I’m the pastor of FBC Jackson in Jackson, Alabama. Each week, I post “Article Roundup: Helpful Reads,” sharing articles that I believe will benefit the saints who make up FBC Jackson and followers of Christ everywhere. Happy reading!

What If He Won’t Lead? To Women with Passive Husbands by Garrett Kell

Garrett Kell gives some helpful counsel to wives who have spiritually lethargic husbands. “But what happens when a husband won’t lead? How should his wife respond? How can she pursue her husband in a way that encourages him to seek Jesus and, in turn, to lead her?”

How Marriage Vows Work by Joe Carter

I’m so thankful that Joe Carter addressed this topic. This article will demonstrate why marriage vows are the most important part of a wedding ceremony. “One profound privilege of pastoral ministry is officiating weddings. It’s always an honor to be asked by a couple to perform their ceremony and help shape one of the most significant moments of their lives. Yet there are five words I dread hearing: ‘We wrote our own vows.'”

The Sun is a Shadow by Jacob Crouch

This meditation beautifully highlights the glory of the Son of God. Reading it slowly and with a worshipful heart will stir your affections for Christ. “We are supposed to see the sun and realize that it is only a shadow of the true center of the universe. Jesus is the One around whom we all revolve. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God. Jesus is the true Light.”

Get More Out of Your Reading: 9 Tricks for Success by Chloe Ann

You may find some of these tricks helpful. “You’ve sat down with that book. You’ve skimmed the pages. You might have even finished reading it. But how do you get more out of your reading? Is it even possible? Does it require a college degree, hours of education, and the most advanced note taking system you can learn? Not at all. It just requires a willing reader, a book able to be marked and highlighted, and nine tricks for success. So if you’re a homeschooling parent looking for some ideas, a student looking for some guidance, or a reader who wants to get more out of your reading, then read on.”

6 Things Discipleship Isn’t by Hunter BeLess

Hunter is a wife and mother of four children. She offers helpful insights that clarify what discipleship is and what it isn’t. “Why aren’t more Christians committed to making disciples as Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:18–20)? I wonder if such reluctance stems from misconceptions about what discipleship entails. Perhaps by understanding what discipleship isn’t, we can dismantle unnecessary barriers and more readily embrace Jesus’s call.”