Is It Real?

Written by Nate Flynn | Mar 28, 2024 2:36:02 PM

Dear Leader,

This weekend we celebrate Easter! The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you feel any pressure to create the perfect Easter experience?

We want to do our work for the Lord with excellence at all times, no doubt. But, if we're honest, Christmas and Easter in particular seem to come loaded with a little extra expectation. Like we have to get things just right or else...or else what?

The Apostle Paul knew this temptation. The Jews he preached to wanted signs and the Greeks desired wisdom. Although Paul could have tailored his message to cater to them, he insisted on preaching Christ crucified. This was foolishness to the wisdom of the world and a stumbling block for those who sought certain revelations.

The cross of Christ is wisdom and revelation, but only for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Though our preaching may seem foolish, it is the power of the Spirit to save those who believe. It is He who convicts, transforms, and empowers us to respond to the gospel with faith and obedience.

The death and resurrection of Christ are literally the crux of the matter. It is finished and He is risen! As we prepare for our Easter weekend services, let us unburden ourselves from the pressure to perform and instead embrace the work of the Spirit.

May we preach Christ crucified with boldness and conviction, knowing that through His sacrifice we find hope, forgiveness, and new life.

In Christ,

Nate Flynn

Area Director

"But if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:14

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Credible Presentation of the Gospel

The obvious answer to the question "What do men need?" is that they need the gospel.

The most important thing we can do for men is to let them know there is a system that explains why it is so hard to find happiness in achievements or relationships in this world.

In simple terms, discipleship is the process of helping men move from relying on themselves to relying on God.

Everything we do is about deepening a man's relationship with God. That's why it's important that every man has an opportunity to hear and understand a credible presentation of the gospel.

The gospel is the one system that really works - a system that helps men change the core affections of their hearts.

YOUR ACTION STEP:

Keep It Real

"Discipleship changes everything."

This is a frequently used phrase in our ministry. It is one that I happen to believe in. Why do I believe in it? Because it's REAL for me. I have known life without true discipleship, and I have experienced the transformation that comes through discipleship.

Discipleship in simple terms is the process of helping another person move from relying on self to relying on God. We CALL a person to live in Christ, EQUIP them to live like Christ, and SEND them to live for Christ.This requires real, genuine, intentional relationship.

When it comes to making statements about discipleship and transformation however, I worry at times if it's real. The temptation and tendency in everything we do is to rely on self. Even as mature believers, we can slip back into this existence.

At the core of our Christian faith lies a profound question that every believer must grapple with:

Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

This pivotal moment in history is not merely a theological concept to be debated; it is the crux of our entire belief system.

But beyond doctrinal affirmations and theological debates, there lies a deeper challenge that confronts each of us: the reality of our faith. For many who claim the name of Christ, faith remains confined to the realm of intellectual assent - a set of beliefs stored in the recesses of the mind but not fully embraced by the heart.

In our pursuit of discipleship, we often emphasize the need for heart transformation over mere behavior modification. We proclaim that discipleship changes everything, but are we genuinely seeking this in truth? Or are we instead pursuing the ends through an imitation of discipleship?

Transformation cannot be manufactured or contrived; it must flow from a genuine encounter with the living God, a revelation of His truth, and a surrender of the heart and mind.

Let us not settle for a superficial faith marked by empty rituals and hollow platitudes. Instead, let us pursue a faith that is rooted in the reality of Christ's resurrection - a faith that transforms hearts, renews minds, and changes lives.

MOVING BEYOND HEAD KNOWLEDGE TO HEART TRANSFORMATION

How do we ensure that our faith is not just a facade but a living, breathing reality that permeates every aspect of our being?

ENCOUNTER GOD IN HIS WORD: The scriptures are not merely a collection of ancient texts; they are the living Word of God, capable of penetrating the deepest recesses of our souls. As we immerse ourselves in scripture, we encounter the living God who speaks truth, reveals His character, and transforms our hearts. Indeed, no real transformation happens apart from the Word of God!

CULTIVATE A VIBRANT PRAYER LIFE: Prayer is more than a ritual or religious obligation; it is the sacred communion between the Creator and His creation. Through prayer, we open our hearts to God's presence, pouring out our fears, doubts, and desires before Him and allowing His Spirit to work within us.

EMBRACE AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY: Transformation rarely occurs in isolation; it flourishes in the context of authentic community. As we surround ourselves with fellow believers who challenge, encourage, and support us in our faith journey, we experience the transformative power of Christian fellowship.

SURRENDER TO THE SPIRIT: True transformation is not a result of human effort but of divine intervention. As we yield ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to live out our faith with boldness, obedience, and authenticity.

GO DEEPER WITH THIS POST FROM THE MAN IN THE MIRROR BLOG

Entrusting the Message to Faithful Men

Jesus told the disciples it’s not that men don’t want to meet Him. It’s that there aren’t enough men to make a credible introduction. In Paul's plan for Timothy to safeguard and spread the gospel of Jesus, we see how we are entrusted to make the connection.

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