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Article Roundup

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Here’s a collection of helpful, edifying articles. Perhaps one will capture your attention and encourage you in the Lord. Happy reading!

He Dawns as Mighty God by David Mathis

We’ve become familiar with the phrase ‘Mighty God’ as a reference to the Christ child. This article invites us to exult in the true meaning of this incredible phrase. “This ‘God’ of Isaiah 9:6 paired with ‘might’ brings us to the battlefield. The “Wonderful Counselor” guides his people with wisdom at a fork in the road; the “God of might” stands before them in battle. David had his mighty men for war. God’s people, forecasts Isaiah, will have a Mighty God with them in combat.”

What Does It Mean to Let Our Light Shine? by John Piper

In this article, Piper connects Jesus’s command “to let our light shine” with Jesus’s last Beatitute. “Jesus’s command for all the world is that all human beings find in him the all-satisfying glory for which we were made. Then he commands that we turn from trusting in anything else, and bank our hope on the “great reward” of everlasting joy in him. And then, in that hope and joy, he commands that we let that light shine in sacrificial good deeds of love, so that others will see and savor and spread the glory of God.”

The Deadly Danger of Remodeling Hell by Al Mohler

Kirk Cameron recently denied the clear biblical teaching on hell as eternal conscious torment. Because this has garnered so much attention, Mohler addresses several of Cameron’s statements and arguments. “The New Testament evidence for hell as eternal conscious punishment is clear, as Jesus declared in Matthew 25:46: “And these will go away unto eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Note carefully that eternal punishment and eternal life are presented as parallel destinies—both are eternal and both are final. The wicked, without Christ, go to eternal conscious torment, described in the Bible with graphic intensity. The redeemed, bearing the imputed righteousness of Christ Himself, enter into eternal life. Annihilation is not part of the picture. Hell is not a passage into non-existence, but the torment of the wicked. The truth is horrible, so the warnings are stark.”

What About Hell? by Ryan Denton

In a similar vein, Ryan Denton pleads with unbelievers to flee from hell and to flee to Christ, the only safe refuge from the wrath to come. “Here’s another way to think about it. The real monstrosity is not God’s justice that damns the sinner to hell for eternity. It’s the sinner who turns against his Creator while breathing the air God gives, basking under God’s sunlight, eating the food God provides with the miracle of tastebuds that cover his tongue, all while walking and living on the earth God made. These very gifts are used to defy Him. The creature depends on God every moment for life, breath, and being—and yet lives as if God is unnecessary. This is the height of treason and ingratitude. This is why hell is not excessive.“

What Consitutes a True Baptism? by Sam Emadi

Sam Emadi gives us four diagnostic questions to help determine whether someone’s baptism was genuine. This article is particularly helpful for pastors as they interview prospective members. “In these circumstances, determining whether a baptism was true, even if irregular, can be complicated. In my own ministry, I’ve used the following four questions as a grid for determining true baptisms. If you can answer each of the following four questions affirmatively then I think you’re looking at a true baptism.”

Article Roundup

philipmcduffie Leave a comment

Here’s a collection of helpful, edifying articles. Perhaps one will capture your attention and encourage you in the Lord. Happy reading!

5 Signs of Dead Faith by Robert Plummer

A dead faith inevitably reveals itself. In this article, Plummer lists five signs of a dead faith from the book of James. “Thus, James instructs us that there are two categories of faith—(1) faith that has works and is thus living and (2) faith that does not have works and is thus dead. Works and faith are not the same thing. Rather, works are produced by a genuine faith and are, therefore, evidence of it. In fact, James’s explicit language would even call into question my use above of the verb “produced.” Genuine faith has works. Works are inherent and organic to living, saving faith.”

Top 10 Books of 2025 by Kevin DeYoung

I always enjoy looking through Kevin DeYoung’s top 10 books of any given year. Here are his top 10 books of 2025. “This list is not meant to assess the thousands of good books published in the past year. This is simply a list of the books—Christian and non-Christian, but all non-fiction—that I thought were the best in the past year. “Best” doesn’t mean I agreed with everything in them; it means I found these books—all published in 2025—a strong combination of thoughtful, useful, helpful, insightful, and challenging. Undoubtedly, the list each year reflects my own interests and tends to be heavy on history and theology.”

The Gospel Coalition 2025 Book Awards by the TGC Staff

On a similar note, the TGC staff listed out their book awards as well. “The Gospel Coalition’s annual book awards offer help identifying “sound theological works” for your enrichment. We work hard to identify some of the best evangelical books published each year. This announcement is the culmination of months of hard work by a big team of book lovers. We receive nominations from publishers in 11 categories. Then our editors work together to recommend finalists in each category. Finally, a panel of judges reads each one carefully before casting their votes.”

“You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying.” Spurgeon

No One Drifts into Godliness: Three Resolves for Young Men by Erik Thoennes

Erik reminds young men, really all of us, that we must discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness. “A Christian’s life of discipline mostly looks mundane and unimpressive. We devote ourselves to the word, worship, prayer, proclamation, fellowship, service, suffering, giving, missions, and other basic means of grace that lead to growing intimacy with God and kingdom fruitfulness. Apart from such seemingly mundane discipline, however, we will drift toward despair rather than deeper delight.“

What Does It Mean to Have the Christmas Spirit? J.I. Packer’s Answer by Randy Alcorn

Randy Alcorn shares an excerpt from J. I. Packer’s Knowing God that describes what it means to have the Christmas spirit. It’s a powerful quote. Here’s a taste: “The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor–spending and being spent–to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others–and not just their own friends–in whatever way there seems need.”

The Case for Children in Corporate Worship

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Introductory Statement: The church, as the body of Christ, is called to be a family. This is not merely a metaphor; it’s a living, breathing reality (1 Timothy 3:14-16). And the gathered worship of God’s people is the heartbeat of this family, where the Word is faithfully preached, the ordinances are properly administered, and the people of God are progressively edified. (CLICK HERE to view a handout on the importance of corporate worship from one of my Sunday evening teachings.)

“Corporate worship is the most important thing we could ever do in this life.” Jonathan Cruse

“Corporate worship is the single most important means of grace and our greatest weapon in the fight for joy, because like no other means, corporate worship combines all three principles of God’s ongoing grace: his word, prayer, and fellowship.” David Mathis

The Context: Our church family offers age-segregated ministries during Sunday School, Sunday evening ministries, and Wednesday evening ministries. The only time our church does not offer age-segregated ministries is on Sunday morning during the corporate worship hour. (We do offer a nursery for 0-3-year-olds.)

The Concern: Recently, a handful of church members have voiced their desire to create a separate children’s church for children aged 4 to 5th grade, intending to provide a tailored worship experience for the younger ones in our church. While I recognize the well-meaning nature of this proposal, I must express my concern that such a separation would inadvertently remove our children from the central aspect of church life: corporate worship, the heartbeat of a local church.

The Thesis of this Blog: Since this topic has gained a little traction, I wanted to briefly explain why I oppose children’s church for 4-year-olds to 5th graders. Ultimately, I believe that children should actively participate in corporate worship, as their presence is both biblically encouraged and essential for the health of our local church.

The Biblical Precedence for Intergenerational Corporate Worship

Old Testament: In the Old Testament, the Lord our God directly spoke to children. When He addressed the people from Mount Sinai, He had a message for kids: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). Additionally, in ancient Israel, the people of God are shown gathering together—all men, women, and children—to hear His Word and to respond in praise. For example, in Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Moses instructed the Israelites to assemble “the people—men, women, and little ones” to hear the Law “that they may learn and fear the Lord your God.” The term “litte ones” refers to children who are not yet able to walk long distances on their own. This mention of “little ones” is significant because it emphasizes the important covenantal reality that the next generation must be present to hear God’s statutes and promises.

The Gospels: Similarly, during Jesus’s ministry, He rebuked His disciples for hindering children, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). In the ancient world, “A child was a person of no importance in Jewish society, subject to the authority of his elders, not taken seriously except as a responsibility, one to be looked after, not one to be looked up to.”[1] The disciples believed that the incarnate Son of God had more significant matters to attend to than being interrupted by children. However, this assumption was far from accurate. Contrary to the prevailing worldview of the time, the Lord Jesus welcomed and blessed children throughout His earthly ministry.

New Testament Epistles: Finally, as Paul wrote his letters to the early church, his pastoral concern extended to the youngest in the congregation. In his epistle to the Ephesians, he bent down on his apostolic knee and said, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1-3). He taught a similar truth to the Colossians: “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20). Paul’s words not only convey biblical instruction, they also convey God’s heart for family units.

Corporate Worship is the Primary Context for Discipleship

The Primacy of Corporate Worship: Brothers and sisters, while we recognize that the Lord is omnipresent, it’s important to understand that His presence in corporate worship is both special and unique (Matthew 18:20; 1 Corinthians 5:4). A Puritan theologian emphasizes this by stating that “the Lord is with His people in public ordinances in a manner that is more special—more effective, more constant, and more intimate.” Because of this, corporate worship is essential to the life and minsitry of a church, especially when it comes to discipleship. It is the place where the Lord Jesus Christ meets with His people in a special way through the ministry of the Word and the proper administration of the ordinances. Therefore, excluding children from corporate worship denies them the opportunity to experience this significant moment that the Lord Jesus Christ has ordained for His people each week.

Corporate Worship Builds Up Children: Corporate worship is important not just for adults but also for children. While kids may not grasp every theological concept, such as justification and sanctification, they can still learn from the elements of the service. They can appreciate the flow of prayers, the beauty of hymns, the seriousness of the ordinances, and the impact of God’s Word being read aloud. Over time, I believe the Holy Spirit uses these experiences in worship to teach and shape children. He impresses deep truths on their hearts and minds, helping them develop a reverence for God’s greatness and a clearer understanding of the church’s purpose and mission. Therefore, keeping children away from these meaningful aspects of worship can hinder their spiritual growth and doctrinal formation.

“The Lord is most there where He is most engaged to be, and He has engaged Himself to be most there where most of his people are. The Lord has engaged to be with every particular saint, but when the particulars are joined in public worship, there are all His engagements united.” David Clarkson

Children Bless the Gathered Congregation

We Need to See the Children: I believe the presence of children in worship blesses the entire congregation. In the wisdom of God, the church is not a collection of isolated individuals but a covenant community spanning multiple generations. When children are present, adults are reminded of their responsibility to model godliness and pass down the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints “to the next generation” (Psalm 78:4). The cries of an infant or the wiggling of a toddler are not distractions but signs of life—evidence that God is fulfilling His promise to build His church through the generations. In other words, we need to see the children. It’s good for us as a church. And a church that cannot tolerate the presence of children risks becoming a barren institution.

“God didn’t fashion us to enjoy him finally as solitary individuals, but as happy members of a countless large family.” David Mathis

“At home, in my own house, there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through.” Martin Luther

Corporate Worship Equips Parents to Fulfill Their God-Given Responsibility

Children Need To See Their Parents: Is it healthy for a child to rarely see their parents participating in corporate worship? Is it beneficial for a child to scarcely see their father and mother participate in corporate prayers, congregational singing, and fellowshipping with fellow members of the household of God? I don’t believe it is. I think it significantly hinders a parent’s ability to fully disciple their children in the Christian faith. Conversely, involving children in corporate worship enables and equips parents to better disciple their children.

Consider this: the home serves as the foundational school of faith for children, while the church’s gathered worship reinforces the important teachings taught in the home. When children observe their parents engaging in worship—singing zealously, praying sincerely, and listening attentively to the preached Word—they are learning valuable lessons. As kids see their parents glorifying and enjoying God, they begin to realize the central purpose of their existence as well: to glorify and enjoy God!

Parents Can Take Corporate Worship Home: Furthermore, including children in corporate worship creates an opportunity for parents to continue the conversation at home, whether by explaining key points from the sermon or unpacking the meaning behind an old hymn. This connection between home life and church life enriches the family’s spiritual life and helps root children in the Christian faith.

Corporate Worship Does More For Children Than You Think

Children Can Get It: Some may argue that children are too young to understand aspects of corporate worship or that their presence disrupts its solemnity. However, this perspective underestimates both children’s capacity for understanding and the nature of corporate worship itself. While a child may not be able to articulate complex doctrines like the incarnation, they can certainly comprehend that Jesus loves them and died for their sins. Moreover, corporate worship is not a performance that requires perfect solemnity and silence; it is a family gathering where everyone is welcome. (I do believe parents should be instructed on the appropriate time to take a disruptive and unhinged child out of the gathering.)

The Conclusion

I believe that children should actively participate in corporate worship. We should resist the cultural tendency to separate our children from the life of the congregation. Instead, let’s embrace the beautiful yet messy reality of intergenerational worship. By doing this, we obey scripture and showcase the transformative power of the gospel, uniting all generations—young and old—in glorifying our great God. This, church, is one reason why corporate worship reveals the wisdom and glory of God to a spiritually ignorant and dark world.

“Christ’s people ought to be more welcoming than anyone else to children. Our churches should not be places where the adults cannot wait to put the children away in order to get to the adult task of worship. One of the scandals of so much evangelicalism is that we send people to their rooms as soon as we get to church. . . You should see people sitting in pews whose feet cannot touch the floor. . . We should, in church, welcome the wiggling and the squirming.” Albert Mohler

A Few Applications

As a church, we can take some small steps to cultivate an environment that fosters meaningful corporate worship for families and children:

  • Equip Families: We should provide good resources to help families train their children to participate in corporate worship in an age-appropriate manner. For instance, I recently came across a book titled “Parenting in the Pew,” which has been recommended as a guide for families seeking to shephered their children during corporate worship.
  • Cultivate Patience: It’s important for our congregation to bear with one another, especially during corporate worship. We’re family, after all, and we are all trying to figure it out.
  • Encourage Discipleship: We should encourage our seasoned, godly women to take on the important role of mentoring young mothers (Titus 2:4). They need to impart their wisdom and teach young mothers how to parent their children in the context of corporate worship.
  • Sermons for All: It’s really helpful to preach sermons that connect with the kids in our congregation, just like Paul did in his letters. This way, we can get our younger members involved and show them we were thinking about them as we prepared our sermons.
  • Singable Theology: We should ensure that the hymns and songs we choose are gospel-centered and singable. This way, people of all ages, from kids to grandparents, can join in and worship the Lord together through song!

If we work together to do this, we can foster a healthy church culture that honors God and supports the spiritual growth of future generations within the life of First Baptist Church of Jackson.

[1] R. T. France, Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 1, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 274.

Article Roundup: Helpful Reads

philipmcduffie Leave a comment

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!

A Clear Moral Divide: It’s Not Hard to Explain Why Christians Vote Republican by Andrew Walker

I’m grateful that Andrew Walker continues to address this topic. “Once it is understood that the political divide in contemporary America is, at its core, a moral divide—and that moral reasoning is inescapably shaped by underlying religious or metaphysical commitments—it follows that the fundamental distinction between the major political parties lies in the extent to which each permits itself to be guided by religiously informed moral values. While party identities may evolve over time, the modern Democratic Party has become institutionally aligned with a secular progressive framework that is, in its foundational assumptions, incompatible with a biblical moral vision.”

The End for Which God Created the World by Kevin DeYoung

A stream of gratitude should flow from our hearts and mouths as we reflect on God’s work of creation. “We must never suppose that God created the cosmos out of lack—because he wanted a relationship, or he wanted someone to love. God did not create the world because he was thirsty. Rather, God created the world because it is the nature of a fountain to overflow. Creation is the super-abundance of divine goodness, beauty, mercy, love, wisdom, power, sovereignty, self-sufficiency, self-existence, justice, holiness, faithfulness, and freedom.”

Do You See the Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson

When Sinclair Ferguson writes about the person of the Holy Spirit, you should read it! “So, for all the repetition of the mantra that the Holy Spirit is no longer “the forgotten person of the Godhead,” it is questionable whether we enjoy richer, more intimate communion with the Spirit himself. So, the lingering question (at least for me) remains this: Who is the Holy Spirit? How can I think what Spirit dwells within me?”

How the Exile is Relevant for Christians Today by Nicholas Piotrowski

Church, we’re almost home! “Between Jesus’s first and second comings, we are in the last chapter of history. For in Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension, the ages have shifted. We have entered into the time when the man Jesus Christ has launched our homecoming. The major turning point of history, therefore, is not the Enlightenment, the founding of America, or the last election. It’s not your birthday or recent promotion or dismissal. It is the time in history when God entered the creation in Christ and commenced the church’s return to the presence of God—now in the church’s worship (Heb. 12:18‒25) and soon in that new creation world without end (Heb. 12:26‒27).”

A Word on Diligence by Blake Long

Articles like this are always timely. Perhaps that’s because I often find myself misusing time. “Be intentional, believer, about your diligence unto the Lord. Make the best use of your time. We won’t be perfect, but we want to glorify God with our time. Whether it’s social media, TV, or the like, it’s not the consumption that is the problem (although it sometimes can be), but it’s the over-consumption. We replace Bible-reading with binge-watching the latest show on Netflix. We replace prayer with mindlessly scrolling through reels. We replace our spiritual disciplines with different things that distract us. God has called us to more than that.”

Article Roundup: Helpful Reads

philipmcduffie Leave a comment

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!

The Woman Who Saved Capitol Hill Baptist Church by Caleb Morell

Praise the Lord for Agnes Shankle, a woman who stood up and spoke for the glory of God and the good of her local church. Also, she is an excellent example of how congregationalism can prevent a church from drifting. “A sign of a church’s health is not simply how well the church’s leaders know their Bibles but how well the members do. It should be every church’s prayer that if its leadership ever attempts to lead in a direction of unfaithfulness to God’s word, there is an Agnes Shankle in their midst who is willing to stand up and say, ‘Not in my house.'”

Orthodoxy Has Always Been Essential for Orthopraxy by Kevin DeYoung

Let us remain faithful to good, sound apostolic doctrine, trusting that the Lord will work through it to empower us to live godly lives in this present evil age. “It is not enough to exhort people to live like Jesus. To be sure, the apostolic message exhorted people to live godly lives but only in conjunction with a robust message about sin, salvation, incarnation, resurrection, atonement, reconciliation, and eternal life. Any gospel that denies these essentials or ignores them or skips over them to get to something else or leads people to doubt them or does not deal straightforwardly with them is, in effect, a different gospel. The Christian faith is more than a doctrine to be believed, but it is never less.”

There’s No Contradiction Between God’s Empowerment and Our Efforts to Battle Sin by Randy Alcorn

God enables Spirit-indwelt Christ-followers to put sin to death and live godly, holy lives in this present evil age. “If you believe Christ automatically does everything to make the Christian life happen, how do you understand ‘make every effort’? There is no such thing as a passive Christian life. The passive soldier is an easy target. The good news is that God makes His resurrection power available to us to walk in victory over sin. Unfortunately, many people think of this as automatic and do not take aggressive efforts to guard themselves.”

Enjoying God Together Forever: The Beatific Vision and Friendship by Samuel Perkins

Samuel Perkins strives to show how the Beatific Vision “enriches the Christian life in one particular area: Christian fellowship, especially fellowship found in the context of our local churches.” “Not in vain does the author of Hebrews warn against the habit of skipping church (Heb. 10:25). He goes on to say that, in a very real sense, when we gather together for regular worship, we go to heaven (Heb. 12:18–29). In other words, on those frantic Lord’s Day mornings, when you are trying to get your kids out the door with pleas of ‘time to go to church!’ you would not be lying if instead you said, ‘time to go to heaven!’ This would do wonders for the way we look at our humble little churches and the relationships we forge there. The prospect of the beatific vision motivates us to redouble our efforts to press in and invest in these relationships. The deeper, more sanctifying, more intimate, more God-glorifying our relationships are here, the more they reflect our heavenly homeland and give us a taste of future glory.”

Gratitude by Jake Meador

I’m thankful for how Jake Meador teaches us to show honor to whom honor is due. This also serves as a good reminder to thank God for those teachers He has used to edify and build us up in the faith. “Two of TGC’s founders, of course, are no longer involved in the work—D. A. Carson because of health reasons and Tim Keller because he has gone to his rest. The third founder, John Piper, now nearly 80, continues to speak (and, if his quip about AI at the end of his keynote is any measure, still has his fastball). But even for Piper, much of the work he will do I suspect he has done. And as I thought about these things while attending the conference, the overwhelming sense I had throughout was a feeling of profound gratitude.”

Article Roundup: Helpful Reads

philipmcduffie Leave a comment

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!

He Rested on the Final Sabbath: The Quiet Hope of Holy Saturday by David Mathis

The Bible is amazing. God’s providential governance of all things is breathtaking. “A late Friday afternoon providence may have felt like small comfort to his shattered followers. But they did not yet know how soon this seed, sown in an unsuspecting garden, would spring with the indestructible life of Israel’s resurrection hope.”

The Problem With Habits (and Why We Still Need Them) by Darryl Dash

This is such a helpful reminder. When it comes to spiritual disciplines, we must keep the end in mind! “Habits are important when they help us focus on Christ, deepen our relationship with him, and transform us through his presence. Think of habits as valuable servants but poor masters. Let them help you deepen your connection while staying focused on your relationship with the Triune God.”

Beware Toxic Servant Leadership by Jacob Crouch

This is an important point of clarification. “But sometimes this servant leadership becomes toxic. Sometimes, what people mean by servant leadership is not leadership at all. If I only understand leadership as deferring to others and not stepping on people’s toes, then I’m at risk for ignoring what God has called me to do.”

6 Lessons We Learn from the Nicene Creed by Kevin DeYoung

I would love to see FBC Jackson become more familiar with the Nicene Creed. I’ll probably teach through it at some point! “Here are six summary statements—or, we might say, six lessons—we can learn from this seventeen-hundred year-old confession of faith, the Nicene Creed.”

Pierced for Our Transgressions: Why Nails Matter by Benjamin Gladd

On April 14, 2025, Christianity Today published an article titled “Was Jesus Crucified with Nails? Why One Evangelical Bible Scholar Thinks the Answer Might Be No.” The article was biblically anemic. Thankfully, Benjamin Gladd published an article on the importance of nails on April 18, 2025. I don’t know if it was a response to the Christianity Today article, but it sure was timely. “By preserving the details about nails that pierced Jesus’s hands and feet, we’re reminded that at the gospel’s heart lies One who is pierced, One who bore God’s wrath, so you and I can enjoy God’s favor.”

The Death of Pope Francis: His Transitional Papacy of Liberal Suggestion and Signaling is Now Over, but What Comes Next? by Albert Mohler

Mohler speaks candidly about Pope Francis. “Francis will go down in history as the pope of liberal gesture—the vicar of equivocation. Just when his church needed a firm hand and intellectual firepower, he responded with a shrug. He filled critical Vatican appointments with liberal cronies and appointed as the church’s chief doctrinal protector a fellow Argentinian whose writings included materials rightly defined as sexually perverse.”

Francis (1936–2025), the Pope Who Made the Roman Church More ‘Catholic’ by Leonardo de Chirico

Leonardo speaks candidly about Pope Francis as well! “The change Francis brought about didn’t promote an evangelical move in the Roman Church. He made his church more ‘catholic’ and less Roman, but no more biblical. Regardless of who the next pope will be, the need for a biblical reformation will be as relevant as ever.”

Article Roundup: Helpful Reads

philipmcduffie Leave a comment

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!

The Church and the Embryo: Evangelicals Have Largely Failed to Take a Stand Against IVF by Nathanael Blake

If the church is to maintain a consistent pro-life ethic, it must oppose the current practices surrounding IVF, even if some folks will be offended. “But most conservative Protestant denominations, let alone the multitude of nondenominational congregations, have tried to dodge the issue. And there is an obvious reason for this: IVF is popular, and many churches have members who have used it, in many cases without regard for the fate of “excess” embryos. Taking a stand on IVF—even only to say that human embryos should not be destroyed—would mean calling people to repentance in ways that will be difficult and painful. But a church that won’t do that risks becoming merely a Jesus-branded social club.”

The Enormous Significance of Small Tasks by Melissa Edgington

This article will encourage the parents of young children. “Today I found myself becoming irritated because I have writing to do, and instead I was coaxing a toddler to sit on the toilet. For just one moment the attitude hit hard that I have more important things to do, and as that thought hung in the air over my frazzled, middle-aged, graying head, I felt my stomach drop. Instant repentance washed over me, and I know Jesus heard the silent cry of my heart: Lord, forgive me.”

10 Things You Should Know about the Resurrection by Adrian Warnock

EVERY SUNDAY IS RESURRECTION SUNDAY! “Sadly, the church only seems to get excited about the resurrection once a year at Easter time. In reality, every Sunday should be Resurrection Sunday. The reason why the early church began to meet on the first day of the week was to celebrate Jesus’s defeat of death. Imagine what church would be like if we consciously gathered every week to celebrate the resurrection?”

Don’t Wait to Have Kids: If You’re Married, You’re Ready to Start Having Children—and Waiting is Risky by John Shelton

John gives us several reasons why married couples should start having children sooner rather than later. I think they’re compelling. “Don’t wait to start having kids” was the best advice I ever received as a newlywed. While conventional wisdom says to put off parenthood for a couple years to focus on your marriage or your household finances, the truth is that you will never be fully ready and there are serious costs to waiting.”

How Does Sanctification Differ from Justification? by Kevin DeYoung

It’s always good to get a refresher on the doctrines of justification and sanctification. “From this definition, we can already see that justification and sanctification, though related, are different gifts. The most serious, and potentially damning, errors surface when the two are not carefully distinguished.”