Have you ever walked right through the night? Maybe for fun? (I did it for a sponsored walk as a student.) Or maybe you'd broken down in the middle of nowhere? (Before the days of mobile phones.) How would you feel in the morning? (I had blisters like dinner plates.)
Now imagine the reason you've walked all night is to get some vital help. There's only one person who can help you - it's vital that they come back with you. How would you feel when you reach them? How would you feel when they tell you to go away?!
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1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalm 34:1-7
“Extol” means “praise” or (to use a colloquial phrase!) “big up”.... continue reading
Here is the first of the seven “I am” sayings of Jesus: “I am the bread of life.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:35-40
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It's a Gospel themed Friday Quiz. Enjoy!
Which book of the bible has the most mentions of the word 'gospel'?
What is the first city named in the Bible?
In which book does Paul talk about the armour of God?
What was created on the fourth day?
Which of these four books is the longest?
Who was the last King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel?
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged ______
You can probably name a church in your community with a reputation for courageous defense of biblical truth. The preaching is strong, and discipleship involves a lot of good books from dead theologians. Another church you know is beloved for its compassion. Its food pantry is always stocked, and no one walks away empty-handed. Yet another church is all about fulfilling the Great Commission. They have the latest technology, the most energetic worship services, the most creative outreach strategies.
But where are the churches that are courageous, compassionate, and commissioned, all at the same time and among the same people? Where are the gospel-shaped churches that teach the Bible, love the poor, and reach the lost? If God’s Word is our timeless guide, then churches seeking after Jesus ought to share this core DNA even if they don’t agree on every theological detail, even if they’re located on opposite sides of the world.... continue reading
We're delighted to announce the impending launch of the first two modules of our Gospel Shaped Church Curriculum—developed with The Gospel Coalition. The first two of five modules will be available at The Gospel Coalition National Conference in April. To get a flavour of what is in store, take a look at the series trailer featuring Don Carson.
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The votes are in and it's looking like we have a title! By more than 3 to 1, you went for A: What makes us human?
It was interesting looking through the rationales given—thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. We trust your judgement on this people.
Look out for the new book, which we are planning to launch at the Evangelical Ministry Assembly at the end of June this year.
This passage is well worth reading twice. If you are a Christian, this is where you are heading. Drink in the scene, be excited, and praise God!
I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvellous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 15:1-4
War has broken out in the Good Book Editorial office!
We are deadlocked about the precise title of the next volume in our best-selling Questions Christians Ask series, so we've come to our friends to help us decide.
It's by Mark Meynell, and it unpicks the Bible's teaching on what human beings really are -- the doctrine of humanity. One of the things we have tried to do in this series is to find a real question that believers struggle with as a way into a whole mindset of understanding it from the Scriptures -- but the Doctrine of Humanity presents us with some particular difficulties.
Because a clear understanding of this Doctrine is essential for a whole range of enormously important questions: like abortion, euthanasia, slavery, moral culpability and so on; and the more existential questions of gender, do I have a soul, and why am I here at all. But that makes a single question title all the more difficult to come up with.
So help please. Can you just reply with what you think is the more appealing title to you personally. Just choose A or B -- if you want to tell us why that's a bonus, but not at all necessary.
Thanks for your help -- and Carl -- you can let go of my throat now...
We recently interviewed author Mike McKinley about his new book, 'The Resurrection in Your Life: How the living Christ changes your world’. Here are some of the questions he tackles in this short interview:
0:08 - What is the book about?
0:36 - Why does the book cover the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts?
1:20 - Doesn’t the resurrection just prove that Jesus is who he said he is?
2:06 - How important is the doctrine of the ascension?
2:50 - How does this book follow on from The Cross in Your Life (formerly titled Passion)?
3:23 - What struck you as you wrote the book?
4:19 - What is your prayer for the book?
