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In 2016, I chose the word "gospel" to focus on and read verses related to this word.  I have finished this study and I am starting my words for 2017 "in Christ" a few months early.  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." 22  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23)

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. This is a new feature on the blog on the names of God.  Why?  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. I am the life   6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) What it reminds me?  Jesus came to bring us life.  In John 10:10, it says He came to bring eternal or abundant life.  This is not just heaven, but life on earth today.  Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but instead dead people alive.  I am thankful for the life I have in Christ and how that changes how I live today.  For more on this topic, check out Matt Heard's...

Session 4-Matt Heard-Experiencing Eternal Life Do human beings ever realize life while they are living it? From Emily in Our Town We all have a longing to "realize life while we live it" Matthew 7:13-14-Our longings are ultimately for restoration Proverbs 13:12 (tree of life-mentioned 3 times in Scripture) John 4:13 Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Timothy 6:12 John 14:6-way-doing; truth-thinking; life-being (Part A & B)-Jesus didn't say pick two of three Way without Life-suffocating legalism, sub-cultural behavioral codes, works-based action, empty ritual (Matthew 23:27-28) Truth without Life-meaningless talk, foolish, unprofitable arguments, quarreling about words, judgmental tool (John 5:39-40) Way with Life-biblical obedience, healthy, God-glorifying action, Life-demonstrating & life-giving behavior Truth with Life-doctrine that illuminates and liberates, written word that leads to life Eternal Life is Not synonymous with heave...

Session 3-Matt Heard-The Life of the Gospel Why did the disciples give their lives? It wasn't for an ideology or a list of rules. Life with a Capital L-not just breathing here on earth, not just heaven, not a positive outlook--it is gospel 1 John 1:1-2 & 1 John 5:11-13 John 1:1-4 & John 20:31 Gospel/Salvation--Fall to Redemption-this is not complete but how we typically view salvation Gospel/Salvation--Creation to Fall to Redemption to Restoration-Part A & B The gospel is both proposition and plot. It's not either or. Genesis 3:4 Ezekiel 37:1-6 Isaiah 9:2 John 1:4 John 10:10 John 3:3 John 3:14-16 Colossians 1:18 Hebrews 12:23 1 Timothy 6:12 Ephesians 2:4-5 Ephesians 4:1

Next week July 27-30, the USMB Convention will be meeting in Denver, Colorado.  Our speaker for both the pastor's conference and convention is Matt Heard.  I sent Matt some questions and below you will find his responses.  As I have read part one of this book, I believe Matt's keynotes will be a message that is very timely for our USMB family.  I hope this brief interview will whet your appetite for hearing more from Matt next week. If you are unable to be at the convention next week, I will be tweeting quotes @JL_Martin as well as posting on this blog what is going on.  Check back next week Thursday, Friday and Saturday for my thoughts from the convention. Why did you want to write Life with a Capital L: Embracing Your God-Given Humanity ?   I think many of us in churches are tragically less fluent than we should be regarding the grand “why” of the Gospel. Other than the forgiveness of sins and admission into heaven (both of whi...