For 24 years Romania was under the Ceausescu regime, with a strong communist influence the government made efforts to undermine religious teaching and faith. As a result, there is a huge lack of biblical knowledge as well as people being suspicious of the motives of evangelical churches because of the spiritual vacuum created by the Communist regime. However the people in Romania are in a continuous search of spiritual fulfilment today and the hunger for the Word of God continues, but the means to guide people towards a sound theological understanding are very poor." So reflects Dinu Moga, General Director of Faclia House Publishing - a company whose work is focused on equipping Romanian church workers to do ministry biblically and faithfully.
The situation in Romania is challenging but also full of opportunity which is why we are delighted that Faclia House have partnered with Christianity Explored and The Good Book Company in the production of Explorari in Crestinism (that's Christianity Explored in Romanian to you and me).
So far, both the Christianity Explored course handbook and leader's guide, and the book, "One life, What's it all about?" have been translated. Work on Discipleship Explored is well under way ...and Soul (the Christianity Explored course for young people) is next in line.
Please do pray with us that the launch of this new translation will bear much fruit in the Kingdom and that God's people in that land will be built up as they focus afresh on the wonderful truths set out in the Gospel of Mark.
And if you happen to have contacts in Romania, do please forward on this link, so those on the ground can browse these new and exciting products for themselves ...
What are we to do with the gospel? In Titus 3:8 Paul says: “Stress these things”. We are to stress the gospel that he’s just outlined. We can never talk about the gospel too much. We need never move on from it or move away from it. Stressing these gospel things to our own hearts and to our church family is what we and they most need.
On the other hand, we’re to avoid what is unprofitable and useless: “Foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law” (v 9). Stress and avoid—these are the two guidelines of verses 8-9. Stress the gospel and avoid controversies. We stress the gospel because it is excellent and profitable, and we avoid controversies because they are unprofitable and useless.
You would not think that was a difficult or contentious thing to say. But the reality is that all too often in church life, we stress controversy and avoid talking about the gospel. It may be true that our preaching stresses the gospel. But our conversations so often stress controversy. The letters and emails that people write stress controversy. The points that people raise stress controversy. We agree on the kindness of the Father, the renewal of the Spirit, the grace of the Son and the hope of eternal life. And these things are excellent and profitable. But we put our energy into controversies, arguments and quarrels. We do this even though Paul says such things are unprofitable and useless. In other words, they are a waste of time and energy.... continue reading
I saw an old friend recently, someone who played a big part in encouraging me to consider Christianity when I was younger. I don’t know every detail of her life, but from what I do know, this is what I perceive…
She was full of belief, commitment and conviction throughout school and university, when she started work in the city she had many Christian friends and belonged to a big church with a strong Bible-teaching ministry. She was involved, she went to meetings, she read her Bible, she prayed.
Then she met a young man, they hit it off, they started dating. He wasn’t a believer but she hoped, she prayed, she invited. Gradually he started going along to church with her, he did a course and at some point he professed faith in Jesus. They got engaged, they had a Christian wedding, they settled in a suburb and joined a good local church, they had children.
Once again, she was involved: she attended church on Sundays, the children went to Sunday School, she was at the prayer meeting, she helped out at church events. Her husband came on Sundays, if he wasn’t away with work; and if they couldn’t find a babysitter, he would stay at home to look after the children so that she could go to the prayer meeting or housegroup.
Then they moved away to an area where she didn’t know many people, and where the church situation was a little more ‘complicated’.
1. Rock Solid ebook - less than half price!
Get the ebook version of Rock Solid for just £2.49!
2. TGC 2014 National Women’s Conference Live
Watch the TGC 2014 National Women’s Conference livestream from 27th-29th June.
3. You’ll Be Shocked At How Much Time Young People Spend Reading Each Day
An interesting article (with graphics) on young people’s reading habits.
4. I’m Southern Baptist, and I Love a Man
A post from Chad Ashby at The Gospel Coalition.
5. Top 20 Christ-Centred Expository Preaching Checklist
A preaching checklist from Prince on Preaching.
6. How to Maintain Pastoral Zeal while Avoiding Pastoral Burnout
A video from Christopher Ash (Serving without Sinking recommended in video).
7. And finally...
Our video of the week, ‘Titus For You’ trailer:
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
I was at a confirmation service for my eldest son on Sunday night. A poignant moment in any parent's life. It's great to see your child committing themselves to the Lord in such a public way.
As all the candidates renewed their baptismal vows and confirmed what they believe in, it struck me that we all need to revisit those beliefs from time to time and just ground ourselves in the gospel truths we live by.
Rock Solid, is a book that helps us do just that. It explains and clarifies these important and powerful doctrines, or ‘themes’, of the Bible so that we might have the comfort and assurance that comes from them, and so that we can make our life decisions by them.
Read more HERE and get the ebook for just £2.49 using code rse0614 at the checkout.
Living the good life of the gospel is always a challenge when we live in a wider culture that defines the good life in other ways. It is particularly hard in a culture where newspapers cannot be trusted and politicians are corrupt; a harsh, selfish, racist culture in which there is a fear of crime; a culture where people are reluctant to do manual work, which is therefore left to migrant workers; a culture in which people routinely overeat.
And that was the culture of first-century Crete, where Titus led the church and to whom Paul wrote: “One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons,’” (Titus 1:12). The quote is from a Cretan philosopher, Epimenides. Epimenides was held in high honour by Cretans—so they could not readily ignore or deny his verdict. And yet, of course, this description of first-century Crete could just as easily be a description of twenty-first century western culture. How do we live as Christians in a dishonest, harsh, selfish culture? How can we survive without adopting those attitudes? How can we live the good life in this situation? These are the questions the letter of Titus addresses, and these are the questions we need help with each day as we seek to live a gospel-changed life in a society that seeks change and finds truth in many places, but so rarely in the gospel.... continue reading
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:7-10
Rachel Jones, The Good Book Company's editorial intern, is about to take 3 months off. We thought you might like to know a little of what she's getting up to ...
What are you going to do?
I’m spending 2 months in a South Asian country with the organisation Serving In Mission. I’m hoping to learn what it’s like to be a cross-cultural Christian worker—so I’ll be getting up to a variety of things, from running activities at a playgroup at a development project, to trying my hand at learning the local language. The writing and editing training I’ve received from the great creative minds of The Good Book Company may well come into use too…
Why do you want to serve God in this way short term?
Like many Christians, I’m compelled by Jesus’ command to makes disciples of all nations, and so I hope to be able to contribute something towards that great commission. Secondly, It’s often said that in our churches, some are called to serve God overseas long-term, while others are to “send” them, by providing financial and prayer support. Which is my role? This trip, although short, will better equip me for either.
How can we pray for you as you serve?
As I’ve been doing some background reading, I’ve been really challenged by the vision of what Jesus gave up to rescue us—giving up all the glories of heaven to become fully human, and ultimately dying on the cross. So cross-cultural workers, in a (lesser) sense of the word, aim to become fully “incarnate” in the host culture. That means living as much like the people they’re trying to reach as possible, and trying to fit into the culture, however uncomfortable that may feel. So please pray that instead of worrying about physical discomfort and distance from loved ones, I would keep what Jesus has done for me at the forefront of my mind, and be as ready as he was to listen to, understand, love and serve others.
But much more, please join me in praying that God would grow the church in South Asia, so that on the last day, there would be many from that culture among the scene described by John in Revelation 7:9-10:
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’”
Two takes on Acts 2:42-47:
I devoted myself to personal Bible reading and study, to church attendance and private prayer. I was really impressed when I saw the obvious signs of God's work in other people when my home group leader invited people to speak. I gave what was convenient whenever the pastor asked for cash. I sometimes gave to other people if there was a whip-round after the service. I turned up to most meetings and took communion regularly. I had pleasant meals with fellow Christians fairly often, talking about all kinds of safe, interesting topics. I quite liked seeing new people thinking about Christianity every now and then.
Or... continue reading
