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 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.”
While we do not always agree with everything these authors post, we share these resources because we find them challenging and enriching. As we often say around the Summit, “Eat the fish and spit out the bones.”
Podcast of the Week
Parents Are Works in Progress, Paul David Tripp. The gospel speaks to parents by reminding us that we are more like our children than we often care to admit. We make messes of our lives, just like our kids do. And the Heavenly Father is still parenting us. This truth transforms our approach to our children: No longer do we see moments of conflict as inconveniences. Instead, we see these as opportunities to become ambassadors of grace.
Articles of the Week
Brothers, Shall We Weep? Andrew Roycroft. It is far too easy for ministry to match the frenetic pace of our society, becoming a matter of technique and strategy rather than a God-given calling. Will we keep our foot on the pedal, no matter what? Or will we pause long enough to weep—for ourselves, for our sheep, for the lost?
Nine Things You Should Know About the Bethel Church Movement, Joe Carter. You may not know a lot about the Bethel Church movement—though you’ve most likely listened to many of their songs. If you’d like to know precisely what makes Bethel so controversial, Carter’s got you covered.
Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion. Why? Derek Thompson. For the last three decades, the percentage of non-religious Americans has steadily climbed, from eight percent (in 1990) to 14 percent (in 2000) to 23 percent (in 2018). What exactly explains this rise of the “nones”? Thompson points to a handful of important factors, including geopolitical events (like the end of the Cold War, and 9/11), church factors (like abuse scandals in the Catholic church), and social realities (like the rapid decline of marriage).
The Discipline of Listening, Sophia Lee. There is a time for everything under the sun—a time to offer advice, and a time to quietly listen. If you’re anything like us, you need to recognize the opportunities for the latter much more often. As Bonhoeffer writes, “Just as love to God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them.” Listen to Lee to learn how.
On the Lighter Side
Four Amazing Things About Languages, WIRED. For the nerds out there!
