I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, but received no reply, so thought I’d try just once more. I am wondering if anyone who reads this works for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and can answer a couple of questions for me. I’m not asking for anyone to do me favors, but just to help my understanding of some matters. If that’s you, please let me know!

Every Christian should be both conservative and radical; conservative in preserving the faith and radical in applying it.

—John Stott

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You have probably had the experience before of going from a very bright room into a very dark one. Maybe you get home late, you get ready for bed, and you then have to tiptoe into a bedroom where someone else is sleeping. You find that when you go from the brightness of the hallway into the darkness of the bedroom, you can’t see very much. That’s because in the bright room the pupil of your eye became very small so it wouldn’t be overwhelmed by light, but when you go into the dark bedroom, your pupil needs to grow wider to allow more light into it, and that takes a bit of time. If you just wait for a few moments and allow your eyes to adjust, you’ll soon find that you can see much better. It just takes some patience and some adjustment to the new circumstances.

I find this a helpful illustration of what can happen in your life when you suddenly go from times of joy to times of sorrow. All has been well, and your life has been good. It has been easy to love God and trust him, to pray to him and sing his praises. But then suddenly you are struck by a great trial or a deep sorrow, and for a time it can be difficult to adjust. You may struggle now to trust God as you did before. You may find it hard to pray to him and sing his praises.

Theodore Cuyler, who buried three of his own children, wrote this: “It is the easiest thing in the world … to trust God when the path is all sunshine. The real victory of faith is to trust God in the dark and through the dark.” I like that phrase, “the victory of faith.” I sometimes feel as if Reformed folk like me may have given up the word “victory” too easily (possibly because other Christians have been prone to misuse it). But I think there is something to be said for acknowledging and celebrating a faith that, by God’s grace, is victorious.

I recently pondered Romans 8:28 (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”) and drew from it four truths you can preach to yourself in times of sorrow—truths that will equip you to have that kind of victorious faith. If you minister these truths to your soul and live according to them, you can emerge victorious from your trial—emerge with your faith in God and your love for him not only intact, but strengthened.

God Loves Me

God loves me. It’s the simplest of truths but also the most important and the most formative. Why? Because if you really believe that God loves you, you will respond differently to your trial than if you think God hates you, or if you think God is apathetic toward you, or if you just aren’t certain how God relates to you. Preaching to yourself “God loves me” establishes your relationship with God in your own mind and heart. You may be tempted to reason from this hard thing to the belief that a bad circumstance must point to a bad relationship. But when difficulties come your way, it does not mean that God’s character has changed. It does not mean that his disposition toward you has changed. It does not mean that his relationship to you has changed. 

To the contrary, the same love that saved you must be present even in this time and in the very same measure. And for that reason, even as you stand amid the rubble of your life, even as you stand by the grave of a loved one, even as you read the deadliest diagnosis, you can say this to yourself: “God loves me. Whatever I feel, whatever else anyone may be telling me, whatever the Devil may be whispering to me, I know this: God loves me and he will never stop loving me.” A victorious faith begins with clinging tightly to this fact: “God loves me.”

God Has a Purpose

The second truth is this: God has a purpose. This world and everything within it exist to bring glory to God. God’s glorifies himself not only through the joys but through the sorrows, and not just when the path is bright but also when it’s dark as night. Whatever you experience, you can have confidence that there is a divine purpose in it.

A victorious faith trusts the character of God and believes in the purpose of God even when it can’t see the completed work of God. By faith, you can receive sorrow from God and trust that eventually God will make his purpose clear. That clarity may come later in life or it may come only in eternity. But you can have confidence that God will at some point show you what he was up to, and you will see in that day what you take by faith right now: God has a purpose.

God Is at Work

Here is the third truth to speak to yourself: God is at work. You always need to remember that this is God’s world, not yours. You have given your life to him, and that means handing it all over to him. You don’t just give him your heart, though that’s the place to begin—you give him your life, your body, your soul, your children, your marriage, your job, and your dreams. You give it all to him and essentially say, “I entrust this to you; please glorify yourself through it.” And this is exactly what God does–he works through your life.

This verse says clearly that if you are a Christian, all things work together for good. You probably don’t need to be convinced or reassured that God is at work through the good things you enjoy. But Romans 8:28 exists to minister this truth to you: God works through the dark days too. There is nothing that God is incapable of using, nothing that is beyond his capacity to redeem for his good and glorious purposes. All means all, and God is at work through all things.

God Is Working Good

The fourth truth is this: God is working this for good. You and I usually define “good” by way of ease, so that what’s good to us is what makes our lives easy or painless. But what’s good to God is what fulfills his purpose of bringing glory to himself. God brings glory to himself in our lives by sanctifying us—by making us more like Jesus Christ in the inner man so we can act more like Jesus in the outer man. God means to have a witness in this world, and though Christ has ascended, he has left us here to act as his disciples, his followers and imitators. God glorifies himself in the lives of his people by setting his love on dead, wretched sinners and transforming them into living images of his Son. He transforms our hearts, so he can transform our lives, so we can be like Jesus and so through us he can transform this world.

No matter your circumstances, you can be confident that in some way they glorify him by further transforming you into the image of Jesus Christ both inside and out. Rough stones don’t become smooth without grinding; valuable ore doesn’t get separated from worthless rock without being blasted and crushed; and you can’t become Christlike or serve his purpose in this world without hardships. There is no path through sanctification and no purpose that doesn’t involve at least some trial, some difficulty, some sorrow. Hence, in your times of sorrow you can know that God is working good.

Conclusion

Romans 8:28 is a beautiful and comforting verse for your darkest days. If you love God, then you have been called according to his purpose, and all things are working together for good—your good and God’s glory. That’s true of the best things and it’s true of the worst things. It’s true of the things you would have chosen anyway and true of the things you never would have chosen. God is working good through your hardest and darkest day just as much as your brightest and most beautiful day.

Dark times are inevitable in this life and, by God’s grace, you can look back on those times and marvel: I might have doubted God, but instead I trusted him. I might have rebelled against God, but instead I submitted to him. I might have turned away from God, but instead I ran toward him. And that is what I mean by a victorious faith. You can enter into your times of sorrow with a living faith, endure your times of sorrow with a tenacious faith, and emerge from your times of sorrow with a strengthened faith. You can have a faith that remains strong and true and bright and beautiful even when everything around you is dark as night.

Good morning. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you on this fine day.

Extra

Every now and again I like to introduce you to one of my books. Today that’s Seasons of Sorrow, which, as it happens, is cheaper today than it’s ever been at Amazon, though only for the rest of the day.

Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God was written in the aftermath of the sudden and unexpected death of my son, Nick. It is written out of a place of great love and great grief, and reflects the journey of a parent through the first year following a deep loss. While it is plain in describing grief, it also describes the hope God offers and the comfort he provides to those who suffer through difficult circumstances. This book, more than any other I’ve written, comes from my heart!

Every time I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God’s true intentions in giving me that command.

—Milton Vincent

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These are Prime Big Deal Days at Amazon, and that means there are plenty of deals on books. This page is a roundup of some of the best deals I’ve been able to track down. Check in a couple of times on Tuesday and Wednesday as I’ll be adding deals as I find them.

Amazon is offer an especially good deal for Audible subscriptions: 4 months for $0.99/month, plus a $20 credit. You can cancel anytime, which means you can enjoy the 4 months and then stop your subscription if you so desire.

You’ll also find Kindle devices on sale—a good thing if you’re a committed reader of e-books.

Index:

• Books
• General Market Books
• Bibles
• Commentaries
• Board Games

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Books

Note: These deals are for print books. If you prefer Kindle editions, visit the Kindle Deals page.

A Heart Aflame for God

Matthew C. Bingham

A Reformed approach to spiritual formation that draws on the God-ordained practices modeled by the Puritans of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and shows how Christians today can pursue genuine spiritual growth.

Amazon

2084 and the AI Revolution

John C. Lennox

Oxford mathematician John Lennox considers artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and the quest for superintelligence, and shows what the Christian faith has to say about each. This updated and expanded edition takes in recent developments like large language models while keeping its focus on what it means to be human.

Amazon

The Acrostic of Salvation

Jonathan Gibson and Timothy Brindle

A rhyming alphabet of words about salvation, from adoption to zeal, that teaches children the doctrine of how God saves. It follows the biblical tradition of acrostic poetry found in the Psalms and Lamentations.

Amazon

12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You

Tony Reinke

A thoughtful look at how smartphones are reshaping our habits, relationships, and hearts, with twelve ways our phones are changing us and biblical wisdom for using them well.

Amazon

30 Days to Understanding the Bible

Max Anders

A fifteen-minutes-a-day introduction to the Bible’s key people, events, places, and doctrines, designed to give readers the big picture of Scripture in a month. This thirtieth-anniversary edition restores and updates material from the original.

Amazon

Apologetics at the Cross

Joshua D. Chatraw and Mark D. Allen

An introduction to apologetics that takes its cues from Jesus himself and from the letter of 1 Peter, arguing that a defense of the faith ought to be marked by gentleness and respect rather than by unbreachable arguments. It covers the history and biblical foundations of apologetics before turning to how the work actually goes in real conversations.

Amazon

The New Man

Daniel M. Doriani

Rather than another checklist, Dan Doriani describes biblical manhood as character shaped by knowing God through his Word, and applies it to marriage, friendship, work, wealth, and more.

Amazon

Disciplines of a Godly Man

R. Kent Hughes

A bestselling call for men to pursue godliness with discipline, covering prayer, integrity, marriage, leadership, worship, purity, and more. This updated edition includes fresh references, suggested resources, and study questions.

Amazon

The Gospel Comes with a House Key

Rosaria Butterfield

Drawing on the story of her own conversion through the open home of an ordinary Christian couple, Rosaria Butterfield calls believers to practice daily, radically ordinary hospitality. Winner of a 2019 Christianity Today Book Award.

Amazon

Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar

William D. Mounce

The standard introductory Greek textbook for colleges and seminaries, used by hundreds of thousands of students since it first appeared in 1993. The fourth edition has been revised throughout in light of feedback from teachers, students, and self-learners.

Amazon

No More Boring Bible Study

Faith Womack

An encouraging guide for anyone who finds the Bible confusing, dull, or hard to apply, showing that taking Scripture seriously is easier and more rewarding than many expect.

Amazon

Brave by Faith

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg draws on the life of Daniel to show how believers can live with God-sized confidence in a culture that is increasingly hostile to the Christian faith.

Amazon

Genesis (Reformed Expository Commentary, 2 Volumes)

Richard D. Phillips

A two-volume expository commentary on the foundational book of Scripture, written by a pastor for preachers, teachers, and readers who want to understand God, themselves, and the Christ-centered trajectory of history.

Amazon

Pure in Heart

J. Garrett Kell

Sharing from his own struggles, Garrett Kell shows that freedom from sexual sin comes not from willpower but from the power of Christ and the support of a local church. Written for both men and women.

Amazon

Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar

Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt

The standard first-year Hebrew grammar in colleges and seminaries, now in a substantially revised third edition. Its integrated approach has carried more than 80,000 students through the language since it first appeared in 2001.

Amazon

Believer’s Bible Commentary

William MacDonald, edited by Arthur L. Farstad

A one-volume commentary on the whole Bible that explains each book in plain language from a conservative standpoint while fairly presenting other views. This second edition has been fully updated.

Amazon

My Heart Cries Out

Paul David Tripp

A collection of Tripp’s personal meditations on God’s grace through the highs and lows of life, written in free verse. His celebrations, disappointments, confessions, and cries for help point readers to the Savior.

Amazon

Bible Doctrine

Wayne Grudem

The abridgement of Grudem’s Systematic Theology, written for readers who want the substance of it without the technical apparatus. This second edition works through the whole range of Christian doctrine at a level any interested Christian can follow.

Amazon

Gospel Deeps

Jared C. Wilson

Jared Wilson holds up the gospel like a diamond and examines it facet by facet, inviting readers to marvel at the excellencies of Jesus and the riches of what God has done in him.

Amazon

Consider the Lilies

Jonny Ardavanis

For Christians worn down by worry, this book lifts the reader’s gaze from the pressures of life to the unchanging character of God, showing that true peace comes from knowing who he is. With a foreword by Sinclair Ferguson.

Amazon

How Should We Then Live?

Francis A. Schaeffer

Francis Schaeffer’s classic analysis of the rise and decline of Western thought and culture, tracing the movements that shaped the modern world and the loss of a Christian worldview. Decades later, it remains remarkably relevant.

Amazon

CrossTalk

Michael R. Emlet

Drawing on years of teaching and counseling, Michael Emlet shows how to connect the Bible to the real struggles of your own life and the lives of family, friends, and neighbors. Readable and practical for lay people and ministers alike.

Amazon

Far as the Curse Is Found

Michael D. Williams

A retelling of the Bible’s story as the unfolding of God’s covenant from creation to new creation. An excellent introduction to biblical theology for pastors, students, and lay readers.

Amazon

Christian Beliefs

Wayne Grudem and Elliot Grudem

A short, readable distillation of Grudem’s Systematic Theology into twenty basic doctrines every Christian should understand. This revised edition is well suited to new believers, small groups, and anyone who wants a clear grasp of the essentials.

Amazon

Triumph of the Lamb

Dennis E. Johnson

A clear and trustworthy guide to the book of Revelation that explains how to interpret its imagery, what it meant to its first readers, and how it strengthens the church today. Johnson shows that its themes converge on Christ’s triumph.

Amazon

Journey to the Cross

Paul David Tripp

A forty-day Lenten devotional that invites readers to set aside the busyness of life and dwell on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ. Tripp’s prayer is that, as our mourning over sin increases, our joy in the Savior will deepen.

Amazon

Church History in Plain Language

Bruce Shelley

A highly readable one-volume history of the church that tells the story through its people, settings, and events, from the early centuries to the present day. The fifth edition carries the account into the twenty-first century and the growth of global Christianity.

Amazon

The Color of Compromise

Jemar Tisby

A history of the American church’s complicity in racism from the colonial era to the present, joined to a call for Christians to respond. A New York Times bestseller.

Amazon

Competent to Counsel

Jay E. Adams

The book that launched the biblical counseling movement, setting out the case for “nouthetic” counseling—the conviction that Scripture itself supplies what is needed to counsel well. Whether or not you land where Adams does, this is where the conversation began.

Amazon

Not Forsaken

Jennifer Michelle Greenberg

Jenn Greenberg was abused by her church-going father, yet she is still a Christian. She reflects on how the gospel helps survivors navigate guilt, forgiveness, love, and worth, and calls church leaders to protect the vulnerable.

Amazon

Evangelical Theology

Michael F. Bird

A systematic theology built around the conviction that the gospel is the fulcrum of Christian doctrine—rigorous enough for the classroom and readable enough to work through on your own. The second edition is revised and expanded throughout.

Amazon

Seeing with New Eyes

David Powlison

Essays by one of the most respected biblical counselors, written over nearly twenty years. Some read Scripture with a counselor’s eye while others recast common psychological problems in biblical terms, showing how God’s Word speaks into the struggles of real life.

Amazon

Four Portraits, One Jesus

Mark L. Strauss

A survey of the four Gospels and of the one they describe, attentive to the way each evangelist paints his own distinctive portrait of the same Jesus of Nazareth. Widely used as a textbook, and clear enough for anyone who wants a careful guide to the Gospels.

Amazon

The Big Wide Welcome Storybook

Trillia J. Newbell

A beautifully illustrated storybook for ages 3 to 6 that draws on James 2 to teach children that Jesus welcomes all kinds of people and that his church is called to do the same. Part of the popular Tales That Tell the Truth series.

Amazon

The Gospel According to Jesus

John MacArthur

MacArthur’s best-known book, and the one that set off the lordship salvation debate. He presses hard against “easy-believism,” arguing that saving faith is never merely a moment in the past but a life of obedience to Christ as Lord.

Amazon

Women of the Word

Jen Wilkin

A clear, practical plan for studying the Bible with both heart and mind, written to help women grow in their knowledge of Scripture and draw near to God. The second edition adds study questions to the original content.

Amazon

Grasping God’s Word

J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays

A hands-on introduction to reading and interpreting the Bible, built around a five-step “Interpretive Journey” and a guided tour through the Bible’s various genres. A classroom staple for years, and just as useful to a motivated reader at home.

Amazon

Reforming Journalism

Marvin Olasky

Longtime World editor Marvin Olasky lays out the principles of journalism done from a Christian perspective, covers the practical work of interviewing and writing, and closes with a history of journalism in America.

Amazon

Word versus Deed

Duane Litfin

A former college president argues that the church is called to a balanced ministry of proclaiming the gospel in words and displaying it in deeds, and shows how to keep the two in their proper relationship.

Amazon

The Great Dechurching

Jim Davis and Michael Graham, with Ryan P. Burge

Drawing on one of the largest studies of its kind, the authors examine who has left American churches, why they left, and what it might take to bring them back. A sobering but hopeful look at the largest religious shift in American history.

Amazon

Disciplines of a Godly Woman

Barbara Hughes

A classic on spiritual discipline for women, exploring fifteen vital disciplines through biblical teaching, stories, and reflection questions. A fitting companion to Disciplines of a Godly Man, also on this list.

Amazon

How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge

Clay Scroggins

Pastor Clay Scroggins argues that leadership does not depend on a title and shows how to exercise real influence when you answer to someone else. He draws on biblical principles to explain how to lead yourself well and serve those above you.

Amazon

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

A classic guide to reading each genre of the Bible well, understanding both what it meant to its first audience and what it means for us today. More than a million copies sold, now in an updated fourth edition.

Amazon

Darkest Night Brightest Day

Marty Machowski

A beautifully illustrated “upside-down” family devotional with fourteen Bible stories for the Easter season, seven moving through Passion Week to the cross and seven from the resurrection to Pentecost.

Amazon

New Morning Mercies

Paul David Tripp

A year of daily readings, each opening with a short gospel-centered thought followed by a longer meditation. It is less about behavior modification than about helping readers encounter the living God each morning.

Amazon

Jesus (Big Theology for Little Hearts)

Devon Provencher

A board book that introduces little ones to who Jesus is through short definitions and bright illustrations. Part of a series designed to give young children a cohesive framework for theology.

Amazon

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation

William W. Klein, Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

A thorough hermeneutics textbook that defines the discipline and then works patiently through the practical guidelines for interpreting Scripture well. The third edition has been revised throughout to keep pace with current scholarship.

Amazon

ESV Expository Commentary: Psalms–Song of Solomon (Volume 5)

Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, editors

A passage-by-passage commentary on Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, printing the full ESV text alongside theologically rich exposition and application. Written by experienced pastor-theologians with preachers and teachers in mind.

Amazon

The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

Richard D. Phillips, Philip G. Ryken, and Mark Dever

Three Reformed pastors examine the four marks of the church confessed in the Nicene Creed and what each means for Christians today. A short, warm reminder that to love Christ is to love his church.

Amazon

The Family Life of a Christian Leader

Ajith Fernando

Drawing on decades of ministry, Ajith Fernando helps Christian leaders balance the demands of ministry and family, pointing them first to their relationship with God and then to practical matters of marriage, children, and the home.

Amazon

Beyond the Shadowlands

Wayne Martindale

An examination of the powerful images of heaven and hell that run throughout C.S. Lewis’s fiction, written in a tone that is scholarly but accessible.

Amazon

Practical Theology for Women

Wendy Horger Alsup

An approachable introduction to the deep things of theology, written for women who have assumed doctrine is too intimidating or impractical for everyday life. Alsup shows how knowing God makes a difference day by day.

Amazon

An Introduction to the Old Testament

Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard

An evangelical introduction to the Old Testament that works book by book through authorship, historical background, literary features, and theological message. It engages critical scholarship charitably while reading each book in its canonical context.

Amazon

Reasonable Faith

William Lane Craig

A thorough positive case for Christianity that works through the existence of God, the problem of historical knowledge, and the resurrection of Jesus. Suitable as a textbook yet accessible to lay readers, now in an updated third edition.

Amazon

Josephus: The Complete Works

Flavius Josephus, translated by William Whiston

The collected writings of the first-century Jewish historian, including The Antiquities of the Jews and The Jewish War, in William Whiston’s classic translation. An invaluable window into the world in which Jesus and the apostles lived.

Amazon

Living God’s Word

J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays

A guided tour of Scripture as one great story, showing how the parts of the Bible fit together and how our own lives fit into what God has done and is doing. From the authors of Grasping God’s Word, which is also on this list.

Amazon

The MacArthur Bible Commentary

John MacArthur

A one-volume commentary on the entire Bible from one of America’s best-known expositors, offering verse-by-verse explanation with historical and theological background in a single manageable book.

Amazon

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible

Matthew Henry

Three hundred years on, Matthew Henry remains one of the most devotionally rich commentators the church has produced. This single volume condenses his classic work on the whole Bible into a form you will actually reach for.

Amazon

Finding God While Facing Death

Timothy A. Sisemore

A biblical look at death and what lies beyond it, written for those facing death themselves or grieving the coming or recent loss of a loved one. Sisemore shows how facing this last enemy puts life and faith in eternal perspective.

Amazon

Nelson’s Minister’s Manual

Thomas Nelson

A working resource for the pastor whose week is punctuated by things no one scheduled—with services, sermons, and Scripture selections for communion, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and graveside services. This is the KJV edition.

Amazon

The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

James Strong

The classic concordance in a large-print edition, indexing every word of the King James Version alongside the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries that made Strong’s a household name.

Amazon

God Cares for Me

Kristen Wetherell

A board book for ages 0 to 4 that introduces little ones to God’s creation and providence and his abundant care for all he has made, including his children. Part of the For the Bible Tells Me So series.

Amazon

The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

James Strong

The expanded edition of Strong’s, computer-generated for accuracy, with the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries augmented by definitions drawn from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. The fullest form of a tool most pastors already own in one version or another.

Amazon

Person of Interest

J. Warner Wallace

Cold-case detective J. Warner Wallace investigates Jesus the way he would a homicide with no body, working from the evidence of history alone without relying on the New Testament. Along the way he tells of his own journey from atheism to faith.

Amazon

The Problem of God

Mark Clark

A pastor who grew up in an atheist home responds to ten of the most common challenges to Christianity, from whether God exists at all to the church’s violent history and the trustworthiness of the Bible.

Amazon

Parenting

Paul David Tripp

Rather than a formula for raising good kids, Tripp offers fourteen gospel principles that reshape how parents think about their calling. This edition adds study questions for individuals or groups.

Amazon

Sanctification

John MacArthur

A short, pointed call for pastors and all Christians to remember that God’s great purpose for his people is their sanctification. Sinclair Ferguson describes it as a book you can read in an hour or two whose goal is the transformation of the rest of your life.

Amazon

Rembrandt Is in the Wind

Russ Ramsey

Ramsey looks at the lives of some of the world’s most celebrated artists and asks what their work reveals about beauty, brokenness, and the God who made them. A warm invitation to love art through the eyes of faith.

Amazon

Seasons of Sorrow

Tim Challies

My own book, written through the months after our son Nick died, tracing grief and fear alongside faith and hope. It combines personal narrative with theology for anyone who has loved and lost.

Amazon

ESV Expository Commentary: Matthew–Luke (Volume 8)

Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, editors

A passage-by-passage commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke, printing the full ESV text alongside clear, theologically sound exposition and pastoral application. A strong resource for preachers and teachers.

Amazon

The Pastor’s Book

R. Kent Hughes and Douglas Sean O’Donnell

A comprehensive reference guide to nearly every situation a pastor will face, from officiating weddings and funerals to leading worship and caring for the sick. Full of practical wisdom from seasoned pastors.

Amazon

The Story of Reality

Gregory Koukl

Koukl presents Christianity not as a private religious preference or a source of moral advice but as an account of the way the world actually is—a true story with a beginning, a conflict, a rescue, and an end.

Amazon Read my Review

Street Smarts

Gregory Koukl

A follow-up to Tactics that applies its question-based approach to the most common current challenges to Christian belief. Koukl provides model questions and sample dialogues for gracious, persuasive conversations.

Amazon

Strong’s Concise Concordance and Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible

James Strong and W. E. Vine

Two standard word-study tools bound into one manageable volume, supplying definitions, explanations, and concordance entries for readers who want to study the text closely without knowing Hebrew or Greek.

Amazon

A Survey of the New Testament

Robert H. Gundry

Gundry’s survey walks through the New Testament passage by passage, supplying the historical and cultural context without bogging down in technical introductions. It is built to accompany a close and complete reading of the text itself, and is now in its fifth edition.

Amazon

A Survey of the Old Testament

Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton

A comprehensive introduction to the background, purpose, message, structure, and major themes of the Old Testament. The fourth edition has been fully updated.

Amazon

In His Image

Jen Wilkin

A study of ten attributes of God (holiness, love, justice, goodness, mercy, grace, faithfulness, patience, truthfulness, and wisdom) and how Christians are called to reflect them. It reframes the question of God’s will around who we are to become.

Amazon

Everyday Gospel

Paul David Tripp

A year of daily devotions that follows a Bible-in-a-year reading plan, with each reading connecting the day’s passage to the whole of life. From the author of New Morning Mercies.

Amazon

Systematic Theology Workbook

Wayne Grudem, Brianna Smith, and Erik Thoennes

The companion workbook to the second edition of Grudem’s Systematic Theology, with review material and exercises for every chapter across the full range of Christian doctrine.

Amazon

Tactics

Gregory Koukl

A game plan for discussing your Christian convictions with confidence and grace, using well-placed questions to keep conversations on track. This expanded tenth-anniversary edition adds a new tactic and a chapter of shorter maneuvers.

Amazon

Things to Come

J. Dwight Pentecost

A comprehensive study of biblical prophecy that has long been a standard work of eschatology from a dispensational premillennial perspective.

Amazon

What It Means to Be Protestant

Gavin Ortlund

A defense of the Protestant tradition for evangelicals who are being drawn toward Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy by a desire for historical rootedness. Winner of Christianity Today’s 2024 Book of the Year award.

Amazon

Where to Find It in the Bible

Ken Anderson

An A-to-Z topical index to Scripture that makes it quick and easy to find what the Bible says about thousands of subjects. Handy for personal study, teaching, and sermon preparation.

Amazon

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek

A popular, accessible work of apologetics that walks through the classic arguments for God’s existence, the source of morality, and the reliability of the New Testament, arguing that Christianity is more reasonable than unbelief.

Amazon

General Market Books

The British Are Coming

Rick Atkinson

The first volume of Rick Atkinson’s Revolution Trilogy, covering the war from Lexington and Concord to Princeton. Vivid, deeply researched narrative history that won the George Washington Prize.

Amazon

Battle Cry of Freedom

James M. McPherson

The Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the Civil War era, still widely regarded as the finest one-volume account, weaving together the political, social, and military story from the Mexican War to Appomattox.

Amazon

This Vast Enterprise

Craig Fehrman

A fresh history of the Lewis and Clark expedition that corrects long-held myths and brings forgotten members of the journey back into the story. A New York Times bestseller.

Amazon

1491

Charles C. Mann

A fascinating blend of history, science, and archaeology showing that the Americas before Columbus were far more populous and sophisticated than many of us were taught.

Amazon

Band of Brothers

Stephen E. Ambrose

The classic account of Easy Company, 101st Airborne, ordinary citizen soldiers who fought from the beaches of Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. The basis for the acclaimed HBO series.

Amazon

Stalingrad

Antony Beevor

Antony Beevor’s gripping account of the five-month siege that became the psychological turning point of World War II and changed the face of modern warfare.

Amazon

The Forgotten 500

Gregory A. Freeman

The little-known story of the daring World War II rescue of more than 500 American airmen trapped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia, and the people who risked everything to bring them home.

Amazon

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

Walter Isaacson

A short, engaging look at the origins and meaning of the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, from America’s bestselling biographer.

Amazon

The Penguin History of the World

J. M. Roberts and Odd Arne Westad

The whole sweep of human history in one authoritative, highly readable volume, fully revised and updated in its sixth edition.

Amazon

Leonardo da Vinci

Walter Isaacson

Drawing on thousands of pages of Leonardo’s notebooks, Walter Isaacson brings to life the genius whose curiosity ranged across art, science, and engineering. A #1 New York Times bestseller.

Amazon

To Rescue the American Spirit

Bret Baier

An engaging portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, from his resilience through tragedy and heroism in war to his fights for reform as governor and president.

Amazon

Shoe Dog

Phil Knight

Nike founder Phil Knight tells the candid story of the company’s early days, from a fifty-dollar loan to one of the world’s most iconic brands. One of the best business memoirs of recent years.

Amazon

Killers of the Flower Moon

David Grann

The haunting true story of the murders of members of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma and the investigation that helped give birth to the FBI. A National Book Award finalist.

Amazon

The Lost City of the Monkey God

Douglas Preston

A true adventure deep in the Honduran rainforest, following the expedition that uncovered a lost civilization and the startling medical mystery that followed.

Amazon

World War II Map by Map

DK

A visual history of the Second World War told through detailed maps that show the scale and speed of the great campaigns and the battles that decided them.

Amazon

Great Maps

Jerry Brotton

A richly illustrated tour of 64 of the world’s great maps, from medieval world maps to Google Earth, with each one explored and explained.

Amazon

National Geographic Atlas of the World, 11th Edition

National Geographic

The flagship atlas from the world’s premier mapmaker, with more than 300 maps and graphics covering every country, state, ocean, and beyond, in a protective slipcase.

Amazon

National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks

Jon Waterman

A beautiful atlas of America’s national park system, combining authoritative park maps with photographs, graphics, and stories from coast to coast.

Amazon

50 States, 5,000 Ideas

National Geographic

A state-by-state guide to the best travel experiences in America and Canada, from national parks and battlefields to out-of-the-way museums. Ideal for planning family trips.

Amazon

Natural History

DK

A stunning visual encyclopedia of Earth’s wildlife and natural world, from rocks and minerals to plants, animals, and fungi, written by a worldwide team of experts.

Amazon

Oceanology

DK

A beautifully photographed exploration of the sea and its creatures, from microscopic plankton to great whales. A wonderful book for curious readers of every age.

Amazon

What It’s Like to Be a Bird

David Allen Sibley

Gorgeously illustrated answers to the questions we ask about the birds in our own backyards: how they fly, nest, eat, sing, and more. For birders and non-birders alike.

Amazon

The Sibley Guide to Trees

David Allen Sibley

The definitive field guide to the trees of North America, with maps, detailed illustrations, and information on more than 600 species.

Amazon

Inside of a Dog

Alexandra Horowitz

A delightful look at how dogs experience the world through what they see, smell, and know. Revised and updated with the latest research.

Amazon

The Psychology of Money

Morgan Housel

Short, wise lessons on how our behavior, more than our knowledge, shapes our relationship with money. One of the best-selling books on personal finance of recent years.

Amazon

The Art of Spending Money

Morgan Housel

Morgan Housel’s follow-up to The Psychology of Money, offering simple principles for spending wisely and finding contentment rather than chasing what impresses others.

Amazon

The Simple Path to Wealth

J. L. Collins

A clear, encouraging road map to getting out of debt, saving well, and investing simply for the long term. Revised and updated.

Amazon

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey

The enduring classic on personal and professional effectiveness, with over 40 million copies sold. This is the 30th anniversary edition.

Amazon

Slow Productivity

Cal Newport

Cal Newport argues for doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality as the path to meaningful accomplishment without burnout.

Amazon

Thinking in Bets

Annie Duke

A former poker champion teaches how to make better decisions when you don’t have all the facts by getting comfortable with uncertainty.

Amazon

Trillion Dollar Coach

Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle

Leadership lessons from Bill Campbell, the former football coach who quietly mentored leaders at Google, Apple, and Intuit, and who believed that great managers are first of all great coaches.

Amazon

The Goal

Eliyahu M. Goldratt

A fast-paced business novel that introduced the Theory of Constraints, showing how to find and fix the bottlenecks in any process. A perennial favorite, now in a 40th anniversary edition.

Amazon

Building a StoryBrand 2.0

Donald Miller

An updated edition of the popular framework for clarifying your message so that customers, donors, or congregants understand what you offer and why it matters.

Amazon

How to Know a Person

David Brooks

A warm and practical guide to the skill of truly seeing and understanding others, and being understood in turn, from the author of The Road to Character.

Amazon

Think Again

Adam Grant

An engaging case for the value of rethinking our assumptions, admitting what we don’t know, and staying open to changing our minds.

Amazon

Grit

Angela Duckworth

A psychologist shows that outstanding achievement comes less from talent than from a blend of passion and perseverance, and how that kind of grit can be grown.

Amazon

Joy of Cooking

Irma S. Rombauer, John Becker, and Megan Scott

The classic American kitchen companion, fully revised and updated for a new generation while keeping the warmth and reliability that have made it a staple for decades.

Amazon

Flour Water Salt Yeast

Ken Forkish

A beloved guide to artisan bread and pizza at home, with world-class recipes and baking schedules designed to fit a home baker’s day.

Amazon

Jacques Pépin Complete Techniques

Jacques Pépin

The 50th anniversary edition of the master chef’s landmark work, teaching the essential skills and methods of cooking through hundreds of step-by-step techniques.

Amazon

The King Arthur Baking Company Big Book of Bread

King Arthur Baking Company

More than 125 tested recipes for every kind of bread and every level of baker, from the trusted bakers at King Arthur. A #1 New York Times bestseller.

Amazon

Bibles

ESV Preaching Bible, Verse-by-Verse Edition

Goatskin, Black

A Bible tailored to the task of preaching, with each verse on its own line, bolded verse numbers, wide margins, and a smyth-sewn binding under a premium goatskin cover.

Amazon

NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition

Large Print, Hardcover, Red Letter, Comfort Print

The fully revised edition of Zondervan’s long-running study Bible, in full color and set in Comfort Print. This is the large-print hardcover, with study notes prepared under Kenneth Barker, Mark Strauss, Jeannine Brown, Craig Blomberg, and Michael Williams.

Amazon

NIV Artisan Collection Bible for Women

Cloth over Board, Pink Floral, Red Letter, Comfort Print

A journaling Bible built to be looked at as well as read, with a hand-painted floral cover, designed page edges hidden under the gilding, and space in the margins for notes and drawing.

Amazon

ESV Heirloom Bible, Veritas: Single Column Edition

Calfskin, Grenada

A premium single-column Bible printed and bound by Royal Jongbloed in the Netherlands, with European Bible paper, a sewn binding, art-gilt edges, multiple ribbons, line matching, and 9.25-point type.

Amazon

ESV Thinline Bible

TruTone, Stone, Branch Design, Red Letter

The popular ESV Thinline in a portable one-inch-thick edition with the words of Christ in red, a ribbon marker, gilded edges, and a smyth-sewn binding.

Amazon

NIV Baby Gift Bible, Blue

Leathersoft, Red Letter, Comfort Print

A keepsake Bible for a baby shower, birth, or baptism, with a presentation page and pages for recording family ancestry, favorite verses, and answers to prayer.

Amazon

ESV Holy Bible for Kids

TruTone, Berry, The True Vine Design, Ages 6–10

An affordable full ESV Bible made for children ages 6 to 10, with 24 pages of illustrated content depicting major scenes in the story of redemption, plus kid-friendly maps.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible

Buffalo Leather, Deep Brown

The award-winning ESV Study Bible in a premium buffalo-leather cover, with extensive study notes, full-color maps and illustrations, charts, timelines, and articles.

Amazon

ESV Premium Church Bible, Large Print

TruTone, Black, Red Letter

A durable, large-print edition designed for use in the pews and for personal reading, with a soft TruTone cover.

Amazon

The Greek New Testament, Reader’s Edition

Produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge; Hardcover

The Tyndale House Greek New Testament with a running list of glosses for every word that occurs fewer than 25 times, so readers with limited Greek can read smoothly without constantly reaching for a lexicon.

Amazon

NIV Baby Gift Bible, Pink

Leathersoft, Red Letter, Comfort Print

The pink edition of the same keepsake gift Bible, with a presentation page and pages for recording family ancestry, favorite verses, and answers to prayer.

Amazon

NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls, Gift Set

Leathersoft over Board, Teal, with Pencils and Stickers

Made for girls aged eight to twelve, with more than 600 verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art. The gift set adds coloring pencils and sticker sheets.

Amazon

NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Teen Girls

Hardcover

Hundreds of verses set in ready-to-color artwork, printed on thick white paper with extra-wide margins for a teen girl’s own illustrations or journaling.

Amazon

NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible

Hardcover

The original edition for any age, with hundreds of verses illustrated in detailed line art and wide margins left open for coloring, notes, and reflection.

Amazon

NIV Bible for Kids, Pink and Gold

Flexcover, Thinline Edition, Red Letter, Comfort Print

A thinline Bible sized and typeset for children to read on their own, in a colorful flexcover binding. A common choice for a birthday, baptism, or graduation gift.

Amazon

ESV Student Study Bible

TruTone, Navy/Slate, Timeless Design

Adapted from the ESV Study Bible for students who are serious about God’s Word, with 12,000 concise study notes, nearly 900 “Did You Know?” facts, and 120 character profiles.

Amazon

NIV Bible for Kids, Large Print

Leathersoft, Blue, Thinline Edition, Red Letter, Comfort Print

The large-print edition of the children’s thinline Bible, in a blue Leathersoft binding, with text sized for younger or newer readers.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible, Large Print

Hardcover

The full content of the award-winning ESV Study Bible in a more readable large-print type, with 20,000 study notes, 80,000 cross-references, and hundreds of charts, articles, and maps.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible, Personal Size

TruTone, Brown

All the features of the award-winning ESV Study Bible compressed into a smaller size that is easier to carry, including 20,000 study notes and 240 full-color maps and illustrations.

Amazon

NIV Bible for Kids, Gray

Leathersoft, Thinline Edition, Red Letter, Comfort Print

The same children’s thinline Bible in a gray Leathersoft binding — compact enough to carry to church and readable enough to use there.

Amazon

NIV Economy Bible

Paperback

The complete Bible in a plain paperback meant for outreach and bulk distribution, with a “Plan of Salvation” reading page. More than three million copies have gone out.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible

Bonded Leather, Black

The award-winning ESV Study Bible, created by 95 scholars and teachers, with extensive study notes, full-color maps and illustrations, charts, timelines, and articles. More than 2.5 million copies sold.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible, Large Print

TruTone, Forest/Tan, Trail Design

The full content of the award-winning ESV Study Bible in a more readable large-print type, with 20,000 study notes, 80,000 cross-references, and hundreds of charts, articles, and maps.

Amazon

ESV Everyday Gospel Bible

Hardcover

A Bible with 365 daily devotional reflections by Paul David Tripp that guide readers through Scripture in a year, connecting the gospel to all of life. The devotions also appear in Everyday Gospel, which is on this list.

Amazon

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible

TruTone, Paris Sky, Psalm 16:11 Design

A single-column Bible with two-inch ruled margins for notes, prayers, and reflections, printed on high-quality Bible paper.

Amazon

NIV Journal the Word Bible

Double-Column, Cloth over Board, Teal, Red Letter, Comfort Print

A double-column journaling Bible with durable paper and lightly ruled lines in extra-wide margins, built for daily reading, sermon notes, and long-term annotation.

Amazon

ESV The Biggest Story Bible for Kids

Hardcover, Ages 6–12

A full ESV Bible for children ages 6 to 12, edited by Kevin DeYoung and illustrated by Don Clark. Each book opens with a colorful introduction, and 104 key stories are highlighted with sections that help kids learn, reflect, and apply.

Amazon

ESV Value Compact Bible

TruTone, Black

An affordable, conveniently sized edition of the full ESV Bible with a quality TruTone cover, made to be carried anywhere.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible, Personal Size

TruTone, Forest/Tan, Trail Design

All the features of the award-winning ESV Study Bible in a smaller size that is easier to carry, including 20,000 study notes, 240 full-color maps and illustrations, and more than 50 articles.

Amazon

NIV Journal the Word Bible for Women

Cloth over Board, Navy, Red Letter, Comfort Print

The women’s edition of the journaling Bible, adding more than 500 reflections and questions in the margins alongside room to write.

Amazon

ESV Greek-English New Testament

Cloth over Board

The Nestle-Aland 28th edition Greek text on one page with the corresponding ESV text on the facing page. An essential tool for students, pastors, and scholars who work with the Greek New Testament.

Amazon

NIV Holy Bible, Student Edition

Paperback

An inexpensive complete Bible in paperback, designed for churches and ministries handing out Scripture to students in quantity.

Amazon

ESV Women’s Study Bible

Cloth over Board, Dark Teal

A study Bible for women who are serious about God’s Word, drawing on the ESV Study Bible and the ESV Women’s Devotional Bible, with over 350 sidebars connecting Scripture to life.

Amazon

NIV Thinline Bible, Premier Collection

Premium Goatskin Leather, Brown, Black Letter, Art Gilded Edges, Comfort Print

The top of Zondervan’s range: a thinline Bible bound in premium goatskin, edge-lined, with art-gilded edges and three wide double-sided ribbons. A Bible meant to last decades.

Amazon

NIV Ultimate Bible for Girls, Faithgirlz Edition

Hardcover

A feature-filled Bible for girls aged eight to twelve from the Faithgirlz line, with quizzes, questions, and study helps written to draw a tween into Scripture.

Amazon

The Jesus Bible, Thumb Indexed

Leathersoft over Board, Pink, Comfort Print

The Passion movement’s Bible, which reads all sixty-six books as one story about Jesus, with hundreds of articles tracing references to him across Scripture. This edition adds thumb tabs.

Amazon

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Artist Series

Hardcover, Ruth Chou Simons, Be Transformed

A single-column journaling Bible with wide lined margins for notes, prayers, and reflections, featuring a cover designed by artist Ruth Chou Simons.

Amazon

ESV Study Bible

Hardcover

One of the most complete study Bibles available, with some 20,000 study notes, 80,000 cross-references, over 200 charts, more than 50 articles, and 240 full-color maps and illustrations. A past winner of the ECPA Book of the Year.

Amazon

The Jesus Bible

Leathersoft over Board, Pink, Comfort Print

The same edition without thumb tabs — sixty-six books, one story, all about one name, with introductions and articles pointing to Christ throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Amazon

ESV Journaling Study Bible

TruTone, Brown/Chestnut, Timeless Design

A study Bible with extra-large two-inch margins for writing, featuring over 12,000 study notes adapted from the ESV Study Bible along with character profiles, articles, and maps.

Amazon

ESV Men’s Study Bible

Hardcover

A study Bible for men in every season of life, combining robust study notes with devotionals and articles from more than 100 scholars and pastors including Alistair Begg, Ray Ortlund, and R. Kent Hughes.

Amazon

ESV Women’s Study Bible

TruTone, Pink, Floral Bloom Design

A study Bible for women who are serious about God’s Word, drawing on the ESV Study Bible and the ESV Women’s Devotional Bible, with over 350 sidebars connecting Scripture to life and character sketches of key figures.

Amazon

Commentaries

Note: These deals are for print editions. For more commentary deals, including Kindle editions, visit the Commentaries on Sale page.

James (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Mariam J. Kovalishyn

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Matthew (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Grant R. Osborne

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Mark L. Strauss

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Luke (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

David E. Garland

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Acts (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Eckhard J. Schnabel

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

1 Corinthians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Paul D. Gardner

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Ephesians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Clinton E. Arnold

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Colossians and Philemon (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

David W. Pao

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Hebrews (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Douglas J. Moo

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

1, 2, and 3 John (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Karen H. Jobes

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Revelation (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Buist M. Fanning

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary works through the Greek text passage by passage, tracing each section’s structure and main idea before turning to theology and application.

Amazon

Leviticus (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Jay Sklar

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament uses discourse analysis of the Hebrew text to trace the flow of each book and draw out its theology.

Amazon

Proverbs (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary)

Christopher B. Ansberry

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament uses discourse analysis of the Hebrew text to trace the flow of each book and draw out its theology.

Amazon

Romans (2nd Edition) (Baker Exegetical Commentary)

Thomas R. Schreiner

The Baker Exegetical Commentary pairs careful work in the Greek text with readable exposition and is among the most respected evangelical series.

Amazon

1 Corinthians (2nd Edition) (Baker Exegetical Commentary)

David E. Garland

The Baker Exegetical Commentary pairs careful work in the Greek text with readable exposition and is among the most respected evangelical series.

Amazon

Genesis–Numbers (Volume 1) (ESV Expository Commentary)

Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, editors

The ESV Expository Commentary prints the full ESV text alongside passage-by-passage exposition written by pastor-theologians for preachers and teachers.

Amazon

Luke (Christian Standard Commentary)

Gregory R. Lanier

The Christian Standard Commentary is a newer evangelical series from B&H that brings together exegesis, theology, and application.

Amazon

Exodus (Word Biblical Commentary)

John I. Durham

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Job 38–42 (Word Biblical Commentary)

David J. A. Clines

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Psalms 1–50 (2nd Edition) (Word Biblical Commentary)

Peter C. Craigie and Marvin E. Tate

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Mark 1–8:26 (Word Biblical Commentary)

Robert A. Guelich

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Acts 1–9:42 (Word Biblical Commentary)

Steve Walton

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Romans 9–16 (Word Biblical Commentary)

James D. G. Dunn

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Galatians (Word Biblical Commentary)

Richard N. Longenecker

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Ephesians (Word Biblical Commentary)

Andrew T. Lincoln

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Colossians (2nd Edition) (Word Biblical Commentary)

Clinton E. Arnold

The Word Biblical Commentary is a technical series that engages closely with the Hebrew and Greek text and with the scholarly literature.

Amazon

Joshua (Tyndale Commentaries)

Richard S. Hess

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

Job (Tyndale Commentaries)

Francis I. Andersen

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

Proverbs (Tyndale Commentaries)

Lindsay Wilson

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

Isaiah (Tyndale Commentaries)

Paul D. Wegner

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

Mark (Tyndale Commentaries)

Eckhard J. Schnabel

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

The Letters of John (Tyndale Commentaries)

Colin G. Kruse

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

James (Tyndale Commentaries)

Douglas J. Moo

The Tyndale Commentaries are compact, affordable, and reliable, and have long been a favorite of pastors and serious lay readers.

Amazon

Exodus (NIV Application Commentary)

Peter Enns

The NIV Application Commentary moves from the original meaning of each passage to its significance today, which makes it especially helpful for preaching and teaching.

Amazon

Psalms, Volume 1 (NIV Application Commentary)

Gerald H. Wilson

The NIV Application Commentary moves from the original meaning of each passage to its significance today, which makes it especially helpful for preaching and teaching.

Amazon

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIV Application Commentary)

Iain Provan

The NIV Application Commentary moves from the original meaning of each passage to its significance today, which makes it especially helpful for preaching and teaching.

Amazon

Mark (NIV Application Commentary)

David E. Garland

The NIV Application Commentary moves from the original meaning of each passage to its significance today, which makes it especially helpful for preaching and teaching.

Amazon

Hebrews (NIV Application Commentary)

George H. Guthrie

The NIV Application Commentary moves from the original meaning of each passage to its significance today, which makes it especially helpful for preaching and teaching.

Amazon

Revelation (NIV Application Commentary)

Craig S. Keener

The NIV Application Commentary moves from the original meaning of each passage to its significance today, which makes it especially helpful for preaching and teaching.

Amazon

Board Games

Sequence

Family strategy · 2–12 players

Play a card, place a chip on the matching space, and try to make five in a row before the other team does. Easy enough for children and still a real contest for adults.

Amazon

Sequence in a Tin

Family strategy · 2–12 players

The same five-in-a-row classic packed in a sturdy tin that holds the board, cards, and chips. A good pick for travel or a cottage shelf.

Amazon

Carcassonne Big Box (2025 Edition)

Tile-laying strategy · Base game + 11 expansions

The award-winning tile-laying game plus eleven expansions in one box. Build a medieval landscape of cities, roads, and fields, and place your meeples to claim them.

Amazon

7 Wonders (New Edition)

Strategy · 3–7 players · Ages 10+

Lead an ancient city through three ages, drafting cards to gather resources, advance science, build up your army, and complete your wonder. Plays in about 30 minutes, even with a full table.

Amazon

Azul Kids

Kids · 2–4 players · Ages 5+

A young children’s version of the beloved tile game. Players collect colorful pieces from a shared supply to complete their own mosaic, learning pattern recognition and planning along the way.

Amazon

Clue (Reimagined)

Family mystery · 2–6 players · Ages 8+

The classic whodunit with refreshed characters, a new mansion, and metal weapon tokens. Gather clues and be the first to work out who, where, and with what.

Amazon

Throw Throw Burrito Extreme

Party · 2–6 players · Ages 7+

A card game that breaks into a dodgeball match, played with two inflatable three-foot burritos. Best played outdoors or in the basement, and guaranteed to get the kids laughing.

Amazon

Match Madness

Family speed puzzle · Ages 7+

Everyone races to arrange five patterned blocks to match the card in the middle. Fast, frantic, and fair across ages, with five levels of difficulty.

Amazon

Castle Panic (2nd Edition)

Co-op · 1–6 players

Work together to defend the castle as monsters close in from every side. A gentle introduction to cooperative games that also includes solo and competitive modes.

Amazon

Ra

Strategy · 2–5 players · Ages 12+

Reiner Knizia’s classic auction game set in ancient Egypt. Bid with your sun tiles to collect monuments, pharaohs, and the gifts of the Nile across three epochs.

Amazon

Scout

Card game · 2–5 players · Ages 9+

A small-box card game in which you can’t rearrange your hand, only add to it. Clever, quick, and very portable, with rounds that take about 20 minutes.

Amazon

Bomb Busters

Co-op deduction · 2–5 players

The team must cut the right wires to defuse a bomb without seeing each other’s tiles. Sixty-six missions grow steadily harder, and each one adds a new twist.

Amazon

Ticket to Ride: Rails & Sails

Strategy · Trains and ships

Ticket to Ride with both trains and ships, played on a double-sided board with a world map and the Great Lakes. A meatier version of the family favorite.

Amazon

Catan: On the Road

Card game · About 15 minutes

Catan’s building and trading in a compact card game with no board. A full game takes about 15 minutes, which makes it ideal for travel.

Amazon

Hive Pocket

Two-player strategy

A chess-like game of insect tiles that needs no board. You win by surrounding your opponent’s queen bee. This travel edition includes the Mosquito and Ladybug expansions.

Amazon

Love Letter (2025 Edition)

Card game · 2–6 players · Ages 10+

A quick game of deduction and risk played with just 21 cards. Each player tries to get their letter to the princess. Rounds take only minutes.

Amazon

SET (Travel Case)

Family · Any number of players · Ages 6+

The award-winning visual puzzle game in a zippered travel case. Race to spot sets of three cards that are all the same or all different in each feature.

Amazon

Dice Words

Word game · 20–60 minutes

Roll seven letter dice and race a two-minute timer to spell your best word, with bonus multipliers for using the round’s target letters. Includes rules that let younger players compete with adults.

Amazon

Bibleopoly

Christian family · 2–6 players · Ages 8+

A cooperative take on the classic property game. Instead of buying properties, players travel through Bible cities, give offerings, and work together to build a church.

Amazon

Guess Who? Bluey Edition

Kids · 2 players · Ages 6+

Classic Guess Who? featuring Bluey’s family and friends on one side of the sheets and her favorite objects on the other. Simple yes-or-no deduction for young players.

Amazon

Sushi Go: Spin Some for Dim Sum

Family card drafting · 12 rounds

From the makers of Sushi Go, a card-drafting game played around a spinning table of steamer baskets. Collect sets of dim sum to score the most points over 12 rounds.

Amazon

Spot It! Classic (Pocket)

Family matching · Five games in one

Any two cards share exactly one symbol, and the first to spot it wins. This pocket-sized edition includes five mini-games.

Amazon

Okay, Genius…

Party · 3+ players · Ages 14+

One player answers an absurd question, and everyone else tries to guess the answer. A great conversation-starter for teens and adults.

Amazon

Sorry! Giant Edition

Kids · Indoors or outdoors

The classic Sorry! with life-size pawns and a 64-inch vinyl game board that works indoors or out. Ideal for a birthday party or a backyard afternoon.

Amazon

Looking for more? See more board game deals at Amazon.

Today and tomorrow are Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. I’ve got a list of deals that may be of interest to you on my Prime Days Deals for Christians page. You probably won’t be surprised to know that my main focus is books and Bibles in both print and Kindle editions.

We obey God’s Law, not to be loved but because we are loved in Christ.

—Jerry Bridges

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I haven’t listened to much of Ed Sheeran’s music. In fact, I’ve listened to it just enough to determine that it’s really not my thing. This means that what I am writing today doesn’t come from a Sheeran fan or a Sheeran hater, but from someone who knows him only by reputation—a reputation that, until recently, was as a pretty good guy.

But Ed now finds himself in a heap of trouble. It began in early September when Macklemore, opening for Sheeran, turned his act into a rally by chanting “Free Palestine,” showing video footage of Gaza, and performing a protest song. Responding to pressure from venue owners, the tour promoter removed Macklemore from further concerts, insisting that those venues would otherwise cancel future events. Sheeran attempted to remain neutral and to press on with his shows, but soon other opening acts and even Sheeran’s supporting musicians withdrew. When he took to the stage in Philadelphia a short time later, he began alone before introducing a pickup group he had thrown together. Who could have imagined that someone that popular could have been left that isolated?

Sheeran soon apologized for his mistakes and said that he never wanted to be an activist musician. Yet immediately he also said that while the events of October 7 were “horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain,” what has happened in Gaza since then is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.” Meanwhile, what goes on in the West Bank is “systemic injustice” that “cannot be overlooked.”

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Sheeran’s shift from neutrality to attempting to mollify both sides did little to rescue him from the mob. To understand why, I have been helped by Carl Trueman.

Carl Trueman has often observed that in a world as heavily influenced by Karl Marx as this one, everything is political. Here’s his explanation: “Marx reduces all human relations to political relations. Every human relationship feeds, supports, justifies a political status quo, and therefore all human relationships are politicized. That’s the world in which we now live, where the idea of [non-political] mediating institutions has vanished.” In this way there are no institutions that stand outside politics, and that’s true of even mundane organizations, events, and activities. To borrow his examples: the Boy Scouts if they refuse to condone transgenderism, cake baking if the baker refuses to bake for a gay wedding, and, of course, concerts if the musician fails to take the stand society demands of them.

After Macklemore was removed from the tour, Sheeran responded with an attempt to play by the rules of the old world, insisting that the people who attend his concerts do not want them to be a political forum, and expressing his sadness for the suffering happening on both sides of the conflict. In other words, he held that his concerts are not political events and that he should not need to take a public stand on a complex geopolitical situation. “I am not complicit,” he insisted. “I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care.” His reasoning might have been satisfactory 20 or 30 years ago, but in this case it merely added fuel to the fire.

It didn’t work and, indeed, it couldn’t work because what Sheeran failed to understand is that if everything is political, that includes concerts. He is not allowed to opt out when others demand he opt in. Instead, he quickly found himself problematized and stigmatized. All those years of pleasing the crowd were tossed aside and judged inconsequential when compared to the magnitude of his transgression.

A politicized world, it’s important to know, is neatly divided into the two classes of oppressors and oppressed who are constantly at odds with one another. Hence, we have straight vs. gay, rich vs. poor, white vs. black, Christian vs. Muslim, Israel vs. Palestine, and so on. All of those who are oppressed are meant to stand together in solidarity, which is why we see transgender people aligning themselves with people who would almost certainly despise them. It’s why we see progressives expressing disgust at Christian convictions (oppressors!) while overlooking Muslim ones (oppressed!) that may be far more offensive to progressive ideals. The oppressor/oppressed binary is everything.

Ed Sheeran has power by virtue of his fame and it has now been made clear to him that he must use it to express solidarity with the oppressed. He may insist that he wishes to remain neutral, but neutrality is complicity with the status quo. To remain quiet or to not take a side is still to take a side—in this case, the side of Israel. As Trueman says, “We live in Marx’s world—a world where the cultural imagination is gripped by the idea that everything is political. Silence in today’s climate on any issue by anybody in any institution is unacceptable, for to take no political stand on anything in our world is in fact to take a political stand—a stand for the status quo.”

Sheeran’s neutrality is treated as alignment with Israel. Though he has since backtracked to some degree, he is likely to find that Marxist ideology offers no clear equivalent to the Christian understandings of forgiveness and reconciliation. According to the standard playbook, he should now agree to set aside his privilege and learn from those who, by their experience of being oppressed, can educate him. Sure enough, he said, “I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning because I do not know enough.” But no amount of kowtowing will return him to the good graces of the crowds. This is not to say that his career is over, but just that this conflict will be with him for the foreseeable future. Marxism offers no absolution.

Sheeran was naive to think that in today’s world he could simply have a concert. He may have gotten away with that mistake for years, but he has now learned the painful lesson that everything is political. Even a concert is a test in which you can be expected to prove or disprove your loyalty to a cause. And once it has become a test, it’s unlikely to ever be allowed to return to something as enjoyable and apolitical as a concert. Sheeran may want to be a mere musician, but he’s learned that this world demands that he—and all of us—become activists. As Trueman says, it’s Marx’s world for now.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Ignorance of the Scriptures is the root of all error.

—J.C. Ryle

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In my weekly Works & Wonders column, I combine a brief devotional with other interesting and uplifting bits and pieces I gleaned throughout the week. I hope you enjoy this week’s collection! It includes:

1. Ask and Expect (a Brief Devotional)
2. Astronomy Photographer of the Year
3. The Risen Conqueror
4. Chasing Totality
5. Inside a Gilded Age Mansion
6. WindowSwap

1.

Ask and Expect

Though wisdom is an attribute of God, it is an attribute that is communicable—one that may be ours as well. But it may be ours only if we receive it from God’s hand and on God’s terms. It certainly cannot be conjured up from within and cannot be earned or deserved. It can only be called down from above, gracefully distributed by God himself. Wisdom comes to those who are humble and teachable, not to those who are proud and self-assured. Wisdom flows to those who know themselves to be “little” before God, those who have greater confidence in God’s thoughts than in their own, who are willing and eager to think in divinely paradoxical ways rather than merely human ways. God makes wisdom available to those who long for it and who request it as a gift from his hand. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). So ask in faith and expect to receive it.

2.

Astronomy Photographer of the Year

The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is said to be the largest and most prestigious of its kind, and it just unveiled its top photos of the year. As you’d expect, they are nothing short of spectacular.

3.

The Risen Conqueror

I enjoyed listening to The Risen Conqueror, a new song from Joyful Noise. You’ll recognize the melody, I’m sure, but not the lyrics. Yet in a sense you actually will recognize the lyrics, since they simply tell poetically of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I lift my eyes to see the risen Conqueror,
declared in power to be the Son of God,
who bore the curse of Adam’s disobedience,
who brings unnumbered blessings by his blood.
The angels sing in joyful adoration,
for death is swallowed up in victory,
and countless souls, long held in death’s dominion,
walk with their Saviour on the way of life set free.

4.

Chasing Totality

Angel Fux dreamed of capturing a very special photograph of a total solar eclipse. She spent a couple of years preparing, then went deep into the Spanish mountains to get it. As I’m sure you’ll agree, the results are pretty special—the photograph of a lifetime. You can read an article at PetaPixel and/or watch a brief video.

5.

Inside a Gilded Age Mansion

One thing I always find fascinating is what wealthy people do when they’ve run out of normal things to spend their money on. Today it’s the mega-yacht, but during the Gilded Age, it was often a grand summer home. In the case of Edward and Herminie Berwind, the summer home was a 60,000 square-foot mansion they intended to use for just a few weeks per year. Architectural Digest offers a tour, Inside a Gilded Age Mansion, and focuses on the design tricks that cleverly hid the servants.

6.

WindowSwap

WindowSwap is a neat and compelling little app/site. What is it, you ask? It’s simply the view out someone else’s window. You are given the view out another person’s window from somewhere in the world, and if you mash the button at the bottom of the screen, you get another, and another after that. It’s quite fascinating, and kind of fun to guess what country you’re seeing before you look at the key.

Welcome to Weekend A La Carte. I’ve got a whole collection of interesting content for you today, so I expect you’ll find something here you enjoy. Scroll down to find reader recommendations for things they are reading, watching, listening to, and otherwise enjoying.

Recommended Reading

An interesting article in The Atlantic describes the decline of the dinner party, which appears to be a casualty of modern times.

Then something changed. Americans stopped throwing parties. Even more fundamental, they stopped visiting one another. From 1975 to 1998, the share of Americans who gave or attended a monthly dinner party declined by half. The share of Americans saying they never entertained people at home tripled. Although cultural critics often bemoan the decline of organized religion, the dip in church attendance was downright modest compared with the collapse in hosting, according to data gathered by the DDB Needham Life Style Surveys.

What I find especially interesting is the four possible explanations the author lays out. Personally, I would lean toward the first two explanations, and perhaps especially parents working so hard on managing their kids that they don’t have time for novelties like dinner parties. Here’s a thought-provoking line: “Americans used to have many kids whom they cared for sparsely; now they have fewer children to whom they devote every minute of their life.”

Read: Why Americans Stopped Throwing Dinner Parties.

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Here’s a sensible article that makes the case against another phenomenon that has come with the modern world: video preaching and preachers.

As researchers point out, each year megachurches take up a larger and larger slice of the pie of American Christianity. Big churches are getting bigger, while small churches are getting smaller. As this trend continues, it means that an increasing proportion of American Christians are likely receiving the teaching of God’s word via a video, as many megachurches rely on the multi-site streaming model. At most campuses of such churches the band is live, and there is likely even a local “campus pastor”—though he might rarely preach—but the teaching of God’s word, for many congregants in these churches, is done mostly via a screen.

I believe this is a tragedy. It is a tragedy because it is not what God intends. And while video preaching is often done out of good motives, I want to argue it is ultimately a short-sighted strategy that in the long term will prove an ineffective way to see the church grow to maturity (Eph 4:13). God desires his people to receive the preaching of his word, not via screens, but through embodied, face-to-face messengers of the gospel, for that is the way he himself designed the gospel to go forth.

I can think of quite a few potential drawbacks and inconsistencies when it comes to video preachers, so I hope people will consider this article and others like it.

Read: The Case Against Video Preaching.

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We keep reading about the rise of data centers and the popular backlash against them. A photo essay from the Washington Post shows the massive scale of some of these data centers, which may help explain why so many people are leery of them.

Read: See How Data Centers Are Changing the American Landscape.

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Do you remember the Botkin sisters, Anna and Elizabeth? They were part of a short-lived and bizarre movement which taught that girls were essentially supposed to remain under their father’s authority and function as his helpers until such time as they got married. You might remember the documentary Return of the Daughters.

Anyway, I was interested and thankful to see that they just posted a long apology for their previous work, and especially their book So Much More. They haven’t deconstructed their faith or left Christianity, but have just come to regret their influence. It’s a long read, but a worthwhile one.

Twenty years ago, we published a book called So Much More: The Remarkable Influence of Visionary Daughters on the Kingdom of God. Whether by some impressive ad campaign, or just by the cresting wave of interest in the topic at that time, this 352-page hardback by two unknown teenagers with no theological training or life experience became the manifesto of the burgeoning “Stay at Home Daughter” movement. And it shaped a lot of lives. You may never have heard of it, but it carried a disproportionate amount of weight, and directed major life decisions for thousands of young women. And it’s still doing so.

And though some say So Much More was helpful to them, there are many, many others who have been harmed by how its teaching shaped their decisions or options regarding family, education, work, ministry, spiritual growth, where to live, and how to spend their single years. And to be perfectly honest, that also would include ourselves – the authors.

Read: The Problems With So Much More: A Critique and Apology, by the Authors.

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Clayton Wood’s daughter is at the age where she needs to think about college, and it turns out that colleges are already thinking about her. Yet her father did some research and explains in this article why he wouldn’t be eager for her to attend most of the nation’s most prestigious schools.

She is already dual enrolled in the honors program at my own alma mater, and she is making As in college classes before many of her classmates have finished their junior year of high school. She did better on the ACT than I did. She is a gifted writer, an accomplished student and the kind of thoughtful young woman who will make almost any campus better by being there.

She is not my only reason for thinking hard about this. My son Wyatt starts college courses this fall at fifteen. I have five children, and every one of them is going to face some version of this same question in the next several years. I am not writing this essay for one child. I am writing it because I want all five of them to have a real opportunity to flourish, not merely to gain admission.

She has options.

I am happy for her. I am proud of her.

But as her father, I am also watching her approach a strange new world.

Read: If My Kids Get Into America’s Most Prestigious Colleges, I Hope They Do Not Go.

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The Article that Failed My AI Test

I had another article here, but it failed my AI-detection test. I was disappointed, as I thought it made some good and helpful points. This is happening frequently these days. Here’s my current process:

• While I prepare these posts without AI, I do use Claude to do a final check for typos and to verify that all the links are valid. At the same time, I have it do a check on each article to see if it appears to be written by AI.
• If an article is flagged as AI, as this one was, I pass a substantial excerpt through both Pangram and GPTZero. In this case, they also flagged it as written substantially or entirely by AI.
• When all three agree that an article is written by AI, I remove the article from A La Carte. If I see further evidence of AI use, I unsubscribe from that person’s site or newsletter.
• Yes, it’s somewhat ironic that I use AI to detect AI, but for the time being, that’s the best method I know.

Top Links This Week

Here are the articles readers clicked on the most this week:

1. Why Christians Should Delete Social Media
2. Steve Lawson’s Latest Book Is Too Soon
3. Will We Remember and Recognize One Another in Heaven?
4. The IVF Industry Doesn’t Want You to Ask Questions
5. Why Does Life Seem to Move Faster as We Get Older?

Compassion means entering the suffering of another in order to lead the way out.

—Rosaria Butterfield

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This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Zondervan Reflective.

The Christian faith makes sense—of the world around us and the ache we feel inside. If you’ve ever longed for something you can’t quite name, this is your chance to explore it: Why is there something and not nothing? What’s the point of life if it all happened by accident? And if Jesus rose from the dead, would that really be good news?

Why Christianity Makes Sense tackles those questions head-on, showing how the Christian faith is not only the best explanation for the world—but the happiest news we could receive.

Following in the tradition of C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, award-winning author Gavin Ortlund presents the gospel to a new generation, unpacking questions like:

• Will having faith make you happier?
• If God is real, why isn’t he more obvious?
• What are the strongest arguments for the truth of Christianity?

For anyone searching for meaning, this book offers a fresh sense of wonder at the gospel of Jesus.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Why Christianity Makes Sense by completing the form below! Five copies are available to win. Must enter by 10/16/26 at 11:59 PM (ET). Void where prohibited. Open to US residents 18 and older only. No purchase necessary.

Enter Here!

One thing we take seriously at Grace Fellowship Church is liturgy. Liturgy refers simply to the structure or order of a worship service. In a Reformed Baptist church like ours, a liturgy will typically begin with something like a call to worship and end with a benediction. Between those bookends you’ll ordinarily find singing, prayers, confessions of sin, assurances of pardon, Scripture readings and, of course, a sermon. There can also be occasional or semi-regular elements such as baptisms, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, or reciting a creed or confession.

Each week, one of our elders builds a liturgy that is structured around a particular theme.¹ That theme is often, though not always, related to the sermon. The songs, prayers, confessions, and other elements are then brought into harmony with it. Though we sometimes use elements drawn from traditional liturgies, we more often create them ourselves.

We would like to make our liturgies available to you in two forms: complete services and collections of each of the elements. We do this so you can use or adapt them for your own purposes. To clarify: This article is your permission to take them and either use them verbatim or modified. You do not need further permission and do not need to provide attribution.

At this point, I have added about a year’s worth of liturgies to the collection. I will be adding a new one most weeks and will also be adding more from the archives. I hope you enjoy them and I hope you find them useful!

Visit the Liturgies page.

1. At this point, that is almost always our Senior Pastor, Paul Martin. ↩︎

May the Lord be with you and bless you today, my friends. I’ve already put together a good part of tomorrow’s Weekend A La Carte and Sunday’s Works & Wonders. I’m enthusiastic about them both, so try to drop by this weekend to give them a look!

The Funnies

My friend Chris Martin maintains a Substack called The Funnies, and every Saturday he shares a few fun and silly things he found on the internet—something I see as a modern equivalent of the comics pages that used to be in every newspaper. I asked him to share a couple with you.

The thirst of your soul will never be slaked by the fountains of sin.

—De Witt Talmage

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At the end of the month I like to update a couple of the pages on this site, so I did that yesterday. The Best Commentaries page has been updated with commentaries for several books of the Bible, while the Book Recommendations page has some new titles added as well. I hope you find both resources helpful.

A loyal few is better than a fickle multitude.

—Shai Linne

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September is fading into October, but before the month becomes a distant memory, I’d like to tell you about some of the new books that it brought our way. Here is a selection of new and notable titles that I hope will be of interest to you. In each case, I’ve included the publisher’s description. Scroll down to get a preview of October’s releases.

Shepherding Time: A Pastor’s Guide to Time Management by Rush Witt & Joe Keller. “Time is a precious and finite commodity. Are you stewarding it well? As a pastor, your work moves fluidly between study and solitude, counseling and crisis care, administration and leadership, plus a series of daily interruptions, not to mention your family and home life. How do you manage time effectively in a role without predictable hours, where you encounter the needs of others at every turn? With biblical principles and pastoral care, Shepherding Time enables pastors to serve their congregations faithfully while maintaining their own spiritual health. It equips pastors to use time with intentionality and humility, so they can serve their people well without losing themselves, their families, or their first love for Christ. Offering a pastoral, practical, and deeply theological vision, the book reframes time as a matter of worship, discipleship, and gospel freedom while addressing common struggles such as time guilt, distractions, and overwhelming expectations. Through biblical insight and actionable guidance, it provides practical tools to help pastors plan their ideal week and steward their time with greater faithfulness and clarity.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

The Sing! Hymnal, Lyrics & Liturgies by Keith & Kristyn Getty. “Blending music and poetry, hymns beautifully bring Christian theology to life. With each verse, rich lyrics echo the timeless truths of Scripture and proclaim the unchanging message of salvation. Christians have sung hymns in worship for centuries, and now, award-winning hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty have curated a collection of classic and contemporary hymns in a volume that focuses on the elegance and enduring truth of their lyrics. Without musical notation, The Sing! Hymnal, Lyrics & Liturgies helps readers focus on the beauty of the lyrics, making it ideal for congregational worship, daily devotions, meditation, and memorization. This hymnal will serve as a cherished resource for those seeking to integrate the rich heritage of Christian hymnody into their spiritual life.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Young Womanhood: Finding Joy and Purpose in the Body God Gave You by Amy DiMarcangelo. “Your body is not a problem to fix. It is a good gift from God. Being a teenage girl is hard, and having a body comes with all kinds of challenges. But God created the female body good, and in Christ he is redeeming you as a whole person. This means his Word has much to say about beauty, physical suffering, food, rest, sex, shame, and more. Grounded in the hope of the gospel, Amy DiMarcangelo shows how young women can find greater joy and purpose in their bodies—and a deeper desire to worship the God who made them, body and soul, for his glory.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

We Will Be Changed: 9 Inner Glories the Spirit Is Cultivating in You by Alistair Begg. “You want to be more like Jesus, but sometimes it feels that you’re not growing much. Despite your best efforts, spiritual progress seems frustratingly slow. Take heart! In We Will Be Changed, trusted Bible teacher Alistair Begg offers hope and reassurance that the Holy Spirit is working in and through you. He is shaping your heart, transforming your character and forming your life into a testimony. As you read, you’ll discover how the Spirit is cultivating 9 Christ-like qualities within you; why experiencing the Spirit’s transforming power brings relief, joy and peace; what it means to keep in step with the Spirit; and greater confidence that God is faithfully shaping you day by day. Begg writes, ‘God saves us just as we are, but He is not content for us to remain just as we are.’ Be strengthened by the truth that you are partnering with the Holy Spirit as you seek spiritual growth. God is at work in you, and you will be changed.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Graphic Novel by Andrew Peterson. “The first book in the bestselling Wingfeather Series is now adapted as a graphic novel! Once, in a cottage above the cliffs on the Dark Sea of Darkness, there lived three children and their trusty dog, Nugget. Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice. The Igibys hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera. Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is a tale children of all ages will cherish. This graphic novel adaptation will be a coveted addition to any Wingfeather fan’s collection as well as an on-ramp to the series for new readers.” (Buy it at Amazon.)

Talking to Kids About Hard Things: Honest Conversations When Life Gets Complicated by Rebekah Hannah & Michael Keller. “From cultural pressures and political discussions to questions about identity and struggles with doubt, kids are exposed to the realities of our world from an early age. That’s why honest, courageous conversations are not optional for today’s parents—they are essential opportunities for the spiritual formation of both children and parents. Rebekah Hannah and Michael Keller offer parents a path for talking to their kids that is neither fearful nor passive but rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the steady love of Jesus. The authors invite parents to replace fear, avoidance, and control with faithful presence, truth-telling, and hope rooted in Christ. Parents will learn how to create homes where questions are welcomed, grace is abundant, and faith is lived out authentically, helping children develop a deep and enduring relationship with God.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Persuasive Preaching by David R. Helm & Jeremy Meeks. “Should pastors attempt to captivate listeners? Isn’t it enough to let the gospel speak for itself? The goal of preaching is to humbly proclaim the glory of God. But in an unbelieving world that is fighting for your audience’s attention, it is essential to communicate the gospel passionately and effectively. This companion book to 9Marks’ Expositional Preaching shows you how to deliver sermons with persuasive power. David Helm and Jeremy Meeks offer practical, Scripture-based tips to build compelling arguments, simplify your sermons so they’re easy to follow, contextualize your message to reach more people, and cultivate a godly ethos in your ministry. Apply these public-speaking basics in your preaching, evangelism, and outreach, and let the Holy Spirit move mightily in your church.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Why We Worship: Experiencing Heaven on Earth at Church by Adriel Sanchez. “‘Do I have to go to church?’ Whether we’ve fielded this question from others or have at times wondered ourselves, pastor Adriel Sanchez invites us to consider afresh why Sunday corporate worship matters. Why We Worship reenchants our spiritual imagination, helping us rediscover the beauty of worship in Scripture and draw upon the richness of Christian liturgy through the ages. Sanchez delves into the biblical underpinnings and historical development of the core parts of a worship service, casting a vision for corporate worship’s vital role in healthy Christian spirituality and discipleship. In Why We Worship, Sanchez draws on Scripture and history to uncover not only the what but also the why of elements of the Sunday service including music, the sermon, Communion, baptism, confession, prayer, and the benediction. Church isn’t meant to be a dull routine or an entertainment-driven spectacle. It’s a weekly heavenly ascent that transforms us to live the Christian life here on earth. Enter anew into the wonder of Sunday worship as a transcendent, joy-filled journey into God’s presence.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Greater Sins, Greater Grace: Degrees of Sin and the Depths of Divine Forgiveness by Jeff Moore. “Greater Sins, Greater Grace by Jeff Moore confronts a question many Christians assume is settled: Are all sins equal? With pastoral clarity and rigorous scholarship, Moore demonstrates from Scripture that while all sin brings guilt before God, the Bible itself distinguishes degrees of sin—and magnifies the depth of divine grace that meets even the gravest offenses. Rooted in careful exegesis of both the Old and New Testaments, this book challenges popular evangelical slogans with a whole-Bible theology of sin, judgment, and forgiveness. Moore guides readers through difficult moral terrain with courage, precision, and compassion, showing why certain sins strike more directly at God’s created order—and why the gospel still offers hope to those who repent. Written for pastors, students, and thoughtful Christians, Greater Sins, Greater Grace equips the church to speak truthfully, preach wisely, and extend grace boldly in a morally confused age.” (Buy it at Amazon.)

God’s Presence with Us and in Us: A Biblical Theology of the Holy Spirit by Miguel G. Echevarría. “The Holy Spirit is often regarded as the most mysterious and misunderstood person of the Trinity. Though it is important to understand specific topics associated with the Holy Spirit, such as spiritual gifts, our understanding must expand to encompass the Holy Spirit’s powerful role throughout the entire canon of Scripture. The Spirit has been at work since the very beginning. In God’s Presence with Us and in Us, biblical scholar Miguel Echevarría explores how the divine personal Spirit has one of the most prominent roles in the Bible. The Holy Spirit is both with God’s people and also in them, guiding and bringing about God’s mission of new creation. From Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Spirit is at work in God’s people and in the world. This insightful biblical theology offers a comprehensive look at the Holy Spirit’s presence, making it an essential resource for pastors, students, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in the world.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Classical Theology for the Modern Mind by Carl Trueman. “Western culture impatiently demands practical results and therapeutic comfort. Many within the church have even adopted this mindset, falsely believing that God is most important when he is tending to our earthly needs. How can we help churches resist this pragmatic approach and instead embrace the mystery, awe, and reverence of our great God? In Classical Theology for the Modern Mind, historical scholar Carl Trueman examines how remembering history, reciting creeds, and studying ecclesiology counter cultural pathologies that inhibit our modern minds. By retrieving wisdom, orthodoxy, and historic texts from the church fathers, medieval scholastics, and the Protestant reformers, the church will be better equipped to contemplate God and listen humbly to his word.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Navigating Tough Texts of the Old Testament, Volume 1: A Guide to Problem Passages from Genesis Through Deuteronomy by Tremper Longman III. “As we read through the Bible, it’s common to encounter puzzling or confusing passages. This is especially the case with the Old Testament, since its time and cultural setting are so far removed from our own. It’s tempting to skip over these problem passages in our personal Bible study or in our preaching and teaching. But if all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, those passages were preserved for our benefit. In Navigating Tough Texts of the Old Testament, volume 1 of a planned series, veteran scholar and translator Tremper Longman III guides us through difficult passages in Genesis through Deuteronomy, answering questions like Why are there different English translations of Genesis 1:1-2? Were the Hebrew midwives wrong to lie to Pharaoh? How do we make sense of the purity laws in Leviticus? What were the urim and thummim? For pastors who preach the whole Bible, students who study it seriously, and readers who have always wanted better answers to the questions they were afraid to ask, Navigating Tough Texts of the Old Testament is the guide you’ve been waiting for.” (Buy it at Amazon.)

Coming in October

Here are a few books that will come our way in October:

• Finally Home: The Christian Hope of Heaven by Dane Ortlund (Crossway), Oct 6. Considered one of the fall’s major releases.
• Church History for Everyone (Volume 1) by Kevin DeYoung (Crossway), Oct 20. The story of the pre-Reformation church through 20 biographies.
• Dissecting the Heart: Secular Psychology, Spiritual Warfare, and True Theology by David Powlison (Westminster Seminary Press), late October. A one-stop introduction to Powlison’s thought and theology.
• When Divorce Is Mercy by Michael Scott Gembola and Darby Strickland (P&R), Oct 21. Biblical counsel for marriages broken by betrayal, abandonment or abuse.
• God Is Our Refuge and Strength: 150 Devotionals Through the Psalms by William Boekestein and Rob Ventura (Banner of Truth), mid-October.
• A Christian’s Guide to AI: 12 Biblical Answers to the Questions We’re All Asking by Pete Killingley (Good Book Company), Oct 1. I wrote a blurb for this one, so obviously recommend it.
• The Westminster Confession of Faith: A Comprehensive Commentary on Its History, Theology, and Application, edited by J. V. Fesko, John R. Muether and D. Blair Smith (Crossway), Oct 27. Written mostly by Reformed Theological Seminary faculty, including Sinclair Ferguson, Scott Swain, and Kevin DeYoung.
• Beholding Christ: A Daily Guide to Seeing Jesus in All of Scripture by Nancy Guthrie (Crossway), Oct 13. It has a companion ESV Beholding Christ Bible.

Good morning, my friends. Thanks for reading today’s A La Carte. I consider it a joy to put this column together every day and am honored that you would choose to read it.

The gospel is so foolish (according to my natural wisdom), so scandalous (according to my conscience), and so incredible (according to my timid heart), that it is a daily battle to believe the full scope of it as I should.

—Milton Vincent

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This week the blog is sponsored by Zondervan Reflective. This content is adapted from Why Christianity Makes Sense by Gavin Ortlund. Copyright © 2026 by Gavin Ortlund. Used by permission of Zondervan.

Deep in the human heart, there is an ache—an ache for transcendence, for love, for justice, for happiness. It might be the deepest reality in the human heart. Yet despite this, we tend not to think about it as much as we ought. Why is this?

Diversion and Distraction  

The philosopher Blaise Pascal famously asserted that “the sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room.”¹ What a statement! But what does Pascal mean, exactly?

Pascal is arguing that we use diversions to distract ourselves from ultimate questions. If we could practice genuine solitude, we would realize there is a deep restlessness inside us. We would have to come to terms with the fact that way deep down, in the remote places of our heart, something is missing. There is an emptiness, a yearning— an ache. 

But so long as we cram our lives with busyness and clutter, we can avoid dealing with this situation. We can hold the deep questions of life at bay.

Can you relate to this tendency toward distraction? When was the last time you slowed down to really consider: Am I happy? Is life working?  

Slowing down and taking stock of our actual situation invites us to envision the big questions. Here’s one:

Suppose there is no God of any kind, nor any supernatural reality of any kind. It’s just physical nature— there are no souls, no angels, no afterlife. What would this entail for the meaning of life?  

Existentialist Philosophy  

We are, of course, not the first to ponder the meaning of life, so we would be foolish not to consider how those who preceded us have struggled with this question. Perhaps the most renowned effort to locate meaning in a world without God is represented by atheistic existentialist philosophy. Existentialism powerfully captures the emotions of atheism— what it feels like to adjust to life without God. 

We might sum up the core intuition of existentialism with the philosopher Jean- Paul Sartre’s slogan: Existence precedes essence.² Essentially, this means that life has no model or blueprint (essence). We simply are (existence). Thus, we are free to construct our own meaning and purpose. 

Put it like this: There is nothing that the world is supposed to be. It simply is. 

(If this doesn’t feel terrifying yet, keep reading.) Sartre saw this state of affairs as the result of atheism. To explain why, Sartre appealed to the famous slogan of the Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky: “If God did not exist, everything would be permitted.”³ That is, without God there is no objective value of goodness that exists outside of us, to which our lives must correspond.

This might seem like a drastic conclusion, but think about it: If there is no Creator who has assigned the world a meaning, where else would this meaning come from? It’s hard to see where a plan for the world would come from without someone or something behind the world doing the planning. 

For Sartre, there is no divine plan or human nature to conform to. Existence comes first— we’re hurled into the world, and now we have the burden of inventing our own meaning. 

Does this prospect disturb you, as it disturbs me? Let it really wash over you: Your relationships, your goals, your suffering, everything you’ve been through— it doesn’t add up to any kind of coherent unity. There is no overarching plan or design. You must invent your own meaning as you go. 

Much is at stake with this question of meaning. It touches something deep down at the core of our humanity. Probably the same place we feel the ache. 

We should care about such questions. We should take Pascal’s advice and slow down. The ache inside is trying to tell us something. We should listen.

Thanks for all the feedback on yesterday’s article, Why My Church Does Not Sing Songs by Bethel, Elevation, and Hillsong. Based on that feedback, there may be a follow-up or two still to come, though right now we are in prime conference season so most of my time is going to preparing conference talks!

Because of our union with Christ, God sees His holiness as our holiness.

—Jerry Bridges

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A few years ago, I proposed to my fellow elders at Grace Fellowship Church that we stop singing songs by Hillsong. Though there were only a couple that were part of our repertoire at the time, I thought it would be wise for us to consider removing them. After some clarifying discussion, we agreed that we would stop singing those two songs, and that we would not add any more. In what follows, I want to explain my reasoning and explain why it also extends to a couple of today’s other major songwriting groups, Bethel and Elevation.

First, though, it’s important to know that I do not mean to bind anyone else’s conscience or pass judgment on churches that make a different decision or on individuals who enjoy listening to these artists in any other context. The Bible does not make this matter perfectly clear, so we are operating according to wisdom and conscience. I simply mean to explain why the elders at my church made a decision that we believe was right for us.

I begin with the foundational statement that Bethel Music, Elevation Music, and Hillsong Music are each connected to a specific local church. It is more likely that you know about the churches because of the music than that you know about the music because of the churches, and that is by design. While some people believe it’s fine to sing any song as long as its content is true, I think it’s important that we consider the source of that music as well, for songs are not merely words, but also gateways to the churches and sources of revenue. This means we cannot take the groups or the music on their own, but must also consider the churches they represent—who is gaining prominence and who is being funded. In that vein, I am going to offer two significant concerns, then a series of smaller ones.

Theological Concerns

Each of these churches raises significant concerns in relation to the theology it espouses.

Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by Bill Johnson, is perhaps the most troubling. While the church formally adheres to a fairly standard charismatic statement of faith, it has become known for teaching what is false and dangerous. For example, it teaches that Jesus did not perform his miracles as God, but as a Spirit-empowered man who had laid aside his divinity; that sickness is never God’s will and healing always is—the unavoidable conclusion being that a lack of healing must be the result of a lack of faith; and that God ordinarily and constantly reveals himself to his people outside of Scripture. The church has long been marked by excess, dubious claims of miracles, and outlandish practices.

Hillsong, based in Sydney, Australia, was founded by Brian Houston and was led by him until he resigned after the church’s board found he had breached its pastoral code of conduct with two women. Under his leadership, the church practiced the principles of the prosperity gospel and Word of Faith movement; it minimized hard doctrines, especially those that might alienate people, such as hell, divine wrath, propitiation, and so on; the Hillsong movement became driven by celebrity; several of its key leaders had to be removed when they were discovered to be committing sexual immorality; and it was known to have covered up other scandals. While the church has made some changes in the wake of many scandals, it remains deeply troubling.

Elevation Church is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, though it has roughly 20 campuses in several states and countries. Its pastor, Steven Furtick, was trained at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, but quickly deviated from that seminary’s and denomination’s theology. Furtick’s doctrine of the Trinity comes close to modalism, which is perhaps not surprising when he names T.D. Jakes as his mentor; he teaches doctrine that is basically indistinguishable from Word of Faith; the church is heavily pragmatic and the preaching often man-centered rather than Christ-centered; the church has no elders, but is led entirely by its pastor and an outside group of overseers; Furtick has become known for the kind of wealth and opulence that is typical within prosperity circles.

Much more could be said, of course, and I will leave you to do more in-depth research if you so desire. But in short, all three of these musical groups are closely associated with a church, and none of those churches faithfully preaches the gospel and the corresponding sound doctrine. If a member of my church were moving to Redding, Sydney, or Charlotte and asked if they should attend these churches, I would not only strongly urge them to find better options, but actively warn them away from them, lest they put their souls in danger.

In my understanding, to sing someone’s song is in some way to endorse that person’s ministry. It should surprise no one if someone goes looking for other songs or teaching material by the people whose songs we sing in church. I am unconcerned, and in fact very pleased, if a church member follows our songs to other music by CityAlight, to Keith Getty’s book Sing!, or to Sandra McCracken’s many projects. But I would be very concerned—ashamed, even—if a church member followed one of our songs to a book by Brian Houston or a video by Bill Johnson.

My first and foremost concern, then, is that these songs are generated by, connected with, and serve as gateways into some extremely troubling churches.

Financial Concerns

For all three of these churches, the music they distribute is a major source of monetization, which means the churches, their ministries, and their leaders are funded, at least in part, by the music. Individuals who play or purchase the music and churches that sing it in their worship services both contribute to funding those churches. Individuals do this by the royalties that are paid out when they purchase an album or listen to it through a streaming service, and churches do this through their CCLI licensing, which distributes money to the copyright holders of the songs they sing.

Of course, you and I fund all kinds of organizations we disagree with by purchasing their products or services. For example, I dislike a great deal of what Apple stands for, but I am typing these words on one of their devices, knowing that a portion of my purchase was likely used for something I hate. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to live in this world without making use of products or services from troubling organizations. Yet Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation are different in that they are not businesses, but churches. What they do with the money we distribute to them is done in the name of the Lord. While we should not be surprised when non-Christian businesses dishonor God, we should be dismayed when ministries that bear’s Christ’s name do. I believe we ought to hold Christian organizations to a higher standard and be more wary about the ways in which we support them.

Some may argue that the CCLI payments are small enough to be nearly insignificant, but singing these songs also keeps them at the top of the charts, which then attracts other churches to their music. In this way, singing these groups’ songs helps them both gain and maintain prominence, even though each of them has proven unworthy of it.

While few of us would visit these churches’ websites to make a charitable contribution, we still contribute to their influence and financial well-being when we purchase, play, or perform their music.

Other Matters to Consider

I have provided my most significant concerns under the two headings of Theological Concerns and Financial Concerns. I will add a few more in a shorter format.

I am far from the only Christian who has developed concerns with singing songs by these groups, and many believers could only sing them by violating the convictions of their conscience. In a similar vein, some Christians may be distracted in a time of worship if they are asked to sing one of their songs. We can avoid such matters of conscience and distraction by simply choosing to sing songs by less troublesome songwriters.

While we may be able to choose a handful of suitable songs from each of these ministries, there are likely to be many more in their corpus that are concerning. We should perhaps be cautious about artists when we cannot endorse or support the majority of their work, not to mention the churches that stand behind them.

I am not aware of any songs by these groups that address a unique area of doctrine or Christian living. This means that we never need to rely on their music but can always opt for a different song to communicate the same truths.

I expect that some people will wonder about historic songwriters whose songs may be sound but who went morally or theologically astray. After all, I recently said in a different context that “immorality does not negate truth.” I agree that this bears some consideration and that even my own response to it is a bit dissatisfying. I would respond, though, that these people no longer receive revenue or gain influence in the same way that living songwriters do, and their songs do not lead anyone to their churches. That said, I freely grant that some churches may choose to exclude various historic songwriters as well, and I would respect that decision. These are matters of wisdom and conscience, not matters of clear right and wrong.

Conclusion

It was a few years ago now that the elders at my church made our decision—a decision that not all of the elders agreed with, but all chose to support when it became clear that it was the position of the majority. Since then, a few people have asked us why we choose not to sing songs by these groups, and we have been able to answer as I have done here. Most have been satisfied with our response. We continue to think it was the right decision for our church, but would unanimously affirm that a different church could thoughtfully and prayerfully arrive at a different conclusion. For those who want to study the question further, here are some additional resources:

•  The Pastor’s Heart: Should evangelicals sing Hillsong, Bethel and Elevation songs in evangelical churches? (Video)
• Reforming Worship: Why I Don’t Sing Songs by Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation
• Todd Wagner: Should We Use Bethel Songs in Worship? 4 Diagnostic Questions
• Matthew Westerholm: 3 Insights to Consider Before You Sing Bethel and Hillsong in Church
• Costi Hinn: Should Your Church Sing Jesus Culture & Bethel Music?
• Todd Friel & Justin Peters: Justin Peters EXPOSES Truth About Hillsong and Bethel Music (Video)

Good morning. Grace and peace to you. I trust you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did. Saturday was moving day for Nate and Abby and, rather than have me lift heavy things, they assigned me babysitting duty, a task I was more than happy to take on.

The great secret of growth in true Christian character is to look far less at ourselves and far more at Christ as we depend less on ourselves and more on his Spirit.

—Alistair Begg

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In my weekly Works & Wonders column, I combine a brief devotional with other interesting and uplifting bits and pieces I gleaned throughout the week. I hope you enjoy this week’s collection! It includes:

1. Devotional: Not Only the End, but Also the Means
2. Earth Music Theater
3. Small World in Motion
4. Voices
5. The Bayeux Tapestry Story
6. BingeBrowse
7. One Bedroom Apartment

1.

Not Only the End, but Also the Means

As Christians, we praise God for his marvelous grace in saving us—in setting his love on sinful people and then drawing them out of darkness and into life, out of the grave and into glory. But God displays his wisdom not only in the end, but also through the means. While for all eternity we will praise God that he saved us, we will also praise him for how he saved us. For what love but God’s could have reached out to people who had blasphemed his name and declared him an enemy? What mind but God’s could have conceived of a means to salvation that came by grace rather than works? What wisdom but God’s could have understood that the one who bridges the infinite chasm between divinity and humanity must be both God and man? Who else would have been willing and able to send his very own Son into this world, to add a human nature to his divine nature, to live a perfect life, to die an atoning death, to take the sin of humanity upon his own shoulders, and to give them his own righteousness? Who else but our all-wise God? This is the God we delight to worship this Sunday and every Sunday.¹

2.

Earth Music Theater

The Association of Space Explorers, which includes astronauts from forty-three countries, has been archiving the images its members photograph from the windowed bay in the International Space Station. Earth Music Theater has now combined some of that footage with music. This lets you enjoy a British Baroque ensemble singing Bach over stunning images of the earth, or Maestro Seiji Ozawa conducting an orchestra performing Beethoven while the earth rolls by. It’s great to watch actively or to put on in the background, perhaps on that always-present second screen. There are all kinds of performances and scenes to choose from.

3.

Small World in Motion

I’ve said repeatedly that I’m convinced that many of God’s greatest wonders are in the microscopic world, and Nikon’s Small World in Motion competition seems to prove it! Through 5 winners and 26 honorable mentions, you can see the world as you’ve never seen it before. From jellyfish larvae to synchronized cell division, you’ll delight in the beauties of God’s creation.

4.

Voices

I enjoy the band His Estate (formerly known as 20 Schemes Music), which exists to “serve the local church with songs that equip and spur on Christians by expressing our joy and certain hope amidst the dangers and brutal realities of the Christian life as we long to grow more like Jesus.” Uniquely, the ministry is rooted in Scotland’s housing estates and that is reflected in some of its themes (e.g., addiction). His Estate recently recorded a live album and I especially enjoyed “Voices.”

Give us wisdom, understanding
Give us hearts of reverent fear
In our weakness walk beside
In Your mercy draw us near

5.

The Bayeux Tapestry Story

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Bayeux Tapestry before, and maybe you’ve even seen it, but you probably haven’t been given a guided tour to it. Let’s remedy that! “This video tells the Tapestry’s story in full, using Charles Stothard’s early colour reproduction, presented here as a seamless scroll for the first time. We follow Harold Godwinson’s fateful journey from Edward the Confessor’s court to Normandy, his later seizure of the Crown, and William the Conqueror’s invasion. Beyond its political messaging, the Tapestry is also bursting with medieval history, including jokes, fascinating technical details, and a warning for those who break their promises.” Watch: The Bayeux Tapestry Story in Full.

6.

BingeBrowse

BingeBrowse is a bit of a throwback, so you may need to be 30 or more to really enjoy it. Do you remember visiting the local video store on a Friday night and browsing the racks to try to find something to watch? BingeBrowse captures that experience by formatting your streaming services as an old-school Blockbuster store. It’s kind of silly, but kind of fun as well.

7.

One Bedroom Apartment

This weekend Nate and Abby moved out of their one-bedroom apartment and into a house. But this song from Gable Price still seems fitting: “One Bedroom Apartment.”

As for me and my bargain
One bedroom apartment
We will serve the Lord
In the famine and harvest
I know where your heart is
We will serve the Lord

1. Inspired in part by this quote from William Gurnall: “God will not only be admired by His saints in glory for His love in their salvation but for His wisdom in the way to it. The love of God in saving them will be the sweet draft at the marriage feast, and the rare wisdom of God in effecting this as the curious workmanship with which the cup shall be enameled.” (William Gurnall) ↩︎