Grateful for you this Christmas

We'd be honored to be one of the ministries you choose to support.

View in browser Merry Christmas First.   There are so many incredible ministries doing good work this season, all seeking to serve the church faithfully. At The Gospel Coalition, our calling remains the same: to renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel.   We would be honored to be one of the initiatives you choose to support.   As we approach year's end, we are prayerfully working to close the gap and still need $906,000 by December 31 to sustain and expand gospel-centered resources for pastors, churches, and believers around the world. If you feel led to give, you can join us using the link below.   No matter what, please know how deeply grateful I am for you and for the ways you encourage and pray for this ministry.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!   Heather Moseman Annual Gift Officer  The Gospel Coalition     Give a Year-End Gift 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.

More and More, Greater and Greater Love for Jesus

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH More and More, Greater and Greater Love for Jesus SCOTTY SMITH " King Herod heard Jesus was born, and was disturbed" Matt.2:3    Lord Jesus, whether our Christmas gatherings have been sweet and easy, chaotic in the best sense, or a bit sad + special—we acknowledge you to be the "God from whom all blessings flow ." The greatest blessing meets our greatest need— salvation.    You didn't come because we needed a personal valet, party concierge, or on-call masseur. We needed/need a Savior who is full of grace and truth, and that narrows the field to one—to you. The fullness of your grace and truth addresses the fullness of our sin and brokenness. In fact, you over-meet every need we have.    It's hard and messy down here—as evidenced by events right after your birth. When you were one day-old a "5-star inn" didn't open up for your family with hot tubs, post-natal care, and an around-the-clock chef. Before long, you were whisked to Egypt to escape Herod's evil plan to eliminate you—you, the source of all life and the one destined to destroy all evil.    With your birth, death began working backwards. With your death and resurrection, the firstfruits of the new heaven and new earth emerged. Demons tremble knowing their days are numbered. Storms, disease, oppression, injustice, captivities, war, enmity, being harmed and harming, sin and death ALL got a "pink notice" and expiration date. Hallelujah! Knowing his days are short, the devil is now filled with fury (Rev.12:12).    Jesus, keep us wise to the devil's schemes (2Cor.2:11) and 100 times more hopeful than fearful. We don't have be live afraid, but we dare not live naïve. The devil hates everything precious to you. He despises everything that reveals your truth, goodness, and beauty. We shouldn't be shocked and we must not primarily blame people for our misery or look to them for our "salvation."    The #1 thing the devil hates is our love for you in response to your great love for us (2Cor.11:3). SO, may today and ALL of 2026 be marked by a return to our first love for you, and a journey into much greater love for you. Everything else will take care of itself. 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.

Christmas 2025—The Unique Joy That Jesus Has and Gives

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Christmas 2025—The Unique Joy That Jesus Has and Gives SCOTTY SMITH    " Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great   joy  that will be for all the people!" Luke 2:10    Lord Jesus, "in your presence there is fullness of  joy ; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Ps.16:11    " Joy   will accompany  them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." Eccles. 8:15    Abba, "may they have the full measure of  my joy  within them." John 17:13    Lord Jesus, It's 3:25 am Christmas morning 2025 here in in Franklin, Tennessee. Music of your birth is "quietly" filling the room (Darlene's sleeping!), while these Scriptures about your joy invite, stretch, and encourage my heart. I am a deeply grateful man.    Thank you for caring about  our joy—for making a big deal about it. It's certainly not the only emotion you give and bless, but it's one you intend to "accompany us in our toil" ALL our days. Thank you, Jesus, for temperament-transcending, circumstance-defying, suffering-assuming joy. "Whew!" and "Hallelujah!"    Free us Jesus, for we're still capable of living like sheep without a Shepherd, wanderers without wonder—your betrothed bride forgetting Whose we are, what we have in you, and where we are heading. You are  always rejoicing over us and constantly delighting in us. This reality boggles our minds, exposes our unbelief, and encourages our hearts. It is  your joy that is our strength, not  our joy that fires you up or keeps you from being sad. Because of the Gospel, we bear no burden to put a smile on your face or keep your feet dancing. How liberating—how  peace-giving!    No matter the "temperature" of Christmas Day 2025—meteorologically and emotionally; no matter who we're with or really miss; no matter if we have "figgy-pudding," fruitcake, or Fritos; no matter if it's the best Christmas Day ever or a really challenging one—we praise, bless, and adore you, Jesus. We "hitch" our joy-cart to you—and no one or nothing else. 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.

On Christmas Eve 2025

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH On Christmas Eve 2025 SCOTTY SMITH    "When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship" (Gal. 4:5-6)    Lord Jesus, even if we've miss-dated your birth on our calendars, on the calendar of grace you were born in Bethlehem " when the set time had fully come." Not as a metaphor, myth, or mere model—you arrived as God incarnate in weakness unadorned.    Other kings would've arrived with fireworks, big fanfare, and flash to impress; you came in humility, utter dependence, and sacrifice to save. Your glory was hidden in Mary's womb but not diminished. You never ceased being God, but you did become fully man. Though you fill all things, you emptied yourself for us. Mary was pregnant with you for 9 months, but you were eternally "pregnant" with these callings, commitments—and much more. As the Last Adam, you fulfilled the law for us. As the Lamb of God, you bore our sin and took our judgment. As Grave Robber, you conquered death and rose to give us life. As Grace Giver, you are our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. As the Lord of Lords, you reign over kings, history, us, and everything. As our Great High Priest, you intercede, care, and defend us constantly. As our Loving Bridegroom, you're coming for us with passion and delight.    As 2025 winds down, Jesus, would you "wind us up" afresh with wonder, love, and praise? Refuel our first love, first joy, and eternal delight in you. So Very 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

Jesus Our Immanuel

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Our Immanuel SCOTTY SMITH    "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." Luke 2:20    Lord Jesus, I woke up this morning praying for friends in seasons of crisis, complexity, and change—3 realities that marked the world into which you were born. Choosing shepherds as the first recipients of your birth announcement was brilliant and is deeply encouraging to us, for their lives were filled with challenges.    The shepherds were given the first glimpses of your incarnate self—God as a baby, Majesty in a manger, Deity in diapers. O Holy night, O holy paradox, O immeasurable gift—you created Mary yet came to save her, shepherds, and us.  She nursed you—giving milk to the one who feeds every bird and clothes every field. She changed and cleaned your soiled clothing, Jesus—you, the one who has come to make all things new and beautiful.    When the shepherds left your manger, they were still " shepherds." Brokenness and unfairness were written all over their stories. They still couldn't worship at the temple—though they raised sheep for temple sacrifices. They still couldn't give testimony in a court of law—yet they were heaven-picked " expert witnesses" to your birth. They returned to a difficult life of stereotypes, literal wolves, and a denarii-to-denarii existence.    At one level, nothing changed for them; but in what matters most, everything changed. They returned, worshipping not whining. They didn't take "selfies" with you to share with friends; 10,000 times better you returned with them as Immanuel—God with us and God for us. You, the Good Shepherd, now defined them, not their shepherding.    May the same be true for each of us, Jesus—whatever our situation. Whatever is hard, sad, unnerving, vulnerability-fueling—you are with us and for us period. Personally, this is my first Christmas in 50 years—half of a century, not being a pastor on a church staff. It feels right, sweet, and a bit weird—but with a new season comes new opportunities to know, love, serve, and trust you, Jesus. "Hallelujah!", here we go, 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

The Light Still Shines

This Christmas, give the gift of gospel hope.

View in browser Dear First,   In every age, the church needs to be reminded: the light still shines.   At Christmas, we remember the wonder of the incarnation, that in a world of confusion and despair, God came near—with humility, glory, and grace.   The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. And that same Word, our Savior Jesus Christ, continues to shine redeeming light into the darkness of our world.    At The Gospel Coalition, we're committed to proclaiming the unchanging gospel message in an ever-changing world.   Through articles, podcasts, conferences, cohorts, and more, we're helping the next generation see Jesus clearly so they might hold fast to him.   As you reflect on the hope of Christ's return, would you consider making a year-end gift to help others see and savor the light of the gospel?   "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5   With gratitude, Collin Hansen Editor-in-Chief, 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 bold goals and the difference your gift can make.  Give a Year-End Gift 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.