I saw this video today that shares the gospel. The structure is 3.2.1. And the first part starts with 3: the trinity. It struck me because that is not how we often hear a gospel presentation start because it seems like this complex theological truth for after you get the Jesus part. But it is profoundly important and critical to any understanding of the gospel. If the trinity is compromised, the gospel is compromised because we have a wrong understanding of who God is and how we can be in relationship with him. Also, the reality of the trinity is an incredible apologetic for the love displayed in the gospel. God has always been a God of love before he ever created the world, meaning he did not create it for something to love but out of his own self-existent love he created it. This means that God is merciful from the start and does not owe us anything, rather we owe him all worship and glory and relationship. It is a great video and I encourage you to check it out and watch it with a friend who doesn't know Jesus (and talk to them, not just post it to their facebook).
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A great video to contemplate the amazing grace of God in Christ Jesus!
Monday, July 16, 2012
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to preach at our church, New Life Presbyterian. It was a great blessing and the Lord used it greatly in my own heart. I looked at what the unashamed Gospel life looks like from Romans 1:16-17. It is the life that is lived in unshakeable confidence in the righteousness of Jesus for salvation. So, I looked at how the gospel reveals Christ's righteousness and saves us past, present and future. We are saved by Jesus' righteousness as we are credited with it, conformed to it, and confirmed in it.
I will attach the link to the sermon if you are interested in listening to it, but if you just want to get the point of it, here are my concluding points at what the unashamed Gospel life looks like.
The Unashamed Gospel Life...
- refuses to establish a righteousness of its own, but leans on the credited righteousness of Jesus.
- is honest about sin.
- relentlessly pursues gospel holiness.
- sets its hope in the life to come.
- unashamedly proclaims Christ Jesus.
- always remembers the cost of the righteousness of God that has been so freely given.
The Unashamed Gospel Life
-In Christ alone,
Josh
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Happy Baby and Happy Mommy!
Finnigan Jason: 7 lbs. 1 oz. 19.5" born at 11:53 pm on Friday July 13th (don't worry, we are not superstitious, in fact we are anti-stitious).
Tyko got to meet his new baby brother!
Finnigan Jason with his middle namesake Jason (we love them both so much)!
Tyko sleeping with his new Woody doll that he got from Finn (such a good little brother)!
Super sweet and cute!
Today, one of our best friend's and Finnigan's middle namesake Jason preached from Col. 1, one of my favorite passages. We obviously were not able to make the message, but I got an advanced look at the manuscript and I pondered the text a little and the birth of our second son. The Lord says through the Apostle Paul, speaking about Jesus:
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Finnigan was created by God (through us of course) but by Him and most importantly for Him! So many voices will tell him that he was made for us, or for someone else, or most likely for himself, meaning he gets to be and do whatever he wants. But God's word corrects that and shows us that he was created for Him and His glory! And this is our prayer for little Finn. That he would gaze for all eternity at the beauty and majesty of God the Father through Jesus the Son by the Holy Spirit! That he would know deeply the love of God in Christ Jesus, repent of his sins, and trust in the finished work of Christ on his behalf and spend the fullness of time in a constant joy of the glory and majesty of God and his character. That he would use all of his life to reflect the glory of God through his creativity, work, marriage God-willing, play, fun, and joy. And that the world would look at his life and not primarily say "aww, he's cute" or "he's so great" or "he's such a tall athlete" (probably not- dad's dreams) but that they would say those, but primarily people will look at the fullness of Finnigan's life and say "Jesus is wonderful!" Would you all pray with us that God would grant this by his sovereign grace and mercy?
-In Christ alone,
Josh
Friday, May 4, 2012
Here is a great article with 10 things that supporting Cru this year has accomplished in the world! Thanks so much for all you do in supporting God's work in the world.
10 Things Your Support of Cru has Accomplished This Year
10 Things Your Support of Cru has Accomplished This Year
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Just to give you a little window into our lives:
Friday, April 27, 2012
The Fear of the Lord is a frequent concept in Scripture. It is hard to describe because we often think, "Wait, I thought we were supposed to trust God, or love God, or adore God, but where does Fear come into view.
Well, fear, I have heard really means respect. But, I am not sure I buy that. I mean was that the message that we are supposed to take from Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Fire comes down from heaven and utterly consumes Elijah's offering after he has mocked the prophets of Baal and suggested that maybe their "god" is on the toilet and thats why he can't show up for them. Then they slaughter the prophets. But what is the response of the people immediately- they fall on their faces- not in respect only- but in fear and worship because they had been following and worshiping that Baal that had just been thoroughly mocked and destroyed in front of them. Now, if you keep reading, this does not cause full-scale repentance throughout Israel, because they quickly forget this fear and run to other things and not to the Lord. I bring this up because I want to show that fear for sure includes the idea of respect but not that alone- it includes well... fear.
Now what do we do with this fear? Do we run from the Lord and hide somewhere? No. We run to the Lord and hide in him. We fear because he is Holy and we are not, we fear because he is greater and has the power to condemn us because of our sin. But, the fear of the Lord means we take that fear and run to the Lord himself and make Him, through Jesus' death on the cross our new hiding place.
But, back to my original question: how is this created?
Well, this morning I read Isaiah 29:13 which says:
13 And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
I was hit with this verse and particularly that the Lord is accusing Israel of where they are getting their "Fear of the Lord." They are being told and taught by men, "Fear the Lord." But they have no experience of that, they have never apprehended his holiness and measured themselves by it. They think all is good because they are listening to the words of these teachers but never really engaging with the Lord of Hosts. I think we do this often. We go to church, we read the bible, read books, we do all of this, fearing the Lord because men tell us to without really taking a look at the Lord himself and truly fearing him.
So what is God's response in Isaiah. Is it a repeat of the prophets of Baal incident? Is that what we are to look to and hope for?
14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden."
He promises to do wonder upon wonder in their midst and something that will confound the wise and destroy the powers. What could this be?
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1st Corinthians 1: 18-25
The foolishness of the cross is wiser than the wisest philosophy or professor, the smartest author, the craftiest preacher, or any commandment of men. The weakness of the cross is stronger than any world power, nuclear missile, technology, or brute strength. And the cross is wonder upon wonder that God has done, revealing himself, his justice and his mercy. Do you want to know who to fear when it comes to your sin- look at the cross for that is what sin deserves. And when you do you will also see the only place you can run for mercy and forgiveness.
It just so happened that today in my reading I also read Ephesians 2. Do you want to see wonder upon wonder and gain the fear of the Lord? Read it. Study it. Fear Him. Love Him. Trust Him. Adore Him.
Well, fear, I have heard really means respect. But, I am not sure I buy that. I mean was that the message that we are supposed to take from Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Fire comes down from heaven and utterly consumes Elijah's offering after he has mocked the prophets of Baal and suggested that maybe their "god" is on the toilet and thats why he can't show up for them. Then they slaughter the prophets. But what is the response of the people immediately- they fall on their faces- not in respect only- but in fear and worship because they had been following and worshiping that Baal that had just been thoroughly mocked and destroyed in front of them. Now, if you keep reading, this does not cause full-scale repentance throughout Israel, because they quickly forget this fear and run to other things and not to the Lord. I bring this up because I want to show that fear for sure includes the idea of respect but not that alone- it includes well... fear.
Now what do we do with this fear? Do we run from the Lord and hide somewhere? No. We run to the Lord and hide in him. We fear because he is Holy and we are not, we fear because he is greater and has the power to condemn us because of our sin. But, the fear of the Lord means we take that fear and run to the Lord himself and make Him, through Jesus' death on the cross our new hiding place.
But, back to my original question: how is this created?
Well, this morning I read Isaiah 29:13 which says:
13 And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
I was hit with this verse and particularly that the Lord is accusing Israel of where they are getting their "Fear of the Lord." They are being told and taught by men, "Fear the Lord." But they have no experience of that, they have never apprehended his holiness and measured themselves by it. They think all is good because they are listening to the words of these teachers but never really engaging with the Lord of Hosts. I think we do this often. We go to church, we read the bible, read books, we do all of this, fearing the Lord because men tell us to without really taking a look at the Lord himself and truly fearing him.
So what is God's response in Isaiah. Is it a repeat of the prophets of Baal incident? Is that what we are to look to and hope for?
14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden."
He promises to do wonder upon wonder in their midst and something that will confound the wise and destroy the powers. What could this be?
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1st Corinthians 1: 18-25
The foolishness of the cross is wiser than the wisest philosophy or professor, the smartest author, the craftiest preacher, or any commandment of men. The weakness of the cross is stronger than any world power, nuclear missile, technology, or brute strength. And the cross is wonder upon wonder that God has done, revealing himself, his justice and his mercy. Do you want to know who to fear when it comes to your sin- look at the cross for that is what sin deserves. And when you do you will also see the only place you can run for mercy and forgiveness.
It just so happened that today in my reading I also read Ephesians 2. Do you want to see wonder upon wonder and gain the fear of the Lord? Read it. Study it. Fear Him. Love Him. Trust Him. Adore Him.
A senior Ball State Student, close friend, and a guy that I discipled for a few years made this video series for his senior animation project. Its the same concept for his upcoming music album about letters to and from God. Check it out and be refreshed in the gospel.
Matt will be interning with Cru next year at IU, Lord willing. Please pray for him as he raises his financial support and prepares to be sent from Ball State to IU. Let me know if you know anyone who would be interested in hearing about his ministry.
Matt will be interning with Cru next year at IU, Lord willing. Please pray for him as he raises his financial support and prepares to be sent from Ball State to IU. Let me know if you know anyone who would be interested in hearing about his ministry.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Does your view of God's sovereignty affect your participation in global missions?
It should.
Last week at Together for the Gospel, David Platt gave one of the most powerful messages I have heard on the topic of global missions. He taught from Revelation 5 that when we have a high view of God's absolute sovereign control over all things for all time, we will willingly lay down our lives for the sake of all nations coming to know Jesus. When we understand that God has a plan for the completion of the great commission and that the people in that plan were purchased by the blood of Jesus, then we will pray, give, and go differently. We will sacrifice what we want for the sake of Jesus' plan for the nations. We will pray with confidence that God will use our prayers to bring about the salvation of unreached people groups. We will give generously and sacrificially so that the gospel can be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. And we will go with zeal to bring the gospel even at the cost of our lives. Jesus is worthy! Let us as the church of Jesus Christ take seriously his call to go to the nations.
In Christ alone,
Josh
It should.
Last week at Together for the Gospel, David Platt gave one of the most powerful messages I have heard on the topic of global missions. He taught from Revelation 5 that when we have a high view of God's absolute sovereign control over all things for all time, we will willingly lay down our lives for the sake of all nations coming to know Jesus. When we understand that God has a plan for the completion of the great commission and that the people in that plan were purchased by the blood of Jesus, then we will pray, give, and go differently. We will sacrifice what we want for the sake of Jesus' plan for the nations. We will pray with confidence that God will use our prayers to bring about the salvation of unreached people groups. We will give generously and sacrificially so that the gospel can be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. And we will go with zeal to bring the gospel even at the cost of our lives. Jesus is worthy! Let us as the church of Jesus Christ take seriously his call to go to the nations.
In Christ alone,
Josh
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
How does Eternity affect our daily life?
This is the question that was posed to the students at Ball State Cru when Whitney and I took a vision trip to our weekly meeting last week. We got in our car and drove for about 5 minutes to get to campus and get to our first weekly meeting of the year. We wanted to go and be refreshed with what God is doing at Ball State to encourage us to continue to persevere in support raising, get to 100% and get back to the job we love so much!
It was refreshing to say the least. Connecting with students, worshiping the Lord together and seeing the great work that God is doing definitely has propelled us forward to finish this season of support raising and get back to campus.
A good friend of mine gave the talk that night on eternity- what does that mean, what are the options for where we spend eternity, and how does that affect our lives today? Its a weighty topic with massive implications for our daily living. If life is simply 70 or maybe 80 years and then we will spend the rest of infinite time either with the Lord of glory or away from his presence suffering for our sins, than there could not be a more important topic. During the meeting a sort of "holy anxiety" overwhelmed me with the knowledge that there were students in that room who don't know Jesus and that their eternities are hanging in the balance. It renewed my passion to plead with the Lord to have mercy and to pour out his Spirit upon our movement in saving men and women from their sin and giving them eternal life through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus. Will you pray with us for these students and the countless others who were not at this meeting who do not know Jesus. That God would use us, this movement of students and the other staff to answer the call of God to proclaim the mercy of God in Jesus to this campus and that he would save many.
It also renewed in us a desire to answer the call of God on our life to reach the lost here at Ball State. Please pray with us that God will complete our support team so that we can answer the call of God on our life for His glory.
Thank you so much to our supporters, friends, and family who are behind us in this journey to get back to Ball State. You have taken eternity seriously and sacrificed time, energy and money to allow us to be here and serve the Lord. Thank you! It is significant and wonderful!
This is the question that was posed to the students at Ball State Cru when Whitney and I took a vision trip to our weekly meeting last week. We got in our car and drove for about 5 minutes to get to campus and get to our first weekly meeting of the year. We wanted to go and be refreshed with what God is doing at Ball State to encourage us to continue to persevere in support raising, get to 100% and get back to the job we love so much!
It was refreshing to say the least. Connecting with students, worshiping the Lord together and seeing the great work that God is doing definitely has propelled us forward to finish this season of support raising and get back to campus.
A good friend of mine gave the talk that night on eternity- what does that mean, what are the options for where we spend eternity, and how does that affect our lives today? Its a weighty topic with massive implications for our daily living. If life is simply 70 or maybe 80 years and then we will spend the rest of infinite time either with the Lord of glory or away from his presence suffering for our sins, than there could not be a more important topic. During the meeting a sort of "holy anxiety" overwhelmed me with the knowledge that there were students in that room who don't know Jesus and that their eternities are hanging in the balance. It renewed my passion to plead with the Lord to have mercy and to pour out his Spirit upon our movement in saving men and women from their sin and giving them eternal life through the death and resurrection of his son Jesus. Will you pray with us for these students and the countless others who were not at this meeting who do not know Jesus. That God would use us, this movement of students and the other staff to answer the call of God to proclaim the mercy of God in Jesus to this campus and that he would save many.
It also renewed in us a desire to answer the call of God on our life to reach the lost here at Ball State. Please pray with us that God will complete our support team so that we can answer the call of God on our life for His glory.
Thank you so much to our supporters, friends, and family who are behind us in this journey to get back to Ball State. You have taken eternity seriously and sacrificed time, energy and money to allow us to be here and serve the Lord. Thank you! It is significant and wonderful!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Here are all the talks from Indy CC, they are worth your time.
IndyCC 2011 Mike Erre - God is Big from Indy CC on Vimeo.
God is greater than your Past from Indy CC on Vimeo.
IndyCC 2011 God is greater than the Present from Indy CC on Vimeo.
IndyCC 2011 Bekele Shanko - God is greater than your Circumstances from Indy CC on Vimeo.
IndyCC 2011 Mike Erre - God is Big from Indy CC on Vimeo.
God is greater than your Past from Indy CC on Vimeo.
IndyCC 2011 God is greater than the Present from Indy CC on Vimeo.
IndyCC 2011 Bekele Shanko - God is greater than your Circumstances from Indy CC on Vimeo.
Here is a video recap of Indy CC 2012:
Indycc 2011 recap from Indy CC on Vimeo.
Did you miss Indycc 2011 or just want to remember something from the great week, Here is a recap of what you were a part of or what you missed.
Indycc 2011 recap from Indy CC on Vimeo.
Did you miss Indycc 2011 or just want to remember something from the great week, Here is a recap of what you were a part of or what you missed.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Thank you for your prayers and support. We continue to wait on the Lord and His perfect timing to get back to campus. We had been praying for January 1st to be done with our support, but the Lord's plans were different. He knows best so we are eagerly waiting on God's timing. In the meantime we are diligently working daily, making the most of every moment to report back to Ball State as soon as possible. Please continue to pray for the sake of making Jesus known.
Indy CC follow-up: for students to transform their campuses; for those who accepted Jesus during the day of Outreach in the Indy area; for those who dedicated a year of service to the Lord.
For many Ball State students to get excited about the nations, Destino, and people coming to know Jesus.
For us as we prepare to have another baby! Strength for Whitney and health for this new baby!
For our support to be finished quickly, so that we can get back to campus!
DAY OF OUTREACH
3,583 people had conversations
1,522 people heard the gospel
147 people put their faith in Jesus Christ
328 people learned about the Spirit-filled life
689 people were connected with local churches
Location:W Cambridge Dr,Muncie,United States
Can 5 days really effect eternity for millions of people?
Yes! As I sat in the main session at Indy CC one evening, I was thinking about millions of people coming to know Jesus because of what we were doing right then and there in Indy with over 2,000 students. We were given an update on the new partnership that our region of Cru movements has made with Destino (a ministry of Cru that reaches hispanic students) in San Diego.
Two years ago my thought would have been "Yes, lets go to San Diego now!" But my honest thought was "Yes, lets go to Ball State!" What? Why?
Well, one of our ministry team leaders here at Ball State will be giving leadership to the summer missions trip to San Diego this summer and is hoping to take Ball State students along with her. And we want to go back to Ball State to help reach San Diego, by sending students!
You see, God used this conference in our lives as students to begin calling us into full-time ministry. And this year, he used it to hone that calling even more to mobilizing college students to make Jesus known in Indiana, in San Diego, in East Asia, and in every corner of the planet. So that millions can be effected through what we did in 5 days in Indy.
Thank you for making this possible! Your partnership with us will be effecting the eternities of countless people!
Yes! As I sat in the main session at Indy CC one evening, I was thinking about millions of people coming to know Jesus because of what we were doing right then and there in Indy with over 2,000 students. We were given an update on the new partnership that our region of Cru movements has made with Destino (a ministry of Cru that reaches hispanic students) in San Diego.
Two years ago my thought would have been "Yes, lets go to San Diego now!" But my honest thought was "Yes, lets go to Ball State!" What? Why?
Well, one of our ministry team leaders here at Ball State will be giving leadership to the summer missions trip to San Diego this summer and is hoping to take Ball State students along with her. And we want to go back to Ball State to help reach San Diego, by sending students!
You see, God used this conference in our lives as students to begin calling us into full-time ministry. And this year, he used it to hone that calling even more to mobilizing college students to make Jesus known in Indiana, in San Diego, in East Asia, and in every corner of the planet. So that millions can be effected through what we did in 5 days in Indy.
Thank you for making this possible! Your partnership with us will be effecting the eternities of countless people!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Well, there you have it! The secret is out. We are having another baby! We are so excited for this blessing from God and look forward to meeting this new person in July. Please pray with us that this son or daughter of ours would not be our son or daughter primarily but a son or daughter of God through Jesus Christ. Praise be to the Lord!
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