The Sunday Reader: Vol. 2 | #23

Why Does God Allow Us to Keep Struggling Against Sin?

I don’t know about you, but I needed this. “We think growing in grace means getting to a place where we don’t need grace anymore. But growing in grace often means growing in our awareness of our need for grace.”

10 Things to Know about What the Bible Teaches on God and Human Government

A concise, balanced summary of key biblical points with scripture references.

Many Hear the Gospel with Joy but Don’t Continue in the Faith

A compelling admonition to continue bearing fruit by the Spirit in faith.

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. 2 | #22

What Lay Elders Need to Know

A sound reminder.

How Tokyo's suburban housing became vast ghettoes for the old

This informative article should prompt you to think through ways our Christian community can better care for aging image-bearers among us.

Husbands, 8 Admonitions to Love Your Wife

From a friend, Rev. Boekestein. “Ultimately, we are loveless because we love ourselves more than we love God and are dissatisfied with God’s provision. This means that the more you love God the better equipped you will be to truly love your wife.”

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. 2 | #21

Getting Older Involves a Lot of Dying

This post reflects not just on the physical aspect of death, but many other ways that we experience an increase of dying as we age. Yet there are benefits to this! A worthy reflection.

Is Domesticity a Bad Word?

This recommendation comes by way of a respected female member of our congregation who found it beneficial. I’ll only add that men have a place in tending their homes, too.

Is There Really an ‘Orthodox’ View on Sexuality?

“One of the biggest debates facing evangelicalism today is not the nature of marriage and sexuality, but whether or not different views of marriage and sexuality constitute an issue on which orthodox Christians can simply “agree to disagree … Does orthodoxy require a certain stance?”

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. 2 | #20

Praying for the Dead

Protestant Christians are losing sight of the Reformation as reflected in a growing trend on social media, to offer prayers for the recently deceased. This article explains the issue and offers a corrective.

The Peculiar Blindness of Experts

This article from the Atlantic is not specifically Christian, but gets at an important piece fo wisdom. More information doesn’t itself guarantee more understanding. Even so, believers do well to have a broad general knowledge of their faith against which they can “test all spirits,” and not just specialize in one area of doctrine.

Reprobation by Jerome Zanchius

Here’s a mid-length treatise on a challenging subject by a classic Reformed theologian.

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. 2 | #19

How R.C. Sproul Blessed the Church by Preaching the Curse

Here’s a recap of one of the late pastor’s most well-known and influential sermons, as well as a reflection on why it was so important.

Three Articles on Interpreting the Bible Well

• 16 Rules of Biblical Interpretation

• How to Read the Bible & Do Theology Well by Don Carson

• Rules for Biblical Interpretation in the Reformed Tradition

The Letter to the Church in Laodicea

Speaking of interpretation, this post gets at the (often mis-applied) meaning of “lukewarm” in Revelation 2.

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. 2 | #18

What the Bible Says About Itself — Book by Book

Exactly as it says. A neat resource.

Walk With Me Through a Midlife Crisis

Now in his seventies, pastor John Piper reflects on what was for him the hardest season of a long life. More importantly, he explains how he weathered it in reliance on the Lord’s grace.

How we treat the church is how we treat Christ

Some powerful truths here. “A high view of the church is a high view of Christ. If the church becomes a high priority, Christ is a high priority. Serving the people of the church is a measure of our love for Christ. Serving in the ministries of the church is a measure of our love for Christ. Turning up at weekly worship and engaging with the Lord’s people is a measure of our love for Christ.” The opposite is true as well.

“On the Christian Life”

Here’s a classic little treatise by John Calvin. Everyone should read it.

Photos of Tulip Season in the Netherlands

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. 2 | #17

Are Your Church Structures Undermining the Gospel?

This is more of a reminder of why we do some of what we do at Phoenix URC. Namely, bering as age-inclusive as possible.

9Marks on Church Membership

Here’s a trove of resources dealing with one very important issue. Are Christians called to formal membership? If so, why?

The Greatest Archaeological Discovery of the 20th Century

Here’s an Interview with a renowned expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

This 1,060-Hour Photo of a Galaxy Was Shot by Amateur Astrophotographers

Glorify God for his creative power! See the photo in high resolution here (80MB) and learn more about how it was shot here.

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. 2 | #16

The Providence of God as Revealed in Holy Scripture

In light of the upcoming PM sermon, here’s a study presented by our sister denomination, the RCUS.

11 Advantages Of Having 50 Churches Of 100 Instead Of 1 Church Of 5,000

Something to think about as we continue to grow by God’s grace and strategize for the future.

The FAQs: Supreme Court to Decide Whether ‘Sex’ Includes Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

This is a big deal. Let’s be informed and effective citizens of this country and, what’s more, our eternal kingdom.

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.