Goal for Weekly Once-Over

Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (08.08.13)

When to Multiply a Gospel Community: Last week we posted an article explaining why we should multiply Gospel Communities; now this week is the second blog post to that from Todd Engstrom. This blog will give GC's and GC Leaders a good understanding of when the right time is to multiply their groups and when not to multiply.

Redemption for the Scars: Here is a great blog post from Kendra Dahl, where she talks about the scars that have built up from her past and how the truth of the gospel is greater than those scars. Kendra shows us a great deal of how the gospel changes and transforms everything.

Are You a Part-Time Churchgoer? You May Be Surprised: Here is a blog post by Trevin Wax about how to desearn if you are a part-time churchgoer. You may be surprised at how Recent statistics show that an increasing number of evangelicals who are firm in their faith are flabby in their practice of actually gathering with their brothers and sisters in worship. It’s the part-time syndrome, and it can sneak up on any of us. Make sure you read to the end of the blog where Travin points us to the gospel even in the midst of these statistics.

Apologetic Sound Bites: 'How Can You Claim There's Only One True Religion?': "How can you claim there’s only one true religion?’ You may be asked this question as you’re at the photocopier at work or at the bar buying a round. Here’s the second part in the apologetics series that will give you some ideas of how to respond when you only have five minutes."

Living In Christ: “Be what we are, be what we are becoming, and be what we will be on the final day of Christ Jesus.” As a Christian our spiritual formation is grounded “in Christ.” This “in Christ” motif, especially in the Pauline letters, sets the spiritual trajectory for proper Christian growth. Yet, it might be the most overlooked aspect of our spiritual growth."

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (7.03.13)

Jesus Cancelled Your Mommy Guild Trip - I've noticed a common thread that threatens to unravel us all. Moms live with a sense of guilt that we'll never be or do enough. Here is a great post for them guilt creeps up on mom's and how to see God's grace in the midst of it all.

Fourth of July Reflection on a Changing America - For Christians, the issue of patriotism is always complicated by our citizenship in two realms, one earthly and one heavenly.  This blog posts give many great suggestions on how Christians are to live in this work but remember they are not of this world.

Family Ministry: How a Biblical Worldview Shapes the Way We Teach Our Children- "To have a biblical worldview is to interpret every aspect of our lives—including our relationships with children—within the framework of God’s story. At the center of God’s story stands this singular act: In Jesus Christ, God personally intersected human history and redeemed humanity at a particular time in a particular place. Yet this central act of redemption does not stand alone. It is bordered by God’s good creation and humanity’s fall into sin on the one hand and by the consummation of God’s kingdom on the other. This story of creation, fall and law, redemption, and consummation is the story that Christians have repeated to one another and to the world ever since Jesus ascended into the sky and sent his Spirit to dwell in his first followers’ lives. This age-old plot-line should frame every aspect of our lives—including how we treat and train children."

photo credit: lorenzo cuppini verducci via photopin cc

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (6.27.13)

The Gospel Coalition asked three moms of school-age children to share their families' perspectives on education. Jen Wilkin, Jenni Hamm, and Amanda Allen are three friends who attend the same church and raise families in the same geographic area. All three share mutual respect for each other as parents trying to raise children with intentionality, in the fear and admonition of the Lord. In this series, you will see their perspectives on how and why they chose to educate their children through public school, private school, or homeschooling.

• Going Public
• Homeward Bound
• A Private Enterprise

When Sin Is Grievous and Grace is Stunning - Tim Keller writes, "If we are going to grow in grace, we must stay aware of being both sinners and also loved children in Christ. We need a high and due sense of our sin before God and a deep and profound sense of our union with and acceptance in Christ. In the end, it's the joy and wonder of the gospel that will change you permanently."

The Most Compelling Reason to Read Your Bible - Often when we're asked about why we should read the Bible, we appeal to personal fulfillment, the exciting stories, the grand drama of redemption within its pages... Certainly all this is good and right and true. But there's a better reason, a more compelling reason for the Christian to read the Bible than any other.

6 Lessons from Everyday Discipleship - "Here are six lessons I’m learning as I lead my family to live in community with other people while making disciples of believers and unbelievers in the every day of life." - Josh McPherson

The Beauty of Church Membership - "Once each quarter I teach a new members class for people interested in joining our church. It's become one of my favorite responsibilities as a pastor. I'm a believer in church membership, no question. But I'll be honest: every time I teach the class I cringe a bit along with my audience at some of the things we discuss." - Matt McCullough

photo credit: Jon Winters via photopin cc

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (6.13.13)

The Puritans on Putting Sin to Death - Mortification of sin was what Paul was talking about when he said to the Colossians, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you" (Col.3:5). Here are six practical ways the puritans suggest how to put sin to death.

4 Questions to Check Your Church Culture - There's only so much you can learn about a church from their website...Culture is the heart of your church, the atmosphere your church creates...Unfortunately, the culture of a church doesn't always match the confession. Here is a few questions you can ask to know what your church culture is like.

Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole - With his new book that just came out, Eric Mason does an interview with Desiring God and talks through his book and the purpose, vision and desire for the book. Every guy needs to read this book.

I Am Not In Any Respect My Own - Sam Storms brings to light what Jonathan Edwards recorded for us in his personal Diary, when he talks about renewal of his baptismal covenant. Would that we all might recommit ourselves to the Lord in this way.

photo credit: [ changó ] via photopin cc

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we've seen this past week that have been helpful. Our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. Each Thursday of every week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

Weekly Once-Over (6.6.13)

Why Church Membership is so Important - David Platt and Mark Dever discuss the importance of church membership and why it is so important in the Christian life.

When Sports Fail Us - Parents: When your children face adversity in sports - and they will! - Here are four lessons from a Christian athlete and trainer to guide you.

Basic Training for Missional Communities (Gospel Communities) - Todd Engstrom of Austin Stone Church in Texas has a great post on basic training for MC (Gospel Communities).

Real Purity - From the Gospel Coalition Blog Hafeez Baoku writes about the joy of seeking purity. He says, "Only by God's grace can imperfect people, who fall short on a daily basis, stand forever pure before a holy and perfect God. And only through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can we proactively fight sin and overcome struggles."

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

Goal for Weekly Once-Over Weekly Once-Over is our weekly recap of some great blog posts that we have seen this past week that have been helpful and our hope is that they would benefit you in someway. So every Thursday of each week you will see a post that has links to different blog posts. Enjoy!

 Weekly Once-Over (5.16.13)

Pastor J.D. Greear has a great post about How To Navigate Conflict Well. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul mentions two kinds of speech: that which builds up and that which pulls down. This verse and the surrounding passage show us ten ways that we can handle conflict well—10 ways to fight like a Christian...

The Plastic Fruit of Online Living is a great and convicting blog post about living two lives (online and offline). How can our online life look different from our offline life and how do we navigate well when this is true.

Prayerlessness is Selfishness  "The things you pray about are the things you trust God to handle. The things you neglect to pray about are the things you trust you can handle on your own." This is a great post on prayerless points to selfishness.

Acts 29 Pastor from Austin Stone (Matt Carter) shows us how to catch a bird. This is funny and crazy at the same time. This is How You Catch a Bird

Are You Too Scared To Lead Thom Rainer has a great post about being too scared to lead. "I don't know any leader who isn't scared.  The question is are you TOO scared and WHY?"

When Dying Is Gain The art of living well comes from knowing that dying is gain.

photo credit: Broo_am (Andy B) via photopin cc