Your weekly installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web.
Video of the Week
The (Not So) United States of America, Andy Stanley. Is it possible for the church to bridge the divide when compassion and national security collide? Stanley says yes. This is a great talk about refugees, religious liberty, and what to do when the church doesn’t agree politically. We may not agree on many of the specifics in these debates, but we can all agree that every human being has inherent value.
Articles of the Week
Five Women Every Christian Should Know, Michelle Derusha. This past week (March 8, to be exact) the world celebrated International Women’s Day. With all of the voices clamoring to claim the high ground in discussions about women’s rights, it can be helpful to go back and celebrate some of the lives of Christian women whose stories can inspire all of us to greater faithfulness. Mrs. Luther is my (Chris’) favorite of this crew, though all five are enormously impressive.
How the Entitlement Mentality Crept into Our Churches, Thom Rainer. Many of our churches are filled with consumers. Pastors love to rail against this mentality. People come to church expecting to be fed instead of feeding themselves! It’s time for our folks to grow up! And, of course, they’re right. Rainer, though, takes a look at how this entitlement came about—and offers six ways that those of us in leadership might have made it all possible.
How to Critique a Sermon: A List of Diagnostic Questions, Jeff Lacine. Part of my job is critiquing sermons, so this was immediately of interest. But I suspect that others will find this relevant, too. If something is bothering you about a sermon you heard, try these questions on for size. It should help you identify what specifically was off. Once you ask and answer these questions, however, be sure to offer up your critique with compassion and humility. As Anne Lamott said, “You don’t always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too.”
Stop Calling Everything Hate, Tim Challies. In public discourse, a powerful word or two can often carry the day, whether the argument is coherent or not. Get a good word on your side, and that word does all the work for you. One of these weaponized words these days is hate. When your ideological opponents disagree with you, label their disagreement “hate” (whether it’s actually laced with animosity or not) and the battle is nearly won. Challies wants this to stop. We do, too.
On the Lighter Side
“Seagulls (Stop It Now)” Bad Lip Reading. What do you get when you cross classic Star Wars films with poor lip reading? A super catchy and slightly incoherent jingle.
Wisdom For Your Weekend is presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with occasional guidance from J.D. Greear. This is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
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