Food for Thought 11 - Christmas and Resolutions

Here are links to some of the best blog posts this past Christmas. Even though Christmas is over I think you will find some good "food for thought" in these post.

There are also three excellent posts on resolutions from a Christian perspective that would be worth your time as well as three links to some good short gospel videos I have come across.

Lastly, there are links to ten graphics with Scriptures I have made the past few months. You will see thumbnails which you can click on if you want to download.

May the Lord bless you in the coming year and may He continue to open the eyes of your heart more and more to His love and the beauty of the gospel.

Top Twelve Christmas Posts

Christmas in Suffering & Prejudice

Christmas: Something Greater Than the Temple is Here

It is Better to Receive Than to Give

The Dirty Manger

Beholding the Beauty of Christ in Wal-Mart

At Just the Right Time

Christmas: God’s Glory Returns

The Whole of God is Glorified in Christ

Warning Signs

The Reason for the Season?

The Christmas Story as Story

Let’s Stop Ignoring Joseph

Posts on Resolutions for the New Year

Self-examination and Resolutions

Resolution, Repentance, and Revolution

A New Year’s Top Ten List


Gospel Videos

All I Have is Christ - An Animation (5:23 minutes)

My Last Day (9:14 minutes)

A True Christmas Story (5:13 minutes)

Ten Graphics with Scriptures

English

Romanian

Graphics with Scriptures - Romanian

Here are the same graphics but with Romanian instead of English. Just click on the graphic and it will open a link so you can download the graphic.

 

Graphics with Scriptures - English

Here are some graphics I made from Creative Commons photos I found online. If you click on  the graphic it will open a link to download the graphic. Be sure to click on "large" to get the original size if it gives you an option on what size you want.

These can be for your own use or to email to others or put on social networks like Facebook to bless and encourage your friends and family.

May the Lord bless you in the coming year! 

Definition of the Gospel

Here is my latest version of a short definition of the gospel:

The Gospel is the good news about Jesus. That through His sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection He has restored the reign and rule of God over all creation and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God and live with Him forever if we turn from our sinful rebellion back to God and place our trust in Jesus and all He did to deal with our sin and the judgment we deserve.

Food for Thought 4

How does the gospel apply to the life of a Christian? The Apostle Paul spent a lot of time writing about this. In verse 8 of the first chapter of Romans he states that the faith of those in the church at Rome was known throughout the world yet in verse 15 he tells them he wants to come and preach the gospel to them. Why would he want to do that? Especially considering that his letter to them is the richest letter in regards to gospel content. Well, Paul gives an answer to that in verse 16 "The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." When is salvation done? When the new heavens and earth are created and the New Jerusalem comes down and God lives with His people. 

If that is so then it means that the gospel is the means by which we grow spiritually and become more like Jesus. How do we apply the gospel and live it out in our lives? Well, below are links to some blog posts that give some good "Food for Thought" about this. I hope they will get you thinking and be a blessing.

Killing Moralism

The Gospel Makes Us Different

The Gospel Still Matters to Christians: An Invitation to Think

Christ is the Point

The Turning Point of Francis Schaeffer’s Life and Ministry

Is Religion Just Self-Help?

Can I Change My Emotions?

Food for Thought 3

It is easy to think of those who go overseas of doing missions work but every Christian, according to Jesus, is to be a missionary right where they live. Below are some links that will give you some "Food for Thought" about the "mission" Jesus gave us.

     Evangelism as a Practice Not a Program

     10 Things that Keep Us from Mission

     Too Busy to Be Missional

     Lies That Keep Us From Mission

     Great Expectations Require Great Resignation

     The Meaning of Missional- Jeff Vanderstelt - Video (5:35 min)

     Are You a Trader? Video (2:24)

These "Food for Thought" posts are sent out in an email usually once a week unless I am very busy or traveling. The last one sent out was "Food for Thought 8" so you can see I delay before posting them online. If you would like to receive "Food for Thought" by email let me know.

Food for Thought 2

How should normal everyday Christians be involved in life, evangelism and missions and what should motivate them? Here are a few links that will give you some "Food for Thought" in regards to these things. 

http://www.alanknox.net/2011/01/missions-every-christians-job/

About the impact "normal everyday" Christians had on the growth of Christianity

http://www.skyejethani.com/redefining-radical-part-1/751/

The call to radical mission is NOT the solution to consumer Christianity - Part 1

http://www.skyejethani.com/redefining-radical-part-2/768/

The call to radical mission is NOT the solution to consumer Christianity - Part 2

http://straighttotheheart.highpointeaustin.org/2011/06/24/the-glory-and-goal-of-missions/

The Glory and Goal of Missions

http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2011/06/attributes-of-god-in-light-of-cross.html

The Attributes of God in Light of the Cross

http://vimeo.com/23498421 - video - Dallas Willard on Spiritual Formation - 16 minutes

http://theresurgence.com/2011/06/29/spirituality-isnt-inward

Spirituality isn't Inward

Lording willing I will be sending out my newsletter next week. You can check it out you can at the link Time, Traveling and Teams and if you would like to receive my newsletters just go to Subscribe.