For 3 days only: Free eBook of The Gospel-Centered Life Leader’s Guide (a $12.99 value)

This nine-lesson small group study is being used in churches all over the world to teach participants how the gospel shapes every aspect of life. Each lesson is self-contained, featuring clear, biblical teaching and requires no work outside of the group setting. The self-explanatory Leader's Guide helps small group leaders teach and apply the material.

"I have not seen a better resource for training people in the implications of the gospel. It communicates both to the new Christian and to the seasoned pastor, much like the gospel itself." Darrin Patrick "This is a rich gospel-centered small group curriculum that I am really excited to see published." Mark Driscoll "With simple and direct language, The Gospel-Centered Life helps people understand and effectively apply the gospel to their lives, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey. It's one of the few resources out there that explicitly challenges others to reach out with the gospel, even as it is growing deeper into their own lives. I highly recommend it!" Steve Childers

America is Addicted to Porn and LA is a big reason why

And according to wikipedia, the San Fernando Valley (a region of the city of LA) is the porn capital of the world: "According to the HBO series Porn Valley, nearly 90% of all legally distributed pornographic films made in the United States are either filmed in or produced by studios based in the San Fernando Valley."

HT: Ed Stetzer for the image

This is a cross post with the TGCLA blog and God is Better than All. 

3 Suggested Methods for Reading the Bible with another Believer (or unbeliever)

Four steps to preparation (from One to One Bible Reading: A Simple Guide for Every Christian, p. 35):

1. Pray for understanding and that God will use these meetings to grow your mutual faith in the power of the gospel.
2. Read through the assigned portion of the Bible at least twice.
3. Write down your impressions after reading the text each time – observations, main points, questions you have (depending on what sort of framework you are useing).
4. Pray based on what you have read, and pray again for your forthcoming meeting.

The Swedish Method

• No prep time
• Pick a passage or book to go through regularly
• Look for an insight, question, application, and who you want to share what you learned with.
• Discuss together and pray

COMA

• Choose passage or book
• See prep time above
• Read passage out loud
• Ask questions of Context, Observations, Meaning, and Applications.
• Pray together about what you learned
• Use these sheets

6 Steps to Encouragement

• 15 minutes prep time for everyone before meeting – writing 5 things about the passage (insights, application, questions, etc).
• 30 minute discussion time – read the passage aloud together and discuss your 5 things
• Pray

This is a cross post with the TGCLA blog and God is Better than All.

Reading the Bible One to One with Non-Christians at USC

We recently kicked off our student ministry at USC (Disciple USC). At the ministry fair we asked the incoming students who came to the fair, “Why did God send you to USC? And how does that shape you?”

Students had all kinds of answers from “to get a degree,” to “study a particular discipline,” to “I don’t know.” One student said, “To be salt and light.” And that was what we were trying to get at, that God sent these Christian students to USC to make disciples of others and explain the gospel to those God has appointed for them to come across.

The most interesting conversation was with 3 students from China who didn’t know how to answer the question. One of them answered, “To learn about Christianity?” These 3 didn’t know about Christianity and came to the fair because they wanted to learn about it. So I tried to share the gospel with 2 of them. They had very little knowledge of Christian categories like God, sin, substitution, and faith vs. works (side note: for how D. A. Carson would approach this, go here). I don’t know how well I answered their question but we did schedule to meet for lunch so that I could explain Christianity to them. We’ll be reading the gospel of Mark and using these sheets from One to One Bible Reading: A Simple Guide for Every Christian as a guide to our weekly readings over lunch. Below is the pdf at the bottom of which is the 8 sessions on reading through the gospel according to Mark. I hope it is helpful for you.

One to One Bible Reading Sheets for printing



This is a cross-post with God is Better than All and the TGCLA blog.

Titus 3:1-7 Gospel Living Toward Outsiders

In this sermon we looked at what it means to live consistently with the gospel toward the outsiders (the government and all people) and the reason behind this lifestyle (our conversion). So there were two main points, (1) Remember how to live toward outsiders and (2) Remember your conversion by the Spirit's power. The second point is an extended meditation on the gospel and our conversion with an emphasis on the Holy Spirit's role regenerating us.

I was encouraged by the lavish grace of God that he would pour his Spirit out on us so abundantly.

Here's the text and sermon video:

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the goodness of God and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been •justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. [Titus 3:1-7 HCSB]

"The Essence of Grace" Titus 2:11-15 Sermon is now up

There are 4 parts to the essence of grace:

1. Grace appeared - when Jesus Christ came, died, rose, and ascended (v. 11)
2. Grace trains us for life - to deny ungodliness and wait for Christ's return (vv. 12-13)
3. Grace is personal - it's about Jesus who gave himself to redeem us as his people (v. 14)
4. Grace speaks - it speaks actively, through people, repeatedly, authoritatively, and inescapably (v. 15)

The grace of God is the reason and motivation for the life we live consistent with sound gospel teaching (Titus 2:1-10). We do well to understand it.

Watch or download The Essence of Grace

Pastor-Elder Vows

When CrossView Church installs a new elder, the following vows will be recited between an elder, the elder(s) being confirmed, and the congregation. These vows will also be printed in the church bulletin in their entirety.

[To the elder(s) being confirmed]

1. Do you reaffirm your faith in Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior?

I do.

2. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, totally trustworthy, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, the supreme, final, and the only inerrant rule of faith and practice?

I do.

3. Do you sincerely believe the Statement of Faith and Covenant of this church contain the truth taught in the Holy Scripture?

I do.

4. Do you promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the statements in the Statement of Faith and Covenant you will on your own initiative make known to the other elders (pastors) the change which has taken place in your views since your assumption of this vow?

I do.

5. Do you subscribe to the government and discipline of CrossView Church?

I do.

6. Do you promise to submit to your fellow pastor-elders in the Lord?

I do, with God’s help.

7. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to accept the office of pastor-elder from love of God and sincere desire to promote His glory in the Gospel of His Son?

I have.

8. Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in promoting the truths of the Gospel and the purity and peace of the Church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise to you on that account?

I do, with God’s help.

9. Will you be faithful and diligent in the exercise of all your duties as pastor-elder, whether personal or relative, private or public, and will you endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your manner of life, and to walk with exemplary piety before this congregation?

I will, by the grace of God.

10. Are you now willing to take personal responsibility in the life of this congregation as an pastor-elder to oversee the ministry and resources of the church, and to devote yourself to prayer, the ministry of the Word and the shepherding of God’s flock, relying upon the grace of God, in such a way that CrossView Church, and the entire Church of Jesus Christ will be blessed?

I am, with the help of God.

[To the congregation]

Will the members of the CrossView Church family please stand?

1. Do you, the members of CrossView Church, acknowledge and publicly receive this man as an elder (pastor), as gifts of Christ to this church?

We do.

2. Will you love them and pray for them in their ministry, and work together with them humbly and cheerfully, that by the grace of God you may accomplish the mission of the church, giving them all due honor and support in their leadership to which the Lord has called them, to the glory and honor of God?

We will.

[Close in prayer]