Grace Blogs

In today’s introductory “Gospel Conversations” class, I outline our approach.

What is the Gospel?
How do I explain it to others?
How do I answer their challenges, objections, and questions?

Next week, we’ll dig into the first question by getting a clear picture of the nature of God and the nature of man. This will set the stage for a discussion of sin and the Fall, and from there, the nature of Christ and His unique role as reconciler.
Gospel Conversations: The Home Game
If you’d like to play along at home, you can do the homework assignment I handed out yesterday. (I’m looking into what it will take to get the audio online as there have been numerous requests.) First, answer for yourself whether you agree or …

 

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In segment one of this series we took three weeks to examine the marks of a God-owned Church - “Knowing Who You Are.” Now we are into segment two - “Knowing How You Function.” In this segment we are seeing how every Christian is gifted by the Holy Spirit to display the character and priorities of Jesus Christ in a particular way to strengthen His Church.

Today we will look at the gifting of evangelists, pastors, and teachers. MP3 download.

 

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As you probably know, we have a team “on mission” with Mustard Seeds and Mountains in McDowell County, West Virginia. We have set up this blog to serve as a message board since “up in the hollers” there is practically no cell phone coverage.

The first two entries come from my wife, Vicki, who happens to have three of our kids with her - Ben, David, and Alexa.

Special Thanks to Will “LEGS” Bowman (team member and hill climbing extraordinaire) for making this connection possible!

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What do you picture when I say the word “identity?” Most often we think about a person in terms of their characteristics, a type of mental snapshot like tall, short, loud, quiet, harsh, gentle, etc. There are times we lump the identity of people together, and they form a type of group identity. Over the last two weeks, we have been working through characteristics that form the identity of a true Church. Today, we will discuss two more features in a God-owned church from I Thessalonians 1:8-10.

 

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God is a big topic and people have tons of questions so we asked people what were some “God Questions” they would like to see discussed. Today, we talk about “What happens to those people living on an island in the middle of the Pacific who will never hear about Jesus Christ?”

 

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God is a big topic and people have tons of questions so we asked people what were some “God Questions” they would like to see discussed.  Today, we talk about

Are you saying that over 3 billion people in this world are wrong since they don’t believe in your way to get to heaven? Also, what happens to those people living on an island in the middle of the Pacific who will never hear about Jesus Christ?

 

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It was the Sunday before his crucifixion. The crowds, probably in anticipation of this Jesus who had raised Lazarus from the dead being the type of Messiah they longed for, thronged to the streets. As the crowds waved Palm branches, a chant began to be heard: “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. This quote from the 118th Psalm clearly revealed that the people sought Jesus to “save” them. The question was then the same as it is now, “Save us from what?” The idea that we have to be rescued from some kind of danger has a different meaning in the Kingdom of Man than it does in the Kingdom of God. This …

 

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In this two week series we are taking a revealing look at our role in God’s Kingdom.  Wow, just think about the contrast in those two ideas:  “our role” and “God’s Kingdom.”  How do you boil down a subject this huge into a container so limited?  Well, last week we showed you how we as a Church fit into the framework of God’s Kingdom.  Today,  we will see how you as a person are made to extend the Kingdom of God in the sphere of influence in which you live.  We will show you not only what we are called to do, but model a tangible way in which you can do it.  It is our hope that this series will help clarify the purpose of Grace …

 

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In America there are false teachers and preachers who say if you become a Christian all of your life issues will be solved. I became a Christian when I was 19, that’s 20 years ago. I still have big issues! I have issues of insincerity. I have issues like wanting to be entertained more than wanting to make the most of my time. I have issues about disciplining myself to do the right things when I don’t feel like it. I have issues about loving my wife in the way Christ loved the Church. I have issues…

But false teachers don’t want you to think of your need to be holy or recieve grace …

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The Leadership Team answers your questions.  

Q1 (1:31):  I struggle to share my faith.  I know I should and really do want to, but what are some first steps in making this hope a reality?  Also, if a person never shares their faith, how would you get them to share their faith? 

Q2 (10:57):   Scripture teaches of the Trinity that God is three persons.  It also says God is one essence.  Further, Scripture teaches that God is unchanging.  Finally, Christ took upon himself all our sin becoming sin for us and dying.  What then happened to the unchanging Trinity of the cross?  Was there a separation of the Son from the Father and the Spirit?  Or was his separation on the …

 

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