Don’t Settle for Less Than a Gospel-Sized Christmas

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Don't Settle for Less Than a Gospel-Sized Christmas SCOTTY SMITH    Jesus, the Messiah, grew up "like a tender green shoot ,  like a root in dry ground. He wasn't 'beautiful or majestic' in the natural sense. Nothing about his appearance would have normally stood out to us. Actually, he was despised and rejected by mankind—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.    We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised and we didn't care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down… He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins." So don't pity him; marvel at him—worship him. (Paraphrase of Isaiah 53:1-5)    Lord Jesus, this passage both takes our breath away and gives us eternal life. You're not the "reason for the season"; you're the meaning of life, history, and the cosmos. You don't need us to put you back into Christmas. You put us where we could never otherwise be—in Abba's family and favor, in yourself and your unfiltered delight. Our most present, eternal, and glorious address is " in Christ."    You are the " tender green shoot" of Isaiah's vision—the vital root emerging from the parched earth for the " greening" of our arid hearts and the flourishing of our fallen world. Jesus, you created beauty, yet you became the one with "no beauty" on our behalf. You took the vileness and ugliness of our sin to beautify and cherish us forever.    Your love for us has no parallels or end. You are the fountain of eternal pleasures and your laughter fills heaven—yet to redeem us you became "the man of sorrows—acquainted with deepest grief." You are the God of love who in love came near and got low. You "became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God" (2Cor.5:21). Jesus, we don't want a "merry little Christmas"—we want you. 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

Join Us for 150 Days of Praying the Psalms

Plus a Free Cohort Workshop!

Hi First,   We want to help you turn your eyes to Jesus this holiday season and beyond, which is why we're inviting you to join us for 150 Days of Praying the Psalms. Beginning in January, we'll pray through one psalm a day until we've prayed every one.    When you sign up, you'll receive a free printable schedule to help you track your progress. Feel free to share it  with your small group, friends, family, or co-workers so you can pray together. Plus, we'll send you an email every two weeks with updates and guidance for your prayer journey through the Psalms. Sign Up to Pray With Us To kick us off, Women's Initiatives is also offering a free cohort workshop taught by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor on how to pray the Psalms. Make sure you invite the women in your life to join!   Sign up to Pray + FREE Cohort We'll wrap up our 150 days of prayer one day before TGCW26 begins, where we'll gather in person and turn our eyes to see the Savior in the Psalms. We hope to see you there!   Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe

I Want All of This for Christmas 2025

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH I Want All of This for Christmas 2025 SCOTTY SMITH    When Jesus returns to finish making all things new, "harming and being harmed will be eternally eliminated. Destroying and destruction won't be found anywhere in the new heaven and new earth, for all creation will be full of God's glory and people who know and love the Lord—even as the sea is full of water."  Paraphrase of  Isaiah 11:9    Lord Jesus, what do I want for Christmas 2025? Everything promised and guaranteed in this one verse. The Day when all enmity and strife, violence and destruction give way a culture of kindness, affection, curiosity. Frolicking will replace stalking and devouring among animals. Praying Mantises might actually pray not prey.    But I/we long a million times—make that a gazillion times more for the eternal Day when the entire, impossible-to-count, family of God will each love each other as you love us, Jesus. How diverse will we be? We'll know, love, and enjoy our brothers and sisters from every people group and nation that has ever existed. No nation will seek to be first, because we will finally and fully seek first your Kingdom. We will reveal your righteousness in every thought, word, and thing we do, and in every relationship we have.    Political parties will be replaced with Gospel parties. Boundaries will become bridges. Gates will be as open as hearts. No one will be used or sold, only championed and cherished. There won't be any more spite, fight, freeze, or flight—no more selfishness, racism, or tribalism. It will be impossible for us to harm anyone or be harmed. We'll never misspeak, miss-hear, or "miss" anyone's heart. Thank you, Jesus. Until that Day, grant us kinder hearts, eyes of grace, quicker repentances, and increase our love for you tenfold. 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

A Moment of Reflection — Holding Fast to the Gospel

Let it be a reflection of hope: that what Christ began, He is faithfully completing in us.

View in browser Dear First,   As we draw closer to the end of the year, I want to pause for a moment with you, not just about what we hope to accomplish, but why it matters.   At The Gospel Coalition, we believe that the gospel is far more than a message to be heard, it's a power to be lived. It shapes everything from how we worship, to how we serve, to how we live in community. We are deeply committed to renewing faith in Christ alone, reforming ministry practices to conform fully to Scripture, and resisting the cultural currents that pull us away from our historic beliefs and practices.   And so this year-end campaign isn't just another appeal. It's an invitation. An invitation to stand with a coalition of churches and ministries who believe that the gospel changes hearts, reforms lives, and renews the church.  An invitation to join in equipping the church to be the church, with all its sacrificial, counter-cultural, and kingdom-calling beauty. Give to TGC Let it be a reflection of hope: that what Christ began, He is faithfully completing in us. Let it be a commitment: that we will not drift into the easy paths of power and affluence or retreat into ritual for ritual's sake, but instead walk boldly in transformed living.   Thank you for your faithful partnership and prayer as we seek together to renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel.   Gratefully,   Stephen Schindler Vice President of Development The Gospel Coalition Give to TGC The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO,65205   The Gospel Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.   Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

First, The gospel light still shines

Your gift helps it reach even further.

View in browser Dear First,   In every generation, God calls his people to shine the light of the gospel into dark and desolate places. That's what you're helping us do.   Your generosity allows us to send gospel-centered resources into homes, churches, classrooms, and inboxes around the world. Whether it's a struggling mom, a lonely college student, or a weary pastor, your gift helps someone receive the encouragement they need.   Let's keep shining that light.   With joy in Christ, Melissa Kruger Vice President of Discipleship Programming The Gospel Coalition P.S. The future is bright, and we'd love for you to see why. Click here to read more about our exciting goals and the difference your gift can make. Give to TGC The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO,65205   The Gospel Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.   Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

The gospel light still shines

Your gift helps it reach even further.

View in browser Dear First,   In every generation, God calls his people to shine the light of the gospel into dark and desolate places. That's what you're helping us do.   Your generosity allows us to send gospel-centered resources into homes, churches, classrooms, and inboxes around the world. Whether it's a struggling mom, a lonely college student, or a weary pastor, your gift helps someone receive the encouragement they need.   Let's keep shining that light.   With joy in Christ, Melissa Kruger Vice President of Discipleship Programming The Gospel Coalition P.S. The future is bright, and we'd love for you to see why. Click here to read more about our exciting goals and the difference your gift can make. Give to TGC The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO,65205   The Gospel Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.   Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.