"Students, Don't Waste Your Summer"

Here is a good post from Jeff Brewer with 10 great ideas for how you can avoid wasting your summer.I suggest reading the whole thing (it is not long). Below are the bullet points.

1. Make a plan. 
2. Rehearse your need for the gospel daily.
3. Anticipate temptation.  
4. Recognize you need the church. 
5. Meet regularly with a brother or sister in Christ.
6. Look for ways to serve your family.
7. Turn off your phone.
8. Set a goal to read. (note: he mentions reading The Holiness of God by RC Sproul...nice)
9. Memorize a passage of Scripture.
10. Seek to be as bold with the gospel as you have been at college.

How Much Time Should You Spend on Entertainment / Internet?

Mark Dever has a great interview with John MacArthur about fellowship in the church. The whole thing is great and needful for the church of our era. During the conversation he discusses technology and the challenges of individualism. Here is a paraphrase of one thing that seemed so wise to me (it was not the main point of the interview, but I found it so simple and wise):

How much time should you spend on the internet? 

Let's not get mystical with it. As much time as you spend being entertained on the internet, spend an equal amount of time in the Word, prayer, and reading a good book on solid theology or a biography about a Christian who faithfully served the Lord.

Sounds like a good challenge to me. Think of the immense growth we might experience.

Some of us may want to resist this by crying "legalism," but exercising self-discipline is not legalism. If you follow this advice because you think it will make you right with God you be a legalist. But if you do it because you see it as a means to love God and grow in Christlikeness, you are simply "working out your salvation" (Phil 2:13-14). So, don't follow this advice because you have to.  Do it because you are free by the Spirit to be self-controlled in the area of entertainment and the use of your time. 

Let's take up this challenge together this summer for the good of our own growth and God's glory.

Summer Reading Suggestions

Each summer we (the pastors) recommend some good Christian books for those who have extra time to read. Even if you don't have "extra time" perhaps the summer is a good season to make time for reading.

First read your Bible. It should always be the main course. But do not neglect reading good books which help you better understand the Bible and how it applies to your life. I have benefited greatly from reading good Christian books.

Below is the summer reading list for this year (these are in the church library located by the McDaniel Street exit).

TheologyTaking God at His Word (Deyoung)

Church Life
Church Membership (Leeman)
Church Discipline (Leeman)

Men
The Gospel at Work (Traeger & Gilbert)

Women
Picture Perfect (Baker)

Youth
Growing Up Christian (Graustein)

Marriage

What did you expect? (Tripp)

Singleness

Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? (McCulley)

Sanctification
How Can I Change? (Mahaney & Boisvert)
Seeing with New Eyes (Powlison)

Finally Free (Lambert)

Biography
The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitfield (Lawson)

Pray for the Persecuted Church in Pakistan & Nigeria

Rod mentioned praying for Pakistani believers in his sermon. Here is an article ("The hardest place on earth to be a Christian") on why this nation is probably the hardest one to be Christian in.

Here is an article ("They asked whether I was prepared to die as a Christian") about a man who was shot in the neck by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria for being a Christian and refusing to recant. He miraculously survived.

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body (Hebrews 13:3) 

Free Audio Book "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" by JI Packer

Take advantage of this free audio book (maybe listen to it while you drive around on vacation or during the day). This relatively short book is helpful in considering God's sovereignty and human responsibility in evangelism. It is free from Christian audio, but only until the end of this month.

Should You Read "Heaven is For Real"?

Here is a short video by David Platt about the "journey" to heaven genre of books you find in many Christian bookstores. (It gets really good at the 2:30 mark).

You may also be interested in this article over at Grace to You about this topic.

"What is Baptism and How Important is It?"

A baptism service is coming up this month. If you are a Christian who has not been baptized, this is a good time to obey Christ's command to be baptized. Below is a sermon by Piper on baptism. This is good for all of us (not just those who have not been baptized).