A simple question. And the most important question we can ask. Here is a link to my answer from our Christmas Eve service on Philippians 2:4-11. How can we know God?

The book of Esther is a remarkable story full of drama, depth, character development, plot, and a wonderful picture of God's sovereign rule over the earth. I recently had the privilege of preaching on Missions Sunday at our church and I looked at how Esther's picture of God's sovereignty fuels us into being used by God to complete the great commission. I have been processing and meditating on the ideas since and just keep thinking about Esther 4:14 when Esther is challenged that maybe she was raised up "for such a time as this" ("this" meaning an instrument in God's deliverance of his people). In what ways have we been raised up to be instruments of God's deliverance?

You can check out the sermon here: An All-Consuming Passion for Making Disciples Among All Nations

Cru's global missions team recently put together this video that captures well the vision for impacting the world with the message of Jesus through students. Sometimes I think to myself, why is it that reaching students is so critical? Why is it worth support raising and difficult secular campus cultures? Why is that we do what we do?

This video answers that so well for us.

Cru Global Missions Vision from Global Missions on Vimeo.

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).

A great video to contemplate the amazing grace of God in Christ Jesus!