The radio is blaring songs of romance.
The supermarkets pushing their displays of chocolates and roses.
Restaurants are advertising their last few tables for that intimate meal.
Facebook bears comments of unexpected cards gained … or recent partners lost.
There’s something about February 14th that gets the world buzzing with a simple question: Do you feel loved?
For some the answer is a heart-warming “yes”: a new relationship is blossoming or a decades-old one still going strong.
For others, there is a sense of emptiness: no flowers, no cards, no chocolates, no ring on the finger… no real hope that there ever will be. Or maybe regrets: harsh words exchanged, a sense of distance and damage in a relationship that is fighting for its life.
But whatever our relationship status right now, however we are feeling about Valentine’s Day – sad, ecstatic or we simply don’t care – God has an important question for us all:
Do you know you’re loved? Do you know you are loved beyond measure by the King of the Universe?
If you are following Jesus, these things are true:... continue reading
"How are we doing in our marriage?" "How are we doing as a family?" "How am I doing as an employee?" "How am I doing as a church member?" I'm guessing you may have asked or been asked one of the first three questions, and probably have a sense of how to answer them, but how would you answer that last one? For a church to be healthy and to fulfill its calling and mission, it is vital to have healthy members.
Although much discussion has been given to what makes a healthy church, most of it tends to be abstract and general in nature. What Thabiti Anyabwile does in his book, What is a Healthy Church Member?, however, is focus on what makes church members healthy. The idea being that when members are healthy, the church will function and grow as it should. Anyabwile includes the way church members should listen to sermons, share their faith with others, and be sincerely devoted to prayer.
Being a church member is a Holy Spirit-prescribed relationship for all believers. In a world where even some "Christians" balk at any requirements of Christians, this work presents God's expectations of his followers.
Read more and get the book HERE for just £4.99 until midday on Monday. Simply use the code hcm0214 at the checkout.
Children and parents 'unaware of Bible stories'
Girl Guides offers concession to Christians in row over dropping God from pledge
Women bishops plan fast-tracked after warning change ‘urgently needed’
Syrian churches call for help from the U.S. as Christian targeting continues
School takes Bible out of classrooms after complaints
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When we think of the Romans, we usually think of sandals and togas, straight roads, and Russell Crowe in Gladiator.
But when Jesus’ countrymen, the Jews, thought of Romans, they thought of oppression, unfair taxes, and random killing. That’s because, throughout Jesus’ life, their land was occupied by a brutal Roman army.
So for the Jews, freedom meant being free of Rome. They dreamed of a freedom fighter who would do the apparently impossible, and release them from the Romans, so that they could live in their land, ruling themselves, in peace.
In our day, many dream of that kind of freedom, too. Millions are being abused by someone else’s government, or their own government.... continue reading
Maybe they ask for a quiet word after the service and tell you about their struggles. Maybe you spot them staggering home from the pub one evening and looking embarrassed as they catch your eye. Maybe you gradually begin to notice, whenever you pop round, they have a drink in their hand – no matter what the time of day - and you know you can’t say nothing. Sound familiar? Then you may well have a friend who drinks too much. But how can we – as fallible brothers and sisters in Christ - help them? Here, continuing our Wednesday afternoon pastoral series, are our top tips of ways to begin:... continue reading
If yesterday’s Church of England debate about women bishops told us very much at all, it was to do with what happens when pragmatism and popularity becomes confused with principle.
This post isn’t a comment on the rights and wrongs of women bishops—it’s about how you arrive at the positions you hold, and how you argue for those positions.
I’m not an expert on the ins and outs of how the Church of England’s General Synod works, but here are, as reported in the media — eg: here and here — the three main reasons why the church needs female bishops, and needs them now (or at least within the next year).
These all sound great. But none of them are good.... continue reading
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
1. ‘But I Say to You…’ ebook just £4.50 until midday Thursday
Get your e-book copy of ’But I Say to You…’ by John Stott for just £4.50.
2. Life to the Full
A new website and video from Christians in Sport.
3. John Piper: The Infographic
An infographic from Tim Challies about John Piper.
4. 5 Things to Look for in a Good Bible Teacher
Mark Driscoll looks at 5 traits of a good Bible teacher.
5. Do You Feel Tension in the Christian Life?
A great article on the tensions in the Christian life.
6. And finally...
This week's video of the week, in case you missed it before, '’Original Jesus: Trailer’:
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
Jesus took issue with his contemporaries on many of the basic questions of life - salvation, authority, morality and ambition to name but a few. Questions that still resonate today and ones that often leave us scratching our heads.
'But I say to you...' is vintage Stott - clear, biblical, passionate, thoughtful and Christ-centred - a magisterial defence of biblical, historic evangelical Christianity. By brilliant analysis of the debates of Jesus with the Pharisees and Sadducees of his day, he highlights modern versions of the same distortions. Profound, lucid and compelling, this book is as relevant to current debates as when it was first published.
Read more and get the ebook HERE for just £4.50 until midday on Thursday. Simply use the code say0214 at the checkout.
I don't read The Telegraph often but one of the lead stories today caught my eye: Your child is not a genius. Get over it.
Its basic thesis is this: Being ahead or behind in reading or maths as a child has little bearing on achievement as an adult. So take off the pressure, enjoy your kids and let them grow at their own unique pace. Really, it's not a competition. And, quite frankly, who wants to be a genius anyway?
Intriguing words... You see, I've noticed a trend among many of my friends: Extra tuition, practice papers every week, an abundance of extra curricula activities that will boost their child's chances of getting into a better school or more prestigious university. The diaries of children are a hive of activity and, at times, a melting pot of pressure.... continue reading
