Gregg's Rest Stop (Gems of Truth)

Published: Mon, 09/10/12

Gregg's Rest Stop

September 10, 2012

Journey in Christ

Gems of Truth

O LORD, revive me according to Your word.

My heart stands at awe of Your word.

I rejoice in Your Word as one who finds great treasure.

(Psalm 119:154, 161-162)

Journey in Christ recently coordinated 7 teaching events in 10 days for our friend, adviser, and mentor John Best. John a retired professor of Greek at Dallas Theological Seminary who loves to encourage and establish others in communicating eternal truths from God's precious Word.

Dr. Best passionately wants to pass on the heritage of personally communicating God's truths that exalt Christ.

My desire through these Rest Stops is to share what Dr. Best refers to as "gems of expression" of God's truths. These are not gems I think up on my own, but gems that God leads me to see as treasures mined from His Word.

STONES OF OPINION

John 1:1 says that Jesus is the Word of God. And in John 6:63, Jesus says that the words He speaks are life.

There is no life in the words from those who proudly impose their opinions upon Scriptures instead of humbly seeking to share the living words of Scriptures.

Some opinions sound true at first. However, when tested by the light of God's Word, the Bible, opinions are exposed as erroneous. Opinions focus on a Christian being close but still living separately from God.

For example, a common opinion is, "God helps those who help themselves." The truth is that Christ is your life in communion with you, not a helper for your best efforts (Colossians 3:4).

Another example opinion is, "God will never put on me more than I can handle." The truth is that God always puts on you what you cannot handle so that you will depend on Him through your communion with Christ who indwells you (2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2:14).

GEMS OF TRUTH

Whereas opinions focus on a Christian effectively being close but still separately from God, God's truths focus on a Christian always in communion with God. This "common union" is the result of being united with Christ through His cross and resurrection.

I hope you hear these truths in my Rest Stops and I pray they are living words to you. For this Rest Stop, I will close with a foundational gem of expression by Dr. Best,

The captivating of our hears

with the beauty of Jesus

is the loving work of the Spirit of God

through the Word of God.

CONFERENCE UPDATE!

The schedule for the Grace Life Conference has been changed from September 27-29 to October 4-6.

The location of the conference has been set for Bethlehem Baptist Church just outside of Spartanburg SC. Bethlehem graciously hosted two of John Best's teachings August 21 and 28.

I am looking forward to teaching this conference and to partnering with others to pray and plan for the conference.

This conference is for blue-collar and white-collar workers, homemakers, the unemployed, the disabled, the retired, and college students. In other words, the conference is for every adult, young and old!

Click here for conference brochure

About

Discipleship through

Counseling

Teaching

Training

Gregg Gibbons

Pastoral Director

Michael Chalmers

Training Director

Kellie Boggs

Fellowship Director

Joy Gibbons

Ministry Assistant and women's ministry coordinator

Carole Blyth

Board member and women's ministry coordinator

Randy Garrick

Board member and Elder Holly Ridge Baptist Church

Paul Crews

Board member and Pastor Mountain Creek Baptist Church

Journey in Christ website link

Personal website link

Partnership

I believe with all my heart that ministry is through relationships.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:3, 5).

YouTube link below of my ministry commissioning service that included testimonies from several partners, including Bobby Richardson, former 2nd baseman for the NY Yankees.

3-minute discipleship video

Please contact me to learn more about partnering with me. I'd love to hear from you!

Ministry News

Next 8-month Advanced Discipleship Training to start January 2013.

Gregg teaches freedom from anger through Christ at the Haven of Rest mission in Anderson, SC Mondays 6:00-6:45 pm. You are welcome to attend with Gregg anytime!

Gregg is mentoring men and couples in an office at Holly Ridge Baptist Church in Simpsonville SC and at an industrial plant in Duncan SC.

Michael is mentoring men and couples in an office provided by Mountain Creek Baptist Church, Pendleton Street Baptist Church,and Earle Street Baptist Church in Greenville SC.

Carole and Joy, along with 6 ladies trained through Journey in Christ, are providing more discipleship training to female employees at an industrial plant in Aug 15 through Oct 3. A glorious time of transformation.

Our ministry partner Joye Benfield of Grace Ministries Hickory will be teaching the 4th of 8 sessions for our 8-month Advanced Discipleship Training Sept 13-15.

Michael will be leading a weekly discipleship group for Earle Street Baptist Church in Greenville starting Sept 11.