The Gospel Centered Life Begins

This week we begin our series The Gospel Centered Life.  The groups that have already met this week are giving positive reviews.  The curriculum has provided a lot of thought provoking discussion and I am excited about the potential growth that will result from these next nine weeks.  I want everyone to be thinking about people you could invite to your home community who have not accepted the gospel.  If the gospel is going to transform every aspect of our lives then we must critically evaluate every interaction we have throughout each day.

I am praying for you!

Good News or Bad News?

If you had a choice between hearing good news or bad news which would you choose?  This may seem like a ridiculous question because for any living, breathing human being good news is always better then bad news.  Think of a time in your life when you received good news.  I remember when I was 16 I went to the DMV to get my drivers license.  I took the test and I passed on the first try.  I was so happy they took my picture and gave me my card.  It was so shiny and new and most importantly that card meant that I could drive myself around anywhere I needed or wanted to go.  Now that for me at age 16 was good news.  From that point on for the next few months I would tell everyone I talked with about my drivers license.  I was simply sharing the good news.  I was excited because my life had changed for the better.  People would say, "How's it going?" and I would respond, "I got my drivers license."  Whenever people have good news they love to share it.  Its easy, its awesome, there is no hesitation and so I wonder... what happened to Christians?  It seems like many of us have forgotten what Christ did for us.  We have forgotten the good news of our new found eternal security and forgiveness.  We treat the gospel like a one time get out hell free card when in fact the gospel is something to be excited about every minute of everyday.  Forgiveness, righteousness, a new life, new community and a new eternal destination are all parts of our good news as believers in Jesus Christ.

As we gear up for The Gospel Centered Life series lets remember that we have GOOD NEWS to share. When you are talking with unbelievers be excited and willing to share your good news.  The world that we live in is filled with bad news, and things will be like that until Christ returns so until that day lets share the only real good news worth sharing which is the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Redeeming Every Opportunity

Colossians 4:1-6

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

As I reflect upon the areas of my life where the gospel is not my number one priority I am reminded of the countless conversations I have had with people that I didn't obey the leading of the Spirit. I for one am as guilty as anyone for having pointless, meaningless conversations with people who need Jesus. Now I realize that part of having a relationship with anyone requires common interests that may be things other than Jesus, the Bible, or God... but how many times have I missed opportunities to share my story, or God's story with someone in the name of not being "religious"? If our church is being called back to the gospel, which radically changes who we are and what we're about then we need to redeem every opportunity for the sake of gospel. I love Paul's words here in Colossians as he himself desires to redeem every opportunity. He calls us first to prayer. We need to be praying intentionally for the people we interact with. The relationships we have with non-Christians are not an accident. Paul calls us to be watchful or alert, ready to share with others the hope that we have in Christ. Pray that God would open a door, pray that God would move and act in peoples lives. I love how Paul ends this section as he calls us to "be wise" in the way we act toward non-Christians. Remember today that we serve a risen King who will one day return to make all things right. In the meantime let's be reminded that we are on a mission filled with GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless

Love One Another

In John chapter 13 Jesus, after washing his disciples feet said, "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ then you have been called to live life in a new way.  As human beings we naturally consider ourselves the most important person on the planet. This manifests itself in many different ways, but sadly enough we live in a narcissistic, selfish community.  When you were saved and brought into the family of God, you were radically changed and will continue to be changed by the gospel until you die or Christ returns.  As we participate in home communities we must remember to love one another as Christ has loved us.  We must be open, honest and transparent about our selfishness and be willing to serve and love the people in our home communities, church body and community.  Also, we are not just called to love one another for the sake of loving one another.  Jesus tells us that the world will look at our love and know that we have devoted our lives to Christ.  The fact that we are able to love because Christ first loved us.

This is GOOD news so desire to lay aside your own selfishness and love the way you have been called to love.