The Gospel Coalition's outstanding National Conference took place this week in Orlando, Florida. As usual it featured a host of top speakers, superb music from Keith and Kristyn Getty and a plethora of breakout sessions. But this time, there was something brand new: a focus on youth work.
The Good Book Company sponsored two workshops, the first looking at Jesus' mission to the next generation led by Dave Wright and Tim Hawkins, and the second thinking about how to build a youth ministry based "on Jesus rather than jokes" with Nate Morgan Locke and Josh Cousineau. Several hundred youth workers attended the sessions which inspired a host of conversations, many delegates staying on afterwards to discuss their particular situations with the speakers.
On the final day, The Good Book Company put on a Youth work panel, moderated by Tim Challies and including all of the previous day's speakers. The session covered topics as varied as youth ministry philosophy, time management and the most important foundation of all work with young people: making- and keeping - the gospel central. Tim Hawkins said "Youth ministry is an area that is often overlooked and under-resourced, so it was fantastic to be able to encourage these guys and think together about keeping our youth ministries centered on Jesus."
Both Tim Hawkins and Nate Morgan Locke are staying in the US with speaking engagements and training events lined up across the country. As well as training, Nate is introducing the new look line up for Christianity Explored's youth range which launched at the conference. "It's great to be able to spend time with my counterparts in the US" said Nate, "and our prayer at Christianity Explored, is that these new-look youth resources will be a great blessing to the church as they reach out to a new generation."
It shouldn't be a surprise. It's the logical - if unusually extreme - end point of the argument. A group of ethicists have now come out and said it: if it's right to abort children before they are born, it can't be wrong to abort them immediately after their birth.
Their argument goes like this. A person only has value if they know they have value. A foetus doesn't have that awareness. Nor does a new-born. So neither have an inherent right to life. Parents - who do have value because of their self-awareness - may feel trapped into keeping a child who is unexpectedly disabled, or who is simply not what they want any more, and their rights should trump the baby's. The parents should have a right to end the child's life.... continue reading
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After 5 excellent days, The Gospel Coalition conference in Florida has come to an end. Various members of The Good Book Company team are on planes either returning back to the UK or the Washington offices. And they are encouraged. They're very encouraged to have spent time talking with and serving so many gospel-hearted people. Here are just a few of their highlights:
Tim Thornborough (Managing Director): My highlight has been meeting humble, godly, passionate pastors from all across the US, who struggle with, pretty much, the same issues that most church pastors do in the UK. I've been so inspired by the desire of Christians here to do great, ambitious things for the Kingdom of God. One friend observed to me that he thought the US church was a "sleeping giant that gets distracted by irrelevant issues every time it starts to wake up." The movement embodied by The Gospel Coalition (TGC) and like-minded organisation Together for the Gospel (T4G) are doing brilliant work to change this around. I'm praying that they are successful.
Brad Byrd (US Ministry Director): My highlight? Definitely the youth panel discussion moderated by Tim Challies which included some Good Book Company and Christianity Explored guys. And the meetings we've had with potential authors have been great.
James Burstow (Commercial Director): So much to choose from. There was being part of the Gettys' live album recording. I was four rows from the front so was virtually a backing singer! Kevin DeYoung's talk on Jesus and the Lost which was brilliant. And hearing numerous reports from US Christians of how our resources are supporting gospel ministry in their churches - such an encouragement.
Carl Laferton (Senior Editor): It has been a huge encouragement to remember that the US evangelical church doesn't have something we're missing. They do Bible-centred Jesus glorifying teaching and evangelism. So do we. And it's exciting to be partners in this. It's been similarly inspiring (and challenging) to see the immense humility of men with huge congregations and massive influence. And on a less spiritual note ... it's been great being able to eat burgers and call it immersing myself in the culture. Nice!
A little over a year ago British sports fans, and many others as well, were captivated by the story of the footballer who “died” and came back to life. Fabrice Muamba, a professional footballer with Premier League Bolton Wanderers, had a heart attack on the pitch. The match was abandoned, but the TV cameras stayed on as thousands watched medics try to restart Muamba’s heart. By the time they succeeded, he had been technically “dead” for 78 minutes.
In time, Muamba made a good recovery, though he had to retire from football. So how does he see those events of last year? A recent interview with The Times newspaper gives a fascinating insight. Here are a few quotes from the article (sadly not available online unless you have a Times subscription, in which case you can find it here).... continue reading
1. The Gospel Coalition National Conference Live
Watch the conference live from Orlando, US.
2. Doctrine Matters (Free eBook on Ten Theological Trademarks)
A free e-book from Desiring God and John Piper, 'Doctrine Matters'.
3. 32 People to Follow on Twitter
Dan Green recommends thirty-two people to follow on Twitter.
4. My Top 35 Blogs to Read
Dan Green also recommends thirty-five Christian blogs to read.
5. And finally…
Our video of the week, 'Watch Me!' from 2v Studios:
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
Something strange happened at the resurrection. I hadn't seen it before, but once the question came to mind, it made sense of a puzzling feature of the first Easter morning. The question is this:
Why did the Lord Jesus not just appear to those who arrived at the tomb first?
He had promised that he would rise. He had actually risen. But the women were greeted, not by the Risen Lord, but by angels and an empty tomb.
And the next incident in Luke tells how the disciples on the Road to Emmaus were joined later that day by a mysterious stranger - the Risen Lord was hidden from their recognition. Why did he just not appear to them with a great fanfare? Why the strange "secrecy" over an event that is in such a central part of the plan of God and the Gospel proclamation?... continue reading
It's not an easy task. It's a decision over which many tears are shed. Because it's important to get it right: Which song would you sing at a loved one's funeral?
Recently, the Telegraph published the most commonly sung (or listened to) songs at cremations and burials. And it's a list that makes for interesting reading.
Unsurprisingly, there are songs that express the pain of loss ("Time to say goodbye") and the desire to remember the person who has died with ongoing affection ("Unforgettable" or "My heart will go on"). There are hints of acknowledgement that the departed may go to another place which is spiritual ("Angels" and "Over the rainbow") and where there is the possibility of being reunited in the future ("You'll never walk alone" and "We'll meet again"). There are tunes that seek to engender strength within those who are left behind ("You raise me up"). All of which, partially and imperfectly, glimpse the biblical truths that bereavement is tough and that this life is not all there is - there is a community of life beyond the grave.... continue reading
As for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long – though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds. Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:14-18
As someone who has a love for stories, films and drama, I have been wrestling with a creeping suspicion over the last decade. It's a doubt that the stories about Jesus - and particularly about his death and resurrection - are just one more form of a "story type" that exists in a huge number of forms in all cultures, and which certainly predates the New Testament. Stories about gods dying and rising seem to be quite common throughout the world.
You see it in the Egyptian myth of Osiris; the Norse myth of Baldr; the Aztec feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl; and even the Japanese story of Izanami. Wikipedia has an article on the theme or "trope" of dying and rising Gods that charts the extensive "lookalike Christ's" throughout history and culture.... continue reading
