"Now Concerning the Matters About Which You Wrote"
GCD Newsletter – Monday, December 5, 2022
Once a month I make a short video exploring aspects of good, Christian writing. In this month’s video, I talked about the principle that good writing answers questions. That’s what Stephen Morefield does so wonderfully in his new book Always Longing. The whole book is framed around seven questions people have about heaven and the answers the Bible gives.
His book got me thinking about Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth and a line he has in there about the questions the church had asked him. The opening of chapter 7 says, “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote . . .” Paul spends the next two dozen verses talking about several aspects of marriage, a topic they apparently wanted to understand better. In the rest of the letter, he does this four more times, discussing marriage, food sacrificed to idols, spiritual gifts, and the collecting of offerings (7:25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1). Have you ever marveled at what a model of humility and servanthood this is? In a similar way, we see Jesus constantly answering questions in the Gospels. Once he didn’t answer a question, but that was because people were only trying to trick him (Matt. 21:23–27).
I’m not sure what topics you’d like to see Gospel-Centered Discipleship write about, but all these reflections incline me to ask. Over December, we’ll have a number of posts—as you might expect—related to Christmas. But in the new year, we have lots of openings in the publishing calendar. If you have ideas or themes you’d like to see our author’s address, please send me an email (benjamin@gcdiscipleship.com). I’ll do my best to see us answer them.
Last Week at GCDiscipleship.com
The King Came in Rags
Chrys Jones
The words “Christmas” and “Advent” hearken many memories. In one moment, we picture solemn evening worship services with candles, hymns, and Scripture reading. In another moment, we envision Christmas dinner parties, gifts, and cozy treats. For many, these are the reasons Christmas is considered to be the most wonderful time of the year.
Focusing on the spiritual meaning of Advent, another common image is that of a coming King. We sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King!” And rightfully so. The Scriptures teach that God would send a great King to lead his people. Yet, we would be equally blessed to celebrate his humility. Our King came in rags.
Big Boys Do Cry after All: Faith Reflections from a Cancer Oven
Tim Shorey
One of our staff writers, is journaling through his struggle with stage 4 cancer. In this entry Tim Shorey reflects on the sadness he feels as he knows he’ll only live for maybe three more Christmases. “As one of the bigger boys around (there’s over six vertical feet and around 250 increasingly horizontal pounds of me), I’ve re-discovered in recent time that big boys do cry after all,” he writes. “I’m lamenting.”
Writers’ Coaching Corner (December 2022): Answers Questions
Benjamin Vrbicek
This month is the third installment in the second season of the Writers’ Coaching Corner. This month I use the excerpt from Stephen Morefield’s new book Always Longing to talk about the principle that good writing answers questions.
Thanks for reading,
Benjamin Vrbicek
Managing Editor for Gospel-Centered Discipleship