for counselors, for moms and daughters, and for people who enjoy reading John MacArthur. There’s also a huge list of interesting general market deals.

Westminster Books has a Mother’s Day bundle that may interest you (perhaps especially since it’s only $9.99).

How to Begin a Conversation With Your Dechurched Friend

Nicholas McDonald offers some level-headed counsel for speaking to a dechurched friend. “One of the overwhelming things we ask ourselves when thinking about our dechurched friends and neighbors is simply, ‘Where do we start?'”

Bid Adieu. Machen Was Right.

Nathan writes about the sad fact that the PCUSA has closed its missions office and is recalling all its missionaries.

Nailing Down the Truth of Christ’s Crucifixion

Here’s a good outcome: the author of a poor article at Christianity Today (the one about Jesus being tied to the cross rather than nailed) has apologized for it. He simply neglected to consider “John 20:25 and the implication of the idea that Thomas was mistaken to think the resurrected Jesus would have nail marks in his hands.” As he said on X, “I clearly messed up. I’m sorry.”

Welcome to Metamodernity

You’ll have to do a fair bit of reading to understand “metamodernity” but I think you’ll find it worth the effort. “The challenge before us is immense, precisely because we’re leaving what was and entering into something plainly new and quite different. We will discuss what that means for church leaders and Christian ministry in our next essay.”

When Does Grief Become Sin?

This is a good question to ask: When does grief become sin? “My point isn’t to burden God’s weeping children with an even greater weight to bear—guilt to compound their grief. We have sorrows enough over which to mourn. We don’t need shame piled on.”

Nope to the Media’s Ideal for a New Pope

“Let’s see what happens next. But whatever happens, just ignore the writers at The Guardian and The New York Times, who bleat on about how they might even be tempted to join if the kind of pope that they thought reflected their secular values a little more, was announced. They didn’t do in the twelve years since Francis was elected. They’re not likely to do it now.”

Flashback: The Bible Never Offers a Drink from Shallow Waters

…what people felt about Jesus Christ was this, that when all was uttered, the half was never told, for at the back of all his words there was himself, deeper unfathomably than his deepest speech.

We are not a post-war generation, but a pre-peace generation. Jesus is coming.

—Corrie ten Boom

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Just a week to go before my new book Eric’s Greatest Race becomes available. You can pre-order it at Amazon or Westminster Books!

Today’s Kindle deals include Ray and Jani’s Ortlund’s To the Tenth Generation, which is on sale for the first time, I believe. You’ll also find a systematic theology, several books on evangelism, and quite a bit more.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Winds Blow Hardest Against the Tallest Trees)

Francis (1936–2025), the Pope Who Made the Roman Church More ‘Catholic’

Leonardo De Chirico has written an obituary for Pope Francis. “Francis shook the Catholic world with a whirlwind of change: in symbols (wearing a silvery metal cross), in status (living in a simple apartment at Santa Marta), in language (speaking as a country priest), in posture (approachable by all), in tone (relational and warm), in style (undiplomatic and direct), in pastoral openness (blessing homosexual people and admitting divorced people at the Eucharist).”

The Last of the Four

Brandon writes about the heartbreaking task of clearing out his daughter’s room. “It’s been nearly three years since my youngest died, but we finally reached the point where we could handle changing her room.”

Yes, Jesus Was Crucified With Nails

This is another excellent response to Christianity Today’s recent article about the cross, “which featured a subversive argument, a spirit of revisionist speculation, and evinced poor editorial stewardship.”

Why Does John Mention That He Outran Peter to Jesus’ Tomb?

Have you ever wondered why John mentions that he outran Peter to Jesus’ tomb? It’s a small detail but perhaps an especially important one.

The Mystery of ‘The Call’

“Throughout the history of the Church, I’m not sure if there has been a term more detrimental to the completion of the Great Commission than the phrase ‘the call.’ The confusion surrounding this term and the hesitancy of thousands of potential gospel workers to move forward without a clear ‘call’ is tragic. How this term came to have such power in the realm of missions is hard to say, but there is no doubt about its effect on many people’s minds.”

Just a Little Bit

Rachel writes about those times we sin “just a little bit.” “Where have I tried softening sin to make it seem more comfortable, more approachable? Where are you willing to add ‘just a little bit’ to something to make it seem okay? Where are you willing to cave in for ‘just a little bit’ more?”

Flashback: The Birds, The Bees, The Awe, The Wonder

“The talk” is a time to help your children marvel at God’s good design and to see the evidence of his handiwork behind it. Your task is not just to convey the necessary facts, but to convey the appropriate wonder.

Are there not millions of us who would rather go sleeping to hell; than sweating to heaven?

—Thomas Watson

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Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include some excellent picks about our current cultural moment. Be sure to consider Carl Trueman’s Strange New World, Ray Ortlund’s The Death of Porn, and Brett McCracken’s The Wisdom Pyramid.

The Problem With Habits (And Why We Still Need Them)

Darryl explains why habits matter so much but can also be problematic. In short, “Spiritual disciplines, while necessary, risk becoming empty routines that distract from their true purpose: bringing us closer to God.”

Is It Wrong for Christians to Choose Cremation?

This is a helpful overview of cremation and what the Bible says about it. “For most of church history, Christians never questioned whether to choose burial or cremation. In 1980 in Canada, only 6% of people opted for cremation—and most of them would have been non-Christians. Today, that figure is over 75% and is a popular option among people of all faiths. How should Christians think about this trend?”

Why Does Your Church Meet in a House?

Without demanding or even necessarily recommending it for everyone, Paul explains why he is committed to churches meeting in houses. “Well, we don’t always meet in houses. We also meet in coffee shops, parks, outdoors, and other locations. We could gather in a more traditional church building but meeting in these other locations is actually strategic.”

There Is Only One Good Fight

There are lots of bad fights we can be drawn into, yet there is really only one good fight.

Taking Our Stress to the Lord

“Take breaks…Be present…You can’t be all things to all people. Meet others where they are. Eliminate hurry. Don’t delay. Know your limits. Start exercising. Strength, not cardio. Stress makes you sick. Drink more water. Strive for connection. Make time for yourself. Get enough sleep to prevent ‘X.’ Wake up early to do ‘X.’ Good enough is good enough. Do your best. Take media breaks. Stay up to date. Say ‘no.’ Do more. … How did you feel as you read that list? I don’t know about you, but I felt stressed!”

Toxic Servant Leadership

This is a helpful warning that even something as good as servant leadership can become toxic.

Flashback: Simon, Would You Still Have Passed That Way?

I would still have passed that way even if I had known I would be mistreated, for by sharing his burden I became the first to share in his sufferings.

Where foolish persons demand that God must work within the parameters of their limited understanding, wise persons expand and readjust their views to fit God’s words, work and creation.

—Kelly Kapic

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I’m thankful to The Good Book Company for sponsoring the blog this week. They wanted you to know about their excellent Good Book Guides. “Each guide leads groups through a book of the Bible or the Bible’s teaching on a particular topic, asking thought-provoking questions to help you understand the Bible and apply it to everyday life.”

Today’s Kindle deals include many good picks—commentaries, a book on Spurgeon, a book on leadership, and so on. Also, Theo of Golden, a Christian novel I’ve heard many rave about, is discounted today only.

(Yesterday on the blog: A Light on the Hill)

The Easter Reminder of Why Man Needs God

“No matter what forces may align to crush faith in the supernatural, a yearning for God will endure.” Daniel Darling writes about this in a helpful article at National Review.

Pierced for Our Transgressions: Why Nails Matter

Do the nails in the crucifixion narrative have special significance, or are they just an inconsequential detail? Benjamin L. Gladd tells why the former is true.

Picture This…

“I wonder how many children grow up with completely wrong ideas about Scripture simply because of a misleading picture in a story book. I’m not questioning the motives of the illustrators—no doubt they want to produce pictures that are simple and appealing; but how often do they end up distorting what the text actually says?”

MLK’s Famous Letter Changed a DC Church

This is a neat piece of history that tells how MLK’s famous letter changed a church in DC. “Aimed not at staunch segregationists but at well-meaning white moderates, King’s letter sent shock waves through the nation and countless churches. His words still challenge us today—but back then, they forced many to reckon with their own passivity in real time.” You should be able to get around the paywall by having a free account. (You can read more about it in Caleb Morell’s A Light on the Hill.)

How to Mentor

Here is some commonsense counsel on being a mentor (or a discipler—kind of the same thing).

The Hope of a Tearless Eternity

“It took some time for us to come to grips with the reality of what had taken place, but not long after that painful moment, we became part of a grief recovery group sponsored by a neighboring church. Eventually, we embraced the idea that we were to be conduits of comfort flowing out to others and not just containers of recovery for ourselves. That insight shaped the rest of our ministry.”

Flashback: Sorrowful Departures and Joyful Arrivals

Departing is difficult when all the people we love are being left behind, but arriving is easy when we are joining a throng of those we have loved and lost.

To bless God for mercies is the way to increase them; to bless Him for miseries is the way to remove them.

—William Dyer

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I received an advance copy of Ron Chernow’s massive new biography of Mark Twain. I’m still in the early going, but so far it’s excellent—a worthy pre-order. My goal is to finish it before the May 13 release date!

Westminster Books has a new title for sale that helps kids wrestle through big questions. (Remember they’ve also got Tim Keller on the Christian Life for sale.)

Today’s Kindle deals include books by Trevin Wax, Jake Meador, Michael Wittmer, and others. Lots of great choices!

The Most Radical Thing You Can Bring to Easter Dinner

“This resurrection Sunday, let’s resolve to view our relatives not as ideological opponents to be outwitted, or irritating people to be merely tolerated; instead, let’s view them with the eyes of Christ. In other words, let’s be peacemakers—ready to notice and attentively listen, embodying the one who came not to win arguments but to save sinners—even the ones seated across the table.”

The Cost of Being a Loner

John Piper speaks to those concerned (or unconcerned) about being loners. “I think it stands that Christ died so that we would not be Christian loners but would be in Christ-exalting friendships, because there is more of Christ to be known in Christ-exalting friendships.”

Bible Studies for Your Small Group

Written by trusted Bible teachers, Good Book Guides are deep but doable Bible studies that include questions to open up discussion, optional personal reflections, and a concise Leader’s Guide in the back. Get 30% off any of these Bible studies and celebrate the series’ new look by using code CHALLIES. (Sponsored)

Snapchat Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale

This is an extremely concerning (and, unfortunately, unsurprising) report from Jon Haidt. He reports that Snapchat is harming children at an industrial scale. “We believe it remains essential for the public to understand the dangers associated with Snapchat, as expressed by Snap’s own employees and consultants, who are quoted in numerous court documents that have emerged in recent years.”

How (Not) to Be Not Secular With James KA Smith

Stephen McAlpine responds to James K.A. Smith becoming “affirming.” “Coming from the man who wrote ‘How (Not) To Be Secular’ and whose cultural liturgies trilogy is required reading in how it unpacks the cultural moment we are in, it was a head-swivel moment. Perhaps we were misreading him? Perhaps we were being ungenerous in our assessment of what ‘affirming’ meant.”

Look to Jesus, Your Sorrow-Bearer

“To mourn in a Christian key is to share the heartbreak of the God who made and loves this world. Because we’re in Christ, our sorrows are borne. But because we’re in Christ, we, too, carry the weight of others’ sorrows. In Christ, he shoulders our pain, and in Christ, we share in his shouldering the burdens of others.”

Three Mistakes With Commentaries

Whether you are preaching, leading a Bible study, or studying the Bible on your own, you may be prone to these three commentary mistakes.

Flashback: Spiritual Drafting and the Danger of Christian Complacency

Zeal is not bestowed only on the few and the gifted but is available to all who will follow the Spirit’s conviction. 

As Priest, Jesus represents the people before God. Not only does he offer the supreme sacrifice, but he is the supreme sacrifice.

—R.C. Sproul

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My new book Eric’s Greatest Race, a graphic novel that tells the life of Eric Liddell, will be released in just two weeks. Please pre-order it at Amazon or Westminster Books! I’m pretty sure your children and/or grandchildren will enjoy it.

Today’s Kindle deals include the new book The Art of Disagreeing, a book for teens, and an especially good book about avoiding burnout. Also, if you missed James White’s The Forgotten Trinity yesterday, I fixed the link and it’s now available. You’ll find some excellent general market deals as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: They Won’t Because They Can’t)

Every Vibe Shift Is in the Lord’s Hand

This is a really interesting perspective on the much-discussed “vibe shift.” “We must grapple with the vibe shift’s moral orientation and impetus. We’re seeing neither a turn from darkness to light nor a regression to the Dark Ages. Instead, we’re seeing rebellion against what I’d call ‘schoolmarming anarchy.'”

The Jurassic Park Principle of Christian Freedom

Stephen explains what he calls the Jurrasic Park principle of Christian freedom. “Christian freedom isn’t about asserting your rights. Nor is it about restrictive rules. It’s about the glory of God. We glorify God when we enjoy his good gifts, when we obey him and when we love others well. The key is knowing when to enjoy our freedom, when God limits our freedom himself and when it is best to limit our freedom ourselves out of love for others.”

This Is What Power Looks Like

Eddie looks at Palm Sunday and Good Friday to show what power looks like. “One of the problems that we face in reading the Bible is that we become so familiar with some passages and what they mean to us, that we no longer try to get to grips with what is really going on. In particular, we have a tendency to look at the Bible as if it were written today in a modern religious, cultural and political context.”

Pelagius

Michael Jensen shows how the ancient heresy of Pelagianism is still alive today.

The Awkwardness of Easter

“To the unspiritual mind, believing in and celebrating a dead man’s coming back to life is pure fantasy. It is the height of foolishness. But to the spiritual mind, it is of first importance…”

Don’t Stay in the Puddles

As Brianna explains, the Internet has given us a lot of great benefits. “Yet, as we become a community saturated with the democratization of ideas and information we also must look at what these wins have lost us: one of which is depth.”

Flashback: It’s Okay To Be a Two-Talent Christian

…the person of little ability can be every bit as successful in the eyes of God as the person of outsized ability. And that’s because you are responsible before the Lord for what he has given to you, not what he has given to another.

The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still.

—Billy Sunday

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Today’s Kindle deals include some great choices like James White’s The Forgotten Trinity, Counterfeit Kingdom (which deals with a major challenge to orthodoxy in our day), and several others.

Westminster Books is offering a deep discount on the new volume Tim Keller on the Christian Life.

Joy and Weeping

Kirsten tries to explain how Christians can be both joyful and weeping. “Joy is a conscious and intentional, oftentimes daily decision about how I am living as I choose to believe the promises of God, not despite what is going on in my life, but because of it. It’s an intentional redirecting of my gaze from what is seen to what is unseen.”

Is the Resurrection of Jesus Likely or Unlikely?

“Well, we are coming up on Easter. And while Christians will be celebrating the resurrection, others will doubt it. Our world’s skepticism over miracles is nothing new. Ever since David Hume, philosophers and scholars have been making the case against the possibility of miracles.” Today, though, there is a new variation of the challenge of miracles.

Easy to Use Bible Studies

With over 50 titles covering Old Testament, New Testament, Gospels and Topical Studies, every session in a Good Book Guide will draw you to look closely at the Bible text and apply it meaningfully to your everyday life. Get 30% off any Good Book Guide and celebrate the series’ new look by using code CHALLIES. (Sponsored)

Sullivan’s Kidnapping and a Lesson on Risk

Paul Schlehlein writes about the recent kidnapping of Josh Sullivan and expresses a warning about how the church may respond wrongly.

Only One Question Solves the Mystery of the Sin of Sodom

What was the sin of Sodom? Not surprisingly, some people have been trying to propose an answer different from the one Christians have always believed.

John Piper’s Framework for a Biblically Informed Retirement Plan

This is a very helpful perspective on John Piper’s framework for a biblically-informed retirement plan. “Piper’s biblical counsel focuses on three guiding principles: the Self-Sustaining Principle, the Caregiving Principle, and the Ministry Principle. Each one challenges cultural assumptions and reorients our thinking toward a God-honoring vision of life’s later years.”

Eagles, Fowl, and a Savior with Wings

This is a sweet celebration of God’s care for his people.

Flashback: Trusting God with Creation But Not Providence

How often do we grumble and complain against God’s will? How often in prayer do we attempt to direct God according to our own limited knowledge, our own limited wisdom?

Make the victorious Christ, not the “victorious Christian life,” your preoccupation. He’s still Victor even when we’re not.

—Scotty Smith

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I am making my way home from Southern Oregon today after enjoying a wonderful time with a church here.

Today’s Kindle deals include several noteworthy books. We are spoiled for choice!

(Yesterday on the blog: Men in the Image of Women and Women in the Image of Men)

The Rotten Fruit of Obergefell: On the Kelly Loving Act

Jake Meador shows how Obergefell is displaying its rotten fruit in Colorado. “At bottom, the problem here is that given the way our nation currently understands marriage, laws like the one now being debated in Colorado are an obvious extension of the view of marriage our nation already holds.”

The Church and the Embryo

On a somewhat similar note, this article from WORLD is worth a read. “The hard truth is that most evangelical leaders have not done their duty to God, their congregations, and the world around them. IVF implicates matters of life, marriage, and family that the church must speak to, but as Emma Waters reported last year, most theologically conservative Protestant denominations have avoided the issue.”

The King Who Came to Serve

Michael Jensen tells about the king who came to serve. “There’s something deeply appealing about leaders like Charlemagne, even to us today. Troubled times make us long for a leader whom we can get behind—one who will stand up for us and get things done – who won’t be pushed around. We want strength, power, and decisive action. If anything, that’s something that has intensified even in the last decade.”

The Necessity of African Christian Authors and Publications

I was present when Pastor Ronald Kalifungwa delivered this address. Writers in Africa and beyond will benefit from it. “The landscape of Christian literature has long been dominated by Western voices, leaving a noticeable gap in perspectives from other parts of the world. This gap is particularly pronounced in Africa, where despite rapid church growth, indigenous Christian literature remains scarce.”

When A Good Thing Turns Deadly

Wes reminds us that in a world like this good things can turn into deadly things.

Redeeming the Time

Vanessa considers some of her struggles with productivity. “We need not lead lives of quiet desperation. We need only to remember to stop once in a while and reassess why we’re doing what we’re doing and for whom we’re doing it. Following Jesus will always be countercultural, and it is all too easy to get swept up in the world’s current of bigger, faster, more.”

Flashback: The Night Is Far Gone

The gospel calls us to love with all the fervency with which Christ loved us. We are to make it the goal of our lives to bring glory to God by doing good to the people he has made in his image.

Everything that God does to His people is all love. Sometimes the love is a little disguised, but the love is always there.

—C.H. Spurgeon

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Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include some excellent books by David Powlison along with the helpful “Seven Sentences” series.

The Healing of that Old Ache: An Ode to Sunsets & Childhood

Joshua writes about those moments, “perhaps only fleeting slivers of a moment, in which one catches the tune of something far-off and distant. We hear this tune in the dancing of golden sunlight upon autumn leaves, or the crescendo of beauty that lies in the clouds at sunset…”

Grounds for Everyday Smiles

John Onwuchekwa says, “I’ll stop flipping over today’s seat cushions, searching for perfection and the ideal. I’ll stop looking for the fulfillment of my daydreams and make every moment the most fulfilling one I can imagine. I’ll use every resource at my disposal to ensure I don’t leave any joy behind on my plate. I won’t let joy drop in these seat cushions.”

Deep but Doable Bible Studies

Written by an array of trusted Bible teachers, Good Book Guides contain carefully crafted questions that look closely at the Bible text and apply it meaningfully to everyday life. Get 30% off the Bible studies and celebrate their new look by applying code CHALLIES. (Sponsored)

The ‘Quiet Revival’ Breaks Spiritual Stillness in the United Kingdom

It’s exciting to hear that there may be a “quiet revival” taking place in the UK. “In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the spiritual atmosphere in the United Kingdom seems to have changed. Evangelical churches have been reporting significant growth in attendance, as well as more conversions and baptisms. Congregations are more ethnically diverse, and people have been coming to church to seek God on their own initiative, often because they’ve been reading the Bible or engaging with the gospel online.”

When Scripture Gets Stale

“God didn’t make any mistakes with His Word. In our humanity, though, we get overwhelmed sometimes. And more often, we get bored. That’s truer than it was ten years ago with the advent of smartphones and a bottomless social media feed. Our attention spans have reduced greatly in recent years.”

Every Part of the Service Matters

This is both true and important—that every part of the worship service matters.

How do I pray when I don’t feel like God is listening? (Video)

This is a question we all need to ask from time to time.

Flashback: It’s Far Too Easy To Buy A Tiger

The sinful heart, like the owner of the tiger, thinks it can contain the ferocity, that it can be the one who masters its strength, who subjugates its power, who persuades it to go only so far but no farther.

The fact that Jesus Christ is to come again is not a reason for star-gazing , but for working in the power of the Holy Ghost.

—Charles Spurgeon

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My thanks goes to Zondervan Reflective for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about a new book that may interest you—a book Trevin Wax calls “one of the most important books of the year.”

Today’s Kindle deals include a variety of titles. Among them, you’ll find several excellent picks by Douglas Groothuis such as his massive Christian Apologetics.

(Yesterday on the blog: Good News at Rock Bottom)

Designer Babies as The Conquest of Nature

It seems we are never far from a whole new regime of eugenics as Alan Noble explains here. “A problem with this ‘liberal eugenics’ (other than the fact that it’s still eugenics!) is that it wrongly assumes that the absence of State mandates means that individuals won’t be pressured to use the technology. But we know from other issues that parental pressure to compete with other parents in giving their children ‘as many advantages as possible’ is a powerful force.”

The Dragon & The Rooster

This is such a wonderful and uplifting piece of writing by Heidi.

“Leper” Christianity: Embracing the Sanctifying Work of Suffering

Zak considers a difficult time he and his family are enduring and expresses his desire to embrace the sanctifying work of suffering.

The Missing Heart in AI-Generated Sermons

Trevin Wax: “Should pastors use AI to generate their sermons? The most common posture I see among pastors is cautious but open. Some say it’s OK to use the tools to generate ideas, suggest an outline, or provide illustrations, as long as you reserve the bulk of your preparation for the hard work of exegesis and don’t rely on these platforms to write your sermons.” However, it’s rarely so simple, is it?

Theologians Against Nature

Andrew Walker writes about James K.A. Smith and his unfortunate turn in doctrine. “This column isn’t really about Smith as a person. It’s more about how certain ideas can influence someone’s beliefs over time. If you paid close attention to what Smith wrote years ago, it was already clear where his beliefs were heading.”

Faithful and Small

I read this as a kind of tribute to churches that are faithful and small (which probably describes the majority of churches). “There’s a lot of temptation in ministry to be big. Big building, big budget, big numbers. As an author, I travel to speak at a lot of big churches, and I’m always amazed at their reach, their ministry organization, their long lists of volunteers and staff.”

Flashback: 40 Random Pieces of Advice for the Christian Life

Not every idea is worthy of an entire article. Hence, this one contain a long list of brief, random (and unsolicited) pieces of advice for living the Christian life, most of which I’ve gleaned from others over the course of the past 45 years.

The Christian leads by example, not force, and is to be a model who invites a following, not a boss who compels one.

—John Stott

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Today’s Kindle deals include Tom Schreiner’s must-read book on the spiritual gifts, several titles by Alan Noble, and much more.

(Yesterday on the blog: A Batch of New Books for Kids (and Teens))

John Piper & Kevin DeYoung on Baptism (Video)

This is just a brief video but I thought you might enjoying watching John Piper and Kevin DeYoung each make a brief pitch for their understanding of baptism.

Midwife to a Movement: The Legacy of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

You may have heard the surprising news that TEDS is moving from Chicago to Vancouver. Collin Hansen reports and laments the news. “For a time that feels too brief for those who love her, TEDS gave evangelicals an academically rigorous, confessionally serious alternative to death-dealing liberalism and soul-stifling fundamentalism.”

Selective Scriptura: The DIY Spirituality of Rainn & Rhett, and Nadab & Abihu

J.A. Medders writes about the DIY spirituality of Rainn Wilson and deconstructionist comedy duo Rhett & Link. “There’s a lot of spirituality talk in the world today, both in and outside of Christianity. Popularity of a subject often requires more clarity. We truly need a biblical spirituality.”

The Enormous Significance of Small Tasks

“I am back in the trenches of three years old. Back where the tasks are so numerous, but so small. Where I may sometimes worry that I have little to show for all of the exhaustion that I feel. But then I remember that every mundane task is an act of love, and there’s nothing more important in this world for me to be doing than loving my child, with all of my heart, all of my energy, with all openness and gratitude.”

Hello, I Want Your Life

Brittany Allen honestly assesses her heart and shares some relatable conclusions. “I realize how petty all this sounds. I realize that there is no fruit in thinking this much about what others think about me. I also know the pain of being on the outskirts—of wanting to be invited into a certain group and knowing it just isn’t going to happen. I know how that kind of rejection (even if it is not intended) scrapes against the heart like sand paper.”

The REAL Reason Meryl Streep Shouldn’t Voice Aslan (Video)

Tim offers the real reason (or a real reason, at least) the Meryl Streep shouldn’t voice Aslan as rumors have indicated.

Flashback: I Wish I Was Rich

If you aren’t being extravagantly generous with the bit you have now, what makes you think that having more would suddenly make all the difference? Generosity isn’t about how much you have, but what you do with the bit you do have.

…true courage will require wisdom, restraint, and calculation. We must not wound others with reckless words. But courage will require us at times to speak words that are difficult.

—Gavin Ortlund

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Good morning from the West Coast. I’m speaking in Medford, Oregon this weekend and am glad to be here a couple of days early to enjoy the beauty of nature.

Be sure to consider Tim Chester’s Enjoying God and Enjoying Jesus in today’s Kindle deals. There are lots of other good picks as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: Can Christians Watch “House of David?”)

God’s Surprising Wisdom in Waiting

Dave Harvey takes some time to praise God for his wisdom in making us wait. “While the lack of perceivable progress towards your dreams might frustrate you, God remains undisturbed. He is smoothing you out in the riverbed of his activity, refining you with every bump and scratch. And amazingly, every wave carries purpose.”

Biblical Counseling Isn’t Therapy

Casey draws an important distinction between biblical counseling and therapy. “I’m a pastor and biblical counselor. I am not a therapist. However, I’m often mistaken for a therapist. I sometimes get the sense that struggling Christians set up meetings expecting to achieve therapy-informed outcomes. They hear ‘biblical counseling’ but think ‘talk therapy based on the Bible’.”

A Sham Trial: Reviewing ‘The Sin of Empathy’

I haven’t yet read Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy but it seems like the kind of book that is going to offer some good insights while also garnering some thought-provoking critiques. Danielle Treweek expresses some of her concerns with it in this thorough review.

What I Can Control

At times we all realize how little control we have over our lives. With that in mind, Cheryl draws out some of the matters she can control.

The Dirtiest One Another

“We commonly hear about the ‘one anothers’ of Scripture that help guide believers guide how we treat other believers. We’re to encourage one another, edify one another, pray for one another, greet one another, exhort one another, outdo one another in showing honor, and forgive one another (among many others). But I think we often forget the dirtiest of all these…”

Learning to Listen: Engaging With Longer Prayers in Worship

“When people visit a church with a more Reformed liturgy, there are often several things they notice. Some point out the use of historic confessions or catechisms, the Christ-centered preaching, or even the particular style of music. But by far the most common question I hear is about the prayers.” Here’s how to ensure you are engaging with the longer prayers.

Flashback: The Sun Is Blotted from the Sky

…as the light fades, men and angels alike pause in wonder at Christ receiving without grumbling, accepting without complaining, and bearing without limit—bearing it until at last it is lifted by the only One who has the right to do so.

Do not give fair names to foul sins. Call them what you will, they will smell no sweeter.

—C.H.Spurgeon

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May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Westminster Books has a deal on a new book of Gospel Stories. They also still have a discount on a new book for kids by Kristyn Getty.

There’s a wide variety of Kindle deals today. Lewis’ Space Trilogy is an especially good value. So too Powlison’s Good and Angry.

Prove Me. Try Me. Test Me.

“I tell my Sunday school class that we speak to God through prayer, and God speaks to us through His Word. With the Psalms, it’s different. God speaks to me through the Psalms, but I also pray the words right back to Him. Attempting to emulate David, His words become my words. But today, I want to take back the spoken words, regifting them back to David and refusing to keep them as my own.”

Trump’s Tariffs: What They Are, What They Aren’t, and Why It Matters to Retirees

Chris writes a blog for Christian retirees. In this article, he considers Trump’s tariffs and how they may matter to retirees and the rest of us.

It Only Gets Better

Darryl is correct that in so many ways life gets better over time. “Youth has many advantages, like strength and energy. Getting older has some drawbacks, but it has its perks too. Having young children is great, but so is having older children and grandkids. Starting a career is nice, but so is gaining wisdom and experience. Starting good habits is okay, but enjoying the fruit of those habits, accrued after decades, is a joy.”

Handling Praise and Criticism in Worship

There is a lot to think about here for people who are involved in leading worship (and those who are led by them). “Worship leaders who treat Sunday like a concert will either soak up all the compliments and dodge all the critiques, or they might internalize the criticism and become deeply discouraged. But worship leaders who understand worship as service—a spiritual offering to God and his people—can listen carefully to all the feedback God may use to sharpen us. But how can we sort through that feedback in a way that builds Christ’s church?”

Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?

Wyatt Graham considers what Paul might have meant when he said he went to the third heaven.

The Spiritual Problem of Being Overinformed

Brett McCracken: “In a sense, ‘being informed’ is more of a liability than an asset in today’s world. The quality of digitally mediated information is simply too untrustworthy. What happens to us when we’re overinformed but underactivated? From my experience and observations, some common side effects occur…”

Flashback: My Dear, Sweet Girl

Some sin loudly and some sin quietly. Some sin in their actions and some in their imaginations. But it’s all sin. Our problem isn’t just what we do, but who we are!

The very resources Jesus used to live his obedient life are resources given also to all of us who trust and follow him.

—Bruce Ware

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Today’s Kindle deals include books on money, generosity, and Easter, plus some easy-to-read commentaries. Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next is on the list as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: Should We Capitalize Divine Pronouns?)

An English Teacher Unpacks “Adolescence”

Netflix’s Adolescence has quickly become one of its most popular shows of all time. In this article, a teacher (whose husband is also a teacher) tells what it gets right and wrong. “I think the accusation could also be levelled that Adolescence takes the problem of teens’ access to online content, packages it neatly and singularly as incel culture, and presents it as society’s central ill, without really offering any nuances or solutions.”

Why Suffer Through the Struggle of Fasting?

“This is where fasting becomes a powerful tool to break the patterns I’ve learned and re-orient to the mind of Christ. It is a conscious denial of my rights and abilities. Nothing is more natural for a human than to eat. When I fast, I set aside that right in an effort to mimic the humility of Jesus. Rather than looking to my stomach and my efforts for satisfaction, I choose to believe there is more joy to be found in God.”

The Gospel of Mark Is Missing Its Ending? (Video)

Wes Huff takes some time to explain whether or not the gospel of Mark is missing its ending.

How to Become the Mother of Jesus

John Piper explains some key differences between Protestantism and Catholicism. “There is a massive, fundamental difference between the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism when it comes to the authoritative foundation of church doctrine. For Protestants, that foundation is the Bible and the Bible alone, which is the only final authority for determining what should be taught as true. For the Roman church, it is the Bible plus the equally authoritative Roman Catholic magisterium — that is, the pope and bishops united with him.”

How Many Hours Must a Pastor Work to Satisfy the Congregation?

“How many hours must a pastor work each week to satisfy the congregation? This question, often unspoken, hovers over many churches and their leaders. A simple experiment I conducted several years ago might shed some light on this complex issue.” This is an interesting little experiment from Thom Rainer.

Why I Have a Burner Phone

Stephen explains why he keeps a burner phone. And no, he’s not up to any trouble with it.

Flashback: The Sins That Plague Our Souls

If you think you have the ability to do something so serious that God cannot deal with it, you have made yourself too big and God too small. You have reduced him to the image of a man.

Followers of Jesus who count the cost and are willing to take up their crosses after him must have broad shoulders.

—Os Guinness

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