Are Catholics Christians? Why Protestants can say yes (video)

I, a few weeks ago, wrote a post asking whether Catholics can be considered Christian. You can read my post here. Here, Gavin Ortlund answers the same question but lands differently. I say ‘no’ but there are Christians within. He says ‘yes’ but it isn’t a true church. Read my post, watch his video, hear the two views and see what you think.

Chatbots aren’t a solution to our loneliness epidemic

‘God has given us a structure—the local church—for supporting those who feel lonely and meaningless. Our first task is to ensure our churches are places where lonely people are welcomed and loved.’

What is Total Depravity?

‘To say that the doctrine of total depravity is a fundamental tenet of Reformed theology would be tantamount to acknowledging that water is wet. So central, in fact, is the doctrine of total depravity to Reformed theology that R.C. Sproul described it as one of Reformed theology’s “core ideas.” But for many professing believers, even within Reformed circles, the very term total depravity can conjure up feelings of angst and unease, perhaps because there is something within us that would have us believe our depravity is not, in fact, total.’ This one goes on to explain what this doctrine is not and then to outline what it is.

The God over geo-politics

I really appreciated this one from John Piper about the sovereignty of God in scripture and the subsequent sovereignty of God over all rulers and leaders in the world.

Pastoral Authority in the Age of Podcasts

‘As pastors, we increasingly need to address not just Scripture’s teaching but an expanding universe of digital voices shaping our congregants’ understanding of faith. In an era where every sermon point can be instantly fact-checked and every piece of counsel compared against countless online sources, we must reconsider how pastoral authority functions effectively. The challenge extends beyond mere technological change or increased skepticism. It reflects a fundamental transformation in how people discover, evaluate, and accept truth claims. Today’s pastoral counsel no longer competes simply with contrary opinions. It competes with an entire ecosystem of digital influences—each offering its interpretation of faith, life, and truth. Understanding this shift is essential for fulfilling our calling in the digital age.’

12 fresh ways to read your Bible in 2025

I really liked this. Such a helpful set of ideas for engaging with the Bible most helpfully this coming year.

From the archive: Preaching, application and the sins of your people

‘Hardly a pastor I know has not, at some point, been asked whether something they said in their preaching was aimed at someone in particular. More often than not, it is a disgruntled congregant who thinks something has been said with them in mind. At other times, it might be somebody taking offence on behalf of somebody else whom they perceive your comments to be directed toward (rightly or wrongly). Usually, behind those sorts of questions is an assumption that the preaching should not ‘target’ particular people and their specific sins. We tend to worry less about using particular people as helpful examples of whatever positive thing we are preaching from the passage. The question is, is that assumption true?’