StAG January 2017
MAG
mag @ stag . org • www . stag . org / mag • standrewthegreat • @ StAG _ Cambridge
Alasdair Paine
DEAR FRIENDS …
Do you know what “ Ebenezer ” means ? The answer is in the Bible — 1 Samuel 7:12 . The Lord has just delivered Israel from the Philistines , and the prophet Samuel sets up a commemorative stone . He named it Ebenezer , saying , ‘ Thus far the LORD has helped us .’ The word Ebenezer means ‘ stone of help ’.
Samuel ’ s purpose in putting up the stone was to remind everyone who saw it how the Lord had helped his people . He did not do this for sentimental reasons , but so that they would take courage for the future . For here is a great Bible principle : we should take courage for the future by looking back to how God has helped us in the past .
This comes again and again in the Bible . Supremely , of course , we look back to the cross and hear Paul say He who did not spare his own Son , but gave him up for us all — how will he not also , along with him , graciously give us all things ? ( Romans 8:32 ). As we start another year , we take courage for our future as a church by looking back to the Lord ’ s good hand on us in 2016 . What an encouragement it is to remember !
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
G U I L T - F R E E
Page 2
Wish you Were here !
Page 3
2 0 1 6
Looking back with
THANKFULNESS Page 4
Vic Ritchie
Do you sometimes feel that the gospel denies individuals the happiness of being who they want to be ? It ’ s easy to , in a world where being true to yourself is what matters . Enter Vaughan Roberts ’ short book , Transgender : a timely reminder that the gospel is genuinely very good news for everybody , and that delighting in it will help us all , whether gender identity is a personal struggle for us or not .
Transgender By Vaughan Roberts
£ 2.99 £ 2.70
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TRANSGENDER
In a mini Bible overview , Vaughan Roberts shows the joy of our identity being rooted in who God has made us to be , rather than in how we feel . He doesn ’ t make light of the pain that gender dysphoria can cause , but makes clear that we all have disordered bodies , minds and hearts , and that as Christians we ’ re all called to deny ourselves in ways which are painful – and yet , as we do that , we find life and freedom . Much wisdom is needed for those who feel trapped in the wrong body and for those who seek to help them – and it would have been great to have another 70 pages with more practical examples ! – but the principles he articulates should kickstart our thinking , get rid of our gospel-negativity , and help us to rejoice in the goodness of the God who made us and who saves us for a better life than we can ever hope to achieve by ourselves .