Loving Jesus

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Loving Jesus SCOTTY SMITH    "Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love" (Eph. 6:24). "I fear that just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent, you too will be lead away from whole-hearted love and devotion to Jesus (pp 2 Cor.11:3). "I remember the love you first had for Me and for others—that season when I mattered more to you than anything else. Remember, repent, and return." (pp Rev.2.4-5)   Lord Jesus, our greatest privilege, main calling, and most heart-liberating commitment in life is to love you. Not merely admire or greatly appreciate you. Not just think you were the greatest person, leader, or teacher who ever lived. No… 1000 times "No." We are to love you with a living and "undying love." You don't merely deserve 1st place in our lives—as though there's a close 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Whatever we think about spiritual warfare and the schemes of the devil, it all comes down to this. The "serpent" is always seeking to diminish, divert, and destroy our love for you. When we don't make spending time with you and abiding in your love a priority, it all goes downhill from there. You become an add-on in life, not our life itself (Col. 3:4, Phil.1:21) Good things supplant the main thing; then mindless and meaningless things even supplant good things. We become more susceptible to fear and worry, anger and sin. Everything in our lives and every relationship we share pay the price for our heart-cooling and heart-drift from you. So, Lord Jesus—by your Spirit, Word, and grace, please renew, refresh, and restore our love for you. Only your love is better than life, and you alone are worthy of our affection, adoration, attention, and allegiance. 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.

Registration Closes Soon for the 'Expositional Preaching Cohort'

Learn from Garrett Kell, David Platt, Mark Vroegop, and More!

View in browser REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 14 Learn from seasoned preachers who will inspire you to pursue excellence in expositional preaching. You'll hear how they preach intentionally, biblically, practically, evangelistically, and with a delivery that's effective. WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN UP TODAY Rediscover your own passion for preaching! Glean insights from TGC Council members—these guys are some of the best preachers I know! Learn alongside other pastors facing similar struggles Be equipped to preach effectively in a variety of contexts Come away with practical skills for planning and delivering great sermons Develop your ability to apply the gospel in a way that changes hearts and minds REGISTER NOW YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN  The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe

We Can Know, Rely, Revel, and Rejoice in Abba’s Love for Us

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Can Know, Rely, Revel, and Rejoice in Abba's Love for Us SCOTTY SMITH    Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever." (Psalm 118).  Let the entire Body of Christ say: "God's love endures forever." Let me and all my praying friends say this morning: "Abba's love endures forever."    Heavenly Father, the most glorious, certain, endearing, and enduring reality in our lives is your love. We could never deserve or earn it; and now we can never lose it or reduce it, just grow in it and be transformed by it.    You love  each of your children as much as you love Jesus; for you made his righteousness ours and hid our lives in his. Receive 70 x 7 Hallelujahs for the fullness of forgiveness, limitless grace, and incomparable love you have lavished on us, Abba (1Jn.3:1-3).    In terms of the  quantity of your love—we now live, work, and play in the bottomless ocean of your mercy, grace, and kindness. In terms of your love's  quality—it bears no comparisons, for you are love, Father—the measure, meaning, and means of all true affection. So, how  endurable is your love? You will cease to be God before you will stop loving us as much as you love Jesus.    Hallelujah, "we can know and rely on the love you have for us" (1Jn.4:16), in  ALL the raptures and ruptures of life. In our easiest and most frustrating relationships, in sickness and in health, in windfalls of delight and waterfalls of messes— your love endures forever. When life is 87% awesome and when we're not sure we can endure another week of weariness and worry—your love  endures forever.  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.

Start the Party, Grill, and Band—Abba Gives More Grace

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Start the Party, Grill, and Band—Abba Gives More Grace SCOTTY SMITH " He gives us more grace"—" new grace in the place of previous grace, multiplied and overflowing." (James 4:6; pp John 1:16)    Heavenly Father, we take your promise and provision of more grace very seriously today. Whatever our ache, lack, loss, or crisis—you give us need-shaped, moment-requiring grace give us grace (Heb.4:16).    Just when we're about to throw in the hope-towel—you give us " sanity-grace." You bring us back to the perspective of eternity with a fresh sighting of Jesus out of his tomb and joyfully on his throne (Rev.4).    Just when we're about to enter our float and by confetti for the pity-party parade—you give us " sufficient grace." Not barely enough, but surely enough grace to rescue us from ourselves.    Just when we're about to run far away to medicate our pain or stay present and blame everyone for our misery, you pour out " shocking-grace"—shocking some of us back into our sensibilities; shocking others with how generous you are to the ill-deserving. You start the party, grill, and band—beckoning us back onto the dancefloor of the Gospel (Luke 15:11-32).    Just when we're ready to give up on friends and family members ever coming to know you—you give " super-abundant-grace"—reminding us of this staggering, trustworthy promise: " I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me" (Isa.65:1). Our calling is to love, only you can save.    Just when we're close to giving into shame—so tired of being so unlike Jesus so much of the time, you give us more saving grace. For our salvation is a past, present, and future process—not just a "one and done." You began this good work in us; and you will complete it (Phil.1:6). Hallelujah, 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.

A New Bible Study by Women's Initiatives at TGC

An inductive 8-Week Study on the Psalms

View in browser "Gently but powerfully helps you fix your gaze on Jesus and his sovereign love." Courtney Doctor, Director of Women's Initiatives at TGC. An inductive 8-Week Study on the Psalms  Written by Winfree Brisley & Sharonda Cooper The Bible calls us to turn our eyes to Christ, allowing his presence to transform our lives. But amid our busy routines, constant distractions, and the pull of worldly temptations, it can be easy to lose sight of him. The Psalms offer a powerful and practical means of connecting with God. These ancient prayers and songs give voice to our emotions, allowing us to praise God for his grace and faithfulness, no matter our current circumstances.   Turn Your Eyes offers a structured, step-by-step approach to help readers observe, interpret, and apply a wide variety of psalms. Over the course of 8 weeks, readers will explore 15 psalms, each week focused on a different key theme, such as wisdom, thanksgiving, lament, kingship, trust, praise, and more. By delving into the Psalms, readers will come to know and love the Lord and his word in new and deeper ways. BUY IT NOW Winfree Brisley (BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) serves as an editor for the Gospel Coalition. She is the coeditor of Unto Us and a contributor to Fruitful and The Weary World Rejoices. She and her husband, Will, have three sons and live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they belong to Uptown Church. Sharonda Cooper (MEng, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) serves as content coordinator of women's initiatives for the Gospel Coalition. She is a contributor to Fruitful and Unto Us. Sharonda is currently pursuing her MDiv in apologetics and philosophy from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and lives in Austin, Texas, with her family. KEY FEATURES . . .  Designed for Women of All Ages: Perfect for individuals or groups eager to explore the Psalms Inductive 8-Week Study: This structured, step-by-step approach helps readers observe, interpret, and apply key psalms each week Comprehensive: Explores 15 psalms that highlight major themes, including wisdom, thanksgiving, lament, kingship, trust, and praise Additional Resources: Prayers, memory verses, discussion questions, hymns, and videos help deepen reflection and strengthen retention WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING . . .  "Done with careful exposition and thoughtfulness, this Bible study will lead you to marvel at God's glory and grace." —Emily A. Jensen and Laura Wifler, coauthors, Risen Motherhood and Gospel Mom "You'll learn how to observe, interpret, and apply the Psalms as you work through this study, and you'll be equipped to gaze on God's goodness every time you open your Bible." —Glenna Marshall, author, The Promise Is His Presence; Everyday Faithfulness; and Memorizing Scripture    ORDER YOUR COPY Find out more about TGCW26 The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe