The last couple of months our family has watched a lot of Disney movies, sometimes with our daughter but a lot of times without her. You can expect more posts soon with comments on themes, narratives, and theology in some of these movies. Below is my current, ongoing ranking of Disney movies.
Favorite Quotes on Faith & Politics by Jonathan Leeman
I recently read and recommended How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age by Jonathan Leeman , not only for what it says but how it says it. The book focuses on faith and politics, though in the conversations many other significant hot-button issues get brought up. The book not only helps us root our thinking about politics in the Bible (the what of the book), but I recommend the book because it also teaches us how to engage tough topics as Christians. With 2020 promising to be a heated and divisive year in our country, this book will be a timely read.
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A Fitting Response when Sinners See God’s Glory
What is the proper response to seeing God? When we consider His glory, holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, power, knowledge, patience, and grace, what’s the right way to react? To add another factor, when we take this vision of God, and put next to it a realistic vision of who we are, then what’s a fitting response? What do sinful, limited, selfish, weak, broken, flawed, and impure creatures like us do before the infinite and almighty God?
Seeing God’s holiness and glory, and recognizing our sinfulness and frailty, is why people in the Bible commonly respond in humility and brokenness.
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Two Personal Bible Study Worksheets
Here are two worksheets to guide you through a study of God’s Word. These don’t rely on the inductive method but provide questions for reflection on God through Psalm 103 and Psalm 104.
Psalm 103: Forget Not All His Benefits
Psalm 104: God’s Glory in Creation
You can find additional studies for personal or group use on my Other Writings page or Bible reading plans I’ve created can be found here.
Bible Reading Plan: September 2019
Bible reading plans help answer the question, “What should I read today?” Rather than randomly flipping open the Bible and reading whatever page you open, it’s helpful to read through a whole book of the Bible. Starting this Sunday, my church will read through 1 & 2 Peter and James during the 30 days of September. You can download the reading plan and suggested questions for study here.
7 Ways to Shepherd Children
How would you describe your style of parenting?
Some parents take a Hands-off approach. They shy away from being an authority and give lots of freedom and allow their kids to make their own decisions and discover who they are. Some parents adopt a Friendship style where the goal is to be your kid’s BFF. Others act like a Coach, offering good advice, steering children in the right direction, focusing on educational and career goals, and cheering them on. And then some practice the Helicopter approach. Stressed-out, fearful, chopper parents tower over their children, suffocating them by not giving any breathing room or freedom.
Your Church Needs More Time for Testimonies
Testimonies exalt God, encourage believers, and evangelize the lost. Our churches need more time for personal testimonies as a corporate way to remember God’s gracious work in our lives. You can read more of my recent post at 9marks.org.
Communion Meditation: Rest for the Weary
(Below is a Communion Meditation I shared at my local church. This was one way to remember and rejoice in Christ through Communion, not a detailed explanation of it.)
With August upon us, it’s back-to-school time. With things launching at school and in the church, things are extra busy. The to-do list piles up even while other things get neglected, which leaves us feeling guilty or distracted. The demands of life don’t go away when things get busier. There’s still our house to clean or repair work needing done, cars to fix, bills to pay, emails to respond to, books to read, families to spend time with, relationships to invest in, friends to stay in touch with, parents and siblings to not neglect, and neighbors to reach out to.
Image-Bearers Parenting Image-Bearers
Sometimes, when walking around in my yard or living room, I sense I’m being followed. And I am, by my toddler.
Resources on Complementarianism Applied
This Sunday, our church begins a four-week series on biblical manhood and womanhood. That could raise dozens of questions to answer and a person’s understanding of manhood and womanhood is applied in many ways. There’s a lot we won’t get to cover, but we’ll consider what it means to be made in God’s image, what biblical manhood and womanhood looks like, and how that applies to singleness and roles in marriage. Our church holds to the theological position known as complementarianism, and this will show up throughout the series.
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