Midweek Roundup - 1/14/15

Each Wednesday we share recent links we found insightful and helpful. These are often related to Crossway books, Bibles, or authors—but not always. We hope this list is an interesting and encouraging break for the middle of your week.

1. An interview with Collin Hansen on the future of the “young, restless, and reformed”

Dave Harvey regularly discusses issues of pastoral calling with evangelical pastors and leaders. In this episode of the Am I Called podcast, Dave interviews Collin Hansen.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The circumstances which led Collin to write Young, Restless, and Reformed.
• The current state of the Reformed movement, and where it is headed.
• Lessons learned from the celebrity pastor problem.
• And more…

2. Sam Storms explains "the unforgivable sin"

Let me speak to those of you who are convinced you have committed the unforgiveable sin, or at least are fearful that you may have. A particular sin in your life has caused you massive internal anguish, indescribable emotional pain, piercing guilt, and a shame so heavy and paralyzing that you feel as if every breath of spiritual life is being squeezed out of you…

Trust me: if I’ve just described you, I tell you on the authority of the Word of God, I tell you with absolute confidence and joy, you have not committed the unforgiveable sin!

3. Justin Holcomb talks about creeds, liturgy, and grace on the Acts29 podcast

3:15 — Why should Acts 29 care about the creeds and councils?

7:28 — Why should be liturgy be important to us?

15:40 — How do you define the grace of God? Who gets it? And how?

29:00 — Talking brokenness, grace, and the church planter.

4. Mark Dever and Ligon Duncan discuss church membership

Should the everyday Christian care about something as old-fashioned and outmoded as church membership? Does its practice make sense in contexts without church discipline? Isn’t it just a “Baptist thing”? Mark Dever interviews Ligon Duncan about all this and more in the latest 9Marks Leadership interview: “Church Membership in Theory and Practice.”

5. Jen Wilkin talks about applying and understanding the promises of Scripture

Not many things are more comforting than a promise made and kept. And not many things are more hurtful than a promise broken. Knowing we worship a God who keeps his promises is a source of deep joy. But misapplied, this knowledge can also lead us to treasure-hunt Scripture for promises in problematic ways.

How can we know which promises are for us? How can we lay claim to the promises of the Bible without overstepping their application? Here are some common pitfalls to keep in mind as you study.