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This post originally appeared at 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting on February 25, 2016. How do you define the word gospel? For some, it is what is shared at the end of a pastor’s sermon. Others understand it as a philosophy such as the gospel according to J.L. It can also be used as an adjective such as gospel music or gospel revival. Or it can be what starts the Christian life or how we live?   We need to be clear on what the gospel is. The Greek word for gospel is literally “good news.” Is what is being shared in our churches, on social media, or around the world good news? Why is this important and how does it apply to you as an individual, spouse, or parent/grandparent? We can be perpetuating beliefs based on a faulty understanding of the gospel that can hinder or damage our relationships with friends, family, church, work and around the world. For now, let me share my thoughts on the gospel. It is all about Jesus and not about us. The gospel is good news for beli...

This is a new feature replacing "Playing on the Radio", but will be similar because it will include music.  I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery by Matt Papa

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Our standing before God is not about what we have done or not done, what we will do or not do, but rather on what Jesus has done for us in his life, death, and resurrection. @WillWalker The core of Christianity is what Christ has DONE not what we are doing. @pauldunk Antinomianism & legalism are two sides of the same coin. Both think little of their sin & little of the need for grace in all of life. @MichaelHorton_ Fully known and fully loved. The one essential thing every human being really wants can only be found in God. @jaredcwilson Moralism hands starving people a cookbook. @MattSmethurst Legalism is simply separating the law of God from the person of God. @DrSFerguson "Many Christians attempt to gain through performance what...

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Abba   Abba means father or daddy . 15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15) What it reminds me?  God is our Father.  He is good and loves to give good gifts.  We are not slaves, but instead adopted into His family.  He wants to be in relationship with us.  We can trust Him. Abba knows what is best.  

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 14  But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Below are my sermon notes from Luke 15:11-32 that was preached at Hesston MB Church this morning.  Introduction : Cain/Abel, Jacob/Esau, Rameses/Moses, Kevin/Buzz (Home Alone), Mufasa/Scar, Crosby & Adam (Parenthood), Randall & Kevin (This is Us). Brothers. We have read or watched the interactions of these brothers.   Many times they seem so opposite.   We tend to relate most with the brother most like us.   In today’s scripture we hear a parable about two sons.   The story is familiar, but hopefully the Holy Spirit guides us to a deeper understanding this morning. Background- Our parable this morning comes from a series of parables about things that were lost (sheep, coin). It has often been known as “Parable of the Prodigal Son or Lost Son” Look in your Bibles—is that the title?   This title however skews our understanding of the point of the parable because it brings our focus on one character and we miss out on the other two characters....

It's hard to believe that another year of Hide N Seek has come and gone.  Hide N Seek is our midweek ministry to 4 year olds through 4th grade students at Hesston MB Church. Each year we end with a program for families and the congregation.  This used to occur in the evening, but the last few years we have moved it to Sunday during our worship service. At the program, our kid's choir will sing several songs they have learned this year.  You will also hear the Bible verses that each of the age groups have learned during Bible Memory.  I encourage you to come out and support our kids and you will be blessed as they share their gifts of song and scripture with you.  Our worship service is at 10:10 a.m. and our address is 610 W. Randall in Hesston, KS.

I recently finished Getting Jesus Wrong by Matt Johnson.  I would recommend this book to discover if you have accepted a false view of Jesus.  Johnson has a great understanding of law and gospel and how a focus on Christ not the Christian is most important.  Here are quotes that resonated with me: While we still live in a messed-up world, hope is not something we can activate through spiritual activity or church associations. No, the core of the Christian faith is about objective hope that lives outside of our personal experiences and hearts. Objective hope is found in the miracle of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Here’s the good news: the mountaintop experiences of life aren’t normative. If everything in our lives of faith were a mountaintop, then nothing would be a mountaintop. Jesus does not require that we ascend up to him; he descends to us But on each step of the way faith must be grounded in who Jesus is and what he’s done...Not hope in what is i...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  religious heart-"I'll change myself", rebellious heart-"I don't need to change", repentant heart-"change me God by your grace" @pauldunk The Gospel alone creates the security that the human heart needs to live freely and to live totally with joy. @byronyawn "Love God and love others" is not a summation of the gospel. That's how Jesus summed up the Law. @Alex_Early We are worried about what others think because we are not convinced that God delights in us. (Psalm 149:4) @WillWalker #journeytothecross "Looking to Jesus" is our way of saying consider who he is & what he is done, let it sink in & stir your affections. @WillWalker "The gospel..transforms us from the inside out, n...

This is a new feature replacing "Playing on the Radio", but will be similar because it will include music.  I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  He is not Dead (Christ the Lord is Risen Today) by NCC Worship

“ I have been crucified with Christ . It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me . (Galatians 2:20)

It's Easter Sunday and every year I post this song because of the great reminder that Christ is alive.  We serve and worship a risen Savior!  Happy Easter.

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Logos   Logos means word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) What it reminds me?  Jesus was present at creation.  Jesus is God.  Jesus has unity with the Father and Holy Spirit.  The Bible teaches us about who God is.  We need to be careful to not let our belief in the Bible replace the Trinity.  As J.D. Greear has said, many "believe (functionally speaking) in "Father, Son, and Holy Bible." We do not worship the Bible, but instead God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit....

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 18  As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20  For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21  And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22  and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:18-22)  

Getting Jesus Wrong by Matt Johnson is a great book about how the author's understanding of Jesus changed over the years.  What Johnson discovered was that he had created several false messiahs rather than seeing Jesus as He really is. The first part of the book looks at these false messiahs: Life Coach Jesus, Checklist Jesus, Movement Leader Jesus and Visionary Jesus.  Each one ultimately leads to pride (if you are accomplishing what Jesus requires) or despair (if you are failing what is asked of you). Through humor and real life stories, Johnson helps the reader understand how even though you attend church on a regular basis, you can still have an inaccurate understanding of Jesus.  The book does not come across as judgmental or pointing fingers because the author's honesty and vulnerability shows how he personally experienced each of these false messiahs in his own life.  The second part of the book looks to the antidote of pride and despair and these fa...