Psalm 33 gives a simple message to start your week: exuberant praise should mark God’s people!
1Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.... continue reading
Perhaps you come to the end of this week feeling the weight of the things you’ve got wrong. Today’s verses kick off one of the best-loved chapters in the whole of Scripture…
Romans 8:1-2
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
The phrase Paul uses in verse 1 is much stronger than simply saying we are not condemned; it is that there is no condemnation at all—no possibility of it. Not only are we not condemned, we can never and will never be condemned.
Although they sin, for those who are “in Christ Jesus” there “is now no condemnation”—first, not because of their own obedience, but because of the work of God’s Son and God’s Spirit (8 v 2). And second, because the Spirit now works to do what we cannot—overcome sin.
Who was the first King of Israel?
Who was the last king of Israel?
Which book starts, "The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in JerusalemâŚ"
Which book starts, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia..."
How many chapters does 1 Kings have?
Which king was forced to throw Daniel into the lions' den?
"At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: âI want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a dish.â" Which King?
I recently caught the tail end of Radio 4’s Today programme. A presenter was apologising for a remark made earlier in the programme. In a discussion about inventions she’d commented that children would probably vote Father Christmas as one of the best ever inventions. A flood of tweets and texts followed. People were concerned that children able to hear the radio as they journeyed to school by car would discover that Father Christmas is only an invention!
The mock-horror tone of the complaints and the light-hearted “grovelling” apology do not altogether disguise the fact that many people today hold very dear a child’s “right” to believe in the existence of Father Christmas. Undermining that belief in any way before the “appropriate” age is viewed as tantamount to child abuse.
How should Christians respond to these expectations? In our over-commercialised, secular culture, where the true Christmas story is largely buried or avoided, it’s not surprising that non-Christians cling to the modern “myth” of Father Christmas with a religious-like fervency. But what about Christians? Don’t we have compelling reasons to be different?... continue reading
In this passage, God gives a command and makes a wonderful promise.
Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk,
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labour on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Isaiah 55:1-2
God says: “Come—there is free food.” There are two highlights about this promise of a banquet: it is free and it truly satisfies. The invitation is wide open.
Based on an extract taken from Explore Daily Bible Reading Notes.
In this short paragraph from the book of Titus, Paul gives us one of the New Testamentâs great mountain peaks:
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say âNoâ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope â the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. - Titus 2:11-14
Titus was a pastor, and all pastors worth their salt long for their churchâs members to grow in godliness. So a common shortcut is to lay down rules to obey, and use the stick of guilt to keep people âup to scratchâ. But that is the fatal path of legalismâtrying to earn, or keep, salvation through our own goodness. God has given a life-saving alternative: the gospel of Christ.
The first âappearingâ: in the past (v 11-12)
The second âappearingâ: in the future (v 13-14)
Christianity is never rules-basedâwe never grow beyond the gospel. We must not slip into the mindset that we are saved by grace but now we live by law. The gospel both saves us and motivates us to live for Christ, as the pure people He has died to make us. Knowing that the grace of God has appeared, and will appear, is all we need to desire to live in a way which is âgoodâ (v 7). The more we understand and appreciate the gospel, the more weâll obey God.
Continuing our Advent themed quiz, it's all about Angels today. Enjoy!
Which book of the Bible mentions angels more than any other?
Who were these angels talking to in Genesis 19, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished."?
Who crushed Balaam's foot against a wall when it saw the angel of the Lord?
"Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." Who?
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" Where was Jesus when he spoke these words?
Which New Testament book says "But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death"?
Who, shortly before he addressed the Sanhedrin and his subsequent stoning, had a face described like that of an angel?
Christmas: no room at the inn for baby Jesus in school nativities
Why This Evangelical Pastor Wants to Bring Back Advent
Teachers ‘scared to teach about Jesus’
Sunday morning inconvenient for church services ... says Church of England
Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy files appeal
What ever happened to Rob Bell, the pastor who questioned the gates of hell?
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It’s only 21 days until Christmas. Are you excited yet? This year, I’ve been excited for Christmas since July. Let me explain why.
I had the interesting experience of being in a Muslim-majority country over the Islamic festival of Eid-al-Fitr this summer. Now, there are certainly significant differences between the months of Ramadan (no eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset) and Advent (“Woohoo! Chocolate every morning!”). But the whole run-up to Eid certainly felt very festive—a sort of bizarre, very sweaty, Christmas.... continue reading
Congratulations to Nick Howard and Betsy Childs on the news of their engagement to be married.
Nick works as a pastor in New York City and Betsy is the web and publications editor of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. They both share a passion for the communicating the gospel in the written word. Nick, known as Bernard in the US, has published a number of books, including the excellent The Book of the Covenant with the Good Book Company. Betsy is a regular contributor to The Gospel Coalition blog.
Our best wishes, love and prayers to them both as they plan and prepare for their life together.
