Sharing Him with Indonesia

Training by being “with” Christ

Josh Ewing — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:25:30 +0000

This is a portion out of Mentoring for Mission by Krallman.

I encourage you to grab your Bible right now if you can or later tonight and look up each verse. Watch for the word “with”. Jesus is wanting to change us, but if we do not spend time with Him in His Word, then we are trying to change ourselves.

The Gospels mention ‘being with Jesus’ not just in connection with certain activities which the disciples undertook together with their Master (e.g. Matt 26:20.36, Mk 3:7, 8:10, 11:11, Lk 6:17, 7:11, 8:1, 9:18, Jn 3:22, 6:3, 11:54, 18:1.2). Moreover it appears that the same terminology was used as a synonym for being a disciple of Jesus (e.g. Matt 26:69.71, Mk 16:10, Jn 18:26) and that the two-sided with-ness existing between the Master and his disciples was referred to as an equivalent for Jesus’ technique of training the Twelve (Mk 3:14; cf. also Lk 22:28, 24:44, Jn 7:33, 13:33, 14:9.25, 16:4, 17:12).

Who is afraid of Jesus?

Josh Ewing — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:25:20 +0000

Afraid of God?

Just wait on God

Josh Ewing — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:24:53 +0000

Waiting on God

Humility

Josh Ewing — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:01:51 +0000

Humility is both a discipline and a devotion, and no man can be used by God who does not seek and show humility.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

I believe I received this from http://www.mjvi.org/home . Check out this exciting ministry.

Waiting on the Lord

Josh Ewing — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:05:23 +0000

Waiting on the Lord

Pipe Organs or Worship Bands?

Josh Ewing — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:47:08 +0000

In Moody’s day it was, ‘Let’s beautify our churches, enhance the cultural quality of our worship by installing wonderful pipe organs to displace the old harmoniums and train professional choirs to produce exquisite music.’ Today it is, ‘Let’s get rid of the organs, choirs and buildings which smack of yesteryear and let’s restore popular culture, language and dress codes to the church through the use of guitars, worship bands, modern technology, contemporary songs and through pastors and priests that look like ordinary human beings.’ But we still believe that the adjustment of the outward packaging of the gospel, the adoption of new methods, holds the secret to successful evangelism. The truth is, we have tried it all and it has proved to be no more successful than old-fashioned ways.¹⁹ The answer does not appear to lie in methods, but as Moody correctly diagnosed, in a want of power. To bypass that answer is to condemn the church to yet more failure.

George, T. (2004). Mr Moody and the evangelical tradition. London; New York: T&T Clark.

Caterpillar or Butterfly- Crawl or Fly?

Josh Ewing — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:06:33 +0000

Next, Paul asks the Galatians about their sanctification: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (v. 3). Does a butterfly—having emerged from its chrysalis transformed, regenerated, metamorphosed to live a new life, and equipped with gorgeous gossamer wings—continue as a caterpillar? Does it say to itself, Well, I have been born again. I must do my best to be a butterfly. I will crawl up this stem and gnaw on these leaves! Of course not! It spreads its wings. It catches the rising air currents. It soars from field to field seeking the nectar of the flowers. It has new life. That new life cannot be lived on the principles of the old life.

(more of what I have read)

Only life can beget life.

Josh Ewing — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:21:42 +0000

The renowned scientist Louis Pasteur demonstrated that truth in his day. He held up a thoroughly sterilized and hermetically sealed flask before his audience. “It is devoid of life!” he exclaimed. “I can keep it for a hundred years, and it will still be devoid of life. I can beg and plead with it to produce a life-form, even the humblest life form, but it remains unmoved by my pleas. There is no life without antecedent life. Only life can beget life.”

How did your message go, Preacher?

Josh Ewing — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:14:11 +0000

How did your message go, Preacher?

If you are a preacher or teacher what determines a good message to you? Do you look for a lot of “Amens”? Do you wait until after the message and watch the people’s reaction to you? Is class participation the key point for which you watch? A full room of people for you to teach the Bible?

I must confess that I have looked for each one of these too much in my own life. I want a lot of Indonesians with whom to share Christ. I do want my audience to ask questions by which they show they are paying attention. I want to know that my audience is understanding and benefiting from the message or lesson.

With this acknowledged, we must be sober minded about what we believe determines a good message or a good lesson. It will be done well when you or I proclaim the Bible in a clear and honest manner. We must speak what the Bible speaks from that passage or Scripture. We need to have assurance after we have proclaimed the Word of God in class or church service or in a home that we have simply given the Word of God out. Let’s get our confidence from the fact that we have given out Our Savior’s Message.

Caution: Many use the Bible in support of error.

Josh Ewing — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:08:38 +0000

Something is very subtle about appealing to the Bible itself in support of error. The unwary can easily be deceived by the glib: “This is what the Bible says: ‘Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy’” (Exod. 20:8), or “See, the Bible says, ‘Forbid not to speak with tongues’” (1 Cor. 14:39), or “When you’re dead, you’re dead. The Bible says so. It says, ‘The dead know not any thing’” (Eccl. 9:5). It is the old cultic trick of “interpreting” a Scripture without regard to its context, without regard to the scope and purpose of the book in which it is found, and without regard to the people to whom the particular passage was addressed.