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!
Have you ever thought about ways to track prayers and prayer requests so that you feel focused on them? For most of us, often just remembering to pray is hard enough, never mind knowing the outcome of our petitions. I’ve used several different ways to keep a prayer diary - both paper based and electronic - over the years. Now while I’ve settled on a method that seems to work well for me, I am aware that many people still haven't found what's right for them. So here is something that may help you or would be the perfect gift for someone you know.
The Good Book Company Explore Prayer Diary is attractive and practical and designed to help you in your daily prayer life.
Read more HERE and get one for you or someone you know for just £2.50 using the code pd1213 at the checkout.
Offer expires midday on Monday 9th December 2013.
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Kan. school reportedly prohibits student from posting fliers with Bible verses
Christians vow to fight on if High Court allows equality in ACT
More laws are needed as religion declines, top judge says
Turning to the Bible for Weight Loss with the Daniel Diet
Horror: Violent mob of topless pro-abort feminists attacks praying men defending cathedral
Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.
I was reading Luke's account of Zacchaeus recently and spotted something I hadn't noticed before. I'm used to the story of the little man who climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus. But that's not what Luke says. Instead, he tells us that Zacchaeus "wanted to see who Jesus was" (Luke 19 v 3). And that's very different, isn't it?
If Zacchaeus just wanted to see Jesus, he had the perfect perch - and could boast afterwards that he'd seen this famous guy for himself. But if he wanted to see who Jesus really was, Zacchaeus needed more than that. And Jesus offered it. An invitation to meet one to one. What a privilege!
And did Zacchaeus find his answer? Oh yes. He met the Son of Man (that's the great King who is given all authority by God and whose kingdom will never end - Daniel 7 v 13-14) and found that He had come "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19 v 10).
And it struck me that this is our job, if we're in any kind of Bible-teaching ministry, be that with eight-year-olds or eighty-year-olds. It's not just to give people a glimpse of Jesus. It's to show them who He is, and what He offers, and how they can know Him for themselves. And we don't even need to plonk them at the top of a tree to do it – though that might be fun, too…
If you use Twitter, listen to the radio, or read the papers, you’ll know that Monday’s big news was the diver Tom Daley: not his sporting prowess, but his relationship status. He’s announced that, while (and I’m deliberately using the words he chose) he still fancies girls, he’s been in a relationship with another guy for around six months.
Tom is, he says, very happy—being with this guy makes him “feel safe”.
Reaction to Tom choosing to publicise his relationship has, generally, been very positive. And, of course, the reaction most Bible-believing Christians will want to jump to is the exact opposite—a negative one. That’s understandable because, while the Bible is clear that God loves all people, sent his Son to die so that anyone can be saved, delights in giving people eternal life if they turn to him and takes no delight in judging those who choose not to, the Bible also makes very clear that active homosexuality is something that goes against God’s design for us, is an act of rebellion against him as ruler, and so (if forgiveness isn’t asked for) leaves someone outside his kingdom, for eternity, though not beyond forgiveness (eg: 1 Corinthians 6 v 9-11).
But here are two points that are worth Christians pondering, and then two things I’d love to think Tom Daley - and others - might be brought to ponder.... continue reading
Although wobbly headstones are the health and safety nightmare of many unfortunate vicars, I’ll admit that I rather like the eerie romanticism of Victorian graveyards. So I was interested by this photo of the graves of a Catholic woman and her Protestant husband from Roermond, Holland in 1888. Unable to be buried in the same graveyard due to sectarian segregation, the two monuments reach across the wall separating them.
This photo not only speaks of the confessional chasm between Protestants and Catholics in nineteenth century Holland, but also reflects the sad reality that death is a chasm we are all staring into. It’s a dividing line that brings separation. And like the brick wall in the photo looming up in front of us, we are hopeless faced against it.
How wonderful then that Jesus reaches out to us with the offer of eternal life:
“[Grace] has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1 v 10
1. Hero E-Book Deal
Until midday on Thursday, the e-book version of Hero by Jonty Allcock is available for 50% off, that's just £2! (UK customers only).
2. Living Out
A brand new website full of stories, answers to questions, and recommended resources from a group of Christians who experience same-sex attraction.
3. How I Review a Book
Tim Challies shares helpful advice on how to write a book review.
4. FIEC Leader's Conference 2013 Video/Audio
Watch or listen to talks from the 2013 FIEC Leaders' Conference.
5. 6 Simple Ways to Write Better Blog Posts
Mark Driscoll looks at these six ways to help bloggers with their writing.
6. And finally…
Our video of the week, in case you missed it, introducing the new-look Explore daily Bible reading notes for 2014, 'Explore 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
This week's featured e-book from The Good Book Company is one for our younger readers.
Gideon wasn't in a great place when God turned his attentions to him. Some might say the "runt" of the litter in a pretty unimportant and insignificant family, he's a bit of a loser and not looking much like a hero. But when Gideon meets with the extraordinary God of the Bible, all sorts of great things start to happen...
Find out more in Jonty Allcock's book, Hero. Ideal for teenagers, you can get the ebook version HERE for just £2 (that's 50% off!) until Thursday midday. Simply use the code h1113 at the checkout.
From Jane:
So, what one thing do I wish I'd known before starting children's work? This may or may not be relevant, but the first thing that came to my mind was when I first started teaching in an infant school. Nobody had told me about the parents! They were terrifying, and had so much more experience than me. I didn't know what my role should be with them, I though I was just there to teach the children. I guess it's similar in church. We join teams because we love the children and want to teach them about Jesus. But what about the parents? How are we interacting with them? How are we encouraging them in their parenting and their discipling of their children. I think even new young leaders can engage with the parents. It lifts my heart when I hear that one of my children has prayed or shared something helpful.
I once led a training session called “No child is an island”. In other words, all children come in some kind of family or group (even if that’s a foster family or some kind of residential care). And yet we can easily run our groups as if a child is an isolated unit. So, as Jane asks: What about the parents?... continue reading
‘Even now,’ declares the Lord,
‘return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.’
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:12-13
Bad weekend? Sin getting the better of you this morning? Turn back to the Lord with all your heart. His love never fails and his mercy never ends.
