‘Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
and have carried since you were born.
Even to your old age and grey hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.'
Isaiah 46:3-4
I’m sure, like me, you’ve been watching with concern as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa worsens week on week. Just today, a man in New York has been tested positive for the disease. But from some corners, there’s been criticism that the media coverage has been so focused on European and American victims.
It should come as no surprise to us that the instinct for (self-interested) fear runs deeper than humanitarian empathy for people living far away. But what is it that scares us so much about Ebola? Not, I don’t think, the thought of the symptoms themselves (horrific though they are). It’s the perceived lack of control that terrifies us: the thought that this invisible threat could sneak undetected onto our little island and pass unseen from person to person; the idea that one day soon the coughing colleague at the desk to my right could be carrying something significantly more sinister than a common cold. However small that likelihood is, fear is certainly a powerful emotion.... continue reading
Christian school 'downgraded for failing to invite an imam to lead assembly'
Pakistani court upholds death sentence for Christian woman accused of insulting Islam
Divisive Pastor Quits Post at Seattle Church
Refugee misery for Iraqi Christians who have fled IS
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Here’s another sample story from our new release Play through the Bible, introducing pre-schoolers to Jesus through Luke’s Gospel. It is followed by a selection of the play activities included in the book. Each story is supported by a wide range of activities - some very short and simple, some needing props or play equipment, and some very, very messy!
This story is from Luke 5:1-11.
Link:
Lots of people came to Jesus because they knew he could make them feel better. Even more people came to Jesus because they loved to hear him tell them all about God! In today's story Jesus has borrowed a boat. Jesus is sitting in the boat telling lots and lots of people all about God.... continue reading
We're called to grow - to bear fruit for the gospel (John 15:8). And we're called to help our brothers and sisters do the same (Hebrews 10:24). But there are some great ways to ensure we duck our responsibilities ... here are just five. Maybe you can spot your tendency in the mix:... continue reading
Here’s a sample story from our new release, Play through the Bible, which helps pre-schoolers get to know Jesus through Luke’s Gospel.
Books of Bible stories for very young children need to be simple, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be linked together or pick up on key themes from the rest of Scripture, as shown in this simple retelling of Luke 3:15-22.
Link:
Are you ready? Are you ready to meet someone very special? In our story today, God’s people are waiting for a King to come. How exciting!
Story:
God’s people have been waiting.
They have been waiting for God’s King to come.
God’s people have been waiting… and waiting… and WAITING for God’s Son, the King, to come to the rescue.... continue reading
1. If You Could Ask God One Question ebook just £2.50 till midday Thursday
Get the ebook version of If You Could Ask God One Question by Paul Williams and Barry Cooper for just £2.50!
2. 20 Ways to Be Refreshing in the Local Church
Kevin DeYoung looks at these twenty practical ways.
3. Practical Helps for Bible Reading
A short video from Ben Stuart and Desiring God.
4. Halloween - what should we do?
A video from Ed Drew about Halloween.
5. Will Christians Be Secretly Raptured?
An article from Jeramie Rinne and The Gospel Coalition.
6. And finally...
Our video of the week, in case you missed it, ‘Life-Changing Cards with a Life-Changing Message’:
Found something that you think should make it on to the On to a Good Thing round-up? Send it to: ontoagoodthing@thegoodbook.co.uk
This week we will be looking at some extracts from a new book for parents with pre-schoolers. It follows on from the very popular Bake through the Bible. Alice Buckley, mum of three and author of Play through the Bible, explains the need for a book like this.
Life with pre-schoolers is exhausting. It’s lovely, and funny, and brilliant too, but oh, it’s exhausting!
We’re trying to teach them to count to five, teach them to use the potty, teach them to please stop drawing on their hands. Sometimes teaching our kids about Jesus feels like one more thing on a never-ending list.
I wrote this book for tired, busy parents.
I wrote this book for parents who want their kids to know Jesus but find it hard to teach them about him.
I wrote this book for parents who know it’s their job to introduce their children to Jesus but have no idea where to start.
I wrote this book for parents who want new ideas for their family Bible times or want something that complements what they are already doing.
In Play through the Bible you will find 20 stories about Jesus with simple words and easy suggestions for making storytime memorable for your whole family.
There are also lots of play ideas to help reinforce the message of the story, offer natural opportunities to talk about Jesus, and above all have fun as you get to know Jesus.
In this case, I really do hate to say: I told you so.
Back in June, when the “Trojan horse” Islamic “radicalization plot” was front-page news, and there was great fear about the creeping influence of Islam by the “back door” (or rather, school door), I blogged that Christians should be worried that the arguments being used against Islamicisation could equally be used against Christian teaching, and asked:
How long is it before there’s a news item about a school, or group of schools, where some of the governors stand accused of:
I missed a bullet point off that list. I should have added: “Not offering their students a well-rounded, broad approach to spiritual formation”.
So, how long?... continue reading
