Gary Thomas Newsletter
July 5, 2025
This week's Paid Subscriber posts:
You Can’t Please God and the World: It’s One or the Other
I realize I'm jerking the paid subscribers around a bit, posting bits and pieces of several works in progress, but that's part of the fun of what Substack offers: the chance to share works in progress, hopefully garnering feedback while I refine my thoughts. And I hope these words can be an encouragement to you, as it'll be years before they are published in formal print. (This is likely going to be the book I'll seek to publish after I publish the book on hurting Christian parents.)
Where this chapter fits into the book on divine affirmation: we won't revel in divine affirmation if we don't value divine affirmation. If we continue to seek our joy from the world's approval and acclaim, we'll stop seeking God's approval and acclaim, as the two are at odds with each other. This is chapter three: after presenting the joys of being "good enough for God" (through Christ), it asks the reader, "Will this become more valuable to you than being good enough for the world?" In the end, we have to choose which "city" we want to dwell in — Babylon or Jerusalem.
Read this blog HERE.
This week's Free Subscriber posts:
Your Ideal Marriage Is Killing Your Sacred Marriage
I was so moved reading a passage from Dietrich Bonhoeffer recently, and saw some clear analogies for marriage, that I wrote this longer post on it. It may seem a bit theoretical (and perhaps boring) to some, but for those of you who like to dig into these things, it could start a great conversation in the comments. Let me know what you think.
Read this post HERE.
Sacred Marriage Video Study, Revised and Updated: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?
Your marriage is much more than a union between you and your spouse. It is a spiritual discipline ideally suited to help you know God more fully and intimately. Sacred Marriage shifts the focus from marital enrichment to spiritual enrichment in ways that can help you love your mate more. Everything about your marriage—from the history you and your spouse create, to the love you share, to the forgiveness you both offer and seek—is filled with the capacity to help you grow in Christ's character. This revised and updated edition includes all-new videos from Gary featuring new insights, illustrations, and teachings for the modern married couple.
For more information for each event, click INFORMATION, on Gary’s schedule on his website, HERE.
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!
Have a question about something in this newsletter? Want to book me for a speaking event, virtually or in-person? Just want to share your thoughts on something in the newsletter?
I would love to connect and answer any questions you may have.
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