Saturday, 13 June 2026

TGC27: For Every Christian Who Loves Their Church

Hallelujah, Abba Keeps “But-ing” In!

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  
TGC
Heavenward
SCOTTY SMITH
Hallelujah, Abba Keeps “But-ing” In!
SCOTTY SMITH
But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love for us…” Eph. 2:4
   Heavenly Father, Ephesians 2:4 is an incomplete sentence in the Greek text; but it’s the incomplete sentence that completes us. It affirms three great realities that meet us where we are and take us where only you can.
   “ But God” – Claims every challenge, crises, and crucible we will experience until heaven. When we’re feeling and believing, “Everything is broken, hopeless, and impossible.”—the Gospel shows us and reminds us, “But God.” Abba, you are the great disrupter and interrupter, and your grace is the greatest rescue and hope-fuel ever. When you “ but-in” it’s always timely, appropriate, and with a beautiful outcome in mind.
   Being rich in mercy” – This is who you are, Abba: You are “rich”—not meager, mercurial, or miserly, but over-the-top generous. We’ don’t have a present family scenario, dire straight, stuck relationship, health crisis, haunting regret, or “impossibility” that is too old, too hard, or too anything for you. Hallelujah!
   His great love for us” – This is the whole Gospel-enchilada, grace-garden, and never-ending-reality. Because of what you’ve done for us, Jesus, you have “great” love for us—not “just” love, but humongous, ginormous, unwavering love for us. Your love is lavish (1Jn.3:1), never-ending (Lam.3:22-23), unfathomable and multi-dimensional (Eph3:18-19), protective (Ps.5:11-12), forgiving and full of grace (Neh.9:17). Abba, keep “ but-ing in” all the way Home. So Very Amen.
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Friday, 12 June 2026

There’s Always a Kinder Way Forward

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  
TGC
Heavenward
SCOTTY SMITH
There’s Always a Kinder Way Forward
SCOTTY SMITH
 “ Kindness is on her tongue” (Prov.31:26).
The fruit of the Spirit is…  kindness(Gal.5:22).
Clothe yourselves with… kindness” (Col.3:12) .
“Show kindness  and mercy to one another” (Zech.7:9).
God’s kindness leads you to repentance” (Rom.2:4)
By his goodness and kindness , God saved us...” (Tit.3:4).
God will eternally express his kindness  to us in Jesus” (pp Eph.2:7).
   Heavenly Father, if “seven” is the number of perfection and fullness in the Bible, then it’s a good thing for us to begin this June Thursday with a “7-pack” of verses highlighting the greatness of your kindness and our calling to live as conduits of your kind-heartedness. Thrill our hearts afresh with the measureless magnificence of your kindness; and free us to think kindly, speak kindly, and relate kindly all day long—when it’s easy-breezy, and when it will take the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
   Kindness isn’t an attitude you generate in response to anything in us (Hallelujah); and there’s nothing we will do today that will “un-kind” you or put you in a bad mood (Hallelujah!) Because this is wondrously true, in our most irritation-fueling moments and relationships, there will always be a kinder way forward. No one can make us mean. No one can make us harsh. Those are choices we make in response to very real emotions. You never tell us not to feel angry; but in our anger not to sin (Eph.4:26). Help us, Abba.
   Proactively, whatever attire we’re donning for the day, we will remain under-dressed until we first clothe ourselves with your kindness (Col. 3:12). The Gospel is the difference between the external kindness of “southern niceness,” the transactional congeniality of a “kiss-up,” and the revolutionary kindness you lavish on us in Jesus (1Jn.3:1-3). All day help us think, feel, speak, and act in line with the truth of the Gospel (Gal. 2:14). Thank you and So Very Amen.
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Thursday, 11 June 2026

Celebrating Jesus’ Active Advocacy

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  
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Heavenward
SCOTTY SMITH
Celebrating Jesus’ Active Advocacy
SCOTTY SMITH
  “ Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” (Acts 7:55–56)
 
   Gracious Jesus, this scene from Stephen’s costly discipleship shouts eternal engagement. With stones bouncing off his body, Stephen saw you standing at God’s right hand. This story transforms every wrong notion I’ve ever had about you “sitting” at the right hand of the Father. Your “sitting” is a sign of you ruling the world, not needing a break. You’re on a throne— THE throne, not reclining in a big massage chair.
   Having risen from the dead and ascending into heaven, you are now making all things new, advancing your Kingdom, turning your enemies into your “footstool” (Ps.110:1)—redeeming, loving, and serving your beloved Bride.  Thank you and Hallelujah!
   Jesus, forgive me for ever thinking you’ve forgotten about me, don’t really care about me, or have even abandoned me. I confess that sometimes—especially when life feels most unfair, most lonely, and most broken, I briefly entertain these self-absorbed, Gospel-contradicting notions about you.
   By the power of the Spirit, gift me and my friends with same liberating awareness you gave Stephen—whether the sky above us is dark and foreboding or “Carolina blue.” We’re not asking for “ warm fuzzies,” but a transforming vision of who you really are. Open the eyes of our hearts to see more of you, Jesus—much more of your truth, goodness, and beauty (Eph.1:15-23).
   Let us see you joyfully enthroned (Rev.4:1-3). Let us hear you singing over us and delighting in us—Bridegroom to Bride (Zeph.3:14-17; Isa.62:5). Grant us the same “redemptive heartburn” (Lk.24:32) you gave your new friends on the road to Emmaus. Continue to reveal yourself to us everywhere in the Bible (Lk.24:27). That’s all we need—that’s all we really need. Thank you and So Very Amen.
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Wednesday, 10 June 2026

New TGC Cohort on AI—How Should the Church Respond?

The Manifold and Multi-Colored Grace of God

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