Why It’s So Difficult to Set Our Minds on Things Above
Body
“Paul commands us to set our minds on things above (Col. 3:1–4), and one reason for this instruction is that it’s so much easier not to. All sorts of diversions come more naturally.” - TGC
Is the Sin of Gluttony Neglected in Our Pulpits?
(Originally posted in 2015.)
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sermon against gluttony, and I’ve attended Bible-preaching services multiple times per week for—well, a long time. Maybe I heard a sermon on it so long ago I don’t remember?
On the other hand, I’ve seen writers depict gluttony as one of the greatest evils of our time and the lack of preaching against it as the greatest failing of the modern church.
That seems over the top, but are they right that it’s a neglected topic?
Maybe. Here are some factors that have shaped my thinking on that.
Discussion
Some Brief Thoughts on Gossip and Godly Speech
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“Since the verb “gossip” could literally mean “to whisper,” I looked up “whisper” in Proverbs to add some thoughts. Then I added some further thoughts from Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the New Testament. So, here are some word-study-guided reminders from the Bible about our speech.” - David Huffstutler
Discussion
What Does Trouble Do?
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“Though we may not see an answer in the immediate circumstances of our lives, we can begin to put one together as we look at the lives of other believers. What did trouble do for Joseph?…What did trouble do for David?….for Paul?” - Challies
Discussion
Christian Online Discourse: We Must Do Better
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“…this one is going to be very simple, just to ring the alarm bell about something that I think is so important that every single human being should be reflective about it, and what I’m talking about is the way the Internet is shaping us.” - Gavin Ortlund
Discussion
On Sound Speech, Part 4
Read the series.
We’ve surveyed how God speaks. Should we seek to speak in similar ways? And if so, specifically how?
Let me start with the “should we?” question.
Back to the beginning.
Discussion
What Does It Mean to Care for Widows and Orphans?
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“How can followers of Jesus do the care of widows and orphans today? Here are four ways that we as individual Christians and local churches can engage and make a difference.” - Ligonier
Discussion
From the Archives: How to Have Personal Standards Without Being a Legalist
“Your skirt length is a heart problem.”
“Music with a 2-4 beat is demonic.”
“Christians should never step foot in a movie theater.”
Maybe you remember hearing things like this in your church.
Some young Christians, when they look back on their upbringing, only remember a Christianity of “dos and donts.” They only remember their pastors preaching against rock music, clothing standards and movie theaters and the guilt they felt when they violated these commands. And the first chance they get, they flee.
Discussion
Protect Joy in a Doom-and-Gloom News Cycle
Body
“The fruit of the Spirit is the fundamental hallmark of a transformed life with Christ. But when we consume news haphazardly, we often spiral into distinctly joyless, impatient, ungentle, and not peaceful modes of doom and gloom.” - TGC
Discussion
Podcast Interview: Christian Liberty, Drugs, and Alcohol
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“Our guest today is Ben Hicks, the Associate Pastor at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana…. Ben has done a lot of work on the topic of Christian liberty and he brings his study of that topic to the issue of substance abuse.” - P&D
Discussion