Why It’s So Difficult to Set Our Minds on Things Above
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“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.
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Should I Use AI to Help Me Write Sermons?
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“Worship is not simply right thinking, which computers can do. Worship is right feeling about God. That’s really crucial, unless we begin to think that artificial intelligence can take the place of human beings in accomplishing the divine purpose in the universe.” - John Piper
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"...emotions have become not just part of the human experience but the central authority in people’s lives"
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When Contextualization Becomes Compromise - TGC
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On the Will of God: My Most Common Pastoral Counsel
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“God wants us to live. He wants us to make our own decisions. He provides the boundaries of his will in those matters the Bible makes clear, but then leaves it to us to operate according to wisdom and desire.” - Challies
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The Role of “Passion” in Christian Experience
The use of the term passion has seen a huge uptick in conservative evangelical life in the past 25 years or so, roughly paralleling the sharp rise in influence of Reformed Charismatism in conservative evangelical theology and hymnody. The term passion is used in an overwhelmingly positive sense as the antidote to lethargy and ambivalence toward God and spiritual things—a problem that young, restless Christians seem perpetually to discover in previous generations.
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Our Skewed View of Wealth
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“Jesus knew that money was the rich young man’s god. If Christ is not Lord over our money and possessions, then He is not our Lord.” - Randy Alcorn
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How to Fight Materialism at Christmas and All Year Long
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“By taking our focus off the human receiver and putting it on the divine giver, Christmas can become a symbol of God’s giving heart rather than people’s grabbing hands.” - Randy Alcorn
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Few Things Are More Dangerous Than the Quest for Cultural Acceptance
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“Something is seriously wrong when Christians crave cultural popularity and acceptance. That’s why I greatly appreciated the points made in this article by Brett McCracken” - Randy Alcorn
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Are You a Lover of Good?
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“… ‘a lover of good,’ a man who takes delight in the things that delight the heart of God, a man who is not known primarily for the evils he despises but for the good he loves (Titus 1:8).” - Challies
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