It hasn't escaped my notice that a lot of people are struggling at the moment. I don't think it's just my friends, I think it's just what life is like in this fallen world.
There are those who are struggling in the wake of illness or grief; those whose relationships are crumbling around their ears; those who are finding it hard to make ends meet or muster the energy to care for those around them; there are those who see no hope for the future. A brief look around our world - our local church - leaves us in no doubt that there is a lot of crying going on.
God is not taken aback by our tears, he knows they are going to flow. After all, he encourages us to weep with those who weep in our congregation (Romans 12:15). But he does have an opinion about how we cry...... continue reading
Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
Psalm 111
People have very differing views of Christmas. Even we as Christians, who put Jesus at the centre of the our celebrations, often have differing priorities over the Christmas period. For some the priority is having family and friends around them. For others it will be about their children, sharing the magical times while sharing Jesus with them too. Still others will be looking for friendship and company having been on their own for much of the rest of the year.
But there is one constant over the festive period no matter who you are or where you are at: food! For most of us, the big event will be lunch on Christmas Day but there will be evening get-togethers, buffets, maybe shared picnics on walks and all sorts of other times when we will stop and eat. And indeed for some - those who live rough - it may be the only time they can get a hot meal somewhere.... continue reading
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It’s Halloween today (it’s also Reformation Day, but our local shops don’t seem to be stocking too many Martin Luther outfits). Whether you think the festival is horrendous, harmless, or somewhere in between, why not make sure you’re praying about it… here are five pointers from Colossians:
1. Thank God for a kingdom that is not dark. Satan is real, and he’s not a six-year-old wearing a red hairband with horns on and carrying a pointy fork. He’s the opposite of God; he’s dark, and there is no light, no good, no joy in him. And it’s his power from which God has liberated us: “he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1 v 13). Thank God that you have a King who loves you, having been rescued from one who hates you.... continue reading
On the surface of it, it's not something that seems to ooze with great gospel potential. It's a room - four walls, with a carpet (or possibly a spot of laminate with a nice rug), a few things to sit on and probably a TV, a plant or two and varying degrees of clutter. But your living room has more than a little potential to be used for the glory of God and the encouragement of a close walk with the Lord. This week, why not take a moment to ask yourselves these 3 questions and get your family room set up for gospel-work:... continue reading
1. Serving without Sinking E-Book Deal
Until midday on Thursday, the e-book version of Serving without Sinking is available for just £1.50 in the UK and $1.99 in the US.
2. 7 Arrows for Bible Reading
Matt Rogers shares his Bible reading tool to help people read and understand the Bible.
3. How to Be Better Bereans
Kevin deYoung looks at how we can become better Bereans:
Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
4. 18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Kids
Tim Challies gives 18 things he knows he will not regret doing with his kids.
5. A Game Plan for New Disciples
Ryan Kearns at the Resurgence tries to answer the question, What do we do with someone who has just become a Christian?'.
6. We'll keep a welcome in the hillside
Paul Levy shares top tips for those involved in welcoming in the local church.
7. And finally…
Our video of the week, an updated video from Ed Drew, children's worker at Dundonald Church, 'Halloween - What should we do?':
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
There's no getting away from it, the second half of this term is one of the busiest there is for churches. The run up to Christmas is just packed full of extra things and while these are usually great opportunities to spread the good news, they can be a tad exhausting. If you're feeling tired before the seasonal rush begins it can be easy to start resenting all the additions to your diary and your to-do list.
So why not refresh and reorientate yourself this week by dipping into one of our top titles? Serving without Sinking by John Hindley has been a huge encouragement to many who have been struggling with the pressures of being active in the local church. Usually £5.99, this great ebook is available for just £1.50 until Thursday midday - that's an incredible 75% off (give or take a fraction of a penny!).
Simply use the code swso13 at the checkout.
Last year Ed Drew offered some helpful reflections on Halloween - we thought it was worth reminding ourselves of them this year, and why not check back tomorrow for an updated video from Ed...
Ed Drew, the children’s worker at Dundonald Church in south-west London, has written the following very helpful piece about how we can respond to Halloween.
Halloween is on the way, on 31st October. In all likelihood, all of us will either have children coming to our doors or have our own children invited to Halloween parties.... continue reading
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Psalm 105:1-4
Take a moment to thank God for his wonderful acts in the past and ask him to help you to trust him in the future.
