Core Group

Since the beginning of February we have been meeting as a Core Group.  What that means is that we are getting together on a Sunday evening praying, planning, discussing, encouraging, and anything else that relates to church planting at the moment.  We have talked through church names, philosophy, core values, and more and we will continue to do so.  The time together is great and I'm so thankful for all the members who have committed a good deal of time to this new work.  We meet every other week from 5-8 pm (we've been having dinner together at the beginning of our time), and most all of them come as well to a weekly  Bible study on Tuesday nights for an hour and half.  

Core Group Meeting in our Family Room

Please be in prayer for this group.  Everyone is busy and summer is coming sooner than we will realize and many people will be travelling.  Pray for good cohesiveness throughout times of inconsistency that will naturally be there.  Please also pray that this group will grow.  I would love to see 30-45 adults in a Core Group before we launch public worship in the Fall.  Currently we have 18 adults and 18 children (all 10 and under).  Thanks so much for your prayers, God has brought a great group together and we are excited about what is to come, but we always need prayer.  

Greg helping a couple of his kids with dinner

Living with Gospel Intentionality

Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at North Cincy for their Outreach Initiative.  Every year the church seeks to emphasize during this time of year "putting feet to the Resurrection."  I spoke from John 10:14-18 about the hopeless plight of humanity apart from Christ.  The reality that there is a real hell and it is a place where the wrath, displeasure, and righteous judgment of God is meted out for eternity.  This truth is important because the problem of man is sin, and sin leads to hell.  The problem is not simple morals or other issues of lesser importance, but the problem requires a Savior.  That is the great solution that is promised in John 10.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he laid down his life for his sheep.  Not only that, but he pursues and will bring them in.  Yet, he does this through the means (John 17:17-20) of his people proclaiming his Gospel.  It may sound daunting at times to be the feet that bring the Good News of the Gospel.  But it ultimately is a tremendous privilege and should be a part of everyday life.

I read a short pamphlet called "Simple Ways to Be Missional" and it had some great practical ideas.  My summary of it is this:  Within the normal schedule of life seek to engage new people, prayerfully open and watching, and then winsomely proclaim the Gospel (in Word and in deed).  For me, this is challenging.  I often fear what people will think of me.  However, to be assured of the great grace of Christ in my life challenges and squashes that fear.  God is good, powerful, and sovereign and He will accomplish what he has set out to do - bringing His sheep into the fold!

Pray for our group that we would live with "Gospel Intentionality" and that we would see many people come to Christ through the ministry of this new church!

Reading 1 Peter

This year Erin and I are approaching our Bible reading a bit differently.  We are taking a book per month.  We have already done Philippians, Habakkuk, Proverbs, and now we are on to 1 Peter.  The goal is to read each book 20 times (much easier for the shorter).
As I was on my second reading this morning much stuck out to me, but I will share one verse.  First Peter 1:18, 19.

...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers,

not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

but with the precious blood of Christ.

I love how Peter puts this...calling silver and gold perishable.  Two things that many people are putting their stock in today and are worth quite a bit of money.  They are actually quite valuable and desirable, but they have no comparison to that which is most precious of all - the blood of Christ.

Think about that...to ransom you.  To bring you out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light - you had to be bought by the most precious commodity (I hesitate to use that wording, but how do you describe the precious blood of Christ?) imaginable!  God's love for His children is so great that He would give us so much.  Praise God for His indescribable love!