A world of resources...
Hey folks.
This isn't meant to be a lengthy post full of original thought, I just want to point out a few things that perhaps ought to be obvious, but are often times overlooked, especially by your truly.
We live in a world full of informational resources. By that I mean that you have, at your fingertips, on your PC, laptop, phone, tablet, etc., more access to information than any other generation in history. In a matter of seconds you have the ability to pull up resources on topics that would have taken you days or months of library searching to amass information on just 20 years ago. That is crazy, isn't it? How much crazier is it, then, that we fail to utilize this? I personally tend to be a little puzzled by people when they claim they want to know more about something but just don't know where to look. Hello, the world is at your fingertips, this is the 21st Century. But instead of ripping people's laziness to shreds...which I am apt to do...but rather, I want to suggest that there are a multitude of resources that you not only can utilize, but rather you ought to utilize. That being said, there is also a lot of garbage out there. So I want to offer you some suggestions of websites and a few books that I have found profoundly helpful.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ Is a collection of resources, primarily from John Piper. Hundreds of video and audio sermons, transcripts, articles, essays, interviews, and poems.
http://theresurgence.com/ A ministry branch of Mars Hill Church in Seattle devoted to information for leaders. Tons and tons of info on everything from music, to preaching, to church planting, to counseling, and beyond. Incredibly helpful.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/ Another collection of resources, ranging from video sermons, many interviews and round table discussions, along with articles and blogs. Focused on the proclamation of the Gospel.
http://pastormark.tv/ If you appreciate the ministry of Mark Driscoll...which I certainly do, this is the place to find all his content in one spot.
This is just a very small selection of the many, many resources available online. As for books, I would highly suggest the following:
Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe, by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
The Holiness of God, by R.C. Sproul
Don't Waste Your Life, by John Piper
Pierced by the Word, by John Piper
A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible, by Robert Stein
For those of you who know me know I'm a book nerd...I tried to restrict these five to books that anyone can read, and all of which were exceptionally helpful for me in such a way that I believe they also will be to you.
With any of these things, there is another caution to give. It is very easy to become so saturated in "Christian stuff" that we forget about the Bible and the God of the Bible. Our primary source of spiritual food, as it were, needs to be Scripture. God has given us the revelation of Himself in written form; I can read every book published and read every article written, and listen to every sermon preached-but if I am not reading the revelation of God Himself and praying for the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to it's truth, then all the rest of it is mute. So view these things as resources to help you understand what God has said and what it means, and how it applies in your life, but do not ever let it replace time in God's Word. That being said, I encourage you all to take advantage of these things that God has blessed us with in the 21st Century. I am grateful for these things, they are gifts. Use them wisely.
This isn't meant to be a lengthy post full of original thought, I just want to point out a few things that perhaps ought to be obvious, but are often times overlooked, especially by your truly.
We live in a world full of informational resources. By that I mean that you have, at your fingertips, on your PC, laptop, phone, tablet, etc., more access to information than any other generation in history. In a matter of seconds you have the ability to pull up resources on topics that would have taken you days or months of library searching to amass information on just 20 years ago. That is crazy, isn't it? How much crazier is it, then, that we fail to utilize this? I personally tend to be a little puzzled by people when they claim they want to know more about something but just don't know where to look. Hello, the world is at your fingertips, this is the 21st Century. But instead of ripping people's laziness to shreds...which I am apt to do...but rather, I want to suggest that there are a multitude of resources that you not only can utilize, but rather you ought to utilize. That being said, there is also a lot of garbage out there. So I want to offer you some suggestions of websites and a few books that I have found profoundly helpful.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ Is a collection of resources, primarily from John Piper. Hundreds of video and audio sermons, transcripts, articles, essays, interviews, and poems.
http://theresurgence.com/ A ministry branch of Mars Hill Church in Seattle devoted to information for leaders. Tons and tons of info on everything from music, to preaching, to church planting, to counseling, and beyond. Incredibly helpful.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/ Another collection of resources, ranging from video sermons, many interviews and round table discussions, along with articles and blogs. Focused on the proclamation of the Gospel.
http://pastormark.tv/ If you appreciate the ministry of Mark Driscoll...which I certainly do, this is the place to find all his content in one spot.
This is just a very small selection of the many, many resources available online. As for books, I would highly suggest the following:
Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe, by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
The Holiness of God, by R.C. Sproul
Don't Waste Your Life, by John Piper
Pierced by the Word, by John Piper
A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible, by Robert Stein
For those of you who know me know I'm a book nerd...I tried to restrict these five to books that anyone can read, and all of which were exceptionally helpful for me in such a way that I believe they also will be to you.
With any of these things, there is another caution to give. It is very easy to become so saturated in "Christian stuff" that we forget about the Bible and the God of the Bible. Our primary source of spiritual food, as it were, needs to be Scripture. God has given us the revelation of Himself in written form; I can read every book published and read every article written, and listen to every sermon preached-but if I am not reading the revelation of God Himself and praying for the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to it's truth, then all the rest of it is mute. So view these things as resources to help you understand what God has said and what it means, and how it applies in your life, but do not ever let it replace time in God's Word. That being said, I encourage you all to take advantage of these things that God has blessed us with in the 21st Century. I am grateful for these things, they are gifts. Use them wisely.
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