Bits & Pieces (10/12/12)

Morality by Consensus – “Morality by consensus. That’s the way so many of us live, avoiding the things we collectively determine are wrong while affirming the things we determine are right and good. By consequence, our morals are in constant flux, constant transition, as they respond and adapt to the spirit of the age. This is true outside of the church and, sadly, true even within Christian culture.”

 

Gospel Amnesia & Standing Before Your Own Master – An important reminder that God calls children of Christ not to contend with each other over issues of opinion – and that a watching world is paying attention.

 

8 Ways to Go Wrong in Bible Study – This post provides 8 descriptors of individuals approaches to Bible study and helps delineate why they aren’t the best. Thankfully, it also provides helpful tips on how we should approach God’s Word if we find any of the descriptions hit too close to home.

 

How to Pray for Your Church – Praying for your church can seem like a big task when you think of all the needs that are represented. Here are five specific ways that you can pray that focus on the health of the body of local believers of which you are a part.

 

Walking with Your Fellow Immortals – “Our fellow believers are not mere mortals. They are beings vastly loved by Christ and someday his glory will shine through them, so much so that if we didn’t know better we might be tempted to worship them.That’s why Paul urges us to walk with all humility, gentleness and patience  toward one another. This is also why Paul says we should be eager to maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

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Bits & Pieces (10/11/12)

Flying Nones – Michael Horton shares his thought on the recent Pew Research Center report that showed a rise in those who identify “none” as their religious affiliation. Dr. Russell Moore also gave his take on the report here. One money line from Dr. Moore – “Frankly, we should be more concerned about the loss of a Christian majority in the Protestant churches than about the loss of a Protestant majority in the United States.”

 

Christianity & Celebrities –  This is an intriguing post about our response when a “celebrity” identifies themselves as a Christian and our acute response to such news. As the author concludes, “From Denzel to doormen, janitors to jazz musicians, Tebow to truckers, God is less interested in his people doing “extraordinary” things (as the world would define them) and more interested in his people doing ordinary things with extraordinary faithfulness and obedience.”

 

A Good Dad is Hard to Find – I’m so grateful that I had a good dad, but this post is a poignant reminder that many people don’t. This post helps us remember why the fact that a good earthly dad may be difficult to come by is important to keep in mind when we share the Gospel.

 

The Gospel for Misfits – “But the gospel isn’t about misfits finding a safe niche. It’s about the unfit being made fit to enter the presence of God.”

 

The Importance of Repentance  – “The importance of repentance cannot be overestimated for true biblical religion. There is no gospel, there is no heaven, and there is no Christianity without the call to repent.”

 

Desiring Happiness – “So there are two ways to speak of seeking happiness. One is to say we seek theexperience of happiness. Another is to say we seek what will give us that experience. If you keep this in mind, you will not call someone an idolater who wants happiness above all experiences. But you will know what to ask him next.”

 

 

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