We all think about things we want from time to time - that car, that house, that holiday or new iPad air - but I imagine all of us know a brother or sister in Christ who goes beyond the occasional musing, an individual who is driven by the accumulation of wealth. Even in the most faithful churches, where the Bible is taught carefully week by week, people can still find themselves being sucked into the world’’s way of thinking – lots is good, more must be better.
Greed is a dangerous path to tread. No-one can serve both God and money as Matthew 6:24 reminds us. So how can we gently encourage our fellow-believers who struggle in this area to come back to whole-hearted worship of their loving King? Here, continuing our Wednesday afternoon pastoral series, are our tips:... continue reading
This week sees the launch of our exciting new product, The Third Day - a graphic realisation of Luke 22-24.
Today, we bring you a glimpse of the behind the scenes process with a look at some of the character development sketches ... Enjoy!
When was the last time you were surprised by the Bible? I've just had an email from a seven-year-old who uses XTB Bible-reading notes for children. He says:
"Thank you for making XTB I really like it. I was really surprised when Solomon turned away from God!"
That got me thinking: Do I need to read the Bible (in some ways, at least) with the eyes of a child?
1. Do I know Bible stories so well they don't surprise me any more?... continue reading
1. Selected ebooks - just 99p until midday Thursday
Ebook titles in the Questions Christians Ask series for just 99p each.
2. Top Ten Reasons for Choosing a Paper Book over an eBook
An infographic about paper books and ebooks.
3. Christians Get Depressed Too Films
A series of films from HeadHeartHand Media.
4. TGC Book Review: Original Jesus
A book review of Original Jesus by Stephen Witmer at The Gospel Coalition.
5. Three Questions to Ask Before Watching a Movie
Jonathan Parnell at Desiring God look at these 3 questions.
6. And finally...
This week's video of the week, 'The Third Day Teaser 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
The Christian life is full of living between the tension of two truths.
So God’s kingdom is here, but not yet here. We are joyful in Christ even as we grieve the state of our world. In our weakness, God shows his strength. And so on.
Here’s one that has struck me recently. The Christian life is about being exhausted, and restful.
Exhausting Labour
Speaking of his desire to keep Christians going in faith until the Lord returns, Paul writes: “To this end I labour, struggling…” (Colossians 1 v 29). To “labour” means to work exhaustingly. Labouring causes things to be a struggle. Jn this state of struggling on, Paul finds “his [Christ’s] energy, which so powerfully works in me.” But it’s not that Christ provides his energy for Paul before Paul reaches the point of feeling unable to keep going; it’s that he provides it once Paul reaches that point.... continue reading
A glimpse inside the covers of our exciting new book, The Third Day...
Publishing a new book can sometimes feel a bit like having a baby. There's a lot of work and planning, effort and pushing. And then the glorious moment when you first hold your new creation in your hands. Sometimes I cry...
We're feeling like ridiculously proud parents this week as we have taken delivery of The Third Day - a new kind of book for us, as it is a graphic realisation of the last three chapters of Luke's Gospel. I have to say we are all rather smitten.
Of course there are lots of graphic Bibles out there - but how is this different? In three significant ways:... continue reading
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2
One of the many questions address in the recently published: Is forgiveness really free? And other questions about grace, the law and being saved.
This is a question which worries many people for two reasons. First, we worry about family and friends who once were professing faith and have since walked away from the faith. Was their faith genuine? Will they one day return?
Secondly, we are worried because we know how weak we are. Could I commit some sin that might jeopardise my salvation? What about the great warning passages of the book of Hebrews, which seem to imply that we are hanging on to our salvation by the skin of our teeth? Am I “once saved, always saved”?
The best way to respond to this question is to focus not on ourselves but on the faithfulness of God. What is God like? He is faithful to his promises, and he has given us the Holy Spirit as the guarantee that we will receive everything he has promised his people (Ephesians 1 v 13-14). He has not spared his own Son, but has rescued us at great cost (Romans 8 v 32). We should then have confidence that he is committed to his own word. This is, in fact, the message of Hebrews: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”. (Hebrews 4 v 16)... continue reading
North Korea detains Australian missionary
These Are The Most Godless Cities In America
Vicars needed: the Church of England's fight to fill its vacancies in the north
Satan cut from The Bible for looking like Barack Obama
Praise the Lord and pass the beer, change is brewing among American Christians
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.
