We have a problem with Jesus. Particularly when it comes to evangelism.
The problem isn't with who Jesus is. Though it's a cliche, Jesus is the answer to all our questions and longings. He is the compassionate one the broken want; the forgiving one the flawed need; the strong one the weak can cling to; the challenging one the complacent require. In evangelism, as in all ministry, if we're not talking about Jesus, we're missing the point and we're missing the power.
So what's the problem? It's with the simple word "Jesus". As soon as you read that word in the first sentence of this post, you had a mental sketch of this man in your head. It may have been a picture; may have been some words; may have been a vague idea. It's the same for everyone. Even in our post-Christian culture, Jesus is still so famous that everyone has an idea about him. He may be lots of things, but he’s not a nobody.... continue reading
This week we are launching the latest title in our "How to ... " series: Eternity Changes Everything. Here's a sneak peak extract to whet your appetite ...
In early 2004, I met a young lady named Emma Hutchinson and promptly fell in love with her. I knew within a couple weeks that this was the girl I wanted to marry and grow old with.
There was just one problem: she was nowhere near so sure! Thankfully, my dogged persistence paid off, and we eventually started dating. As time went on, I became more and more sure that Emma would be an amazing wife—but not nearly so sure that she would actually ever be my wife. So, when, 18 months after we met, I got down on two knees to propose to Emma (yes, I know it’s supposed to be one knee, but I was really nervous) and she said yes, my world changed. We weren’t married yet, but now—at last!—I knew that we would be.... continue reading
I think about the future a lot. Just not the right bit of it.
I look forward to the weekend; to a drink with a friend; to a summer holiday involving a lie-in and a beach.
And, because I look forward to those things, they affect how I feel and act in the present. Think back to the week before you last went on a great holiday. I’ll bet work problems seemed smaller, irritating people seemed less irritating, tiredness seemed easier to cope with. You had a little skip in your heart, despite the usual issues of day-to-day life. Why? Because soon, you’d be on holiday. You weren’t there yet, but knowing it lay in your future changed your present.
Weekends, seeing friends, holidays… we think about those things a lot.
How much do you think about eternity? How much does your future in 200 years affect your day right now?... continue reading
Young Isaac enjoys getting some ministry perspective early on... You can too - whatever your age and stage.
Serving without sinking available HERE.
Sam Allberry is associate pastor of St Mary’s Maidenhead, in Berkshire, UK. Early last year, he went public with the fact that he experiences same-sex attraction. And then last June, he published Is God Anti-Gay?, which has had huge sales in both the UK and the US. I caught up with him to see how things are going in his life and ministry.
Sam, I wonder whether it’s easier or harder to fight this particular temptation personally, now that you’ve brought it into the public sphere?
In one sense, bringing it into the public sphere hasn’t changed the way in which I’ve been experiencing it. If anything it’s slightly helped, because I’ve had more opportunities to speak on the issue, and when I’m doing that I’m preaching to myself, reminding myself both what God’s word is on this issue, but also the goodness of that word. So it does me good to be thinking and teaching on it.
But actually the most thing has helped isn’t necessarily being public about it, but being open with friends about it. That’s the thing that has made the single biggest difference.... continue reading
The sense of panic is starting to rise in many a quarter this week. Just two weeks to go and countless Christmas presents are yet to be bought.
When all else fails, my default is chocolate. There are few who dislike the opportunity to indulge in a spot of quality, melt-in-the mouth delight. But there are more wholesome ways to feed our friends this Christmas (and no, I'm not suggesting wrapping up an avocado instead).
Whether you're buying for an adult, a teenager or a child - a gift subscription to one of our daily reading products could be just what you're looking for this festive season. It's a gift that keeps on giving all year round as each day your friend or family member is provided with great gospel-sustenance direct from God's word.
A year's subscription to Explore (adults) - just $24.99
A year's subscription to Engage (14-18 year olds) - just $25.99
A year's subscription to Discover (11-14 year olds) - just $25.99
A year's subscription to XTB (7-10 year olds) - just $25.99
A year's subscription to Table Talk (families with children aged 4 and over) - $25.99
And you can buy the Explore Prayer Diary for just $4.99 when you purchase any gift subscription.
Simply give us your friend's contact details when you purchase the subscription online and we will make sure their daily Bible reading notes arrive promptly at the start of each quarter of 2014. And there's a voucher that you can download and tuck into the Christmas card you're sending to show people what you've done. So go on, feed a friend this Christmas - with the food that matters most ...
Homosexuality is perhaps the biggest area of conflict between Bible-believing Christians and the world at the moment. It is a subject close to my heart as I have many close Christian friends who have wrestled with this over the years. In any sizeable church there are likely to be a significant number present for whom same-sex attraction is an issue in some way.
Part of the difficulty these brothers and sisters face is the need for secrecy. It is only relatively recently that “the love that dare not speak its name” has become normalised in society as a whole. Sam Allberry articulates the problem compassionately in his book Is God Anti-Gay?, there are still many believers who feel unable to share the nature of their particular temptation for fear of being judged, rejected or misunderstood by others in their fellowship.... continue reading
One of the projects at the top of the Christianity Explored translation list is to make the 3rd edition course materials available in French. The guys at CE have been working closely with us, here at the Good Book Company, to make it happen and things are progressing well ...
If you are involved in ministry to French-speaking people (whatever country that might be in), the Christianity Explored team would be interested in hearing from you. Getting in touch will give them a sense of how the planned translation could be used and it will enable them to keep you up to date with how things are going.
Please click HERE to complete their contact form.
And even if you are not actively involved in this kind of area, please do be praying for those who are reaching out the 110 million French-speakers across the globe - that God would be opening eyes and unchaining hearts.
Merci!
A new baby is a wonderful gift from the Lord, bringing joy and thankfulness. But he or she comes with a lot of extras – sleepless nights, constant nappy changing, feeding routines, oodles of laundry, and suddenly it takes at least half an hour to get ready to leave the house.
In the middle of all of this, normal routines can go out the window. Even a daily shower begins to feel like a luxury.
So how does this affect Christian mums? It can be very difficult to get to church; then when you do, you’re often in a back room trying to feed or change your baby, and then settle them back to sleep. At the end of a service you’re so tired you just want to get home. All of which makes it difficult to get regular teaching or Christian fellowship.... continue reading
God loves his children very much. Wherever we are he will show us grace and mercy because that's his nature. If we are in him we can be safe in the knowledge that we will be forgiven whatever our transgressions.
But those wonderful truths are intimately related to another aspect of his character. We see many times over in the Bible that our wonderful, merciful God is also a God who punishes sin. As sinners we have, time and again, disobeyed God and ignored his authority. And God cares about justice, sin and wickedness - it's part of his love for us.
The ultimate punishment of our sin, but also God's greatest demonstration of his love, came when he punished Jesus on the cross in our place.
As Christians, God's punishment of sin can sometimes be a difficult area to get our heads around. Non-Christians can struggle even more. Just Love by Ben Cooper is written with non-Christians and Christians with questions in mind and helps us all get to grips with a God who must punish sin.
Read more HERE and get the e-book at the checkout using code jle1113.
This offer is available on the ebook version only. This offer ends at 11:59 Thursday evening, 14th November.
