Some people, both Christian as well as non-Christian, find it easy to understand God and Jesus, but struggle to understand quite how and where the Holy Spirit fits into the picture. Who exactly is he? And how does he work in our lives?
Silence can mean many things to different people; some love it, while others fear it, some fight against it. I am sure that it is no co-incidence that the level of noise has increased, as the separation between God’s ways and the world’s ways, are becoming further apart. Noise clouds judgment, overwhelming the still small voice, causing further confusion. Is it easier to fill your life with noise, than to be still in silence? If I asked what you could hear right now, what would it be? I am not just talking about the voices from those who need us, calling for our attention, or the noise from traffic, radio, TV, phone …. But also the words we repeat over in our minds, our worries, the words we carry around in our heart, the endless list of things we need to accomplish!... continue reading
When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, to know it is to love it. And that which we love, we freely and widely broadcast. Countless named and unnamed Christians through the ages have discovered that their love for Christ plays out naturally – one might say supernaturally – in their desire to spread the word about the Word. But some of us - many of us - still struggle. How can you explain something to someone when they apparently have no desire to listen to what you want to tell them?
In Know and Tell the Gospel, the late evangelist and author John Chapman goes a step further than other authors of evangelism books. Rather than simply assuming that we, his readers, actually know the gospel, Chapman uses the first half of the book to reinforce the gospel's basic truths and provide Scriptural proofs for them. Being an Australian, Chapman might call it ‘revising’ the gospel – not in the sense of changing it, but rehearsing it. The second section, focusing more on method and technique, features only three chapters, and despite its practical focus, theological overlap from the first section is evident, since "a right understanding of the gospel should lead to right methods; an inadequate understanding will inevitably lead to inadequate practices".
Know and Tell the Gospel may or may not teach you anything new about evangelism, but the read is worth it even "just" to rehearse the message of the wonderful saving gospel of Jesus Christ once again. The book's spotlight shines on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Buy it HERE for just £4 - use code kat1013 at the checkout.
Offer expires 07.10.13.
Walking the Walk, Not Just Talking the Talk
When I was growing up, my world seemed pretty simple. At school and as a young man being religious meant being a Christian. I didn't know many Jews, Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists. I didn't really even know anything about them. Today things are different, even if we don't always notice it, mosques, synagogues, and temples are everywhere. As for churches you’ll find Anglican, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Evangelical, Presbyterian, Methodist, and many other traditions.
In addition, it's not uncommon to hear people say, I'm not religious, but I am spiritual. People who talk like that tend to be theologically eclectic. They’re concerned that such entities as above, whether big or small, Christian or not, might put boundaries on their ability to pick and choose what they believe and practice. So with all of this religious and spiritual diversity, what does it mean to be a Christian? What are the biblical beliefs we need to focus on to stay true to God? What are the basic Christian truths we need to hold on to and understand to shine out as a light for Christ in an ever more secular world and one full of "alternative" religion and spirituality?... continue reading
We live (whether we like it or not) in a world where Christianity is being marginalised more and more. Fewer people have any intention of going to Church. Indeed many people these days only ever use Christ's name as a swear word. In addition, many anti-God organisations and movements seek to destabilise faith by sowing doubts. And how many of us have been drawn into that arena of self-questioning? I know I've been there.
It can also seem like many other Christians are full of faith and never struggle with doubt - making it hard for those of us who do admit to it. Doubt is not exactly a cheery subject, but reading Martin Ayers' book, Keep the Faith, left me cheered. God is surely ruler of all and his sovereignty is never in question.
Martin wants us to think differently about our doubts. Drawing from John's Gospel and the letter to the Romans, he gets us to see that no-one has neutral thoughts about Jesus and the truth of Christianity. We're either drawn to Jesus or we're trying to suppress the truth of the gospel. Christians shouldn't be surprised then that so few people believe the good news of Christ, and we shouldn't be afraid to address our doubts head-on. From there Martin goes on to offer great wisdom on what to do when we're suffering from doubt.
It's a short, accessible read and one that will certainly lift the heart in praise to God for saving us through Jesus.
Get it HERE at 20% off.
Many of us spend more time in the workplace than anywhere else. Yet we can too easily make following Christ a matter of personal devotion and church activity. The nine to five routine becomes divorced from our Christian life.
The world of work is becoming increasingly competitive and insecure. We often have nagging doubts and questions: Why am I doing this? Why is it so hard? And is there anything I can do about it?
The routine is the same: get up and get to work. Our commute is a fog. Sometimes our day is too. And many of us find ourselves wondering, is there really a point to all this? It seems like work is, at best, a necessary evil. But is that how we should view work? More importantly, is that how God views work?
In Every Good Endeavour, Tim Keller puts his insights into a book for readers everywhere, giving biblical perspectives on work and such pressing questions as:
Where most books on the subject of work end up swinging one way or the other - work is either a necessary evil or work is our "god", Every Good Endeavour reminds us that while we will not have a meaningful life without work, we cannot say that our work is the meaning of life. But our work, whether secular or sacred, is a chief means by which we can glorify God.
Get it HERE with 30% off.
According to research, the number of UK workers earning below the "living wage" (the wage necessary to maintain an adequate lifestyle) has risen to an enormous 4.8 million. That's equal to 20% of the employed working population and is up from 3.4 million in 2009. 77% of employees under 20 and two thirds of restaurant and hotel workers earn less than the living wage (currently £8.55 in London, £7.45 elsewhere in the UK).
For those with larger pay packets, wages have still fallen more in real terms in the current economic climate than ever before with a third of workers who have stayed in the same job seeing a wage cut or freeze.
On top of that, many jobs have been lost completely.
So how do we cope with low incomes and rising outgoings? Can we be happy or content in whatever financial situation we find ourselves? We may know that money doesn't bring happiness but our finances can still be a massive blind spot. It's all too easy for cash flow concerns to turn into an obsession or idol.
In Beyond Greed, Brian Rosner gives us some words of comfort, logic and guidance. He encourages us to see how Jesus taught us not to be rich in this world but rich in the next and live a life of contentment not comparison. Brian helps us open our eyes to the problems of money and proposes a liberating lifestyle that trades materialism for something of far greater worth and satisfaction.
Get it HERE at 20% off.
Rowena Mellor is making the most of her retirement! Early 2013, she began to do Christianity Explained with an International student from China who we shall call Maggie. “Maggie said it would take years to become a Christian because she knew nothing about the Bible. We shook our heads and said, “No,” and took her through the six Christianity Explained lessons.”
“So we began to meet once a week to do Christianity Explained one-on-one in my back garden. I asked a friend, Suzanne, to come for support. I led and Suzanne would extend some points. During the fifth session Maggie wanted to become a Christian.
“I found the course very effective as it was taking Maggie through the Gospel as well as an English lesson. Putting out the resources for her to read was very effective and the book illustration, in Study 2, was quite powerful. I have been a believer for decades but this was the first time I have personally led someone else to faith in Jesus. What a thrill!... continue reading
Police recently released the pictures of the 25 people who are on their most wanted list for identity theft. They've allegedly stolen other people's personal details and then used their own photographs to get passports, driving licences and other documents. These documents in turn have opened up access to applications for mortgages, bank loans and benefits.
Identity theft is the fastest growing type of fraud in Britain and hit an all time high in 2012 with over 150,000 identifiable victims according to CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service. So we have to be careful: careful to protect our own identity and careful about making assumptions about the identity of others.
As Christians, we place our faith in the person and identity of Jesus Christ. But how can we be sure of who he is and indeed his actual existence as a real person? There are many in the world who suggest his existence - and certainly his miracles and resurrection - were little more than fraud.
In The Case For Christ, Lee Strobel, a former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, tests out what the Bible says about Jesus. Who he is, what he did and why he came. He explores the evidence for Jesus' existence - in the Bible and out - and assesses whether this man truly is who he says he is.
Read more and see for yourself just how we can be sure of the identity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Get Case for Christ HERE for just £3! - use promo code cfc08 at the checkout.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28: 19-20a
Those are the final instructive words from Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Those words, although spoken to the disciples Jesus himself called to follow him, should equally resonate with us as Christians today. But what do they mean and to whom do they apply?
Is Jesus referring just to church leaders, preachers or missionaries? No! He’s speaking to us all, you and me – the whole church throughout the world. Jesus wants us to finish what he began. He came to the disciples, taught them, and worked with them. He then died on the cross and rose from the dead. But, before he ascended into heaven, he gave them, and us, the commission to spread the gospel throughout the world.... continue reading
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6: 12
Once again this week the mercurially talented Paul Gascoigne has hit the news headlines for all the wrong reasons – another drunken assault charge, the latest in a long line of drunken and violent misdemeanors.
As casual observers, we will never understand what has driven Gascoigne to the place he is now - a place where he is battling depression, drink and self-destruction. A hugely talented footballer stripped of confidence and at odds with himself and the world around him.
But whilst Gascoigne (and he is not alone in the sporting world) is a high profile illustration, there is in every one of us a battle raging of some sort. We are not perfect, we are sinners and all have inner struggles to face.
Our lives aren’t played out in front of thousands or millions of people and spread across the media. Not all those struggles will be as dramatic or visible as those endured by Paul Gascoigne. But they will be there and be niggling away at us just the same.
All too often we aren’t good at dealing with persistent indwelling sin. The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard will help address that problem in ways that are encouraging and full of hope. It is as honest as anything you will ever read about the power of sin, yet it is infused with the wonder of the gospel.
Read more and get it here for £4.99 using code pg0908