“Gospel Links for Gospel Culture” is a weekly round-up of content to encourage you in your faith and ministry.
Help! I Married a Spiritually Immature Man
Deepak Reju:Picture this: Peter and Sarah meet at work. He’s hard-working, funny, well-respected in the office, and handsome. A few months ago, he took notice of Sarah. They started talking. Casual chitchat turned into long conversations. Lunches. Emailing. Texting. His fondness for her was clear, and he was direct, not vague like the other guys she dated. Here’s the kicker—she’s a Christian, he’s not. Sarah grew up in a solid Christian family and gospel-preaching church and was converted in high school. The fruit of the Spirit was evident in her.
6 Ways to Show Your Child God’s Design for Ethnic Diversity
Shai Linne:As Christians, we have the privilege of participating in what God is doing in redemptive history. We also have the responsibility to teach our children this kingdom perspective. Countercultural, biblical views don’t just happen. They must be taught.
This Thanksgiving, I’m Thankful for Difficult People
Chris Pappalardo:Our blindness to our own sin, however, does more than merely hamper our sanctification. It also kills thanksgiving. The more we latch on to the difficulties other people bring into our lives, the less likely we are to thank God for those people. We might still try thanking God for them. But it becomes a labor. Deep down, we are not grateful that God has brought these difficult people into our lives. We wish that he would fix them a little quicker. We wish he would bring them around less often. We wish we had more friends who were “givers” and fewer friends who were “takers.”
Is Your Home Centered on the Gospel or Your Kids?
Jamie Ivey:When my husband and I were newly married, he received a phone call that I will never forget. A college friend had called to say that his parents were getting a divorce after 25 years of marriage. As a young newlywed, this news shook me up. I could not imagine what would cause two people to divorce when they had been married for that long. I thought that surely you would have figured out things by then. I told you that I was a newlywed at the time, and clearly life hadn’t been too difficult for us yet.
Be Disciples that Make Disciples
Jonathon Woodyard:When I use the language of recruitment, I’m aware of some negative connotations. However, the idea connects nicely to the commission Jesus gives his people (Matt 28:18–20). When we call people to Jesus, we are upfront about the costs. Following Jesus is a call to lay down your life, leave everything behind, and follow him. We are calling (i.e. recruiting) people to throw in with the King of the universe, the satisfier of souls, the savior of the world. We intend and desire to multiply!
How Envy Forgets God’s Goodness
J.D. Greear:In Numbers 11, the children of Israel were about a year out from being delivered from slavery. They were passing through a wilderness, where God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and every morning provided manna for them to eat. Yet despite his miraculous provision, the Israelites still complained about their circumstances, and their complaining is a direct result of envy.
Kids Must Count the Cost, Too
Amy DiMarcangelo:If we’re serious about discipling our children, we must teach the cost of following Christ. After all, he said: “Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matt. 10:38–39). If we protect our kids from carrying crosses, we are stumbling blocks to them finding life in Christ.
The Gospel Project’s editorial team contributed to this post. Photo: Pixabay
