In today's Explore Bible-reading notes, I made an editorial mistake which meant that the notes said something that is totally wrong…
In Colossians 1 v 24, Paul says: "I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions". The notes comment: "What he can't mean is that there is nothing lacking in the sufferings of Christ when it comes to salvation." That is precisely the opposite of the truth—Paul (and the rest of the Bible) repeatedly teaches that there in fact IS nothing lacking in Christ's sufferings when it comes to saving us—his death is sufficient (eg: Colossians 1 v 21-23; 1 Peter 3 v 18). The notes should therefore have said: "What he can't mean is that there is SOMETHING lacking…"... continue reading
We live and work among a great variety of gods—not only those of other formal religions, but also the gods of wealth, celebrity, pleasure, ideology, achievement. Our era can be characterized by the phrase which sums up the book of Judges: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, ESV).
So despite the gap of over three millennia, there are many parallels between our situation and the time of the book of Judges, which recounts the history of God’s people, Israel, between the time of Moses and Joshua, and that of the first kings—around 1200BC. This was a time of spiritual pluralism. The society of Canaan—the land God had promised to give his people, and where they were now living intermingled with other nations—was a mixture of believing and pagan people. It was a time when God’s people daily faced the choice between looking to God as their Lord, or following the spirit and preferences of their age. It is mainly the story of how they failed in this task—of how they constantly turned from knowing, loving and obeying God to do “what was right in [their] own eyes.”... continue reading
I was reminded this morning of one of our set texts at school—Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. In particular of Barkis, the local cart driver. Specifically of the minimalist way he proposes to Peggotty, the Copperfield family’s servant. Barkis got the young David to take the message:
"Tell her, 'Barkis is willin'!' Just so."
What a romantic he was.
It’s 40 years since I read David Copperfield, but “Barkis is willin’” has stuck tenaciously in my mind. And it came back to me this morning as I wondered about that word “willing”. It struck me that, although it can sound conditional, it’s really a statement of intent. Like the bride who says: “I will”. So I looked it up in Collins English Dictionary:... continue reading
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90:1-2
A terrible train crash in Spain, SAS trainees die on exercise, another street stabbing, Zimbabwe back in the news with allegations of rigged elections and an oppressive dictator. Where is God in all this? What is He doing?
Christians believe that God is all-powerful and could sort out the problems of the world. And that's right - God can do anything. But that fact can leave us floundering. If God has the power to act but doesn’t then maybe He doesn’t care about the suffering or maybe He has chosen to do nothing to help us. If we were God wouldn’t we sort it out?
The truth is, God cares about the mess of the world and has acted. He offers no quick fix to suffering now, but He has provided the long term solution. He sent His son to die on the Cross and take the punishment we all deserve for our wilful disobedience of our loving Heavenly Father. Jesus entered this suffering world and knew physical pain. Jesus himself called out on the cross as he hung there in agony “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”. Being a Christian and continuing to trust God does not mean denying the pain – or being a stoic – it’s OK to weep and Jesus weeps with us. But being a Christian gives us even more than that. It gives us hope.
John Dickson in his book If I Were God I'd End All the Pain looks honestly at our questions. He looks briefly at explanations provided by other religions before coming back to what the Bible itself says about God, justice and suffering. And what he find there is an encouragement to anyone honestly looking for answers to the problem of pain.
Read more and buy it it here at 20% off!
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At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells eleven men to “go and make disciples of all nations” (28 v 19). But who was he talking to?
I’ve heard and read several times over the years that this “Great Commission” was:
The rest of us are called to live distinctive lives, and answer people’s questions (1 Peter 3 v 15); but we’re called only to be reactive (waiting for the question to come), rather than proactive (aiming to talk about Jesus).... continue reading
I'm sure, like me, you are thrilled that the un-named Kestrel recently accused of being an Israeli spy has been cleared of all charges by the Turkish authorities! Like me, you may have been enjoying the many other stories of animal spies across the centuries that have made the press as a result (notwithstanding the tinge of ethical uneasiness that comes with such tales ... or should that be tails?). I think my particular favourite has to be "acoustic kitty" - the feline listening device developed by the CIA in the 1960s, sadly run over by a passing car just moments after beginning its security mission. That was 10 million dollars well spent then!... continue reading
1. Is Your Child a Christian?
Brian Croft at The Gospel Coalition looks at this question.
2. Resource for Addressing Pornography in Church/Youth Group
A free resource from Glen and Emma Scrivener.
3. 85 questions to ask before you marry
Neil at A Faith To Live By shares 85 questions for marriage prep classes.
4. STEP: A New Free Online Bible Study Resource
A new, free resource from the STEP development team at Tyndale House Cambridge.
5. 10 principles to guide your giving
Jesse Johnson shares these 10 fundamental principles.
6. A Free Bible App for the Deaf
Another free resource, this time from Faith Comes by Hearing.
7. And finally…
Our video of the week, from Christianity Explored, 'Surely its arrogant to say your religion is the only right one?'. Watch all of the Christianity Explored videos now on our YouTube channel.
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
Name: John Chrysostom
When: c. 347–407
Where: Bishop of Constantinople (in modern-day Turkey)
So what?
Imagine your perfect evangelical preacher. What do you have? Rigorously Biblecentred, preaching the text carefully, verse by verse? Tick. Eloquent and moving oratory? Tick. Deep understanding of current culture, and able to show how God’s word speaks into it? Tick. Challenging application, continually exhorting you to live out your faith and to use any wealth you have unselfishly? Tick. An uncompromising refusal to be influenced by the powerful? Tick. A determination to teach the truth, whatever the consequences? Tick.
Who have you got? Basically, John Chrysostom. John’s preaching was famous throughout Christendom; first in Antioch (in modern Syria), where he was born, and then in Constantinople, where he was bishop.... continue reading
