Save 40% at the TGC Bookstore—Resources for the Year Ahead

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View in browser The start of a new year often invites us to slow down, reflect, and be more intentional about what shapes our thinking, our families, and our faith.   For a short time, take 40% off across the entire TGC Bookstore with the code TGC40 at checkout. This is your chance to invest in resources that form hearts and minds around the truth of God's Word as you move through the year ahead.   To help you get started, we've also prepared three discounted bookstore bundles, thoughtfully curated for different seasons of discipleship. Whether you're investing in your children, strengthening your family life, or growing in personal formation, there's a bundle created with you in mind. Grab something for you, for loved ones, or for your church. EXPLORE BUNDLES Save up to 65% on case-quantity orders to equip your church or ministry Flat $4.99 shipping for your entire order This is a simple way to begin (or continue) the year with resources that help anchor daily life in Scripture and sound theology. Browse the bundles—or explore the full bookstore while the 40% flash sale is live (it ends Tuesday, February 3, at midnight). 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.

Don’t Pretend to Be Happy and Don’t Resist Jesus’ Joy

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Don't Pretend to Be Happy and Don't Resist Jesus' Joy SCOTTY SMITH Success Joy:  Spiritual effectiveness is wonderful, "but primarily rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (pp Lk.10:17-20).  Distress Joy: Times of great difficulty are coming, "nevertheless, I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!" (pp Hab. 3:18) Gospel Joy: "I pray they will have the full measure of my joy inside them." (Jn.17:13)    Lord Jesus, thank you for the contrast in these two stories. In Luke 10, the 72 disciples revel in ministry success. Habakkuk the prophet laments Israel's impending distress. The 72 disciples watched darkness flee and Habakkuk saw it coming. Both affirm you give a joy that transcends the best and worst of storylines. Hallelujah, and thank you.    Gospel-fueled, Spirit-generated joy transcends triumph and terror, bad news (Ps.112:17) and wonderful reports, "rupture and rapture." It's not destroyed when there's no fruit on the vine (Hab.3:17-18); and it's not tied to vast vineyards abounding with lush grapes. Though we wish our dance-worthy, happiness -generating days would always out-number our hard ones—that's not what you told us to expect (John 16:33).    In our world and lifetime, we have trouble, but in you and by you we have peace. The peace you give best explains the joy you promise—for they are virtually synonymous. The greatest peace and joy come from knowing we belong to you, Jesus. All kinds of stories will be written into our lives on the way Home—many we'd never choose, and others that leave us giddy with gratitude.    But the main penmanship we rest in is the day Abba used the indelible ink of grace to write our names in heaven—into the Lamb's book of life (Phil.4:3, Rev.3:5,13:8). This doesn't just mean we go to heaven when we die; it means we are yours while we live! Honestly Jesus, we'd love a happy life; but more so we want the joy you won for us and pray for us 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.

Wholeheartedness

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Wholeheartedness SCOTTY SMITH " Give me your heart my child." (Pr.23:26) " Guard your heart tenaciously for everything flows from it." (Pr.4:23) " Your heart's fullness will be revealed in your words." (pp Lk.6:45) " Don't harden your heart—like Israel did in the wilderness." (Heb.2:8) " It's hard down here but take heart for I have overcome world." (pp Jn.16:33) " Don't lose heart for your inner life is being renewed day by day." (2Cor.4:16) " Give me an undivided heart to adore and revere you, Abba." (pp Ps.86:11)    Heavenly Father, I woke up today thinking about my heart—since, as these 7 verses affirm, you have so much to say about our hearts. At times I feel more "prone to wander" than prone to worship and trust you. So I am profoundly grateful for two "heart-promises" you have made that claim us more than we claim them:    1. " I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a new, tender, undivided, responsive heart" (Ezek.11:19; 36:26). Hallelujah with shouts, cartwheels, and extreme relief—you began this great, grace-work inside us, and you will complete it (Phil.1:6). This doesn't make us 100% passive but 100% yours and 100% dependent on you. The Gospel puts an end to all earning, but not all effort. We do good heart-work now from your love, not for your love.    2. " I will heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds." (Ps.147:3). Hallelujah, healing and health define our forever! Father, we'll either bring our heartaches and heart-messes to you; or we'll weaponize them and demonize others for being the source of all our pain in life. You are the "Father of compassion and God of all comfort" (2Cor.1:3), so here we come.    Thank you for welcoming us with our heavy hearts, crushed hearts, fearful hearts, divided hearts, pity-party hearts, angry hearts—thank you for welcoming us as we are but not leaving us as we are. Grace gets the first, middle, and last word. 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.

Redeeming Love and Re-Naming Grace

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Redeeming Love and Re-Naming Grace SCOTTY SMITH   " I have called you by name, you are mine" (Isa.43:1). " No longer will you be called 'Forsaken', instead, 'My Delight Is in Her' … for the LORD delights in you and has made you his Bride" (Isa.62:4). " One Day every knee will bow at Jesus' name" (Phil.2:10).    Lord Jesus, these Scriptures remind us that nothing is more central to our existence than the name(s) by which we live. We are grateful to know you as the Lord of redeeming love and re-naming grace. Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter, Saul became Paul—all by the power of your kindness and eternal purposes.    Whether or not there's literally a new name awaiting us in heaven (Rev.2:17), it's enough to know you now call us, " Mine", "Beloved", "Desired." these aren't nicknames but transforming realities more legal and lasting than anything we have ever been called in life. Jesus, please free and heal us of all the anti-grace, shame-poisoned, dignity-robbing names we've received in life.    Just as importantly, help us adress each other the way you address us—with kindness and grace, healing and hope. Convict us quickly and deeply when we harm others with weaponized words and mercy-void names. "You are pathetic." "You'll never change." "You are pathetic." "You are hopeless." "You're a failure."—these aren't "brands" like cereals on the shelf at Publix. They are "brands" like red hot steel burning an identity into the hide of a steer. Forgive us, Jesus.    Lastly, Jesus, and most importantly, your name is the name we love to hear more than any other. Your name isn't just the assembly of 5 letters; it is the bottomless ocean of truth, goodness, and beauty—the name above every name to which we are destined to bow, and in which we now greatly delight. 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.

5 TGC Cohorts This Winter—Something for Everyone

Be Equipped for Life and Ministry in the Modern World

View in browser EQUIPPING YOU WITH GOSPEL-CENTERED WISDOM FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY   Details of 5 New TGC Cohorts Below TGC Cohorts—weekly online learning classes—help ministry leaders and ordinary Christians feel more confident engaging the questions and challenges of modern life. Whether covering topics like sexuality or cultural apologetics, evangelism or discipleship, our cohorts will equip you with expert teaching and relational connection with Christians in similar situations. At the end of each course (usually 6 to 8 weeks), you'll be equipped with gospel-centered wisdom for life and ministry.   TGC Cohorts will help you: Be trained by experts, scholars, and thought-leaders Connect with other Christians in similar contexts Fill gaps in seminary or formal education Feel more confident engaging a rapidly changing culture TGC Cohorts are for you if: You're looking to brush up on a specific area of life and ministry You're looking for support and encouragement from other Christians facing similar challenges You want to help your church navigate the complicated and pressing issues of our day You want to feel more confident going into evangelistic or discipleship conversations For rich content and meaningful connection, register for a TGC Cohort today.  BROWSE ALL COHORTS TGC COHORTS RUNNING THIS WINTER From Women's Initiatives at TGC Flourishing Faith Women's Cohort Starting February 12 Registration closes February 2 FIND OUT MORE From The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics Portraits of a Cultural Apologist: What the Christian Tradition Teaches Us about Ministry Today Starting March 26 Registration closes March 19 From TGC's Editorial Team From Pitch to Published: TGC Writers' Cohort Starting February 25 Registration closes February 20 FIND OUT MORE From The Carson Center for Theological Renewal Exodus: Knowing the Lord through Israel's Redemption Starting March 6 Registration closes February 27 From TGC Staff Pastoring from the Second Chair Cohort: Wisdom for Associate and Executive Pastors Starting March 4 Registration closes February 18 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.