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Weekend Preview – God’s Character and the Gospel

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This coming Lord’s Day (1/24/16), we are privileged to have Kole Farney serving in the pulpit.  Here’s some background on Kole:

Kole Farney is a writer, speaker and assistant to Jim Elliff. He enjoys preaching and teaching the Bible to all ages. He is originally from Sterling, KS, and grew up on a farm with plenty of sunshine and sprawling wheat fields. Kole is interested in how the Bible fits together and how different books of the Bible serve the greater narrative of Scripture.

In 2009 Kole graduated with a degree in Agricultural Communications from Kansas State University and went on to graduate with a Masters of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2013. In addition to ministry with CCW, Kole serves as the pastor of one of six home congregations that make up Christ Fellowship of Kansas City.

Kole is married with 2 children.
I asked Kole what he would be preaching on and he said it would be from Isaiah 43 on God’s character or Romans 15 and the implications of the Gospel on church life.  In prepping for Sunday, then, it may be very helpful for you to connect with these passages and see how God might lead us.  Hope you have a great week.

Weekend Recap – Believer’s Benefits (1)

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My 1/17/16AM sermon, Believer’s Benefits (1) from 1 John 5:13-17, is now online.  This sermon was the first of a brief 2 part sermon set that highlight the difference that believing in Jesus Christ makes in the life of those who believe.  This sermon was grouped together because both of my points had to do with confidence: confidence for eternal life and boldness in our prayers.  So, I hope this sermon encourages you in relationship: the relationship you have with God your Father through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Solitude

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Today, as you read this, I’m enjoying some silence and solitude at a cabin here in Hutchinson.  I’m blessed to have good friends.  When I secured this location, he told me, “Now there’s no wifi there.”  I said, “Terrific! That’s exactly what I’m looking for.”  

There’s a rhythm to life that God established back in creation.  After creating the world, on the 6th day, He rested.  I’ve noticed over the past few years in ministry (and a family with young kids), but finding times of spiritual retreat are difficult.  I spoke with some leaders at Crestview about this and consulted with Meg and my hope is that this year, I will be able to spend some time once a month doing some good soul work.
So, what is a time of silence and solitude about?  I found Bob Thune’s post helpful (and I’ve been helped immensely by Don Whitney’s chapter in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life).  Bob writes that this is a time to: 1) Look Inward, 2) Look Upward, 3) Look Backward, and 4) Look Forward.  The inward component gets at spiritual diagnosis of my own heart, the best I can.  The upward component reminds me it’s about God, not me.  Backward traces God’s hand in recent days while Forward hints at where I’m headed, if God wills.  
I plan to do some meditation mapping, review some questions from Whitney (these), tips from Buzzard, and Driscoll.  Whitney also has a helpful suggested schedule for four consecutive hours of silence and solitude.  
Now, having read all that, will you pray that God would use this time to restore my soul?  Thanks for reading. 

Weekend Preview – This Coming Sunday, 1/17/16

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This coming Sunday, 1/17, we will be working our way through 1 John 5:13-17.  Many writers believe that in these final verses of 1 John, as a way of offering a conclusion to the book as a whole, John is rehearsing some of the big themes he’s been after through the book.  So, what would you expect to be there?  

Also, this coming Sunday evening, we will have our church’s Men and Boys Chili Supper, so if you’d like to join us for a good time around good food, plan to be there at 6PM Sunday night. 

Weekend Recap – Testimony To Life

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My 1/10/16AM sermon tried to unpack the clear Testimony To Life found in 1 John 5:6-12.  What we see in this passage is a clear statement of who Jesus Christ is, implications for what that means and a demand to respond accordingly (specifically to believe).  Lest you think this is only for those who don’t believe in Christianity, 1 John 5:13 rings out a call that these things were written to those who believe so that they may know that they have eternal life.  I hope this sermon serves you well.  There were also small group questions developed on this passage to help you engage it.

Gospel Friday: If God Marked Iniquity, Who Could Stand?

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Been thinking about some great truth today from Psalm 130:3-4 —

[3] If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?[4] But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.


If God marked iniquities, not one of us could stand before Him. We would all have a guilty verdict upon us. But, with Him there is forgiveness and, as a result, we stand in awe of Him. Praise Him today, for the glorious Gospel realities of forgiveness that are yours in Jesus Christ.

Weekend Preview – The Testimony…

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This coming Sunday, 1/10/16, we will be digging in to 1 John 5:6-12.  After studying through this passage, I tweeted out: “1 John 5:6-12 in a sentence – “Testimony (about Jesus) with implications that may lead to life.” #believeinHim

So, what I hope we see this coming Sunday is a clear picture of Jesus and we’d respond accordingly.  It’s going to be a great weekend studying this passage and considering it in our small groups, as well. I hope to see you there.

Weekend Recap – Faith Overcomes

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My 1/3/16AM sermon, Faith Overcomes from 1 John 5:1-5 is now online.  One way God works assurance in His people is by showing the fruit of lives that are born of God, those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  This sermon unpacked the fruit of love, obedience and a reality of faith that overcomes the world.  I hope it encourages you.

Gospel Friday – All Things New

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Today, as you think about the newness of the New Year, remember, part of what God’s done in the Gospel is to take away the old and make all things new.

In fact, Revelation 21:5 says, “Behold, I am making all things new.”  Rest in this glorious reality today.