A Prayer for a Time of Grief

Friends, there are times in every family when sad things happen – we are living through one of those times.

Our dear sister Steph is fighting cancer, unexpectedly a brother Brian has passed away (and there has been uncertainty about how and what can be communicated) and there are others in our church family who are struggling with various physical and mental trials or who are supporting those who are struggling with those trials.

We are living through a time when our future eternal home is more in focus than our temporary present home – but it is still a sad time.

Influenced by Psalm 46, the prayer we prayed on Sunday night, is a prayer of comfort.

Please make this your prayer…

A Prayer

Father, many in our church family are struggling with grief, loss, illness or other suffering. When these things weigh heavily, in the midst of the struggle and the pain, help us not to turn away from you but to allow you to be strong in our weakness. Remind us, as you did the psalmist, that you God are our refuge and strength, our ever present help in trouble.

For those grieving the loss of loved ones, we pray that you would comfort them with the knowledge that our hope is in you, that you Oh Lord are our Rock, our fortress and our deliverer, the rock whom we take refuge. You are our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold.

So Father, help us to keep our eyes firmly on the prize at the end of our race – the hope of heaven. We pray these things in the name of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Written by Anita Mahood.

Book Review: 40 Rockets

40 Rockets – Encouragement and tips for turbocharging your evangelism at work by Craig Josling & City Bible Forum (Sydney: Matthias Media, 2017).

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For any worker, so much of any given week is given to a job. For any Christian worker, this is their prime mission field.

Yet, how do you make the most of that opportunity? It is scary at points. There are risks. There are restrictions and workplace guidelines all of which need to be obeyed. No one said that talking about Jesus was a picnic, yet it is still our commission.

This book attempts to help – in a very practical sense.

Continue reading →

Top 10 Books a Christian Should Read

Christians are people of words – help yourself become a good reader. Here are 10 core titles that would give you a solid grounding and a good start.

  1. The Bible!
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If you could only read one book then make sure it is the Bible. A great deal – 66 books in one volume! Win.  Good translations (of the many out there) include the New International Version, the Holman Bible, the English Standard Version, the King James Version (if you like older language) and most recently the Christian Standard Bible. My suggestion is pick the translation above that is used in your Church sermons.

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2. More than a Carpenter – Josh McDowell

This is a good little book which will introduce you to Jesus. If you are looking for a good book to give to someone you want to introduce to Jesus – this will do you well.

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3. Knowing God – J.I. Packer

This book gives you a good basis in Christian Truth. God by nature is so big and amazing, this is a helpful book to get you looking at the character and concerns of God.

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4. The Atonement – by L. Morris or The Cross of Christ –by J. Stott

Both of these books aim to help the reader understand the significance of the cross of Christ. The most recent edition of the John Stott’s The Cross of Christ comes with an excellent study guide.

5. According to Plan – Graeme Goldsworthy1844740129_9111542x

This book will help you understand how the Bible fits together – it helpfully looks at God’s unfolding salvation plan fulfilled by Jesus (Biblical Theology). If you find this book a little heavy, then God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts may be a good alternative.

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6. Reason for God – Tim Keller

This book give you a good basis for defending your faith. For the believer or the skeptic, this is an engaging read.

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7. Praying with Paul : A Call for Spiritual Reformation – D.A. Carson

This book will give you good basis for thinking about prayer and then challenge you to pray.

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8. The Trellis and the Vine – C.M. Marshall and T Payne

This book is a practical ministry book which places the ‘how’ of ministry in the context of the ‘why’.

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9. Disciplines of a Godly Man – R.Kent Hughes or Disciplines of a Godly Woman – Barbara Hughes

These books aim to help the Christian man or woman give attention to practices of godliness. Very helpful.

08308269982x10. Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity – P. Barnett

Understanding the original setting into which Jesus arrived and from which his good news first spread is helpful for understanding the historical importance of Christianity. This book is a great introduction.

These books you can get in both hard copy or e-book. Go to: the Book Depository or Koorong to order online.

Happy reading.

For a helpful article on ‘Active Reading’ from Chris Metcalf go here.

Feel free to offer other suggestions (and why) in the comments.