Today's Devotions

Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Leaning on His Spirit: Francis Chan +

    Are we really listening to God, or just the words we want God to tell us? Francis Chan, former lead Read More
  • Crazy Love: a book by Francis Chan +

    This is the introduction to Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love. Read More
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kell(the following is from Collin Hansen's blog at the Gospel Coalition: http://intelmin.org/2012/08/collin-hansen-when-we-suffer-when-to-disobey/)

Peter and the other apostles set the example: when told by authorities they could not testify to the risen and ascended Christ, they responded, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). So we know that Christians must not obey authorities when their command directly contradicts God and his revealed Word. This is the basis for Christian civil disobedience.

From there, however, things get complicated and personal. As Albert Mohler describes in this substantive new video (audio link below), we Christians living in the West can now envision a time when we ask for God's protection from our authorities. Earlier this year The Falls Church in Virginia, led by long-time rector John Yates, lost their meeting facility, assets, and parsonage in a decisive court judgment after years of fighting to leave a denomination where many have stopped preaching the gospel. Tim Keller sketches the scene in New York City, where many elected officials shook church leaders with hostile opposition to the "invasion" of evangelical worship in public schools.

No doubt, our culture is changing. Christians are no longer respected or understood as we once were, Yates observes. But watch to the end of this video (audio), when Yates calls on Christians to focus on what's important, reject superficial faith, and identify with our truly persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Indeed, when we suffer loss and opposition for our faith, we can rejoice as believers counted worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41). Hear the words of James, who told us, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2-3). If you suffer, Yates says, maybe you really are a Christian after all.

http://tgc-audio.s3.amazonaws.com/podcast/When%20We%20Suffer,%20When%20to%20Disobey.mp3

Reflections to Consider

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Publications

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Music

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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Falling in Love With God +

    “falling in love with God,” as Boa’s subtitle for the facet explains. In this approach we attempt to enter into Read More
  • An Infallible Assurance: John Donne +

    Our God is not out of breath, because he hath blown one tempest, and swallowed a Navy: Our God hath Read More
  • At the Feet of Jesus: We Fall Down +

    Chris Tomlin We fall down and lay our crowns At the feet of Jesus The greatness of Your Mercy and Read More
  • I am Not a Robot, I am a Unicorn: Learning How to Communicate in a Fallen World +

      Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • The other Lord's Prayer by Michael Reeves +

    Mike Reeves discusses  the love of Jesus for us in the way he prays  to the Father, reflecting on his Read More
  • Enjoying Christ Constantly by Mike Reeves +

    Exceptional discussion of how the Song of Songs Read More
  • The Significance of the Trinity Underpinning the Great Doctrines of the Reformation - Michael Reeves +

    Can we ever afford to be vague about the nature and identity of our God? Read More
  • Worship, The Trinity, Music by Michael Reeves +

    Michael Reeves speaking to the worship leaders Read More
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