Here is a collection of good reads gathered from across the internet this past week. Enjoy!
On living as a faithful follower of Jesus, no matter what our culture says: Winsome Weirdos by John Piper
The apostle Peter is calling for a special breed. Not the kind of conservative who gives all his energy to embracing and defending his weirdo status. And not the kind of liberal who will embrace any compromise necessary to avoid being a weirdo. But rather a breed that is courageous enough to be joyfully weird, and compassionate enough to be “zealous for good deeds.” (click here to read more)
On the beauty and wonder of singing together as a church: The Beauty of Congregational Singing by Matt Capps
I have the privilege of pastoring a singing church. Week after week, when we gather for worship the sounds of God’s precious saints wash over me as I stand on the front row and prepare to preach. There have been several occasions when I have stopped singing in order to listen. On almost all of those occasions, the sound of our church family singing brought me to tears. Not because they are great polished individual singers, but because we sing corporately to a great God. (click here to read more)
On the importance of singing in our Christian faith: 7 Reasons Why Singing Matters by Colin Smith
Often times, we think only of singing when we’re happy and times are good, but singing bringing strength for trial comes out in Acts 16. Paul and Silas are unjustly imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel, and what do they do while they’re in prison? Sing! (Acts 16:25) (click here to read more)
On the need for transparency and accountability among men: Why Men Need to be Transparent with Each Other by Jared C. Wilson
One of the best ways men can encourage each other with the gospel is simply with honesty and transparency. Dietrich Bonhoeffer talks about meeting each other as bringers of the gospel—I need the gospel in my brother, my brother needs the gospel in me. In some ways—this might sound odd but it’s true—the gospel in me is stronger than the one in my brother, and the gospel in my brother is stronger than the one in me. (click here to read more)
On why we fight and quarrel and how to stop: What Stops Our Fighting? by Tony Reinke
Our fights are spurned by our coveting desires to be satisfied in the world. But what stops our fights is our proximity to God. What stops our fights is our wanting who he is. What stops our fights is finding our souls satisfied by what we believe is our ultimate good. (click here to read more)
First Baptist Church 