Tag: Sponsored

This week the blog is sponsored by Moody Publishers, publisher of Overflowing Mercies by Craig Allen Cooper. In the book, Craig opens readers to the beautiful, merciful heart of our triune God. In a culture that is short on compassion, maybe that’s difficult to imagine. There’s not nearly enough patience or tenderness in the world. Maybe you’re in the middle of a hard season and feel disheartened. In this 100-day devotional, you will be comforted as you meditate on God’s character and find courage in His promises to you.  You can purchase Overflowing Mercies here. PSALM 103:10 “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” On a writing retreat in south Florida, I learned of a man who had an altercation with another individual on the streets of Miami. They exchanged punches and one of the men fell to the ground. Rising and dusting himself off, he left the scene and returned to his vehicle, apparently having lost the fight. That’s when anger took control; in a fit of rage, he aimed his new Corvette at full speed onto the sidewalk, running over the individual who had struck him. When police arrived, they arrested the man for attempted vehicular homicide, while an ambulance took the injured pedestrian to the emergency room for treatment. Was this a display of strength? No, the whole scene was a spectacle of horror. In contrast to this, God shows His power in the demonstrations of His patience. An ancient proverb says, “Whoever is…See AlsoWeekend A La Carte (October 1)Free Stuff FridaysReading Classics Together – The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (IX)

This sponsored post was provided by Burke Care, and written by Jen Arend, which invites you to schedule care today with a certified biblical counselor. As the music swells, she begins her descent down the aisle. All eyes are on her, especially her groom. She is radiant, majestic, and filled with beauty. Her gaze meets his tear-filled eyes. The two express vows before God and witnesses, though it does not take long before they learn that living out those vows becomes a dance of beauty and chaos.[1] How can earthly marriage thrive in the dance? Any discussion of roles in marriage begins with beholding the ultimate Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. In beholding the true Bridegroom from Genesis to Revelation, marriage is transformed into a beautiful dance, reflecting the relationship of Christ to his church. Beholding the Lord Jesus, and his bride, begins in the “very good” creation of the opening chapters of Genesis. First, this relationship is seen in the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit dwell together in perfect unity and mutual love (Matt. 3:16-17; 12:18; Mark 9:7; John 14:31; 17:24). God then gave human expression to this beautiful, Trinitarian relationship by creating Adam and Eve in the garden. What God created was “very good,” a real-time, flesh and blood expression of the deep unity that exists in the Godhead, an earthly picture of Christ and his church. The man and the woman walked with God in perfection and experienced the blessing of an unstained unity and love for…See AlsoAre You Keeping Track of Your Church’s Culture?Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery5 Ways to Re-enchant Your World

This week the blog is sponsored by P&R Publishing and is written by Ralph Cunnington. Years ago, I stumbled repeatedly on an ancient phrase that altered my thinking forever.  Distinct yet inseparable. The first time I encountered this phrase was while studying the Council of Chalcedon’s description of the two natures of Christ. Soon after, I found that Augustine had used it to describe the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity. Then I saw that John Calvin had used it to describe the relationship between justification and sanctification. It was so beautiful and clarifying, so simple: there can be distinction without separation. We can experience unity within diversity and diversity within unity. “Someone should write a book on that one day!” I thought. Fast-forward to 2020. Lockdown. COVID-19. George Floyd. Marches. Riots. Tensions were running high, and debates raged both in society and in the church. To mask or not to mask? Should we take down statues of people we now find problematic? What is gender?   What is real and true, and what is not? I saw the church struggle to respond, and the phrase that had altered my thinking years ago suddenly came to back to me in a brand-new way. Distinct yet inseparable. I was sitting on an ancient concept that could bring clarity to these divisive issues. And that’s how “Someone should write a book on that one day!” became “I need to write that book.” Distinct yet inseparable explains who God is and how God works in his…See AlsoLet’s Be Clear: Clarity in Bible TranslationHCSB: Pursuing ‘Optimal Equivalence’Web Stuff Wednesdays

This week the blog is sponsored by Church Social and is written by Jonathan Reinink. Growing up, I remember our church would periodically coordinate a church-wide photo shoot where all the families in our congregation would take their turn coming to the church, dressed their best, ready to have their photo taken. Those photos would then be organized into a nicely coiled and printed church directory along with our names and contact information. Each family in the church would get their own copy. It was a bit of a process, but it was a useful one as this directory became a valuable tool for both existing and future members of our church. Today I run a software platform called Church Social which, among other things, gives churches the ability to create an online church membership directory, which all members are able to log in and access. It takes the original concept of the printed church directory and brings it into our modern era. Members can sign into Church Social and easily access their congregation’s member directory, which includes family photos, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses and more. Since it’s web-based you can access it anytime — just open your phone and you have this information available at your fingertips. This is really handy when you get invited to someone’s place for coffee but don’t have their address! Invaluable to new members The Church Social member directory makes it really easy for people who are new to your congregation to put names to faces. This knowledge is something…See AlsoHow Software is Helping Churches Stay ConnectediPhones, Androids, and Your ChurchChurch & Mission Website FAQ #4

This week the blog is sponsored by New Covenant OPC and is written by Michael Grasso, Pastor of New Covenant OPC. Our church, New Covenant OPC, recently started a building campaign to build a new place to worship because we have outgrown our current facilities.  I have been told several times about the difficulties of such an undertaking, which are made even more daunting in light of our location: the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the most expensive areas in the country.  Though the process is challenging, we believe that this project will advance the kingdom of God and that supporting it is akin to supporting missions in some important ways. The Bay Area is not only one of the most expensive places in the country but also one of the darkest.  Certainly, the past decade has seen a general spiritual decline throughout the US and the West as a whole, but for this area, the darkness has been thick for decades.  Another OPC church in San Francisco faced lawsuits, vandalism, and firebombing in the late 1970s and early 80s over the issue of homosexuality.  (You can read more about this here).  If there was anywhere in the US that could be considered a mission field, surely San Francisco would be it. In the midst of this darkness, those who are standing up for the truth are few and far between.  The vast majority of churches have compromised the truth.  It was common for churches in our area to caution against celebration at the…See AlsoFree Stuff Saturdays (Crown & Covenant Edition)Short-Term Missions: Redefining SuccessFree Stuff Fridays

This week the blog is sponsored by Church Social and is written by Jonathan Reinink. In 2 Corinthians 9, we’re taught that “God loves a cheerful giver”. Giving is an important part of church life as it’s a practical way for us to show our thankfulness to God for all he has blessed us with. There are many ways we give, including supporting the work of mercy via the deacons, the annual church budget via our regular voluntary contributions, special fundraisers like church renovation projects, and many different ministries and outreach initiatives. While there is absolutely a strong spiritual element to our giving, there is also a practical side to it. Every church has someone tasked with the responsibility of tracking all these donations, accounting for them in their accounting software, generating giving statements, and in some countries (like mine here in Canada) generating annual tax receipts. What might go unnoticed by the regular church attendee is that there is a lot of work to be done that quite often lands in the hands of a (mathematically inclined) volunteer. I run a software platform for churches called Church Social, and one of our goals is to help church members spend less time doing administrative-type work. One way we do this is by helping church treasurers with the tracking and management of donations via our giving module. This has been a popular feature, as it saves church treasurers a ton of work. Tracking contributions With Church Social, treasurers can effortlessly input member contributions to various funds.…See AlsoYour Church Needs To Reclaim a Culture of CareFor The Church, With The ChurchThis Week’s Sponsor: True Church Conference 2010

Today’s blog is sponsored by the D3 Youth Conference, March 8-9, 2024 at Boyce College in Louisville, KY. Some words become so familiar they risk losing their meaning. For Christians, the term “disciple” carries just such a risk. We read about Jesus calling forth disciples in the pages of the Gospels. We recognize the command to “make disciples of every nation” in the Great Commission. We sign up for discipleship programming at our churches. But what exactly do we mean when we speak of being a disciple of Jesus? Early in the Gospel accounts (Mk. 2:18), we see a recognition that Jesus’s disciples live differently from the disciples of other teachers or schools. The disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus why his followers don’t fast like those of John or the Pharisees. Jesus’s response clarifies that his disciples live differently because his coming represents an inbreaking of a new sort of kingdom. Whereas the disciples of other groups primarily reflect the teaching of a great master or school, Jesus’s disciples reflect his relationship to the Father and share in his power for ministry. Everyone is a disciple of someone to some degree. Whether you follow the latest new age teacher, model your life after a guru on the manosphere, or just consider yourself a devoted Swiftie, we are all pupils of some sort of life teaching. And in a day when content has become so accessible, we can be influenced by more teachers than any generation in history. Considering our current reality, the question…See AlsoThree Things Jesus Never Told to Make DisciplesTwo Ways to Grow a Disciple-Making Culture in Your ChurchFree Stuff Fridays

This week the blog is sponsored by Open the Bible. If you’re looking for small group video resources that are Bible-centered, accessible, and applicable, look no further! Led by Pastor Colin Smith and select teachers, Open the Bible Courses provide small groups the perfect resource to equip the hearts and minds of growing believers. Courses include: Why consider using an Open the Bible Course in your small group? What people are saying: I have enjoyed what otherwise would have been a very difficult theological study. I would say, “THEOLOGY MADE SIMPLE.” Thank you very much for taking me to another level in my spiritual growth. —Isaac J. On Watch Your Doctrine I gained SO MUCH WISDOM in Watch Your Life. I will certainly be using the wisdom and notes to help equip others. Every church leader should take these courses! —Alma E. Preview a session of Watch Your Life titled “Discerning God’s Will.” Download a transcript or discussion questions. Visit OpentheBible.org/courses today to get started.See AlsoExciting New Resources from Clarifying The BibleMajor in the Bible$400+ of Bonus Discipleship Resources from Ligonier Ministries

One of the darkest and most difficult parts of being a special needs family is personal, cultural, and even spiritual isolation. For the person or family affected by disability it is much easier to stay hidden in obscurity than to be judged by the watching world. Isolation not only provides protection from the silent stares of spectators and onlookers, it keeps the messes, smells, and noises in-house where they are easier to deal with, and don’t have to be shared.See AlsoAre You Welcoming Image Bearers With Special Needs?God Has a Heart for the Vulnerable. Do You?A La Carte (2/17)

This sponsored post was provided by Burke Care, and written by Jen Arend , which invites you to schedule care today with a certified biblical counselor. Is there one Christmas theme that strikes you each year without fail? For me, it is “Immanuel, God is with us” (Matthew 1:23).[1] What is it about this name of Jesus that is so gripping? God became a man, stooping down to this sin-cursed earth, taking on the weakness of human flesh, and humbling himself to the nth degree to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). A stable for a King. Washing dirty feet. A criminal’s death. God is with us…  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; although He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9 Our God is a God who came near. Jesus, Immanuel, God is with us. Collectively and historically in the birth of Christ, God showed that He is a God who draws near. Immanuel is also incredibly personal and intensely practical, as we live our lives each day. God is with you.  Think of your fears. Fear needs a person.[2] When a child wakes up in the middle of the night, crying inconsolably, what does she do? There is no peace until she is in the arms of her loving mom or dad. She runs to find them, and even an attuned parent will run to meet her in her distress. The tears may continue, and her heart…See AlsoA La Carte (December 19)The Foundry Bible Immersion: A Ten-Week Discipleship & Gap-Year Program in Washington, D.C.Truth & Life Conference Live Stream

This week, the blog is sponsored by Reformation Heritage Books’ new devotional on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Glorifying and Enjoying God (written by William Boekestein, Jonathan L. Cruse, and Andrew J. Miller). Enjoy this brief article explaining the history and benefits of studying this precious document. Glorifying and Enjoying God is intended not only to increase knowledge but to stoke love for God. We believe that the heart and mind are intertwined; that we will love God more the better …