Joy, More Joy, Most Joy

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Joy, More Joy, Most Joy SCOTTY SMITH    "O Lord… you have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound," and when the stock market is up and political "crazy" in down, and when the trout are big and all my teams win. "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, King Jesus, make me dwell in safety." (pp Psalm 4:7-8)   Lord Jesus, Wow!… simply Wow! King David didn't pen these words from on a "vacay" overlooking the Mediterranean sea, but at a time when his son, Absalom was trying to mortally "pen" him with a sword. Thus, our joy isn't dependent on pleasant circumstances but your loving presence. Whatever makes us sad, fearful, and angry isn't ultimate. Only you are, Jesus. When we pray, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done," we're not pining for a nicer day; we're prophesying about the perfect Day.  We can lie down and sleep peacefully and get up with joy and hope because your tomb has never been more empty and your throne never more occupied. Not a hair can fall from our heads, not a breath can be snatched from our lungs, not a beat can be missed by our hearts apart from your sovereign purposes and pleasure. This doesn't make life easy; it makes us yours. You've already reversed death's "victory," obliterated its "sting" (1Cor.15:55), and you will finally eradicate its very existence. Thank. You. Jesus. The "more joy" (Ps.4:7) you've put in our hearts comes from the "excellency of knowing you" (Phil.3:8), the confidence you are working in all things for our good (Rom.8:28), and the hope that you are returning "soon" to make all things new and beautiful" (Rev.21:5, Eccl.3:11). Glory, Glory, Glory, 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.

Never Stop Asking: “What Does Faith Expressing Itself in Love Look Like?”

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Never Stop Asking: "What Does Faith Expressing Itself in Love Look Like?" SCOTTY SMITH    "If our freedom, courage, and behavior makes you wonder if we are crazy , it's to bring glory to God. But if this is what real sanity looks like, it's for your benefit.  Crazy or sane—either way, it's the love of the Lord Jesus Christ that is compelling and controlling us, melting and molding us." (pp 2 Cor.5:13)    Lord Jesus, what a great image—being "certifiably crazy" through the wonder, influence, and transforming power of your love.  Not merely warmed, grateful, or deeply inspired—but seized and smitten, undone then up and laughing, centered and sent forth into a life of loving as you love us. Grant it. Supersize it. Multiply it.    What might this kind of "crazy" look like? Well for starters, it would look like you, Jesus. To say we are being controlled by your love is another way of affirming that "we are no longer our own; we are yours—'lock, stock, and barrel,'; head, heart, and hands; past, present, and future." For we have been bought with a price"—the unparalleled currency of your life, death, and resurrection" (pp 1Cor.6:19-20). By your Holy Spirit, please make this more real and precious to us than EVER. This will free us to live out our calling of doing all things in your name and for your glory.    Indeed, make us that " crazy" Jesus. In our cancel culture, free us to live as reconcilers. In an ugly season in which our world is increasingly becoming "us versus them," may we demonstrate what Jesus for ALL of us looks like. While many are becoming accustomed to quickly demonizing and labeling anyone who disagrees with them, may we become 100 times more accustomed to asking, "What does faith expressing itself in love look like in this situation?" (Gal.5:6). For according to you, Jesus, that's all that really counts. 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.

First, Discover How TGC Serves the Church Around the World

From trusted articles to global conferences—see how The Gospel Coalition equips the church.

View in browser Dear First,   I know that you care about the future of the church. The Gospel Coalition exists to serve the church by providing gospel-centered resources that are trusted, thoughtful, and rooted in Scripture. Whether you're a longtime reader or just getting to know us, we'd love to introduce you to a few ways TGC is equipping believers around the world.   Here's a glimpse of how TGC supports the church and you:    📚 Timely, Theologically-Rich Articles Every day, thousands turn to our website for biblical wisdom on current events, cultural issues, and Christian living. Our editorial team and contributors offer clarity and conviction grounded in the ancient gospel.   🤝 TGC Cohorts Whether you're interested in growing in theological depth, leadership, or spiritual formation, we'd love for you to join a TGC Cohort. These virtual training sessions are equipping attendees to live out the gospel with faithfulness, humility, and endurance.   🌍 Global Reach Through translated resources, international partnerships, and contextualized content, TGC is equipping the global church. Visit our Spanish-language library of resources designed to equip and encourage here.   We're grateful for those who make this possible and we'd love for you to consider joining them.    👉 TGC Collective: We invite you to join the growing community of monthly supporters who make the ministry of TGC possible. As a member of TGC Collective, you'll help advance gospel-centered ministry worldwide, and from time to time, we'll share special resources and encouragement as a small way to thank you for your faithful support.   Together, we can continue to renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel.   With gratitude,   Mark Vroegop President   Give to TGC The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe

New 'RECORDED' Episode—Can You Rely on AI for Theology?

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube

View in browser NEW Episode of RECORDED   Can you trust AI? Mike Graham, program director for TGC's Keller Center, decided to find out. He asked seven major AI platforms seven basic questions about the gospel. Since AI platforms largely rely on the same technology and draw from the same body of information, he figured the answers would be similar.   He was wrong.   Not only were the answers different, but only two platforms nudged a searcher toward Christianity.   In this episode of Recorded, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra asks Mike, Keith Plummer, and Gavin Ortlund what the experiment revealed, why it matters, and whether Christians should be concerned.  LISTEN NOW RECORDED is TGC's narrative podcast, chronicling a variety of stories of God's redemptive and transformative work. These narratives testify to the beauty of the gospel on display in this generation—in many places and in surprising ways. Whether your faith is strong or struggling, tune in to Recorded for encouraging snapshots of God's faithfulness, nearness, and love. The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe

One Profound Verse Through 5 Different Voices

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH One Profound Verse Through 5 Different Voices SCOTTY SMITH "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1Cor.13:7 NLT) "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1Cor.13:7  ESV). "Love puts up with anything. Trusts God always. Always looks for the best. Never looks back but keeps going to the end" (1Cor.13:7 The Message). "Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything" (1Cor.13:7 JB Phillips). "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1Cor.13:7 NIV).    Dear Jesus, no matter how we translate, paraphrase, or parse this one verse, it makes us grateful for three things today: 1. You and your stunning, exquisite, lavish love for us (Eph.3:18). 2. New mercies as this day begins, because in light of this verse, we are neophytes in loving well. 3. Our Father's commitment to finish making us like you (Phil.1:6).     Only you love like this, Jesus—and you love us like this 100%. Having born our sin on the cross, you now bear and forbear with us all the way Home. You  know the worst about us still greatly delight in us. You believe the best about us because we have the best of you in us: We're made in your image. You are being formed inside us (Gal.4:19). One Day we will be as fully like you as a redeemed son and daughter of God can possibly be (1Jn.3:1-3).  Hallelujah!    Jesus, you know the relationships, stories, and contexts where we feel like the biggest love-failures. You also know our confusion, fear, traumas, and reluctance to risk loving certain people like this. In ways beyond all we can ask or imagine, love through us 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.

Jesus Takes Our Joy More Seriously Than We Do

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Takes Our Joy More Seriously Than We Do SCOTTY SMITH    " Father,   I pray they will have the fullness of my joy in them" (Jn.17:13). "What has happened to the joy you once had?" (Gal.4:15). Won't you revive us again, that we may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (Ps.85:6-7 ). " Ask and you will receive abundant joy" (Jn.16:24).    Lord Jesus… Oh that we would take our joy as seriously as you do. You pray that we might know the fullness of your joy—as astonishing as that might seem to us. So how do we leak, leave, and lose our joy? It what ways have we become a kill-joy to our own heart?  I have firsthand experience of these 7.    Sometimes we starve our hearts of the joy nutrients of the Gospel, and we start binging on things that cannot satisfy (Isa.55:1-3).    Sometimes we strangle our hearts with cords of unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment—choking the life out of our joy (Job 5:2).    Sometimes we deceive our hearts—looking to you plus something for our primary joy—romance, riches, reputation.    Sometimes comparison sabotages our joy—fueling our envy, killing our gratitude, poisoning our contentment.    Sometimes we un-guard our hearts—throwing our spiritual life into cruise-control. We forget we have an enemy who hates you and us. The temporal pleasure of sin supplants the eternal joys of knowing and delighting in you.    Sometimes we exhaust our hearts by living at the pace our idols demand, rather than living at the pace of your grace and the rhythms of the Gospel.   Sometimes our aging  hearts reveal our humanity and underscore the most constant, important, and glorious joy in your joy in us, Jesus. We might outlive our joy in you, but we will never outlive your joy in us and love for us.    Jesus, whatever our scenario(s)—you will give us all the grace, kindness, repentance, and renewal we need. Thank you, 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.