Hallelujah for Abba’s “No’s” and Negativity!

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Hallelujah for Abba's "No's" and Negativity! SCOTTY SMITH    Heavenly Father, none of us choose "negative people" as our primary hanging buddies. That being said, thank for being generous with "No's" and "negativity" when it comes to the things that mark and matter most to us. Such as… No condemnation remains for us, only your delight. – "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom.8:1. No separation from your love. "Nothing will ever separate us from the love of God has for us in Christ Jesus our Lord" Rom.8:39. No temptation is greater than your provision of grace and escape. "God won't allow you to be tempted beyond your ability to endure and will always give you a way out" 1Cor.1:13. No possibility exists of losing our salvation. "I am sure he who began a good work in you will complete it." Phil.1:6. No end to Jesus' perfect prayers for us. "Jesus completely saves those who come to God through him, because he ever-lives to intercede for them" Heb.7:25. No chance we won't be 100% like Jesus one Day. "We know that when Jesus appears we shall be like him" 1Jn.3:2 No crisis, failure, loss, or heartache is excluded from Romans 8:28. "God works in all things for the good of those who love him." No evil will escape eradication. "Death—the last enemy, will also be destroyed." 1Cor.15:26 No way we can weigh, fathom, or grasp the 100% perfection of our eternal future. "No eye has seen, ear heard, or mind imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" 1Cor.2:9. No tear we've ever wept will be left up-wiped and it's pain left unredeemed. "God will wipe every tear out of their eyes" Rev.21:4. No chance Jesus won't finish making all things new. Rev.21:5 Hallelujah times a gazillion! Thank you, Abba, for turning our worries and whines into worship. 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, Make Us This Self-Aware and Gospel-Saturated

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus, Make Us This Self-Aware and Gospel-Saturated SCOTTY SMITH    " If as believers we think we no longer have any sins to confess, we're fooling ourselves and not living in the truth and reality. But if we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (pp 1Jn.1:8-9).    Heavenly Father, for your steadfast love, we bless you. For your patience and kindness, we praise you. For your daily mercies, we trust you. Hallelujah! … You've already declared us righteous in Christ and now you're at work to make us as beautiful as Christ.    There's no condemnation for sin left for us, but there remains plenty of conviction for the ways we still fall short of your glory and perfect Christlikeness. Here are some things we bring to your throne of grace today, appropriating the forgiveness you've already given us. Remind us of other things as well, Father. We confess thinking of ourselves too often and marveling at Jesus too little. We confess over-believing our fears and regrets and under-resting in the Gospel. We confess scheduling ourselves into bad attitudes, strained relationships, and diminishing health. We confess indulging a critical spirit more than we seek your Spirit's filling. We confess being more upset by world news than at peace through the Good News. We confess being more offended by other people's sins than we grieve our own We confess wanting you to "rubber stamp" our plans rather than surrender our wishes to your Fatherly heart and sovereign hand.    Father, grant us grace to repent quicker than we blame shift, minimize, and make excuses. Humble us. Gentle us. Heal us. Free us. Transform us. Thank you for "booking" the Day we'll never sin again, and we will forever be as loving as Jesus. Hasten that Day, Abba. 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.

Strong, Gospel-Shaped Church Ministry Doesn’t Happen by Accident

Sign Up for a New Cohort for Associate and Executive Pastors

View in browser Wednesdays, March 4 - April 22 STRONG, GOSPEL-SHAPED LEADERSHIP DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT Executive and associate pastors carry a unique weight in the life of a church—translating vision into ministry reality, shepherding teams, stewarding resources, and building systems that allow mission to flourish. I know this all too well from my time as an executive pastor of 6 years. When this leadership is healthy, aligned, and rooted in Scripture, the whole church benefits. That's why TGC is offering a new cohort to equip associate and executive pastors to lead for the health of the church. I've assembled a group of seasoned executive and associate pastors to offer an 8-week course designed to foster personal well-being and organizational vitality. It will provide the tools to align your leadership with robust, healthy systems, shifting your operations from reactive maintenance to sustainable, gospel-centered ministry. WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN UP TODAY Create clarity, cultivate trust, and keep your church on mission Learn from leading practitioners and thought leaders in church operations, leadership, and staff care Deepen your leadership instincts, strengthen your strategic thinking, and build the practical skill set needed to support your senior pastor and serve your congregation faithfully Gain practical tools to effectively lead and serve your church's complex needs  FIND OUT MORE I hope to see you there! Zach Cochran Vice President of Operations YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN Upcoming cohorts by TGC The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205   Take control of your inbox Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

How to Enjoy, Love, and Honor Jesus

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH How to Enjoy, Love, and Honor Jesus SCOTTY SMITH    Dear Lord Jesus, several images coming to mind and heart when I think of Philippians 2:1-4: True Freedom, Lighthouse, Reset Button, Default Mode, North Star,  Primary GPS Setting, Homeroom, Oasis in the Desert, Riches of Grace, Gospel Sanity … and that's just 10 of many more. I can't think of a more central and centering portion of your Word.    " If you have any encouragement   from being united with Christ" (Phil.2:1) – What encouragement comes through our union with you? We are fully known and deeply loved—forgiven , justified , and adopted by Abba, Father. Staying experientially alive to these 3 grace-realities would change everything, Jesus. Help us, free us. But that's comparable to a few rolls of quarters compared to all the riches we have in you.    "if any   comfort   from Jesus' love" – How do you comfort us with your love? By your love's quality, depth, and constancy. No one loves us like you do, Jesus. You comfort us in our grief, fears, and pain—when we lose our grip, way, and hope.    "if any fellowship  with the Spirit, tenderness, and compassion" – The Spirit is constantly telling us of your beauty, glory, and compassion; and of our belovedness and "sonship" with Abba (Rom. 8:16). How will all this goodness impact our relationships?   "Be like-minded and grace-hearted—having the same love   for Jesus and each other… Do nothing   out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, humbly value and honor each other above yourselves. Don't make everything about yourself. Champion the interests of others" (Paraphrase of Philippians 2:2-4).   Jesus, THIS is the relational culture the Gospel will create—in our hearts, churches, marriages, and friendships—in every season of family life, in our various callings, and throughout our journey Home. As you love us, free us to love to your glory. Life is too precious and short to make it about us. It's all about loving and honoring you, Jesus. 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.

Get the Best of The Carson Center—Every Week

Announcing a Brand-New Newsletter by The Carson Center Fellows

View in browser Our new weekly newsletter gathers the full breadth of The Carson Center's work into one place—your inbox.   What you'll get each week: Scripture's Use of Scripture: a new devotional by the fellows of The Carson Center in which they explain the meaning of Scripture in light of Scripture.  A featured article: a long-form piece by experts in the field of biblical theology. A video highlight: handpicked teaching from The Carson Digital Archive. Essays: a relevant theological essay from our extensive library. It's everything you need to deepen your understanding of Scripture—delivered weekly.   Benjamin L. Gladd Executive Director for The Carson Center SUBSCRIBE TODAY ABOUT THE CARSON CENTER FOR THEOLOGICAL RENEWAL   The Carson Center exists to foster spiritual renewal around the world by providing excellent theological resources for the whole church—for anyone called to teach, and anyone who wants to study the Bible. YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN Join Michael Morales starting on March 6th  for his online interactive cohort Exodus: Knowing the Lord through Israel's Redemption. The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Take control of your inbox Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.