Wisdom for Your Weekend is your regular installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web. Presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with occasional guidance from Pastor J.D., this is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
Colossal Data Bank of the Week
Resources for Depression, David Murray. I (Chris) recognize that “colossal data bank of the week” isn’t one of our usual categories. But this is a unique situation. David Murray’s assistant, Sarah Perez, deserves a few days off for cataloguing every article on depression that Murray has gathered over the years. From definitions to personal accounts, from news and statistics to biblical answers, this is your one-stop shop for any question you have about depression. (Our own Pastor of Counseling, Brad Hambrick, features quite prominently, as well he should!)
Articles of the Week
Four Types of Questions Not to Ask in Your Small Group Bible Study, Melissa Kruger. Most small group leaders will recognize these four types of questions, either because they’re actively avoiding them or (more likely) because they know they’ve used them in the past week. Kruger’s titles for these are amusing, and the content is spot on. Small group curriculum writers, take note!
Human Sexuality and the Spirit of the Age: A Statement Abandoning the Faith, John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera. In an attempt to offer an olive branch to the LGBT community, an obscure group of Christians has undermined Scripture, tradition, and even nature itself. Couched in the cozy language of tolerance, this should be seen for what it truly is—a proclamation of the new sexual orthodoxy.
The Top 8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break the 200 Attendance Mark, Carey Nieuwhof. The main reasons churches never pass the 200 attendance mark aren’t spiritual; they’re structural. That should be good news for many of the smaller churches who have all of the character, maturity, and desire to grow. Change may be difficult, but it’s certainly possible.
Should We Pull the Plug on Cable News? Trevin Wax. If you feel like you’ve been seeing Trevin’s name in here a lot recently, it’s only because he’s been writing like the human embodiment of the fire emoji. Tech-hating luddites like myself (Chris) find this question incredibly easy to answer, but my motivation isn’t likely to compel many others. Trevin, however, comes at this as an erstwhile lover of cable news. Yet even he sees that cable news has taken a vitriolic turn. It may be time for you to pull the plug.
On the Lighter Side
You’re Doing Twitter Wrong, Tripp and Tyler. Aren’t we all, though?
