January 2026

Podcasts

If you’ve never heard of Katy Faust, you’re missing some really perceptive cultural critiques and a sharp defense of traditional families. Faust started an advocacy organization to defend the natural rights of children called Them Before Us. There are several podcasts featuring interviews with her but one that touches on many of her insights is from June 10, 2021 on the Think Biblically podcast where she defends the importance of strong marriages for children, explains the damage caused by divorce, identifies the inherent shortfalls of same-sex parenting, and much more.

New Life’s spring Equip groups will be reading and discussing a book by UK author Amy Orr-Ewing called Where Is God in All the Suffering. This topic was also addressed by her fellow UK believer, John Lennox at a Veritas Forum event at Harvard in 2023. As a sort of preview of some of the content we’ll be discussing in our groups, listen to Lennox’s insightful presentation followed by an engaging Q & A session.  

Articles

During discipleship hour, I have been teaching on the exodus. The account of the exodus repeatedly speaks of the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.  We might wonder how it is that God is said to harden Pharaoh’s heart and whether this is “fair.”  You can read a Crossway article by Andrew Naselli, author of Predestination: An Introduction, that addresses these very questions.

“Is It Fair That God Hardens Hearts”

January 18, 2026, is Sanctity of Life Sunday. The church rightfully resists and grieves the practice of abortion, but it’s also important for the church to keep in mind the women sitting in the pews who have had abortions in their past. David Ayers offers some helpful counsel on how to provide good pastoral care to such women in his article from the Gospel Coalition called “How to Address Abortion Within the Church.”

“How to Address Abortion Within the Church”

Videos

If you’ve planned to incorporate some new, healthy practices into your life in 2026 – whether they be physical, emotional, relational, occupational, or spiritual practices – this short clip (less than a minute) featuring Chris Williamson on “doing the thing” is challenging and worth keeping in mind.

6W Chronicles: Brief Profiles in Church History 

As a way to introduce readers to some influential figures in the church’s past, the 6W Chronicles briefly address six questions: Who? When? Where? What did they do? Why should we know about them? What works can I reference by or about them?

Who? Oliver Otis Howard

When? 1830-1909

Where? Oliver O. Howard grew up in Maine and was an abolitionist who served the Union Army as a general during the Civil War.

What did he do? Howard was called “Old Prayer Book” by his troops, and had a reputation for righteous living. It is said he never drank, smoked, or swore, and he often addressed soldiers during chapel services. When his brigade was defeated at the first battle of Bull Run, he attributed it to the Union’s decision to attack on the Sabbath. He lost his right arm during the Battle of Seven Pines. After the Civil War ended, he did much to assist former slaves, including leading the Freedman’s Bureau for the U.S. government. He stirred controversy with his efforts to integrate a church.

Why should we know about him? Howard helped start a university for black students in 1867. Named after him, Howard University in Washington, D.C. is one of the largest and most respected institutions of higher learning for black students in the country.  In addition, as chairman of the board of the American Tract Society and superintendent of West Point, he began presenting Bibles to all incoming West Point cadets in 1869. The practice continues to this day.

Works? Howard’s autobiography is over 600 pages long and is available for purchase online. For a shorter read, you can check out a biography about Howard called Sword and Olive Branch by John Carpenter.

Theolingo: Building Your Theological Vocabulary

Theolingo aims to help you expand your learning of important theological terms. This month’s word is soteriology.

Soteriology is the technical term for the area of theological study that considers the doctrine of salvation (from the Greek word soteria meaning “salvation”). Soteriology treats the atoning work of Jesus accomplished by his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. It also considers the application of that work, specifically through election, calling, regeneration, conversion (faith and repentance), justification, adoption, sanctification (along with perseverance), and glorification. Collectively, the various aspects of application are commonly referred to as the “order of salvation” (Latin ordo salutis – a bonus term. You’re welcome).  Any good Reformed systematic theology will include a robust section on soteriology. For a first-rate classic work on soteriology that is highly readable, see John Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied.

Quotes

Here’s a quote from Murray’s chapter on sanctification in Redemption Accomplished and Applied.

“Indeed, the more sanctified the person is, the more conformed he is to the image of his Savior, the more he must recoil against every lack of conformity to the holiness of God. The deeper his apprehension of the majesty of God, the greater the intensity of his love to God, the more persistent his yearning for the attainment of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, the more conscious will he be of the gravity of the sin that remains and the more poignant will be his detestation of it.” – John Murray

January 19, 2026, is MLK day. While I might disagree with a good deal of Martin Luther King’s theology, there are also some very important things that I think he got right, like this quote. 

“Always be sure that you struggle [against injustice] with Christian methods and Christian weapons. Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love. Let no man pull you so low as to hate him. Always avoid violence ... in your struggle for justice, let your oppressor know that you are not attempting to defeat or humiliate him, or even to pay him back for injustices that he has heaped upon you. Let him know that you are merely seeking justice for him as well as for yourself ... with this attitude you will be able to keep your struggle on high Christian standards.” – Martin Luther King, Jr., in The Most Durable Power

Final Thought

Question: If someone from the 1830s suddenly appeared today, what would be the most difficult thing to explain to them about life today?  One possible answer: I possess a device in my pocket that is capable of immediately accessing massive amounts of information like never before, including educational, literary, and historical content. I use it to take pictures of myself, watch videos of cats, and get into arguments with strangers.

 Let’s be good stewards by using our phones wisely – on the outside chance that that time traveler from the 1830s shows up. But more importantly, for the glory of God.