More “Cow Bell,” Gospel Freedom, and Love for Others

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH More "Cow Bell," Gospel Freedom, and Love for Others SCOTTY SMITH  "It's for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Gal.5:1). "When Jesus sets you free, you are really free" (Jn.8:36).   Lord Jesus, on this July 4th, 2025, the last thing I need is to declare my independence. Just the opposite—I declare my utter dependence on you as my "righteousness, holiness, and redemption" (1Cor.1:30)—my joy in life and peace about death (Phil.1:21)—the reason I live with more hope and less fear.  Hallelujah! Furthermore, even as I'm grateful for my American passport, I declare my most prized, defining, and eternal citizenship is in heaven (Phil.3:20). Keep freeing me and my friends from all forms of tribalism, racism, "me-first-ism" (3Jn.1:9)—and all other "ism's" that contradict the Gospel and minimize your Lordship. May the only "supremacy" we're passionate about be Christ-supremacy. Indeed, the only people who are truly free are those you set free. How free are we? We are legally free from the demands of the Law, the power of sin, the condemnation for our guilt, and the power of shame. Jesus, make these legal freedoms, fully experienced freedoms. Chains have been broken, and prison doors are open; give us legs to run out of every cell and imprisonment. Keep freeing us from our failed and failing fiefdoms of self-preoccupation, reputation building, and record-of-wrongs keeping. Jesus, we DO want to love others as you love us—forgiving and forbearing, encouraging and serving, enjoying and encouraging some more. More freedom to do so, please. By the truth and power of the Gospel, free us from other "stuff," stories, and situations that sabotage our freedom more than we realize. Yea, verily, and So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

Let’s Steward Our Longings for Intimacy Carefully and Wisely

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Let's Steward Our Longings for Intimacy Carefully and Wisely SCOTTY SMITH "I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me." Song of Songs 7:10   Lord Jesus, if this Scripture was just a simile, analogy, or metaphor suggesting how you love us, it'd still be wonderful. But, hallelujah, it's more literally true than we know and believe. You DO love us with this degree of intensity and delight. Your focus and affection ARE set upon us. To affirm these wondrous affirmations isn't to privatize or sentimentalize the Gospel; it's to take you seriously—to take you at your Word. Jesus, take all the over-the-top Biblical statements, descriptors, verses, and images about your love for us and make them experientially, undeniably, unavoidably real to us. We ask this for several reasons. First, it is to your glory that we are alive, "lit up" and astonished by your love (Eph.3:18-19). Secondly, since you have created and redeemed us to know you intimately and to abide in and be transformed by your love—if we don't take these irrepressible longings to you, we WILL take them somewhere. Help us. Free us. Rescue us, Jesus. We don't want to settle for substitutes or counterfeits. And we don't want to take your good gifts of marriage, parenting, and friendship and put on them the burden of fulfilling our deepest longings for intimacy, connection, and relational wonder. Forgive us for under-believing the Gospel, and over-believing our fears, lust, and loneliness. We're all tempt-able, vulnerable, and capable of relational insanity. Jesus, dazzle us afresh with your beauty, goodness, and truth. Only your love is better than life. Only your love is enough. Only your love will never let go of us. Only you are worth our next and last breath—our whole love and the rest of our lives. So Very Amen   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

Why the Church Needs You—Now More Than Ever

We're stepping into a bold new chapter at The Gospel Coalition, and we want you to be part of it.

View in browser Join TGC Collective Today Dear First,   We're stepping into a bold new chapter at The Gospel Coalition, and we want you to be part of it.   This year marks 20 years of gospel-centered ministry, and we're celebrating by launching something we've never done before: TGC Collective, a brand-new community of monthly partners committed to renewing and unifying the church.   Why now? Because the church is facing mounting pressure, from cultural confusion to doctrinal drift. Many Christians feel weary, disoriented, and alone. But we believe God is calling us not to retreat but to rebuild.   TGC Collective is how we rise to the moment—together.   As a monthly partner, you'll help us do the following: Publish gospel-centered resources trusted by millions Encourage and strengthen pastors under pressure Equip believers to stand firm in the truth Invest in the long-term unity and renewal of the global church This isn't just a giving program; it's a movement. One we believe will shape the next 20 years of gospel ministry.   To mark our 20th anniversary, we're inviting friends like you to join with a gift of $20/month. Your monthly support lays a steady foundation for all we do, and we want you to see and feel the impact you're making.   Watch this short message to hear why this moment matters. As a heartfelt thank-you for being part of TGC Collective, we're delighted to share meaningful resources with you throughout your time in the community: A free book from our curated TGC collection—designed to encourage and equip you in your faith Discounts on TGC conferences and cohort experiences that deepen your theological understanding First-look access to new TGC content—be the first to explore what's next Digital downloads, behind-the-scenes ministry updates, and personal invitations to webinars A deeper connection to the heart of TGC's mission—helping to advance gospel-centered truth worldwide A personal link to our ministry team—for prayer, encouragement, and meaningful updates This is more than a milestone—it's a mission. And we'd be honored to have you join us. Join TGC Collective Today In Christ, Mark Vroegop President The Gospel Coalition   Want to talk before committing? For more information about TGC Collective, contact Heather Moseman at heather.moseman@thegospelcoalition.org or 281-759-2318. The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe

Jesus, Free Us to Delight in You with Unfettered, Unrestrained Joy

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus, Free Us to Delight in You with Unfettered, Unrestrained Joy SCOTTY SMITH "He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me—he greatly delights in me" (Ps.18:19, Zeph.3:17). "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4   Dear Jesus, we love you only because you first loved us. That is bottom line and core Gospel reality. But to delight in you—that is a special place of freedom and joy requiring the work of the Spirit and our glad surrender. Delighting in you… what an image and invitation: Not a polite, hands-folded, "respectful," sleepy, offends-no-one knowledge of you; but an unfiltered, unfettered, unrestrained relationship with you born out of your delight in us. We love to delight—and it is to your glory that we experience and express delight. We delight in our grandchildren—getting in body positions, wearing things, and making sounds that would otherwise embarrass us. We delight in our pets, fly fishing, and meals we savor with dear friends. We delight in Montana skies, Maine lobsters, Vermont Smallmouth, and Northwoods rhubarb pie. These, and all good gifts, flow from you, Jesus. Thank you. But free us to experience our greatest delight is in you—not just in what you give us. For you don't just satisfy us, Jesus; you are the whole feast, orchestra, oxygen, and meaning of life. Your love doesn't just give us life, it is "better than life" (Ps. 63:3). Make that more than a verse we quote; make it a reality we live. The "place of safety" to which you have led us in the Gospel is now our permanent address—"in Christ." In union with you, we have everything we need, and more than we can imagine or hope. You are the deepest desire of our heart; become our heart's greatest delight. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

What Does “Falling from Grace” Really Mean?

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH What Does "Falling from Grace" Really Mean? SCOTTY SMITH "Trying to justify yourself by obedience to God's law is to alienate yourself from Christ. That's what 'falling from grace' really means—not falling into immorality but jumping into self-salvation. For we are saved by grace alone through faith alone—both grace and faith being 100% gifts of our generous God." (Paraphrase Galatians 5:4 and Ephesians 2:8-10)        Dear Jesus, how counter-intuitive and sobering: To fall from grace is to lapse into law breaking but law idolizing—to choose performance-based spirituality over the Gospel of God's grace. "Egad!" and "Woe!"—it's to trust more in my effort to earn acceptance with God than to rest in your perfect righteousness as my only hope. It means…      If I maintain a daily regimen of Bible reading, Scripture memorization, and devotions, but don't really rely on you as my "righteousness, holiness, and redemption" (1Cor.1:30), it will profit me nothing. In fact, it will be evil.      If I'm scrupulous to avoid evil—even the appearance of evil, but don't really believe the Gospel of grace, I am self-righteous and lost as a goose.      If I should go on short term missions trips every month and give a big portion of my income to the poor, yet don't trust the Gospel-plus-nothing for my salvation, I'm just a generous altruistic infidel.       If I weep many tears of sadness over my sin and earnestly repent, yet don't know myself to be hidden in you and clothed in your righteousness (Col.3:1-4; Gal.3:27), I'm no more than a contrite pagan or shame-filled non-believer.       Jesus, by your Holy Spirit, make the Gospel clear, precious, and real—again, and again, and again. Is it possible for real believers to fall, slip, or jump back into varying degrees of legalism? Tragically, yes, it is. Obliterate our unbelief, Jesus. Restore us to Gospel-astonishment that we might live and love 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  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

New From TGC's Hard Questions Series

Does Science Make God Irrelevant? Faith and Science Can Coexist!

View in browser How Faith and Science Can Coexist to Glorify Our Creator    Questions surrounding the origins of the universe and the accuracy of biblical accounts place science at the forefront of discussions between atheists and Christians alike. Believers criticize the natural sciences as untrustworthy or even as an enemy of faith, while atheists reprimand Christians for denying empirical facts of nature. Is it possible to rightly love both God and science?   In this concise book, author Hans Madueme offers a biblically informed perspective on science, helping readers embrace both faith and science in a responsible and God-glorifying way. Does Science Make God Irrelevant? addresses misconceptions, explains how Christian assumptions make science possible, clarifies the tension between science and miracles, and illustrates ways faith and science can coexist as allies. In turn, readers will see how good science glorifies God and helps us praise our Creator. Hans Madueme (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and an editorial board member for Themelios. He is the co-editor of Adam, the Fall, and Original Sin: Theological, Biblical, and Scientific Perspectives  FIND OUT MORE KEY FEATURES Optimistic: Helps readers maintain a biblically sound worldview and a positive view of science  Informed Perspective: Author Hans Madueme's medical and theological background informs his thoughts on the topic of faith and science  Short, Accessible Format: Explains science from a biblical perspective using 4 simple steps Part of the TGC Hard Questions Series: Equips readers with answers to difficult questions facing today's church READ AN EXCERPT DISCOVER THE HARD QUESTIONS SERIES TGC Hard Questions series is a series of short booklets that seek to answer some common but difficult questions people ask about Christianity. The series serves the church by providing tools that answer unchurched people's deep longings for community, their concerns about biblical ethics, and their doubts about confessional faith.  EXPLORE THE SERIES The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe