There’s More Than One TGIF

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH There's More Than One TGIF SCOTTY SMITH "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1Thess.5:18)   Heavenly Father, perhaps the most recognizable "TGIF" is Thank God It's Friday. And since today is Friday, we do give you thanks for it.  Whether it's the beginning of an awesome, fun-packed weekend, or the end to a most frustrating work-week, or the day we'll head out with a few dear friends on a road trip to catch up, catch fish, and catch a few extra "z's"—no matter the scenario, we're just grateful.  And since giving thanks is a discipline before it's a delight, here's a few more TGIF's that voice our gratitude.   The Gospel Is Final: Hallelujah… when Jesus cried out, "It is finished!", he wasn't speaking metaphorically, symbolically, or exaggerating. The biggest reason we rejoice on this Friday, or any day of the week, is that there's nothing more than the Gospel, just more of it.   True Greatness Includes Friendship: Having just spent a few days serving Jesus with dear brothers, I consider myself wealthy, blessed, and successful simply because of the friends you've woven into my heart and story.   Treasuring Grace Ignites Faith: At 74, I kinda hoped I'd grow out of my need for your grace; but actually, I'm growing into my need for more of you grace, Father, and it's quite freeing. My faith gets healthier and stronger as I boast in my weaknesses, collapse on Jesus, and rest in your love.    Trust God In Frustrations:  Argh… this TGIF came into play last night as it felt like a little school of attitude-piranha swam into my heart stream and devoured my peace. Delayed flight, slow Wi-Fi, packed plane, annoying steward… and the only recording I could access on my iPad was a Sonship message on repentance by Jack Miller—just what I needed. Father, you are so present, caring, and "creative."  True Godliness Includes Fun: Father, thank you for giving us all things to "richly enjoy" (1Tim.6:17). Fun and enjoyment are a lot closer to godliness than austerity and uptightness. Here's to a Friday and weekend of doing fun to your glory. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Hurry—TGCW24 Early Rate Ends Tomorrow!

$199 Rate Increases to $239 in a Few Hours

Hi First,   Thinking about joining us June 20 to 22 in Indianapolis for The Gospel Coalition's 2024 Women's Conference? The early rate of $199 ends tomorrow and the regular rate of $239 kicks in.  Register Now In addition to almost 50 breakout sessions taught by more than 60 speakers, the keynote sessions will focus on Jesus's seven "I AM" statements in John's Gospel and will be taught by:  Melissa Kruger Jen Wilkin Vanessa Hawkins Courtney Doctor Nancy Guthrie Ruth Chou Simons David Platt We hope you'll invite your friends, family, and church to join thousands of others for a three-day conference full of Bible teaching, breakouts, workshops, as well as worship from Shane & Shane.   Find out more about our theme, Behold & Believe: Encountering Jesus as the Great I AM.   I hope to see you there!   Joanna Kimbrel Coordinator of Women's Initiatives The Gospel Coalition, P.O. Box 170346, Austin, TX 78717 Unsubscribe

We Can’t Know, Love, and Live This Story too Well

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Can't Know, Love, and Live This Story too Well SCOTTY SMITH "In keeping with God's promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells" (2Pet.3:13)—where everything will be "right," everything sad will become "untrue," and all things will be beautiful and unbreakable.   "He (Jesus) who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." (Rev.21:5)   Lord Jesus, as someone who is "directionally impaired," I'm grateful to live in the era of cars having digital-screen maps and calm voices to direct us to our desired destinations. But 10,000 times over, I'm grateful for the Scriptures and the Gospel today. The Scriptures clearly reveal where you are taking us as your beloved people, and the Gospel guarantees our safe, free, and joyful arrival. Hallelujah for both. When you return, Jesus, you will usher in "the new heaven and new earth." It will be the best of the Garden of Eden, but so very much more. If Eden was a "glory-bud," the new heaven and new earth will be a worldwide "garden of grace." This very earth—not a re-do or replacement, will be filled with your glory. Your impossible-to-count every-nation Bride will be gathered and glorified, loving perfectly as you love us. Nothing in us or around us will less than perfect, beautiful, and the way it was meant to be. We ourselves will be made perfect in love (1Jon.3:1-3), and—best of all, we will finally know and love you with unfiltered passion and utter delight. Hasten the Day, Lord! Until then, Jesus, reel in our wandering forgetful hearts. Keep us from other narratives clamoring for our hearts, and from other stories that, at best, only give you a tiny bit part. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Stop… And Smell the Gospel

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Stop… And Smell the Gospel SCOTTY SMITH Absorb, ponder, "see what great love the Father has lavished on us" (1Jn.3:1). "It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil.2:13). "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever" (Ps.138:8).   Heavenly Father, it's such a gift to live without the stress of not-knowing, fearing, or having to guess what you think about us. Because of the Gospel, we live in your 100% favor 100% of the time. No more "He loves me, He loves me not." The burden of our guilt, shame, and failures have been lifted from our "heart-shoulders." Posing and pretending have been crushed under the weight of your eternal welcome and lavish love. What relief… what freedom… what peace we have. Your currency is grace, your "pockets" are as deep as your heart is big, Father. And you stay on a generous spending-spree on our behalf. Hallelujah… Jesus' saving work is finished for us, and the Spirit's transforming work continues in us until the Day of all things new and beautiful (Rev.21:5, Eccl.3:11). On this February Wednesday, we affirm with King David, you will "fulfill your purpose for me," and celebrate with Paul, "you are at work in us according to your good pleasure." May the rest we have in the Gospel mark the rest of our days with…   Faith expressing itself in love. Hope expressing itself in mission. Grace expressing itself in generosity. Peace expressing itself in less fear and worry. Humility expressing itself in quick repentances and kindness. We are so loved, so yours, and so grateful. SO Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Not Mortified (Humiliated), But Gospel-Mortification (Humility)

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Not Mortified (Humiliated), But Gospel-Mortification (Humility) SCOTTY SMITH What is true of us as believers? Highlights and affirmations in Colossians 3:1-4. We've been raised to newness of life in Christ. When Jesus died we died, for his death was counted as ours. Our lives are now united to Christ and safely hidden in God. Christ is now our life—its essence not add-on. When Jesus returns in full glory, we too will be glorified—that is, we will be completely like Jesus. How then shall we live till then? We are to set our minds and hearts on things above, and "put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Col.3:5).   Today's Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you… 10,000 thanks as we ponder what you have already done for us, fill our hearts with you and every good thing we have in you, and rest in knowing that one Day we will be completely like you. Because of all these wonderful grace-realities, teach us how to do Gospel-mortification—that is how to "put to death" things which contradict your beauty and goodness. We won't be sin-free until you return, but we can be more sin-serious before that glorious Day. Grant us quicker repentances, Jesus. About what have we become too accepting and lax? What Christless thoughts do we have, deadly words do we speak, and anti-grace habits do we practice too easily and too often? If we discovered a scorpion in our workout bag, or a small fire in the back seat of our car, or a coiled snake in our workspace, we'd take quick and radical action. Jesus, may we be just as quick and radical about our sin. It's not about getting you to love us more. It's about revealing more of your goodness and beauty. Hallelujah, and help us. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Surprising Stories of Coming to Faith

New TGC-Crossway Apologetics Book From Randy Newman

Sort through Your Questions and Find a Path from Doubt to Faith Do you have honest questions about faith? Or have you walked away from faith altogether? Perhaps you've been part of a faith tradition, but you've begun to question parts of what you've been taught. Students and young professionals today are submerged in a culture of cynicism and doubt. Many identify as nonreligious but wrestle with questions about God's existence, the meaning of life, and whether it's possible to find goodness and beauty in this world.   After 40 years listening to hundreds of people's stories of faith, Randy Newman has come to see that answering spiritual questions usually involves a series of twists and turns, not a direct ascent from one belief to another. Our political view, family background, understanding of sexuality, and religious background all play a part in our faith journeys. If you or a friend are navigating terrains of doubt, in Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt you'll find Newman to be a faithful guide. He'll help you sort through your many questions and find solid answers.   Read Chapter 1 Randy Newman is senior fellow for apologetics and evangelism at the C. S. Lewis Institute. He was formerly on staff with Cru, ministering in and near Washington, DC. He is the author of several books, including Questioning Evangelism and Bringing the Gospel Home.   KEY FEATURES . . .  Culturally Aware: Touches on matters of morality, identity, suffering, sexuality, and science Accessible: Newman mixes thought-provoking anecdotes with a clear and compelling message about the Christian faith A Tool for Winsome Apologetics: Written to help those who doubt to answer their questions about the Christian faith; will also help Christians strengthen their beliefs and share them with doubting friends WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING . . .  "Randy Newman is a reliable voice to engage people who are questioning faith and looking for lasting answers. He himself has journeyed through terrains of doubt. He knows how to help the fainthearted. He has mercy on those who raise tough questions. He has patience to follow the twists and turns of your own story—and to invite you to explore ultimate questions about its destination." —David Mathis, Senior Teacher and Executive Editor, desiringGod.org "l found this book riveting, not least because Randy Newman has given so much of his life to really hearing people's stories. He has listened to their questions and is deeply engaged with their convictions and emotions. The result is a book that profoundly and humanely engages with what is going on beneath the surface in our culture." —Rico Tice, Cofounder, Christianity Explored "The book is worthy of serious consideration, and I very much recommend it, including to religious skeptics like me." —Emmett L. Holman, Associate Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, George Mason University Pick Up a Copy The Gospel Coalition P.O. Box 170346, Austin, TX Unsubscribe