I subscribe to Christianity Today.
I often hear conservative teachers call it “Christianity Astray” because it publishes various bits of nonsense and promotes its share of questionable causes.
Another critique I hear is that it is too much of Today and not enough of Christianity. I get that critique and think it is often justified.
But sometimes there is an article in there that nails it, true to the Word and relevantly informed with up to date information.
I read a good article in CT online yesterday about preaching.
It prompted me to pray that my preaching ministry here at RBC will accomplish these great purposes:
- Good preaching rescues us from our self-deceptions and blind spots. Left to ourselves, we tend to ignore the very things in God’s Word that we most need to see. Preaching covers texts and topics outside of our control.
- Preaching brings us before God’s Word in the special presence of the Holy Spirit as he indwells the gathered church.
- Good preaching challenges us to do things we otherwise would not and gives us the will to do them. God has given speakers a remarkable power to spur others to take action.
- As our church communities listen to good preaching, it brings us into the place of corporate — rather than just individual — obedience.
- Good preaching causes humility by disciplining us to sit under the teaching, correction, and exhortation of another human. Relying on ourselves alone for food from the Word can lead to a spirit of arrogance and spiritual independence.