Peter Leithart’s new book, titled simply Gratitude: An Intellectual History, takes a sweeping look at gift-giving from ancient to modern times, with particular emphasis on how Christ changed — and continues to influence — the culture and customs surround gifts. Review from Christianitytoday.com. (Photo by Tiger Girl, used by Creative Commons license)
How many pastors have had to resign in disgrace? Too many. Knowing how to set — and keep! — good boundaries can go a long way toward keeping a ministry trouble- and accusation-free! From ChurchLeaders.com. (Photo by Sharron Blezard)
:Just Eating? Practicing Our Faith at the Table” is a seven-session curriculum for congregations that call us to integrate the commitments and practices of our faith into the way we eat. The study uses scripture, prayer and stories from the local and global community to explore five key aspects of our relationship with food. (Photo by JBloom, used by Creative Commons license.)
OK, followers of Jesus the Christ, what’s your relationship with the material goods of the world? If you can work that out, you’re taking a huge step in stewardship. This handy graphic from the Story of Stuff Project can get you thinking.
If the market has become our God, what does it mean to confess Christ? It means trusting what Luther called the first principle of Christian doctrine — the gracious love of God given in Christ, a saving love that cannot be shaken from us or diminished by any force in heaven or earth. And it means heeding Luther’s second principle, the call to embody God’s love in our lives by loving neighbor as self. (Photo by Pandah, used by Creative Commons License)
This handy four-page PDF outlines the basic concepts involved in stewardship that confront Christians and congregations in North America, including hyper consumerism, idolatry, discipleship and commitment. Good for anyone trying to steer a godly course in our culture.
The Christian Reformed Church is a tiny denomination with just a quarter million members, but their members give in an outsized way — more than twice the national average among Protestant churches. They are doing something right, ChristianityToday reports. (Photo by iqoncept, via bigstockphoto.com)
What if the biggest threats to the church weren’t the things we thought they were? We may find that we’ve been blind to more subtle and subversive influences that are having a greater impact on the church than the issues that consume us.Here are just five overlooked cultural norms that are contrary to the Kingdom and are sinful within the Kingdom, unknowingly supported by many of us. ( Photo by Ignorant Walking, used by Creative Commons license)
Among the most revolutionary actions a person could take in a society like ours is really no action at all. Just stop. Don’t buy any more stuff. Don’t even want to buy stuff. Just be content. A Buddhist’s observations in Utne Reader can teach Christians a lot. (Photo by Leland Francisco, used by Creative Commons […]
Spring is here, and many people put spring cleaning high on their priority list. Along with dusting, washing and vacuuming, why not take the time to sort through your possessions and get rid of the stuff you don’t really need? Lifeway writer Jason Hayes shares his family’s experience. (Photo by Karl Sinfield, used by Creative […]
