We tend to think of ourselves in terms of what job we do, or what we have achieved, or in relation to the people around us. But Paul tells us to find our identity elsewhere:
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. - Colossians 3 v 21-23
This is a description of who you were, and who you’ve become in Christ. How does that make you feel?
What difference would it make to you if you remembered and believed verse 21 — all day, every day this week — about the non-Christians around you?
According to this passage, what is the one thing we do this week?
The gospel reconciles us to God and makes us holy—and it keeps doing so. It’s amazing — all we need to do is hang onto it!
Based on an extract taken from Explore Daily Bible Reading Notes
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It's Halloween on Friday (it will also be Reformation Day, but our local shops don’t seem to be stocking too many Martin Luther outfits). Whether you think the festival is horrendous, harmless, or somewhere in between, why not make sure you’re praying about it… here are five pointers from Colossians:... continue reading
Jesus takes on church-ianity
There’s one self-cure religion that looks really great, and is very popular in the western world. I know that, because I used to be part of it.
I call it “church-ianity”.
It’s very easy to go to church, sing hymns and enjoy the buildings… but still rely on your own guesses about God, rather than listening to Jesus. And it’s very easy to go to church, do good things and try to obey God… but be relying on these things to cure your sin-disease.
But only Jesus can save, not church. Going to church doesn’t cure you. Trying very hard to obey the Ten Commandments doesn’t cure you. Only Doctor Jesus can do that.... continue reading
1. Real Books v E-Books.
What are the top reasons for choosing a real-life, analogue, hard-copy book over an E-version? This survey may help...
2. 32 Tips for younger moms
Starting out your parenting journey? here are 32 tips on parenting from an experienced mom.
3. The State of Theology
These interesting info-graphics might help us understand some gaps in our theological understanding which might be hindering our effectiveness in proclaiming the gospel.
4. Is the Bible too complicated?
Is the Bible too complicated for those who struggle to read?
5. And finally...
Our video of the week is: Play Through The Bible.
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
Dead men do not rise!
Many times in my life, I’ve been angry and frustrated with God. I’ve wanted to stop being a Christian. I’ve experienced doubts. But I’ve only rarely doubted the facts.
One time I did was in my third year at university. I was studying Philosophy as part of my course, and I left a session with one of the lecturers with serious questions about whether or not Jesus rose from the dead.
The problem the lecturer posed me, and that I struggled with, was this: no amount of evidence should ever make you believe in something that’s impossible. If something’s impossible, then even if the evidence for it is strong, it can’t be true. Pigs don’t fly. So if you see a pig in the sky, then even if it looks just like a pig, you must be mistaken. It must be a balloon painted to look like a pig, or a very oddly shaped cloud in red sunlight. Pigs just can’t fly, so it certainly isn’t a pig.... continue reading
“I want a book to give to students who are willing to give Christianity a look but don’t want to be told they’re wrong, or stupid.”
“I want a book to give to a thoughtful 15-year-old that answers some of his questions about Christianity in a way that doesn’t patronise him, but doesn’t assume he’s about to get A*s in his GCSEs.”
“I know some of my young adult/student/older teen group are struggling with some big questions about faith, and I wish there were something they could read that would encourage them to keep trusting Christ.”
What book would you give these people?
We haven’t known how to answer these questions. Which is why we’re thrilled that Tricky has been written. Yes, we’re biased (we’re the publisher). But Becky Pippert, Rico Tice, Glen Scrivener, Nick McDonald and Jonty Allcock aren’t biased, and they’re excited about it, too.... continue reading
‘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
