Work is well underway on our second graphic novel: Light in the Darkness
We're currently on the inking stage of this exciting project, which is the prequel to our first, popular graphic novel, 'The Third Day' - and we thought you'd like a glimpse of how it's going.
Light in the Darkness uses the biblical text of Luke chapters 1-2 and visualises the drama and emotion of Luke's narrative as we explore the characters of the very first Christmas...
We're expecting it to be available in early October - just in time for your Christmas shopping!
Watch this space...
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfils the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:17-21
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If you are a regular reader of this blog, you'll know we made a lot of this book when it first came out. But with many churches and church people absolutely snowed under at this time of year, it is well worth reminding you of it again.
The run up to camps and summer holiday clubs can be exhausting. Calls on everyone's time are immense - energy and big smiles are required. It's exciting but the constant need to be here, do this, speak at that, make something else or greet this group can be draining and make life feel very tiring.
John Hindley examines just how and why this happens in Serving Without Sinking. It is an issue he has been aware of for a very long time and knows that it isn't just for Christmas either. The good news is he also has some encouraging help backed by Scripture to relieve the burdens we feel in this situation. He shows us how we can maintain that joyful servant heart at this busiest of times.
Read more HERE and get the book for just £4 - use code hsws0714 at the checkout.
Exciting times in the office this week with filming well underway for our innovative new product, Wonderfully Made.
Wonderfully Made is a pre-evangelistic resource for use within toddler groups - using DVD clips to promote discussion of parenting topics from a biblical perspective.
Watch this space for more information!
Home groups are coming to an end. Christian Unions are in abeyance for the next few weeks. Church meetings slow down as pastors and congregation members alike go off on their holidays. For a brief period of time, diaries can seem refreshingly empty ...
It may be that you're looking forward to a much-needed rest over these warmer months - if that is the case, please don't let me stop you! But if you'd like to keep on learning through the summer months, then why not consider using the summer break to dig into a short course in practical ministry from The Good Book College?
Since 2006, The Good Book Company has offered a range of distance-learning courses and some of our most popular are available to be studied over the summer vacation period.
So whether you're looking to dip a toe into Pastoral Care, Women's Ministry, Administration or Christian Mission and Ministry - we have a short course for you.
Each course takes in the region of 70 hours and is done in the comfort of your own home - with optional, practical assignments to help you consolidate your thinking.
Why not take a tour of our short courses here and consider fuelling up this summer with some biblical, accessible training that comes to you ...
There have been celebrations this week in the Anglican church. After much debate, the Church of England has paved the way for women to become bishops. Campaigners are declaring victory, justice, equality, cultural relevance and more. The legislation - which most agree, is far more generous than previous drafts - now proceeds to parliament for approval.
Of course, not everyone has been celebrating. Some have been saddened, if not surprised, by the change. Some are worried that the legislation still does not do enough to protect the integrity of those who hold firmly to the biblical model of male headship. There are lingering fears for the future - on a personal and corporate level. The discussions and decisions are not over yet.
So, how do we pray for those impacted by the vote? Maybe 2 John v3-6 is a place to begin. The context is different but the words are still dripping with poignancy.
An awareness of grace, mercy and peace (v3)
Pray that all those thinking through the implications of this week's vote will be mindful of their status as children of God - their privilege, the sufficiency of God's Word in the hands of the Spirit within them, their utter dependence on the Lord of all things and their call to be humble before his sovereignty.
The joy of truth (v4)
Praise God for those men and women who have spoken truth - sometimes at great cost to themselves - and remain committed to God's Word. To hear God's words spoken faithfully is a wonderful thing in any circumstance.
The mandate of love (v5)
Pray that every decision, every discussion, every report, every email will be seasoned with love in ways that honour God and give helpful witness to a watching world.
A passion for obedience (v6)
Pray that the love that is seen is worked out in obedience to the Lord - that faithfulness continues to be a path to pursue whatever the context, the worries and the energy levels.
There are no easy answers. But love and truth hold firm. Let's not stop praying for the Church of England now.
It is plain to see all around us that the church has a very different place in our society to that of the 20th century. Where the church was a fairly focal point of both local life and the state as a whole a hundred years (maybe even 30 years) ago, now the church is seen to have no real place in society. We have become a nation that used to be Christian, now Jesus is no more than a name from the past or a baby that appears at Christmas. This is why this book is important for us to read. Not just leaders of the church, but also the 'everyday Christian'. What Chester & Timmis do is to show the state of the church as it is today and how we 'should do church' in light of the culture we live in. Their argument is for us to show our culture that church isn't a building but a life lived as Christians together.
There isn't anything radically different here compared to other books of a similar nature but it is a model that is clearly producing fruit in a tough area of the UK. The authors want to show us how living lives with gospel intentionality has been far more beneficial than just getting people to come to an event in a church building. This is so helpful to be reminded of and the examples they give of how it has been worked through in their ministry add weight to their argument.
What they do in Sheffield won't exactly fit into every church setting throughout the country but their heart for the lost people of the UK will. This book is invaluable if we are to reach a culture/country with the love of Jesus and the hope of eternity.
Read more HERE and get the ebook for just £6 until midday on Thursday. Use code ece0114 at the checkout.
It was a hot afternoon yesterday - text messages were flying about: partly reflecting on the sermon just heard, partly making plans for some midweek cake - and in the midst, a new word was born: intereveallenging. Yup, you read that correctly: intereveallenging.
In all honesty, I'm not convinced it will catch on... but it encapsulates what many of us appreciate most in a talk.
Interesting
Relevant stories that resonate with our lives. Pertinent questions - the kind of things our friends ask all the time. And an engaging style that makes us want to listen (no matter how tired and grumpy we - well, I - might be feeling at the start of church).
Revealing
A faithful exposition of Scripture. We're not there to be entertained - we want (and need) to hear from the Lord and there's no substitute for getting in to the text. An in-context foray into God's Word brings light to the dark places of our lives, helping us to see just how awesome God is.
Challenging
Talks that merely inform bring burdens - talks that encourage change bring life. There's no greater joy than becoming like Jesus and being spurred on to do that in the middle of a Sunday service is a simply wonderful.
So ... if you give talks, why not aim to be intereveallenging as you prep in the coming days. And if you listen, pray that your pastor will be unswervingly intereveallenging week by week ...
[Intereveallenging ... See, my friends, - I DID manage to use it in a sentence today!]
