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
This year, The Gospel Coalition National Conference (starting in the US on Monday 8th April) is going to be focusing on Jesus' mission in the Gospel of Luke. It looks as if it's going to be a great conference and if you're interested you can follow events at the conference using #TGC13. To mark the start of the conference The Good Book Company in partnership with The Gospel Coalition are offering a free series of daily devotionals based on Luke for your mobile device.
The Good Book Company's Explore App offers devotionals for your phone or pad so you can study God's word wherever you are and whenever you want. Each study will refresh and encourage your walk with the lord as it points you to His word. Explore doesn't simply tell you about a passage of scripture - it takes you into the passage, through a mixture of questions about the text, short summaries and helpful links to other parts of the Bible. Then it helps you bring the passage into your own life through application and prayer pointers. It's ideal for anyone wanting to continue, add to or re-establish a good habit of reading the Bible every day. Each devotional is suited for new Christians and more mature believers, and comes with the passage and any cross-references attached and is based on the ESV translation. Users can either choose dated material, which works through the whole Bible in around seven years; or to download devotionals on a particular book of the Bible. Contributors include Timothy Keller, Mark Dever, Graham Beynon, Christopher Ash, Mike McKinley and Tim Thornborough.
The Explore series on the Gospel of Luke, written by The Good Book Company's Senior Editor Carl Laferton, comprises 105 studies. Until the end of June you can download the first 35 for free, and be thrilled, for the first or thousandth time, by the Lord Jesus and His life, love, words and deeds. To access your 35 free devotionals. search for "Explore Bible" in the App Store or Google Play, download the app and then in the "Read" section select "TGC Luke 1 - 9"
As a taster, you can access pdfs of the first three studies here.
Here at The Good Book Company, we have a new member of staff. Dean Faulkner has just joined the team. We're excited to have him on board and we thought you'd like to meet him too.
Tell us about your role at Good Book
I'm the new UK Sales and Marketing manager. That means I'm going to be spearheading the drive to get our Bible-centred resources out to the people whose ministry will be supported by them. I'll be going to events, talking to bookstall managers, looking at the way we use social media and visiting a range of churches to talk about how we can serve you best. I'll be putting some great deals on the blog each Friday too!
What excites you about this role?
Everything! It's a great opportunity to serve God with the gifts God's given me and the experience I've built up in the commercial world. It's a privilege to be part of the Great Commission of spreading the gospel through the provision of biblical resources. And more than anything I'm passionate about holding out the light of life to those who are heading for death. Marketing isn't just about selling stuff, it's about getting gospel-resources into the hands of those who are doing gospel-work so people can come to Christ and grow in Christ. There's nothing more exciting than that.
How do you spend your time when you're not at work?
I'm married to Mary and have two boys (aged 9 and 12) - spending time with them is a big priority. I'm also very involved in my local church - St John's, Woking - where my wife is on staff as the Families and Children's worker. I'm a school governor. And, when it stops raining or snowing for long enough, I love to play Cricket - I do a spot of coaching too.
Any fascinating facts about yourself that you'd like to share?
I have two! I have a sister-in-law who's a Dame! And I was once (a long time ago) on the books of a professional football club ... until they saw through me and told me I wasn't good enough!
Please do pray for Dean as he begins his ministry with us. And do say 'hello' to him at one of the many conferences he'll be at in the coming months.
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It was after the Sunday evening service. My (then) minister asked me if he could have a chat with me. He sat me down and said, “Richard, I think you have clinical depression”. As he is one of my best friends, this got my attention!
I had been feeling very low for a year, and knew the reason why - but then we all feel like that sometimes, don’t we? –yet, that I had ‘clinical depression’ had never occurred to me.
My pastor told me of two other people at church who were clinically depressed (which was very helpful, as we could compare notes), said that medication had helped them both, and suggested I saw my GP (which I did).
All this led me to start reading Christian books on the subject, to try to understand better what I was experiencing, and how to cope with, and hopefully come through, the depression.... continue reading
1. Free E-book - Raised? Doubting the Resurrection
A free e-book from Gospel Centered Discipleship on the resurrection.
2. Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendars: April 2013
A new desktop wallpaper for April from Tim Challies.
3. The Look
A free song download from Sovereign Grace Music, 'The Look'.
4. Christianity Explored breaks into prison
An article from Evangelicals Now about the Christianity Explored Prison Edition.
5. And finally…
Our video of the week, 'Whiteboard Whole Church Whole Gospel Whole 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
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.
Luke 24:1-8... continue reading
