“For he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles.” Galatians 2:8 (ESV) God still uses human instrumentality in the redemptive process. God chooses to use us in unique ways to shine His light and to share His love. You were created by God to know Him personally by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus. God sought you, bought you, redeemed you, forgave you, adopted you, included you, filled you, and sealed you so that you could be an instrument of His redeeming love. Peter was uniquely gifted by God to be an apostle to the Jews. God transformed Paul from a persecutor of the church to be a preacher of the gospel as an apostle to the Gentiles. Of course Peter was to be an irresistible influence for the Lord to everyone he came in contact with. Yet, God was at work through Peter to specifically bring the saving news of Jesus to the Jews. Paul had an assignment from God to spread the aroma of Christ to every person who did not have a saving relationship with Jesus. However, God was strategically at work in Paul to build a bridge of hope to the Gentiles. Your life is to be lived in such a way as to demonstrate and communicate the redemptive love of God. Your conversation and conduct are to point people to Jesus so they can know Him personally and eternally just as you do. Maximize the moments God gives you to make Jesus known. Capture the opportunities to ask spiritual questions that take your conversations vertical. Feature the grace of God by sharing with others how they can come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Peter
Categories
Sharing the Gospel
“On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles). Galatians 2:7-8 (ESV) One of the many joys in the Christian life for us is recognizing that God still uses human instrumentality in the redemptive process. God chooses to use us in His master plan to bring people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Sometimes God will prompt us to openly share our faith with an individual and allow us to lead that person in the sinner’s prayer. God also empowers our ongoing conversation and conduct to serve as a witness for Christ to a watching world. As Dr. Johnny Hunt says, “People in your community may not read the Bible, but they will read the gospel according to your life.” Peter embraced his calling from God to share the gospel with the Jews. God had anointed Peter for that particular assignment. Peter had a special connection with the Jews and a specific burden to reach them for Christ. Paul identified his personal mission statement as bringing glory to God by preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and planting churches. Paul shared the gospel intentionally and strategically. He focused his life to be on mission with God. Paul simply joined God in His redemptive activity. If you have been saved by the grace of God, then you have been commissioned by God to participate in His redemptive activity. You have a song to sing and message to declare. Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Share the gospel today. Be intentional about knowing Jesus personally and making Him known relationally. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” Luke 5:4 (ESV) Jesus had been teaching the crowd from Simon’s boat. The water’s surface propelled the teachings of Jesus with clarity to the hearers. Simon was in the boat with Jesus and overheard His teachings. The lesson was going to be directed Simon’s way. Jesus challenged Simon’s faith by asking him to transition the boat to deeper waters. The request escalated as Jesus exhorted Simon to let down the nets for a catch. What is a carpenter doing telling a fisherman how to fish? Fishermen in that region knew that fishing the shallow waters at night was the protocol for success. Yet, Jesus issues a seemingly impractical call to fish the deeper waters during the daylight. Simon experienced a crisis of belief. He had to wrestle the words of this carpenter up against his own personal experience as a commercial fisherman. Simon knew the waters and the industry. Would he consider obeying the words of Jesus? Sometimes life doesn’t make sense. Sometimes the way of Jesus is counter to the way of logic. Jesus invites us to join Him in the journey of faith. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark. Faith is trusting that Jesus knows what is best for us. We come to the place of experiencing the crisis of believing our own way or the way Jesus illuminates. Simon was willing to take Jesus at His Word and to trust Him with the results. Simon silenced the voice of doubt and amplified the voice of Truth. What are you currently wrestling with? Are you willing to take God at His Word and trust His prompting? God’s way will bring you to a crisis of belief that will require faith and action. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.” Galatians 2:8 (NIV) God still uses human instrumentality in the redemptive process. God chooses to use us in unique ways to shine His light and to share His love. You were created by God to know Him personally by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus. God sought you, bought you, redeemed you, forgave you, adopted you, included you, filled you, and sealed you so that you could be an instrument of His redeeming love. Peter was uniquely gifted by God to be an apostle to the Jews. God transformed Paul from a persecutor of the church to be a preacher of the gospel as an apostle to the Gentiles. Of course Peter was to be an irresistible influence for the Lord to everyone he came in contact with. Yet, God was at work through Peter to specifically bring the saving news of Jesus to the Jews. Paul had an assignment from God to spread the aroma of Christ to every person who did not have a saving relationship with Jesus. However, God was strategically at work in Paul to build a bridge of hope to the Gentiles. Your life is to be lived in such a way as to demonstrate and communicate the redemptive love of God. Your conversation and conduct are to point people to Jesus so they can know Him personally and eternally just as you do. Maximize the moments God gives you to make Jesus known. Capture the opportunities to ask spiritual questions that take your conversations vertical. Feature the grace of God by sharing with others how they can come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Sharing the Gospel
“On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.” Gal 2:7-8 (NIV) One of the many joys in the Christian life for us is recognizing that God still uses human instrumentality in the redemptive process. God chooses to use us in His master plan to bring people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Sometimes God will prompt us to openly share our faith with an individual and allow us to lead that person in the sinner’s prayer. God also empowers our ongoing conversation and conduct to serve as a witness for Christ to a watching world. As Dr. Johnny Hunt says, “People in your community may not read the Bible, but they will read the gospel according to your life.” Peter embraced his calling from God to share the gospel with the Jews. God had anointed Peter for that particular assignment. Peter had a special connection with the Jews and a specific burden to reach them for Christ. Paul identified his personal mission statement as bringing glory to God by preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and planting churches. Paul shared the gospel intentionally and strategically. He focused his life to be on mission with God. Paul simply joined God in His redemptive activity. If you have been saved by the grace of God, then you have been commissioned by God to participate in His redemptive activity. You have a song to sing and message to declare. Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Share the gospel today. Be intentional about knowing Jesus personally and making Him known relationally. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’” Luke 5:4 (NIV) Jesus had been teaching the crowd from Simon’s boat. The water’s surface propelled the teachings of Jesus with clarity to the hearers. Simon was in the boat with Jesus and overheard His teachings. The lesson was going to be directed Simon’s way. Jesus challenged Simon’s faith by asking him to transition the boat to deeper waters. The request escalated as Jesus exhorted Simon to let down the nets for a catch. What is a carpenter doing telling a fisherman how to fish? Fishermen in that region knew that fishing the shallow waters at night was the protocol for success. Yet, Jesus issues a seemingly impractical call to fish the deeper waters during the daylight. Simon experienced a crisis of belief. He had to wrestle the words of this carpenter up against his own personal experience as a commercial fisherman. Simon knew the waters and the industry. Would he consider obeying the words of Jesus? Sometimes life doesn’t make sense. Sometimes the way of Jesus is counter to the way of logic. Jesus invites us to join Him in the journey of faith. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark. Faith is trusting that Jesus knows what is best for us. We come to the place of experiencing the crisis of believing our own way or the way Jesus illuminates. Simon was willing to take Jesus at His Word and to trust Him with the results. Simon silenced the voice of doubt and amplified the voice of Truth. What are you currently wrestling with? Are you willing to take God at His Word and trust His prompting? God’s way will bring you to a crisis of belief that will require faith and action. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell