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On Monday, the Gospel Project had an online seminar.  At Hesston MB Church, where I serve, we use the Gospel Project Kid's Curriculum on Sunday mornings.  I searched several months for a curriculum and this one was the best I found.  These short videos feature many different speakers and topics.  They are available to watch for one more week here   Below are my favorite quotes from 6 of the videos I have watched: Good news is not just good advice. Good news is the announcement about what Jesus has done for us. (Derwin Gray) We don't believe in a system of redemption.We believe in a Redeemer whose name is Jesus. In grace,transformation occurs. (Paul Tripp)  Put your hope in God not in your parenting abilities. A sign you are grasping the gospel as a parent is that you can rest. (J.D. Greear) After Jesus says the kingdom of God is here, he doesn't follow w/ do something, try harder, or be a better person, but repent. (Trevin Wax) Common m...

Below is a quote from DiscipleShift by Jim Putman that I shared prior to Service Sunday yesterday. Geiger, Kelley, and Nation describe it well: “As believers understand their identity, they are empowered by God to flesh out their identity in everyday life. Leaders who view discipleship through the lens of identity encourage and train people to live in response to the great identity God has given. Instead of beginning with behavior, leaders remind people of who they are in Christ. They connect the commands of God to the identity he secures for his followers, presenting obedience as the overflow of understanding and living the new nature Christ has given.” I have read this quote many times and each time I respond with a resounding AMEN! Do you agree or disagree?  Are we trying to obey and live without understanding our identity? The underlined words remind me that who God is and who we are shapes what we do. 

I finished two books I have been reading on our identity in Christ.  They are Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll and Identity by Eric Geiger.  Both have been great summer reads.  I quoted from Driscoll last week so today I am sharing quotes from the last four chapters of Geiger's book which are the titles above.  Unfortunately many Christians forsake the serving high to sit and observe. Statistics tell us that the majority of "Christians" never get in the game. Instead they choose to be spectators to the work of God. The bottom line is an intimate relationship with God. Being a Christian has always been about following Christ. . . We have confused information with transformation. The law of the Spirit requires the discipline to seek God, the sensitivity to listen to His voice, and the faith to be led by Him. As an alien and stranger, you have a new law, which is simply to heed the language of the Spirit of God who lives within you. To abstain form ...

As I have mentioned before, I am reading through several books this summer on our identity in Christ.  I am almost finished with Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll, but decided to pick up another book called Identity by Eric Geiger.  The chapters I read last week were entitled, "You Are The Priest & You Are the Bride."  Here are a few thoughts from Geiger on identity: "You are a priest because God calls you a priest." "If you are a follower of Christ, God has qualified you to enter His presence." "Many Christians live defeated because they believe the lie that they are prisoners of sin. The reality is that Christ has set us free from sin. In fact, the word sinner is never used in the Bible of a Christian. While we still sin, and will struggle with sin, our identity is no longer that of a sinner. We are brand-new people." "You are the bride of Christ because Christ brought His righteousness into the relationship."

I am going to be sporadically sharing a longer quote with you.  Today's quote comes from DiscipleShift by Jim Putman.  Actually, Putman is quoting Geiger, Kelley & Nation from Transformational Discipleship. Be encouraged! "As believers understand their identity, they are empowered by God to flesh out their identity in everyday life.  Leaders who view discipleship through the lens of identity encourage and train people to live in response to the great identity God has given. Instead of beginning with behavior, leader remind people of who they are in Christ. They connect the commands of God to the identity he secures for his followers, presenting obedience as the overflow of understanding and living the new nature Christ has given."

Here is my current reading list: The Genius of Generosity by Chip Ingram Multiply by Franis Chan On the Grace of God by Justin Holcomb Identity by Eric Geiger When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson Altar Ego by Craig Groeschel What great books are you reading that you would recommend?

I finished reading Creature of the Word by Chandler, Patterson and Geiger last week.  I would recommend the book to pastors and church leaders.  It has a great focus on the gospel and how to keep Jesus central in the church. At the end of the book, they talked about our lack of celebration in the Body of Christ.  Here is a quote: "Not only should celebration be encouraged and modeled corporately, but it should also be encouraged personally." They shared that we need to point out the evidences of grace that surround us daily.  Here is what it accomplishes: First, we are celebrating the work of God. Second, we are teaching others to be on the lookout for grace. Third, celebration should also propel us to long for more of God's Spirit. What are examples of celebration in your church? I can share three from Hesston MB.  Balloon Celebrations when children follow Christ Baptism services Weekly encouragement to share what God is doing in your life duri...

On Thursday, I was again reading Creature of the Word by Geiger, Patterson, and Chandler. Chapter 8 is a great chapter that all children's and youth workers should read. It gives a perspective that we all need to consider. Here are some thoughts from the chapter: "children and students are often pummeled with curriculum designed for behavioral modification rather than gospel transformation." "Perhaps many churches fail to teach the gospel to children because law is more attractive. Law provides children's ministry leaders and parents with the false assurance that we are doing the right things, that we can check boxes off a spiritual checklist." "A changed heart will result in obedience." "So the hearts of children ultimately do not need protection but transformation." "The "next big thing" mind-set regarding a student-ministry calendar fosters an unhealthy dependence on programs." "While children...

Do you ever get tired of me sharing quotes with you?  I hope not.  I have had several people comment that they have benefited from the quotes, so I keep doing it.  Here are some quotes from Jesus Is            and Creature of the Word : "Grace is the foundation of Christianity and the essence of salvation." "That's why I think we should smile in church-we should dance, we should celebrate, we should laugh, and we should get over our serious selves and represent the joy of heaven." "We are sons and daughters of God by birth, not by worth." "Our sonship is not based on our performance but on Jesus's finished performance . . ." "Jesus died for us before we were born, before we had done anything, good or bad. Why is he going to start making us live by rules and law now?"   "Jesus fulfills every promise of the Old Testament, bringing light and clarity to the entirety of the canon of Scripture." "Gospel-c...

In Chapter 6 of Creature of the Word by Chandler, Patterson, & Geiger, they discuss this question in great length.  It begins the second part of the book where they explain in more detail how the church and its leaders need to keep the gospel central as they seek to be prophet, priest, and king following Jesus' example.  We will not do it perfectly, but all of these need to be present. Here are a few quotes from the chapter: "The healthier the culture, the more likely the church will impact the community around her." "Spiritual growth is the working out of what God has worked and is working in us and church ministry consists of intentionally forming culture while realizing He is the One who ultimately does the transforming." "For a church culture to be centered on the gospel, there must be harmony between theology, philosophy, and practice." "All three types of leaders (prophet, priest, king) are necessary and essential, and all thr...

On Thursday of last week, I continued reading Creature of the Word: The Jesus Centered Church by Chandler, Patterson and Geiger.  I think I will be recommending this book to many people in the future.  The chapters I read last week focused on service and multiplication.  Here are a few quotes for you today: "Guilt-driven serving is the antithesis of Jesus-driven serving. . ."  "Wise church leaders will preach the gospel and provide opportunities for people to serve in response." "Churches centered on Jesus constantly remind their people how Christ has served and continues to serve them. And this becomes the one, the only, the supreme impetus for serving others." "Our real lives are a daring connection point between God and men for the healing of broken lives and a broken culture." "Regardless of where we, or the people we serve, are in spiritual maturity, we are instruments in the hand of God to see all things reconciled to God ...

On Thursday, I continued reading from Chapter 2 of Creature of the Word by Chandler, Patterson and Geiger. My blue highlighter is running out of ink. This chapter was full of gospel truth and application. It will be a challenge but I will share just a few quotes to impact your head and heart. "When we sin, we are ultimately worshipping something other than God, placing an idol on the throne of our lives." "Therefore, unconfessed sin is actually the foolish decision to run away from our healing and growth rather than toward it." "Worship flourishes when people know this--when we know who we are, know who He is, and then stare into that massive, terrifying gap that Jesus has filled with blood-bought grace and forgiveness." "Understanding God's nature in a deep way should lead to an emotive response that creates an even deeper hunger to meditation on Him all the more. The mind and the heart feed each other." "Private worship ...

Over the last few weeks, I have discovered some new authors via articles, blog posts, or books.  I thought I would share a few of them with you today. Judah Smith , author of Jesus Is __________ and this great  post Frank Viola , author of numerous books and this great  post on our identity in Christ  Eric Geiger and Josh Patterson as they collaborate with Matt Chandler on Creature of the Word Andrew Farley , author of The Naked Gospel & God Without Religion Have a great weekend!

I finished the first chapter of Creature of the Word on Thursday. I can already tell this is going to be a good read. Here are a few quotes from authors Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, and Eric Geiger: "The gospel isn't just individual and cosmic; it is also deeply corporate." "The gospel precedes the Church, informs the life of the Church, and sustains the growth of the Church." "It is an absolute and unique teaching in all the world to teach people, through Christ, to live as if there were no law or wrath or punishment." "So no longer should the fear of rejection and God's vengeance be the motivating factors in our pursuit of holiness, but rather the delight of being loved, pursued, and saved by a gracious Father whose "kindness leads us to repentance." "Our motivation to obey the commands of Scripture can finally become a delight when we see the reasons almost always center around God's love and provision for...

I started the first chapter of Creature of the Word by Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, and Eric Geiger this week. The subtitle is "The Jesus-Centered Church." Here are a few quotes from the first chapter: "It's one thing to see the gospel as an important facet of one's ministry. It's quite another to hold firmly to it as the centerpiece for all a church is and does, to completely orbit around it." "For just as an individual must continually return to the grace of Jesus for satisfaction and sanctification, a local church must continually return to the gospel as well." "Without a proper understanding of the gospel, people will miss the big biblical picture and all the joyful freedom that comes from living in it. They will run from God in shame at their failures instead of running toward Him because of His mercy and grace." "The gospel. What is it, really? In its simplest form, the gospel is God's reconciling work in...