Links I Like

Links I Like is a collection of blogs, articles and books I’ve come across recently and thought they were worth sharing. Click here for past Links I Like.

book

  1. Christine Hoover on 25 things a veteran church planter’s wife has learned about church planting. I couldn’t agree more with this list. So much truth here.
  2. What churches can do to prevent sexual abuse in their church.
  3. Darryl Dash on How many hours should a pastor work in a week.
  4. Victoria’s Secret is coming for your middle schooler. A must read for parents of daughters.
  5. Russell Moore on Should Christians boycott Starbucks.
  6. Knowing how much access to give as a pastor and leader. Great insights.
  7. An open letter to the church from a lesbian.

Links I Like

  1. Dear stay-at-home mom. Here is some truth every stay at home mom needs to hear. There is no greater way to make an impact in your family’s life and future generations than being a stay-at-home mom.
  2. 4 rules for preachers.
  3. Charles Stone on 5 ways to get people to pay attention to your sermon.
  4. Dealing with that post-preaching feeling. Have this feeling every week. Such a helpful post if you preach or how you can pray for your pastor after they preach.
  5. Thom Rainer on Two big distractions for pastors.

Links I Like

Links for Your Weekend Enjoyment

  1. How were the books of the New Testament chosen?
  2. Dave Stone on Leadership begins at home. Great post for parents. 
  3. Are Mormons Christians?
  4. Thom Rainer on Why I avoid writing negative or controversial blog posts.
  5. 4 reasons a student ministry grows part 1 and part 2. If you aren’t serving at Revolution and would like to serve in Rev Up, contact Jared Carter
  6. The best social media tip I can give you

Man Up!

Over 20 years John Piper lamented:

Little help is being given to a son’s question, “Dad, what does it mean to be a man and not a woman?”

It’s easy to be discouraged about this rampant confusion in our culture (and in our churches), and it’s easy to worry deeply about the ongoing crisis of absentee fathers and delayed (or perpetual) adolescence.

But I’m encourage by the new “Man Up” campaign by ReachLife Ministries and Reach Records.

Even if this isn’t your “kind of music,” maybe you’d consider stopping and praying for a moment that God would use these gospel-centered brothers to make a real difference in helping a lost and hurting generation—especially in the urban context—discover what it means to be a real man in Christ.

You can go get an MP3 for the “Man Up Anthem,” and watch the video below:

Here’s a trailer for the short film they are working on in connection with the album:

More explanation of the whole vision and campaign below.

THE PROBLEM
There’s an ongoing war within urban culture. Confusion over what manhood is has plagued our cities, families and lives. The concept of a biblical man has been lost in our generation. Unfortunately, many churches struggle to provide its urban members, much less those beyond their walls, with a tangible definition of a real man.

THE CAMPAIGN
In partnership with ReachLife Ministries and Reach Records, Man Up is a new campaign, calling men in the hip-hop culture to true biblical manhood through repentance and faith in Christ.

The campaign consists of a short film, small group curriculum, music soundtrack and concert series. It is our call for men in urban culture to repent for their failure to become the men that God has created them to be and for believers to live as who they truly are in Christ.

THE SHORT FILM & CURRICULUM
The short film takes a look at six different areas of manhood that young men fail to live up to. By taking a look at the common challenges and responses of young men in urban culture, we hope to reveal the need for clarity on what being a man truly means.

A curriculum is also available through ReachLife Ministries to accompany the short film and promote further discussion in small group settings.

THE SOUNDTRACK & CONCERT SERIES
The soundtrack of Man UP is from Reach Records and delves into the concepts addressed in the film and curriculum. Later this year, audiences can experience a showing of the film, a panel discussion on manhood, and a live concert as the Man Up concert series makes stops in select cities.

It is our hope that men everywhere will answer the call to Man Up!

HT: Justin Taylor

Links of the Week

  1. Tim Challies on Should Christians embrace evolution?
  2. What Christians hope for in preaching. This was an eye opening article based on a study of 10,000 persons who attend church and what they hope to get from preaching.
  3. 11 books every leader needs to read according to Al Mohler.
  4. D.A. Carson and John Piper on How to teach the Bible confidence.
  5. How boys become Christians men.
  6. Ron Edmondson on how he accomplishes so much. I agree with him on this secret, helps a ton.
  7. A warning to women from a woman concerning marriage.
  8. The New York Times on How the deficit got this big.
  9. Titus 2 is not just a woman’s to do list.
  10. Justin Taylor on It only takes one generation for a church to die.
  11. Beware of romantic pornography. So true.
  12. 9 things your pastor wants to say to you but won’t.
  13. Steven Furtick on Ambition vs. Arrogance.
  14. Kevin DeYoung on biblical manhood. Helpful stuff here, a good preview to our next series at Revolution.
  15. Jeff Vanderstelt on Gospel fluent thinking.
  16. 25 ways to engage your neighbors. As we challenge people at Revolution to be on mission, this is a big part of it.
  17. Motherhood, sacrifice, and worship.