We had a great time at the EMA and I’m truly sorry if you could not join us. One of the clear highlights was Mike Cain’s expositions on 2 Cor 3-4. They are – I believe – essential listening for those in any kind of word ministry, but particularly those, perhaps, who feel beleaguered or worn down. Here’s part 1.

Mr Preacher. Here’s a thought. Chief amongst your applications arising from any passage in the Scriptures should be this: to encourage and help your congregation lose themselves in wonder at the majesty and glory of God.

I wonder if we’re too quick to “do” “think” applications. We assume that people need to go away with something concrete.

But, in fact, nothing is better than a deeper appreciation and awe-filled wonder at the triune God who has revealed himself in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes it’s OK to say, just….wow.

Finally, this week, a third use for this superb resource or, for that matter, any decent audio Bible.

3. Use it in your church

We’ve just finished a Bible study series on Numbers using this resource – highly commended ;0

I had a lovely email from a mature Christian lady in our congregation who confided that, as we started out, she felt overwhelmed by the prospect of 36 chapters of counting. She wrote to tell me what a surprise and delight it had been. Good result.

Nevertheless, she has a point. The first study was spread over four intense chapters. How do you manage that? Add to the length the complication of names and it does become overwhelming. How did we do it? We listened to the passage being read by someone else. Here’s a really great use for an audio Bible. You wouldn’t want to do this all the time, as I think we ought to get real live people reading the Bible. Nevertheless, at times like this, what a resource to call upon!

And for those in your congregations with failing eyesight or reading difficulties or time pressure, recommending an audio Bible is a great release. They are not disenfranchised from the church’s commitment to the word. Quite the opposite.

You will gather I’m a great fan. Correct. And not ashamed to be. This is how the word of God first came to the people of God – as they listened to it being read. And it’s no bad thing to reclaim some of that lost ground.

Here’s another way you can use the NIV audio Bible, or – indeed – any audio Bible.

2. Use it for your family

Family devotions are difficult. Have you noticed that? Finding time, material, willingness – all these make time as a family around the word of God something of a battleground. Here’s a way to help. Why not listen to the Bible being read? At the risk of sounding quaint, it’s not unlike the family gathering around the wireless in olden times (!). We have the audio Bible ripped to our computer which means we can stream it into our kitchen where our dining table is.

Or what about suggesting to a youngster that we ditch notes for a bit and just listen to the Bible being read and ask questions afterwards? It’s a different way, but no less valid. And as we do this, the word of God slowly, slowly, seeps into our hearts and minds.

Try it and see.

The new NIV audio Bible read by David Suchet is superb. Simply superb. It’s not just that he has a British voice (although I do think that hearing the Bible read in your own language is just, well, easier). He sounds like someone who believes what he is reading (which he does).  Now, the NIV may not be your translation of choice. Even that does not matter, for when it comes to listening to long passages, you want a translation that is easy on the ears and comprehensible, and even if you don’t use the 2011 NIV in church (which a growing number of us do), it certainly ticks that box. It’s one of those resources which I count it a joy to commend.

But how do you use it in church? Here are three ideas over the next few days which, incidentally, will apply to any good audio Bible.

1. Use it yourself

I don’t know about you, but I am always trying to find ways to make sure God’s word comes to me freshly. I don’t mean that in a gnostic kind of way. I simply mean that as I study the word of God day in and day out there is a real danger of staleness. I’ve found that listening (rather than reading) has transformed this.

I can take in longer passages. Sure, I’m not studying detail in the way I might get my nose in the text, but who says one is better than the other anyway? I’ve found that using an audio Bible regularly has given me a new enthusiasm for reading God’s word (and not just studying it).  Ultimately that benefits me and my congregation too.

Sorry if you’ve missed us! We’ve been hacked and have had to do some serious reconstruction work. But we’re back and the booking system is now up and running.

Fortunately, we don’t put our trust in princes or human beings who cannot save (Psalm 146.3).

We extend this skepticism to websites too.

I am proud to be associated with Evangelicals Now. I think reading and praying through Christian news to be an essential part of living out the gospel. If you know nothing about EN this little video will help. Where did they get that winking granny? Love it.

https://vimeo.com/99158505

One exciting development at last year’s EMA was our decision to promote an overseas book project. We have so many resources in the English language available in the UK that it seemed to us right and proper to remember brothers in less fortunate circumstances overseas. Working together with Crossway and tenofthose.com and thanks to the generous gifts of EMA delegates, we sent hundreds of books to Johannesburg Bible College. This year we are hoping to repeat the same thing, except this time we want to support pastors, evangelists and church planters in North India through the Word Conference, a kind of EMA that happens every autumn in Delhi. Here is the video. Please do help. And if you’re not coming to the EMA but would like to contribute, please get in touch with the office. Thank you, on behalf of your brothers serving in difficult places with limited resources.

https://vimeo.com/99811465

Please join us in praying for today’s EMA. We long that God would graciously use our time together to build gospel ministries and relationships. We are welcoming almost 1,000 people in ministry from 30 countries, although the majority are coming from the UK. We represent something like 620 churches, almost evenly split between Anglican and Free Church (with just a few more non conformists: come on you Episcopalians!!).

We pray that the content would be greatly used. But we also pray that this significant cross-denominational gathering would give us a deep confidence in the gospel and in good and godly gospel relationships. May Christ be at work!

No, it’s not the Tour de France. True, 180 sweaty men in lycra does seem to make the news. But we’ve got 1,000 (hopefully not too sweaty) men in chinos, and quite a few women too (not in chinos and definitely not sweaty). Yes, tomorrow sees the start of the Evangelical Ministry Assembly at the Barbican centre in London.

Tickets are available on the door, so you can still come and join us. We’d love to see you. And we’d love to ask whether you would pray with us that we’d have a happy, safe, blessed time. We long to be challenged from God’s word about following Christ and serving Christ.

Some will come with heavy hearts. Please pray that they would be built up and renewed. Others will come doing well. Please pray that they will be moved to keep going and be a help to others. Some may come doubting ministry. Please pray their confidence would be renewed.

Above all we long that men and women would be built up in their great calling to serve and proclaim Christ Jesus.

Some people will even bring a bike.