Walking into a new context to preach can be pretty intimidating but doing it on a Sunday morning service is a completely different.  This last sunday I had the joy of beginning my first stint as an Interim pastor (in view of a call).  Excelsior Springs Baptist Church is nearing the end of its search for its next Senior Pastor.  We have been in process (interviews, questionnaires, etc) for about almost 10 months and for the next 4 weeks I will have the privilege of bringing the Sunday message and spending ample time with the members of the church.

Because I have been given such a huge opportunity I decided to start a series for these next few weeks entitled “the Gospel”.  This week we tackled the question “What is the Gospel”.  This is a question I hear everyday in one way or another but usually not from believers in Christ.  This reality scares me because that means that they are building on some other foundation if they are not continually coming back to the question what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I fervently believe it’s God’s intent for every believer to be:

• Filled and empowered by His Spirit
• To know the Word of God and build their life on the truths of the Gospel
• and to be sent out on mission as one of God’s missionary people.

In order to begin to accomplish these goals together it only makes sense to begin with the Gospel.  I really hope that this series helps you reevaluate where you are in Christ.

Audio:

Text: Romans 1:16 – 17

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to speak at the chapter meeting of Beta Upsilon Chi, a National Christian Fraternity, at the University of Kansas.  The fraternity states that it exists for the purpose of establishing brotherhood and unity among college men based on the common bond of Jesus Christ.

“Beta Upsilon Chi was formed at The University of Texas at Austin in the spring of 1985 by a handful of Christian men who desired an alternative to the present fraternal lifestyle. The members of Beta Upsilon Chi choose to unite in fellowship and edify Jesus Christ on campuses around the nation.”

After beginning at the University of Texas, the vision of Brothers Under Christ has spread to 25 campuses in Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Kansas.

Needless to say that I was both happy to be invited to speak there and at the same time encouraged by their presence.  Enjoy!

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This is recording of me speaking to a High School group at Blue Valley Baptist Church on August 22, 2010.

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