Linked Together: Trusting (x 2)

In the “Hard Sayings”
Rachael Starke reflects on Peter’s response to a “hard saying” from Jesus.

And Treasuring
What does it mean to “have faith”? 

[W]e often speak of faith in terms of “trusting and treasuring” God. We believe that God is who he said he is and as a result we believe (trust) him to do everything that he has promised. Further, because he is infinitely glorious, we treasure him above any and everything.

Read the whole piece from Erik Raymond.

Linked Together: Prayer

In the Christian Life
R. C. Sproul:

[P]rayer has a vital place in the life of the Christian. One might pray and not be a Christian, but one cannot be a Christian and not pray. Romans 8:15 tells us that the spiritual adoption that has made us sons of God causes us to cry out in verbal expressions: “Abba! Father!” Prayer is to the Christian what breath is to life, yet no duty of the Christian is so neglected.” —R. C. Sproul

Read the whole piece on the importance of prayer.

In the Bible
A list of all the prayers in the Bible. HT: Joe Carter.

To Jesus or the Father?
In Al Mohler’s Ask Anything: Weekend Edition, he answers the listener question, “Should parents teach their children to pray to Jesus or to the Father?” How would you answer that? You can hear Mohler’s answer six minutes in. 

Linked Together: Scripture

A Verse
Romans 8:32 says this,”He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” So what are the “all things” that come with the “love of the Father expressed in the sacrifice of the Son”? Derek Thomas answers — and it’s good news.

A Passage
”Have you noticed the double brackets in the ESV that surround John 7:53–8:11? Those double brackets mean that the ESV’s translation committee does not consider this passage to be original to John’s Gospel.” Because this passage is not original to John’s Gospel, Jim Hamilton argues it should be in a footnote.

A Book
I’m always looking for new books to add to my list of books of theology every Christian woman should read, and this one looks like a good candidate.

Update 1: Tim Challies reviewed it today, too.

Update 2: Here’s a study guide for it (pdf) from Westminster Books.