Your questions answered: Jesus in the temple

One of our readers recently asked: Why wasn’t it sinful for Jesus as a boy to have gone off to the temple and not informed his parents of his whereabouts? It doesn’t seem to be obeying the fifth commandment, to honour your father and mother.

Great question, and a tricky one! It’s important, too, because this is the only episode from Jesus’ childhood we know about (Luke 2 v 41-52), and of course in order to be our perfect sacrifice and our righteousness-giver, Jesus must be sinless. If He is being anything less than perfect here, He’s out of the running to die in our place or give us His relationship with God almost before His human life has begun.

I have been mulling it over and here’s what I’ve come up with: I’d love to know if there are other ways to think about this issue.... continue reading

On to a Good Thing

Six ways to pray for summer camps

They're going on now… and will throughout the summer. You may well know people you can pray these things for. If you don't, just pick a camp (Ventures is one place to find one) and pray these things for the people on it!

1. Pray for the Bible teaching: that the "gospel [would come] … not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep joy" (1 Thessalonians 1 v 5)
2. Pray that campers who aren't Christians would become Christians: that "they would turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven" (1 Thessalonians 2 v 9-10).
3. Pray that Christian campers would learn how to live out their faith: that they'd know "how to live in order to please God … [and] do this more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4 v 1)
4. Pray that leaders would have Christlike love: loving campers "so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well" (1 Thessalonians 2 v 8)
5. Pray that leaders would have eternal priorities: that they'd think of the campers as "our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes" (1 Thessalonians 2 v 19)
6. Pray that leaders would make be committed to prayer and practical support for their campers before, during and after camp: "How can we thank God enough for … you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith" (1 Thessalonians 3 v 9-10)

Lessons I’ve Learned From My Little Girl – 1. Scan

I’ve sat in front of more screens in my life-time than is healthy for any human being – from TVs to PCs, and mobile phones to widescreen cinemas. In truth the vast majority of stuff that I watched in that time probably stayed in my conscious memory for about 5 seconds before disappearing forever, having been of absolutely no benefit to me or to humanity as a whole.

However, there was one time that I sat in front of a screen that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was the day I got to meet my little girl, Elen, for the first time. She was just 12 weeks old!... continue reading

Lessons I’ve Learned From My Little Girl – Introduction

When my beautiful daughter, Elen, was born almost 6 years ago, my life changed forever. Becoming a dad did something inside me - my heart melted! Perhaps even more importantly it radically altered the way I understood my relationship with God and in so many profound ways my little girl has taught me lesson after lesson about both myself and my loving Father God.

Consequently, I started using my experiences as a new dad to preach the gospel whenever evangelistic opportunities arose, be they in churches, coffee shops or even prisons. I was frequently blown away by the ways in which people, especially hard men, started to truly grasp the essence of the gospel through the eyes of the Father.... continue reading

Fighting the Monday feeling

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

James 5 v 13-18

Dealing with Depression

If you'd like to be further equipped for the privilege of standing alongside those who struggle with depression - or encouraged to persevere through your own tough times - then why not dip into Dealing with Depression?

This week we're doing 20% off this great little book. Simply use the code dwd20 at checkout.

Offer expires on 27/07/2012.

Supporting someone with depression

It's estimated that 1 in 4 people in the UK struggle with depression at some point in their life. Most of us know someone in that situation. But how can churches respond? What difference can a loving and supportive, Jesus-centred community make to those who feel life is very bleak?

At our Open Day last Saturday, Alison Mitchell gave an immensely helpful seminar addressing just that. If you weren't able to be with us then you might like to listen online instead. Click here to start. Click here for the seminar handout.

And UK customers, do check back later for a great deal on a recommended book ...