Good News at Rock Bottom (Ray Ortlund)

We all long for a life worth living. So when we receive news of a frightening diagnosis, suffer heartbreaking loss in our family life, or get trapped in a cycle of our own sin, we might wonder about God. Where is He when we need Him most?

In this episode Ray explains that Jesus can be hard to find in the comfortable lives we prefer. Instead, He meets us at rock bottom―where He is waiting for us with open arms. If you’re facing hardship or heartbreak, here is some good news — the Man of Sorrows is there to meet you where you need Him most.

Matt and Ray talk about “Good News at Rock Bottom” as well as Ray's “Jesus Revolution” days in California in the 70’s and their sense that renewal is coming again; his book The Death of Porn and why porn is a justice issue; and how gospel culture is the necessary and beautiful expression of gospel doctrine in our lives and churches.

ABOUT

Ray Ortlund is the president of Renewal Ministries, the pastor to pastors at Immanuel Church in Nashville, and a canon theologian with the Anglican Church in North America.

He is a contributor to the ESV Study Bible (the study Bible Matt recommends most!) and the author of several books, including:

Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost

The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility

You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Weary Christians (co-authored with fellow Deep Thoughts guest Sam Allberry)

To The Tenth Generation: God’s Heart for Your Family, Far into the Future (co-authored with his wife Jani)

The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ 

Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel