5 top Christian blog posts of the week—posts on praying for teens, social justice, autism, the resurrection, and more by Desiring God, J.D. Greear, John MacArthur, ERLC, and more.
The Prayers Our Teens Need Most (Desiring God)
Michele Morin (Desiring God) is honest. Her prayers for her teens were often “bound by everyday concerns.” So, she started praying John 17 for her children.
“Praying Jesus’s words for my teens lifts my eyes beyond every immediate need to the greater and more pressing concerns that Jesus voiced for his followers of all time, those who were with him at the Last Supper and those who sit around our dining room tables today.”
Read more about praying Jesus’ prayer for our teens at The Prayers Our Teens Need Most.
Social Injustice and the Gospel (John MacArthur)
John MacArthur is starting a blog mini-series on “the social gospel.” Today’s post links to his introductory post. It has already created a good deal of social media conversation. I’ll be interested to follow what position Pastor MacArthur takes on this vital issue of how the gospel relates to social justice. Read the introductory article here: Social Injustice and the Gospel.
An Interview with Pastor Paul Tautges (Shepherd Press)
Shepherd Press interviewed Paul Tautges about his new book, Discipling the Flock: A Call to Faith Shepherding. They introduce the interview with these words:
“Just what is it the pastor is supposed to be doing? What ought to be his goals? We’re talking to Paul Tautges about his new book, Discipling the Flock: A Call to Faithful Shepherding. It’s brief, it’s to the point, and its massively important. We encourage you to get a copy for yourself and for all your church leaders.”
Enjoy the full interview at An Interview with Pastor Paul Tautges.
Book Review of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism (ERLC)
ERCL is The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Today they posted a review by Jennifer Case Cortez of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Dr. Barry Prizant. I have just ordered this book. This paragraph alone made me want to read the entire book:
“In the first half, Prizant serves as a tour guide of sorts, walking the reader through the interior world of the autistic mind, piecing together a composite from thousands of interactions with clients, friends, and family members touched by the condition. He provides a new lens through which we can see “autistic behaviors,” reframing them as intelligent coping strategies rather than problematic behaviors. He teaches us to ask why, to listen, and to think of “obsessions” as “enthusiasms.” The underlying cognition he continually encourages is to stop looking at behaviors and look through them to understand the strategy they offer. The “autistic behavior” isn’t the problem, Prizant insists. The behavior is a strategy for dealing with an underlying issue. If you try to stop the behavior, not only are you failing to solve the problem, you’re also taking away a coping strategy.”
Read the entire review here: Book Review of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism.
Because of the Empty Tomb (J.D. Greear)
Pastor Greear writes:
“On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, a group of women went to his tomb. Instead of finding a dead body guarded by strong Roman guards, they found the guards on the ground and the tomb empty. Jesus had raised from the dead. On this fact rests every other aspect of the Christian faith. If the resurrection of Jesus is real, it’s game-on for all things Christian. And if it didn’t, it’s game over, because everything else we believe is a hoax. If that Jerusalem tomb really is empty, everything else in our lives suddenly looks different. What would otherwise threaten to destroy us no longer has ultimate power. The darkness that promises to speak the final word does not get the final word. Because of the empty tomb …”
To apply 6 results of the empty tomb, read Because of the Empty Tomb.
Join the Conversation
Which post impacted you the most? Why?
What additional blog posts from the past week do you recommend?
