10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2017

With a new year dawning, many Christian families will resolve to approach family devotions with greater faithfulness in the year ahead, or perhaps even to begin family devotions for the first time. These are great resolutions! Here are 10 ideas and 10 tips that may help. Ten Ideas for Family Devotions Read the Narratives. Read through the big picture of the Bible by focusing on the narrative (story) parts. In the Old Testament, read Genesis, parts of Exodus (you might …

A La Carte (December 22)

Every day I comb through long lists of Kindle books to try to find a few that are discounted (and high quality and not rank heresy). Today I came up empty! Here’s hoping for better things tomorrow. Here’s the list updated through yesterday. 5 Inputs To Grow, Grow, Grow “Even once we establish our need for the Bible, a practical question arises: How do we best feed upon God’s Word? What is our strategy, our dietary plan?” Colin Adams borrows from Rico Tice …

6 Practical Ways to Honor Your Parents

God’s commandments are perfectly clear in what they say and, broadly, in what they require. Yet implementing those commandments in practical ways and in the nitty-gritty of life can pose a challenge. It can take thought, prayer, creativity. This is exactly the case with the fifth commandment—“honor your father and your mother”—and especially so for adult children. Young children honor their parents through their obedience, but what about adults? How do we honor our parents in ways that are fitting? …

A La Carte (December 21)

Today’s Kindle deals include The Apostle by John Pollock as well as books by James White, Tremper Longman, Tim Lane, and others. There are some great titles there. Westminster Books has rolled out some more of their weekly deals, including Aimee Byrd’s new title No Little Women. When Was Jesus Born? Sam Storms provides a solid answer. He points out that the question of when he was born is far less important than the fact that he was born. The …

Humble Roots

Over the years I have read quite a few books on the subject of humility. To be frank, this is an area in which I need all the help I can get (and I am quite certain that I am not alone in this need). As I read the latest, Hannah Anderson’s Humble Roots, a thought occurred to me: All of the others have been written by men. I don’t mean to read any particular significance into this observation, but did find myself especially …

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Humble Roots

Humble Roots

Hannah Anderson

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A La Carte (December 20)

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of solid study Bibles, one of my top books of the year, and a few other interesting selections. Also, Kindle devices are on sale. Last week I shared The Collected Best Christian Books of 2016. Yesterday I updated it with 3 new lists in case you’re still looking for something to read. Why Do Missionaries Take Such Embarrassing Photos? I’m glad to see Conrad Mbewe back to blogging after a long hiatus! Here he’s …

5 Surprising Advantages to Online Seminary Education

This sponsored post was provided by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For men and women currently serving in their local church, pursuing theological education can often seem like an ideal rather than a reality. Even for those interested in and eager to formally deepening their knowledge of God’s word and its application to mission and ministry, their commitment to their present role would seem to preclude having the available time or resources to do so. But the truth is, seminary education …

4 Times In Life You Should Expect To Face Temptation

Temptation is a mysterious thing. There must be method to the madness, there must be patterns of how and when we are tempted by specific sins. If there are, I’ve never quite been able to hack or solve the system. But at the very least we can observe this: There are some times in life when you should be especially wary, when temptation is especially likely. Here are four times you should expect to face temptation. During Times of Prosperity …

A La Carte (December 19)

Today’s Kindle deals include a tremendous list from Crossway (including titles by John Piper, Bruce Ware, and others) as well as a good selection from other publishers. 5 Reasons To Read The Bible When You Feel Absolutely Nothing We’ve all had experiences like this, right? “Did anything really ‘happen’ during my reading? Did the Bible make any difference? Why should I even continue when it just feels like I’m going through the motions?” Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Concussions (Video)? They …

Ask Me Anything (Jesus Calling, Family Integrated Church, Family Devotions, and More)

Today I am kicking off a new “mailbag” feature. A year ago I introduced Letters to the Editor, a means for readers of this site to provide input and feedback. Now I am adding a complementary feature, an opportunity for me to answer questions you have asked. Today’s questions concern Sarah Young and her books, family devotions, family integrated churches, personal devotions, and reading. Sarah Young and Jesus Calling Have you ever considered contacting Sarah Young and finding out her …

Hate What God Hates

God is love. We love that God is love, that he is the never-ending source of love, that he is the one who always acts in loving ways. Even those who reject the Christian faith still like to imagine and believe in a God who is love. But God is not only love. The God who loves must also hate. The God who loves all that is good and pure and holy must hate all that is evil and defiled …

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My Books

Do More Better Cover

Do More Better

by Tim Challies

I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today’s digital world. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. Read More

Weekend A La Carte (December 17)

I did not manage to uncover any new Kindle deals today. However, if you’re looking for printed books, Westminster Books has an a la carte collection at a discount. Logos users will be familiar with the long-awaited D.A. Carson Sermon Archive. It’s finally coming and is available for another 2 days at pre-order pricing. The Hollywood Medium Has a Secret Apparently the Hollywood Medium is a thing. I hadn’t heard of him, but this article explains his secret (and the secret of every …

The Collected Best Christian Books of 2016

For the past couple of weeks my RSS feeder has been humming with list after list of the best books of 2016. It seems that just about every avid reader I follow is eager to share his or her picks for the year that was. I love these lists and decided I’d compile them to look for patterns and repeats. Here, then, are the collected best Christian books of 2016. Each one of these is from a blog or web site I …

A La Carte (December 16)

Today’s Kindle deals include just a few titles. Amazon has Kindle Unlimited (unlimited borrowing of books) at 25% off if you’re an avid reader (or have kids who read as much as mine do). Dear Church: I Dare You to Trust Your Bible This Year This is good stuff from a friend who loves (and trusts) his Bible. “I fear for you, that you have listened to so many voices that you no longer trust yourself to hear your Lord’s voice. That, from fear of …

One Man’s Honor Is Another Man’s Shame

I wonder if you remember a viral video from a few years ago titled “Asian Parents React To I Love You.” It featured a number of Asian young adults telling their parents “I love you” and recording their parents’ response. Why did this video go viral? Because saying and hearing “I love you” is uncommon in many Asian cultures. It’s not that Asian parents and children don’t love one another, of course, but that love and honor are displayed in …

A La Carte (December 15)

Today’s Kindle deals include just a few minor deals. However, Amazon also has a good selection of their most-gifted books up to 85% off in Kindle format. Finally, Crossway will send you a free Kindle copy of Joe Thorn’s Experiencing the Trinity if you fill out a brief survey. Why Are Jesus’ Genealogies in Matthew and Luke Different? Two gospels, two genealogies. Why the difference? Dr. Mark Strauss offers up three possible reasons. No Gullible Bumpkins Here And speaking of Jesus, Mike McKinley discusses …

Jesus Isn’t Threatened by Your Christmas Gifts

Christmas is fast approaching and, not surprisingly, my kids are looking forward to seeing what’s under the tree. The girls, at least, are still young enough that they are waiting with bated breath to learn what treasures they’ll be receiving. I love this. I enjoy their anticipation and am excited to experience their joy as they unwrap what Aileen and I have bought for them. It promises to be a good morning. At the same time, I think we all …

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This print shows that as we preach to ourselves, evan-gelize to others, worship in community, and celebrate the ordinances the use and function of the gospel in our lives must and does increase. buy

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Three In One T-Shirt

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The Trinity is a simple yet infinitely complex mystery. The Three in One shirt displays that theological concept in a minimalist simple design that is sure to spark some questions. buy