Growing in Grace: October 2014

You Might Be an Idolater If ... - "Playing with idols is like playing with boa constrictors. The longer an idol is left unchecked, the stronger its grip on our heart becomes. The idol crushes our heart until our love for God is almost extinguished. Idolatrous desires must be destroyed."

How Should Christians Think About Religious Violence? - This is a lengthier article but it's a very serious and important one for Christians to think through.

Don't Expect Unbelievers to Act Like Believers - Drawing from the wisdom of John Owen, Challies reflects on Christians' tendencies to expect the unregenerate to behave like they're saved.

What We Won't Regret - Kevin DeYoung reflects on the small things in life that we won't regret.

What Christians Should Know About the Ebola Crisis - "Along with being the senior pastor of the International Baptist Church in Santo Domingo, Dr. Miguel Núñez has practiced medicine in different capacities for more than 30 years. He is board-certified in internal medicine and in infectious diseases. ... For this reason we contacted him for information related to the current outbreak of the disease from the medical point of view and to offer some words of pastoral wisdom."

Do You Have Confidence in Christ that He Can Handle Ebola? - Ebola is a big deal right now so here's another, more personal and practical article.

Be Good and Angry - What is righteous anger? Why should we have it?

Sermons are "Fair Game" - Dr. Mohler reflects on the Houston subpoena scandal of the past few weeks.

"O My Soul": Engaging in Biblical Self-Talk - Randy Alcorn: "Every time the psalmists used the phrase, 'O my soul,' they were engaging in self-talk. We all talk to ourselves. Whether or not this is a good practice depends largely on what we are saying, and whether it is true and helpful."

How to Die Beautifully - "There are things I ought to have learned in science class, but I was too busy hankering for art class to pay much attention."