NextGenKent

I was once going through the book of Romans with a group of junior high boys (a task worth at least one extra jewel in anyone's heavenly crown) and learning alongside them about what faith is. As you probably know, the word "faith" in the NT can mean faith, belief, and trust, depending on the context. Paul tells us why he is not ashamed of the gospel, "for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes "--that is, has faith. " Faith comes by hearing the Word on Jesus Christ" and leads to calling on the Lord--how can they call on him if they have not first believed, and how can they believe if they have not first heard . Faith undoubtedly leads to salvation in Jesus. But what of faith after salvation ? Does faith continue to work in the same way? Or is there a growing aspect for someone in his or her faith? Or does faith stay the same, but one's capacity to hold it and wield it become greater? Wow, so much like spinning a wheel t...

You have no doubt been in circles where someone has name-dropped. Perhaps you have done so yourself. I know I have. I happen to know some "big names" in some areas of ministry that I can drop at times to gain a hearing. To be honest, I don't know why I do it. And even more honest, I don't think it has ever done anything for me. I teach evangelism and discipleship courses for OCU (is this name-dropping?) and have done so now (online) nearly ten times. One of the projects in the class is for students to write out their testimony as if speaking to a non-Christian who might be interested. Did you catch that last part? Write it out for someone who doesn't know, or perhaps has never heard about, God, Jesus, the need for salvation, and how God has answers for their life's problems. I've graded over 150 of these testimonies and just started keeping track of some patterns I am seeing. One of the things I am hearing over and over again is: When evangeliz...

Romans 8:1-17 starts with the words, "there is now no condemnation." That sounds like good news. This passage tells me that it is not God's plan to condemn me. If I feel condemned, it is not because of God. Instead, God made a way for me to be out from under the law of sin and death that brings fear (of the unknown).  It is God's plan for me to know He does not condemn me, and that He has set me free from sin/death/fear/the unknown. How? He has a plan. God's plan is to help me to fulfill another law He has in mind: the law of righteousness. God will enable me (through the Spirit) to walk in this new way--a way by the Spirit--a way of life and peace, the way of righteousness. It is the only way to please Him and He actively guides me on this way to do so. God's plan is that He wants: -me to know that the Spirit of God dwells in me and I belong to Him! -to reanimate my body by the Holy Spirit to live before others to show them what living...

Don’t hold back  in prayer. James 5:13-20  Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.   Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.   14  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders   of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil   in the name of the Lord.   15  And the prayer offered in faith   will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.   16  Therefore confess your sins   to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.   The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17  Elijah was a human being, even as we are.   He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19  My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someon...

THE GLORY SHINE –or- SON-TANNED ON the 10 th of September, we remember Moses’ descent from Mt. Sinai.  What once came with glory, a glory that was displayed on Moses’ face--a radiance that disabled people from looking Moses in the eye--not only came to an end but was drained of its glory because something better was to come along: the permanent ministry of the Holy Spirit in working righteousness. Let’s not forget why Moses’ face shone = because he had spoken to the LORD. The people could not look intently into Moses’ face so he put a veil over his face so people would not be afraid to come near him; but when he spoke with God he would take the veil away. In  Exodus 34:28-35, we read that Moses wasn't even aware that his face had become "radiant" ["horned" = to push with horns, so there was a radiant quality that pushed]. And so it is with us. We can hope in this "pushy glory" because it is eternal yet present with us—we are experiencing som...

“Growth For The New Year” Matthew 12.33  Are you bearing fruit? 33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you,  on the day of judgment  people will give account for every careless word they speak , 37 for by your words you will be justified , and by your words you will be condemned .” I n a word, what is one thing you do to make something work better? One of my first jobs was roguing where you take a sharp tool with you as walk through a cornfield and cut out weeds or corn that has grown up 'rogue' and bunched together. Early in my college year...