The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #36

Audio Book App Recommendations

Pastor Spotts shares some tips for listening to free educational content.

A Statement on I Kissed Dating Goodbye

As one who was a teen right when Joshua Harris’ highly influential book came out, it is interesting and instructive to see him issue a retraction and revision of his prior views. It’s a lesson on humility and the greater nuance that tends to come with years.

The Doctrine of Justification According to Gabriel Biel and Johann v. Paltz

Who were Luther and 16th century Protestants actually responding to? This old but useful article shows how late medieval figures such as Gabriel Biel, “condemned Pelagius, but their teaching was only another form of Pelagianism.”

How Should Christians Respond to the Imprecatory Psalms?

How should Christians respond to psalms that invoke calamity or curses upon one’s enemies? From Ligonier’s 2016 National Conference, W. Robert Godfrey, Albert Mohler, and William VanDoodewaard consider biblical prayers of judgment.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

Audio Book App Recommendations

Recently, I was asked what is the “best and least expensive way to listen to audio books.” The person went on to explain, “I have such a hard time sitting down to read a physical book other than my morning devotions. However, I have no problem listening to podcasts when going to the gym…” Thankfully, if that describes your situation, there are many fine options without having to resort to an Audible subscription ($15/month).

Here’s how:

1. First, make sure to register online for a Phoenix library ecard. 

2. Next, download these free apps: 

• Libby  (nicer controls, better selection of books)

• Hoopla (fewer audio books; includes different titles and movies)

Basically, your Phoenix tax dollars have already purchased access to much of the Audible catalog for you. Both Libby and Hoopla apps allow you to "borrow" items (audio/video/text) for 14-30 days with your library card. You can even move between devices (phone/tablet/computer) and continue where you left off. Like physical libraries, sometimes there's a wait time for popular books. Also, you can also have child-friendly settings if your kids use the apps.

Some books I've listened to for free:

Note: There are many others available that I have not mentioned. Those below are just from the past two years when I began using these apps.

• Christianity

  • Basic Christianity by John Stott (Libby)

  • Prayer by Tim Keller (Libby)

  • The Reason for God by Tim Keller (Libby)

  • Justified by Faith Alone by R. C. Sproul (Hoopla)

  • Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield (Libby)

  • On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandra  (Hoopla)

  • The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis (Hoopla)

  • Practice Resurrection by Eugene Peterson  (Hoopla)

  • Life Together by Bonhoeffer (Hoopla)

• History & Biography

  • Sailing the Wine Dark Sea (Libby)

  • How the Irish Saved Civilization (Libby)

  • John Adams by McCullough (Libby)

  • Washington by Ron Chernow (Libby)

  • A Little History of the World by Gombrich (Hoopla)

  • Plutarch's Greek and Roman Lives (Hoopla)

  • Absolute Monarchs (papal history) (Hoopla)

  • Beautiful Boy (Libby)

  • A Bridge Too Far (Libby)

  • Jerusalem by Simon Montefiore (Libby)

  • Hero of the Empire (Churchill) (Libby)

  • John Chrysostom by Blackburn  (Hoopla)

• Self-Help

  • A Random Walk Down Wallstreet (Libby)

  • Investing for Dummies

  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Libby)

• Science

  • The Fabric of the Cosmos by Greene (Libby)

• Fiction

  • The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (Libby)

  • 1984 by George Orwell (Hoopla)

  • Aesop's Fables (Hoopla)

  • Les Miserables by Hugo  (Hoopla)

Willing to pay?

Check out Audible.com and ChristianAudio.com for even more content.

PS: Two podcasts I recommend: 

• Al Mohler's Briefing

• Dan Carlin's Hardcore History series. While not exactly suitable for children, the ones on the Assyrian and Roman empires have lots of overlap with biblical history.
  
  

Enjoy!

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #35

What does it mean that “God is the head of Christ”?

A thoughtful exegetical examination of this perhaps puzzling phrase in 1 Cor 11.

Why we need “blue laws,” the religious tradition that sanctifies life outside of work

This piece is especially interesting as it comes from a highly liberal publication. Whether or not you agree with the author on the need for blue laws, the point is that even unbelievers are beginning to rethink (and recognize) the wisdom of remembering the sabbath.

Elders are to Be Hospitable, Not Just Their Wives

If you have ever aspired to the office, here’s something to consider.

A Holy Crime: The Night Missionaries Smuggled One Million Bibles into China

Here’s a fascinating story of the lengths Christians have gone to share the written Word.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #34

Glorifying & Enjoying God Through Reformed Spiritual Disciplines

Tom Schwanda offers biblical and historical insights on how our tradition has exercised itself unto godliness.

Fasting in an Age of Fast Food

While we’re on the subject of spiritual disciplines, Daniel R. Hyde provides a good summary of what biblical fasting is and why Christians—even you—might do so.

The First Two Minutes Matter Most

“Here’s the challenge: Determine right now that when the service ends, you will do your utmost to give the first two minutes to someone you don’t know or to someone you don’t know well. The temptation will be to turn straight to your friends, to immediately catch up with the people you know the best and love the most. There will be time for that.”

John Calvin: Who He Was and Why He Matters

We’re coming up on Reformation Day, so it makes sense to revisit the significance of this seminal figure.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #33

Let’s bring back the Sabbath as a radical act against the always-on economy

I wasn’t expecting Fast Company to publish an article praising the wisdom of the Lord’s Day. Quite interesting.

Why Millennials ARE Coming to Church

Stephen McAlpine describes why people in their 20-30’s attend his church. In his opinion, it partly owes to the counter-cultural experience they receive in old-school worship.

If Creeds Aren’t Infallible, Why Use Them?

Like the title says, this article offers a brief but helpful answer.

Animation Presents Ancient Corinth During The Roman Period (Video)

Pretty neat to get a sense of this prosperous city in the time of the Apostle Paul.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #32

On Giving Criticism as a Christian

Eventually, you’ll have to. So here are 8 brief tips to consider before sharpening the ol’ iron.

A Society Without the Psalms

Worth reading. “The Scriptures and specifically the Psalms provide a powerful apologetic for the veracity and necessity of Christian faith. So often our apologetics are propositional, intellectual, and reactive to the currents and trends which besiege the mind of our peers. But what of an apologetic which springs from the aesthetic, the paraenetic, the authoritative reality of what the Psalms say? What of an apologetic which sees that fallen image bearers of God are hungry for the beauty and the clarity which the Psalms embody?“

Parenting Daughters toward Godliness, Not Marriage

Rachel Starke describes her challenges and lessons learned in bringing up a daughter unto the Lord, who may or may not marry in this life. “I won’t promise her a marriage outside of the one John writes about in Revelation.”

The Unattainable Perfectionism of Millenials

As one born in 1984, on the cusp of the cultural trend we call Millennialism, I can relate to some of what is said here. Certainly, there is a great need to apply the depth and grace of Christianity to this demographic.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #31

Why We Need to Talk About Sin

Our culture tends to shun the idea of sin. Robert Godfrey insists, however, that the Church must not refrain from shedding light on this doctrine, lest we forget the purpose of Christ’s coming.

Can Someone Be Spiritually Healthy and Still Experience Mental Health Challenges?

Brad Hambrick, an Instructor of Biblical Counseling at SBTS, suggests an answer to this complex question.

Ten Lessons for Growing Older

Most people live to old age, so it makes sense to face the reality of aging by preparing for it. Here are a few practical points to consider.

The Strange Protestant Bible of Henry VIII

An informative video on how our modern English Bibles come by the unlikely way of a King who was opposed to Protestantism.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.

The Sunday Reader: Vol. 1 | #30

Be a Missionary, Not a Marketer

Christ taught his disciples to “go” into the world. This article leads you to ask whether churches are becoming overly dependent on passive, impersonal, or shallow methods of attracting outsiders to worship. In effect, saying, “come to us.”

Orphans in Mediterranean antiquity and Early Christianity

This scholarly article sheds historical light on James' call to practice “true religion.” It will give you a better sense of the challenged which early Christians confronted with costly compassion.

The Gospel and Solitude

Over at Ligonier, Donald Whitney meditates on the benefits of setting aside time to be alone with the Lord.

Should Christians Boycott Abusive Companies?

The short answer is that it's not black and white. But Clint Archer ventures to offer a longer response.

ABOUT — The Sunday Reader shares articles we've found particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or edifying this week. While not always representing the views of our Pastors and Elders, these selections offer a mix of viewpoints to broaden and frame your understanding of God, Scripture, ourselves, and the world we serve in Christ's name.