The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9:38)... There's so much to do, so many people who need to hear about Jesus. So why not take a moment this Spring to refresh, reorientate and get equipped for the mission ahead? There are a load of great conferences coming up in April and May. Go on, treat yourself to a great day out that will help you serve ever more faithfully in the Kingdom ...
For Everyone:
May 2-5 - Bible by the Beach at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne
For Men:
April 26 - London Men's Convention at Westminster Central Hall, London
May 10 - Northern Men's Convention at The Armitage Centre, Manchester
For Women:
May 17 - South Central Women's Day at St Mary's Maidenhead
For Everyone Excited by Church Planting:
May 17 - Deep (looking at the life of Jonathan Edwards) at Union Hall Evangelical, Manchester
May 21 - Planting for Christ at Dundonald Church, SW London
For Musicians:
May 17 - Music Ministry Conference, Sheffield
For Young People (11-14):
May 17 - Sorted Nano, at St Helen's Bishopsgate
In an age when celebrities - be they actors, sportsmen or businessmen - are held up as good role models, it is difficult sometimes to discern who has the substance to be a good example to us in the walk of life. Good positive role models are in short supply nowadays it seems. But in A Few Good Men, Richard Coekin highlights some individuals from the Bible who do indeed set us some very good examples of how to follow God. These are characters who deserve our admiration in how they stayed obedient to the Lord.
A highly readable and insightful book, you can read more HERE and get the ebook for just £3 - that's 50% off. Simply use the code afgm0314 at the checkout.
Offer expires midday on Thursday 27th March.
It's a difficult concept isn't it? If we're honest, most of us struggle to get our heads around this wonderful aspect of God's nature, but in his book, Delighting in the Trinity, Tim Chester helps us see that the Trinity is brilliant news and a doctrine that has huge implications for our day-to-day living as Christians. It is a complex subject, for sure, but Chester walks us through it with a warmth, clarity and wisdom that makes this a great read.
Read more HERE and get the ebook for just £2.49 until midday on Thursday. Please use the code ditte0314 at the checkout.
The cross of Christ is central to the Christian faith. At the cross God exposes our deepest need, meets it fully and enables us to live transformed lives. But so many of us forget just how much he achieved when he was crucified.
In his book, Cross Examined, Mark Meynell takes a familiar and ancient story and, without watering it down or changing it, brings it to life for a modern audience. So why not dig deeper into what the cross means for you and those around you?
Read more and get the ebook HERE for just £5 until midday on Thursday. Simply use the code cee0314 at the checkout.
Making sense of the Law
Do you struggle with the Old Testament? In particular what do you make of the Old Testament laws? What about “make tassels on the four corners of your cloak”? (Deuteronomy 22:12). Or the instruction to stone a rebellious son? (Deuteronomy 21:21) Should we just pass over these passages, and be a little embarrassed that they exist in our Bibles?
Paul Barker – minister, author and teacher - has written a new book Teaching Deuteronomy designed to help pastors and bible teachers in the developing world to faithfully explain and apply these difficult scriptures. It is part is part of the Good Book Company’s Pray, Prepare, Preach series.
In it, Paul provides a useful checklist when looking at Old Testament laws and how to work out their application in today’s world: What is the reason for each law? Try to think, “What is the reason for the law?” Some laws may have the reason to love your neighbour. Some are about worshipping only God. Some are because the people of Israel must be different from other nations. Some laws are about safety. Some are about fair justice. Some protect the poor. It is not always easy to find the reason for a law. What is the reason for the law that you shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk? It is hard for us to know. But probably the reason is to stop the people of Israel following the behaviour of people of other religions.
... continue reading
As churches throughout the country prepare to get into high gear for their Easter outreach, a report by the Bible Society offers some sobering perspectives on how we need to share the good news today. The study revealed a generation of children with little knowledge of the most important stories forming the basis of Christianity, and parents who often knew little more. The poll of 800 children between the ages of 8 and 15, and 1100 adults found that:
All of us need something to aspire to. We all benefit from someone to inspire us at times. But who do we want to be like? What are we going to aim at? Around us these days are so many "negative" influences, you'd be forgiven for crumbling under the weight of them. However in his book, A Few Good Men, Richard Coekin lifts from the Bible examples of men who face similar struggles to us but who in the light of those struggles give us positive, godly examples of how to cope with life.
Read more HERE and get the ebook for just £3 until midday on Thursday. Use code afgm0314 at the checkout.
Lent is nearly upon us and my preparations are going well. The batter (shop bought to avoid the colossal lumps of previous years) is in the fridge - my lemon and sugar are at the ready. And, because I like slightly savoury pancakes too, the bacon, maple syrup and strawberries have been purchased as well (really, try it, I was skeptical at first but it’s a great combination!). I love the food of Shrove Tuesday. I enjoy my feeble attempts that unfailingly result in mangled pancake adorning my kitchen floor. I even quite enjoy laughing at the smoke that billows around the rest of my home in the wake of overheated oil…
But no matter how much I enjoy them, pancakes provide nothing of lasting value. Some giggles, a few moments of culinary delight, a minor elevation in cholesterol levels and a large pile of sticky washing up is hardly a recipe for overwhelming edification. In order to prepare for a meaningful Easter, my passion needs to be focused elsewhere.... continue reading
This week sees the launch of our exciting new product, The Third Day - a graphic realisation of Luke 22-24.
Today, we bring you a glimpse of the behind the scenes process with a look at some of the character development sketches ... Enjoy!
When was the last time you were surprised by the Bible? I've just had an email from a seven-year-old who uses XTB Bible-reading notes for children. He says:
"Thank you for making XTB I really like it. I was really surprised when Solomon turned away from God!"
That got me thinking: Do I need to read the Bible (in some ways, at least) with the eyes of a child?
1. Do I know Bible stories so well they don't surprise me any more?... continue reading
