Mark Ward talks with Darryl Berling of Biblical Mastery Academy. - Ward on Words

“A vibe shift is underway…. It’s easy to get excited about some of the cultural shifts. But it’s important to appreciate how far we’ve strayed from anything resembling traditional faith or values. It’ll take a vast shift to reverse these decades-old trends, which now have deep roots in contemporary culture.” - TGC

“Priests and people had turned worship into a racket (in more ways than one). And both leaders and laymen were culpable. As it turns out, there is nothing new under the sun.” - BJU Seminary

Do you have trouble with your mouth?

I do. And I always have. Since birth.

Really.

There are few things worse than saying something that you regret, whether immediately or eventually.

How should we then speak?

I’d like to take a few posts to meditate on that.

And I’d like to begin by considering someone who speaks, and who speaks well.

The Bible begins with a speech act:

“…close to half of the class said that their favorite part was working through the questions, and several of them noted they especially appreciated hearing their classmate’s perspectives on some of these issues.” - P&D

“NPS recently garnered criticism from media and a U.S. senator when reports surfaced alleging that it edited a webpage about the Underground Railroad to remove a photo of Tubman and a quote of hers, as well as water down the references to racial slavery.” - CPost

“Os Guinness calls this a ‘civilizational moment,’ where society isn’t just at a critical crossroads in twenty-first century America. It’s instead at a critical crossroads for Western civilization itself.” - Breakpoint

“According to Barna’s latest data, 66 percent of all U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-percentage-point increase since 2021” - Barna

“What was left of the hymn, archeologists found 100 years ago in ancient Egyptian ruins on a scrap of tattered papyrus, long buried by desert sand. The discovery was sealed in a climate-controlled vault at Oxford University until John Dickson came along.” - Baptist Press

Christians around the world will remember and celebrate the essence of the gospel during this week ahead — “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

We believe that the Apostle Paul’s inspired summary statement is true, and we are certain that these events actually happened in real history, providing the basis of our salvation.

“Lifeway Research found those who attend church more than once a week are more likely to fall into consumeristic thinking. Those without evangelical beliefs and who attend church less frequently are less likely to be consumeristic.” - Lifeway

“As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this month, we should consider why His resurrection happened. According to the New Testament there is nothing in Scripture more relevant to the issues, temptations, problems, and sins believers are facing right now than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” - Cripplegate

“the public’s views of Israel have turned more negative over the past three years. More than half of U.S. adults (53%) now express an unfavorable opinion of Israel, up from 42% in March 2022” - Pew

“I am convinced, however, that at least for now my calling is to bivocational ministry. I don’t propose bivocationalism as the only form of pastoral ministry, but I do offer it as a valid model that can reap eternal benefits.” - Baptist Press

By Jonathan Peters

“Some Christians see happiness as the virtual opposite of holiness. But Scripture says otherwise.” - Randy Alcorn

“About 80% of the 10 million illegal immigrants who could be at risk of deportation from the United States by the Trump administration are Christians, a new report published by a coalition of Christian advocacy groups estimates.” - CPost

“The April 20 episode of ‘American Idol’ will be a three-hour ‘Songs of Faith’ special, where all 20 contestants perform worship and gospel songs in primetime.” - CPost

“Augustine would never have been considered a Platonist in antiquity. He belonged to a different, rival school—the Christian school—and he was keen to present his philosophy as superior in all respects.” - Credo

“Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), which is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), will become the global seminary for Trinity Western University…. Canada’s largest privately funded Christian university.” - C.Leaders

See also:

By Jonathan Moreno. From DBSJ 22 (2017): 75-90. Republished with permission. Read the series.

Lingering Concerns

In an effort to present the greatest-glory defense with sharper clarity, this section will seek to address three objections that may be levied against it. Although this defense may encounter countless additional objections, the three selected seem to be the most pertinent to the discussion.

“The percentage of married adults in America has steadily fallen since 1900, and now, approximately 40 percent of adults in the United States are single.” - TGC

“Isn’t it interesting that the man that Jesus rebukes for speaking Satan’s words is the man who rebukes Ananias for speaking Satan’s words.” - P&D

“The summit, held at Travis Avenue Baptist Church, explored the implications of sports betting at every level—personal, institutional and societal—and how Christians can be better equipped to respond to the rise of instant access to all kinds of gambling on our phones and other devices.” - CPost

“The third level of introduction is the one that not only begins and ends a sermon, but also appears throughout. It frames the sermon but also illustrates it in an ongoing way, providing a continual theme that engages the listener.” - Challies

“1. Walking and praying helps me to concentrate on prayer. The TV is not on. My laptop is back in my office…. 2. Walking and praying pushes me to break away from my work – which, if I’m honest, can become an idol to me…. 3. Walking and praying gives me at least some exercise.” - Chuck Lawless

“I recently encountered a poem I enjoyed and wanted to share with you…. Among his poems is this brief reflection on the death of a Christian (which, appropriately, is titled ‘A Christian’s Death’)” - Challies

“A misguided view of spirituality affects how others and oneself are viewed. Being ‘wrong’ on some issue is viewed as a spiritual problem, and being ‘right’ is often treated as if it comes from a closer walk with God. This can end up with both sides infected with pride and judgmentalism.” - Dave Doran

“Some may dismiss our concerns as legalistic and destructive of Christian liberty, but probably no home in America has not been touched by substance abuse in one way or another.” - P&D

“David Hein’s Teaching the Virtues…. is intended as a primer for parents and teachers at these private schools and approaches its topic not as a treatise on either virtue or teaching but as one on teaching virtue, an impulse not without ambition, for philosophers have long wondered whether virtue can be taught.” - Acton