BCL Online Picks — March 5, 2026

March 5, 2026/BCL/BCL Online Picks

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What is an apostate? Who truly constitutes Israel? What marks the heart of a Christian elder? Why does Peter call wives the “weaker vessel”? Find out in this week’s online picks!

1. What Is an Apostate?

Some Christians can become distressed—even debilitated—by the worry that they aren’t actually saved. In this Ligonier Ministries article, theologian R. C. Sproul addresses whether a true Christian can lose their salvation. Sproul explains that while some people appear to fall away, Scripture teaches that those who truly belong to Christ are preserved by God to the end. Our confidence, he argues, ultimately rests not in our own strength but in God’s promise to keep his people. Read it here →

2. Remnant: Who Is Israel?

In this Modern Reformation article, theologian Michael Horton explores the question of who truly counts as Israel. He explains that the Sinai covenant was a conditional, law-based covenant pointing forward to Christ, and that misunderstanding this covenantal framework can lead to confusion about God’s promises. Horton shows how the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles all point to the same fulfillment: through faith in Christ, God is gathering a people from every nation as the true heirs of Abraham. Read it here →

3. Ordinary Christian Work

Ordinary work may not be glamorous, but that doesn’t mean it is not worthy. In this Ligonier Ministries article, pastor and author Tim Challies reflects on Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians to live quietly, mind our own affairs, and work with our hands. He reminds Christians that ordinary, faithful work is not spiritually insignificant but a genuine calling from God. Through everyday responsibilities and steady diligence, believers honor the Lord and bear a quiet witness before the watching world. Read it here →

4. Generous Tipping to Honor the King

Should Christians feel obligated to leave a tip when the payment screen asks for one? In this Gospel Coalition article, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Danny Akin reflects on the growing confusion surrounding tipping in American culture. He encourages Christians to think carefully about how gratitude, generosity, and cultural expectations intersect in everyday life. Read it here →

5. What Is Reformed Theology? Part 13: Glorification

In this Heidelblog article (part 13 of an outstanding series on Reformed theology), theologian R. Scott Clark reflects on the final stage of salvation—glorification. He explains that believers do not yet live in the fullness of God’s kingdom, but Christ’s resurrection has already inaugurated the new creation that will one day be completed. Clark reminds readers that glorification is the future hope of every Christian—the resurrection life that will fully and finally free God’s people from sin and death—and shows how God’s promise of that coming glory shapes the way believers pray, hope, and live in the present age. Read it here →

6. How a Husband Shows Honor to His Wife as the “Weaker Vessel”

What does Peter mean in 1 Peter 3:7 when he calls wives the “weaker vessel”? In this Crossway article, Chad and Emily Van Dixhoorn explain that the passage is not a license for undervaluing women but a call for thoughtful care, urging husbands to live with their wives “in an understanding way” and to treat them with care, protection, and respect. In a culture that either denies weakness or exploits it, the authors show how Scripture instead calls men to honor their wives as fellow heirs of the grace of life. Read it here →

7. Here Is the Heart of the Christian Elder

What kind of men should lead Christ’s church? In this Substack post, pastor Campbell Markham reflects on Peter’s exhortation to elders and the calling to shepherd God’s people with humility and willingness rather than ambition or personal gain. He reminds readers that faithful service in Christ’s church may be quiet and costly now, yet it is not unnoticed. When the Chief Shepherd appears, those who serve him will receive an unfading crown of glory. Read it here →