Gateway Fellowship

An invitation: Let's mature beyond living by our senses.

Romans 7:20 "it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

This chat was given as we commissioned Carl and Stan as assistant pastors. Two of the main passages mentioned were Acts 20 and Romans 5:4.

Linda tells a story about the power of our declarations.

Let God lead you.

The Lord prioritized going to synagogue regularly. Miracles, healings, exorcisms, and anointed Scripture explanation flowed through Him in each town, usually centering around the Synagogue. Some say, "It's harder to see the supernatural in church than in the world." Some say, "Christians are harder to reach than the unreached." I say, "That's letting experience speak louder than Scripture." I thin...

Nearly every day we encounter spiritual climates that resist God's kingdom inside of us. How do we recognize and navigate such things?

Run, John, run, the law commands but gives me neither feet nor hands Far better news the gospel brings It bids me fly and gives me wings (Bunyon)

What was Jesus' gospel? What is eternal life? How do we relate to God and people apart from the standard methods of manipulation and control using judgment and condemnation? How do we pray as God's beloved children?

I recently texted to ask Brian about what fascinates him lately. I liked his answer so much I invited him to do a podcast interview. The main theme of his response was that Jesus is intent on delivering people from the wounds, lies, and effects of rejection.  We also discussed 80's music, Texas barbeque, and my idea for an app that shocks people who say the illegal phrase.

Each of us is pursuing what we treasure. There is no person who has no "treasures." In Matthew 6:1-18 Jesus helps provide us with a few simple tools meant to free our hearts from a common snare -- living for the approval of our peers. He does this so that we can enjoy the true happiness of really knowing God in life.

Jesus said unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees we cannot see the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:20). What does that mean?

My wife Carrie's report: He knocked it out of the park. Solid gospel preaching.

This chat was like a bunch of mini donuts. Since each of them are so small, might as well eat the entire bag.

What if those two goals aren't mutually exclusive? What if God is the true Source and Fountain of all joy and the further we get from Him, the less happy we become? What if glorifying God is impossible unless we ENJOY God? And what if holiness and happiness run together as surely as sin and misery?

Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." He's still breathing on his disciples!

Teaching on 9 of the gifts of the Holy Spirit from 1 Corinthians 12... And the prayer time at the end.

Where is this realm where God lives? Is it far? If so, how relevant to our here and now can it be?

What sort of Being is God?

From that time Jesus began to announce, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 4:17) Reflection Questions How was God's kingdom experienced back in Eden? What happened when we fell? What will the kingdom be like at the resurrection in the new earth? What does Jesus intend God's kingdom to find expression in our daily lives presently?

Scripture Scriptural Autographs Textual Criticism Canon of Scripture Apostolic Succession Apostolic Doctrine Jesus AS Revelation Inerrancy of Scripture Infallibility of Scripture Inspiration of Scripture Organic Inspiration of Scripture Necessity of Scripture Perspicuity of Scripture General Revelation Special Revelation Sufficiency of Scripture

Life's short and then you face Jesus.

2 Tim 4:7-8 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

How do we bounce back? How do we return to joy? What is a primary marker of maturity?

Despair and defeated thinking can eat our lunch. But it doesn't have to.