Credo’s Cache

Each week we will be highlighting important resources. Check back each Friday to see what we have dug up for you. From this week’s cache:

1. When God’s Timing Is Not Our Own: Sam Storms – Storms says, “God compelled them to wait three days to allow their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and inadequacy to reach the highest level possible. He forced them to wait until the waters of that river had risen to such a height that virtually all hope had been washed away.”

2. Secret Wisdom in the Wake of Suffering: Marshall Segal – Segal notes, “In the face of devastating news, our gut reaction and temptation might be to doubt God or run from him. But heart-wrenching wisdom and understanding are not found anywhere deep inside ourselves or somewhere far from God, but woven into his wise and sovereign love for us. We cannot capture or completely grasp his wisdom, but we can worship him and trust him with all the painful unknowns in life.”

3. Should Your Church Build a Bigger Building?: Jonathan Leeman – Leeman says, “Am I saying that churches never go overboard with their buildings? I assume some do. And do some once-full buildings now sit empty as sad, cavernous testimonies to saints who began to care too much about their own little program instead of God’s larger work of redemption? Sure. But in most of those situations, the problem wasn’t with the building; it was with dozens of other things. A building can be used well or poorly.”

4. Holding Out For The Good News: Aaron Armstrong – Armstrong says, “Reading the Prophets can be a hard slog at times, no doubt. But we need to remember this: their judgments are fierce, but the grace they hold out is great. And because of that, we need to keep going. We need to hold out for the good news. And the good news is there. We just need eyes to see it.”

5. Awkward People Don’t Need a Cure — They Need Community: Joshua Rogers – Rogers notes, “People don’t make it out of awkwardness alone — they need community. In my case, I developed long-term friendships with a handful of men and women who were honest about my awkwardness but also made it clear they would love me even if I never changed. They gave me space to feel safe and open up about the insecurities fueling my actions. And eventually their love gave me the courage to talk about the deep wounds that were actually behind my insecurities. They provided acceptance I’d never experienced before, and as a result, I flourished.”

Matt Manry is the Assistant Pastor at Life Bible Church in Canton, Georgia. He writes at matthewwmanry.com.