With heads in the Gospel of Mark, hearts overflowing with passion to see more and more people come to Christ and hands clutching the Portuguese translation of Christianity Explored, these were some of the exciting scenes in Angola earlier this month as the first wave of young leaders were shown how to lead a Christianity Explored course.
A recent evangelistic mission in the south-western African nation resulted in 3,000 people expressing either a decision to follow Christ or a desire to find out more. Now the task of meeting up with these people is beginning and we're hugely excited that the Christianity Explored material is going to be part of the process of showing who Jesus really is and why he came to earth... A bookshop in Luanda (the capital of Angola) will soon be stocking the material, a group of Bible-centred guys are getting to grips with their newly acquired leaders' guides and course invitations are being sent out in readiness for the activity to come.
Please do pray for a nation where so many need to hear the gospel. Please do pray for leaders like Anselmo, Emanuel and Dines who will be starting Christianity Explored courses in the coming weeks (the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few - Matthew 9:38). And please do pray for increasing fruit from the Portuguese translation - that those who use the material will see Jesus in the pages of Scripture and join with the centurion in saying "Surely this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39).
We've been getting terrific responses to our new outreach resource Discovering Jesus through Asian eyes. To support its practical use in churches, we're pleased to announce the first of a series of training events run by our partners at the South Asia Forum of the Evangelical Alliance.
The course takes place at the Evangelical Alliance in London on Thursday 12 June 9:30am-1pm, lunch is included and the cost is £10. For further information and to book click here.
And take a look at the resources themselves on our website here.
1. Live Deep. Live Free. Live Different.
Get the ebook version of any of our Live Different series for just £2 each.
2. Acts 29 Europe Deep Day Audio
Listen to the audio from Acts 29 Europe’s recent ‘Deep’ conference, ‘The Real Jonathan Edwards’.
3. 6 Principles for Youth Ministry
Jonathan Leeman at 9Marks shares 6 principles for youth ministry.
4. Quick Review: Jesus through Asian Eyes
Blog of Dan reviews our new outreach course, Discovering Jesus through Asian Eyes.
5. The End of Books
An interesting article about reading, and how reading is changing.
6. And finally...
In case you missed it, our video of the week, ‘The World We All Want trailer. What’s your idea of a perfect world?:
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
Have you seen this doing the rounds on the social media sites? It's been causing quite a stir.
To have a book with the creator's visible signature - well, that would be quite something! I’m sure if there were a Bible signed by Almighty God himself, it would be a major source of Bible envy.
But perhaps you suffer from that already?
You know; that feeling you get when God appears to be speaking to your friend in some electrifying way during their quiet times, but when you open your Bible, it’s frankly underwhelming.
Or when you’re at home group, and the person sitting next to you is bursting with insightful comments on the passage, while your mind strays elsewhere.... continue reading
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34:17-22
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Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.
Suncream? Check. Swimwear? Check. Sturdy trainers for those early morning walks? Check. Phone charger to enable a constant flow of photos to Instagram? Check ...
Many of us will be packing in the coming weeks. And, if you're anything like me, there may be a list lurking somewhere in your home to help ensure nothing gets forgotten. If you've got yours to hand, it might be worth a glance, because I have a question to pose to us all: Amid the currency and the clothes, what are we each packing to help us keep Jesus at the centre of our rest and refreshment?... continue reading
Name: Hugh Latimer
When: 1485-1555
Where: England
So What?
Latimer was one of the first generation of English Protestants; a zealous evangelistic speaker, he’s sometimes credited as the best preacher of 16th century England. These days, however, he’s probably best known for being martyr who was burnt at the stake for his faith.
What’s encouraging is how “ordinary” his journey to faith sounds. While initially holding to the orthodox Catholic doctrines of the day, he was gradually won over to Reformed ideas under the spiritual influence of Thomas Bilney, who befriended Latimer and came to him as his priest to give confession. Latimer later reflected: “by his confession I learned more than in twenty years before”. Latimer become part of a group of men who met at the White Horse Inn in Cambridge to discuss the ideas of the German reformer Martin Luther—the group even earned the nickname “little Germany”.... continue reading
1. You Can Pray ebook by Tim Chester just £5 until midday Thursday
Get the ebook version of Tim Chester’s, ‘You Can Pray’ for just £5.
2. 100 Bible Knowledge Questions
Kevin DeYoung shares 100 Bible questions for elders or deacons at his church. And, while you’re there, why not check out The Gospel Coalition’s newly designed website.
3. 50 Good Reasons to Sleep Longer
David Murray looks at these 50 reasons.
4. An Interview With Sam Allberry About Dealing With Same-Sex Attraction in the Church
Stephen Altrogge interviews Sam Allberry about his experiences.
5. St. Helen’s Training: The Word of God
The first video in a new 6-part series called ‘The Word of God’ from St. Helen’s Bishopsgate.
6. Ten Reasons to Memorise Big Chunks of the Bible
Check out these ten reasons from Jon Bloom at Desiring God.
7. And finally...
This week's video of the week, ‘The World We All Want Trailer'. What’s your idea of a perfect world?:
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
Evangelist John Chapman once remarked that the surest way to halt the conversation at a dinner party was to turn to your host and ask them: "Have you given any thought to your death recently?" People just don't want to talk about dying.
You Only Live Once! is a statement shortened to YOLO - a tag that Twitter user to justify anything at all. But a survey revealed last week that, while people are more than happy to talk about the upside of that statement, they are far more reticent to admit to the downside. After this one life, we die.
This is the theme of a campaign by the Dying Matters Coalition, set up by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) in 2009. This year’s theme is ‘You Only Die Once‘ – Twitter users are being asked to tweet with the #YODO hashtag during the awareness week that has just finished.... continue reading
