Gregg's Rest Stop (Christ Fellowship)

Published: Mon, 08/22/11

              GREGG'S REST STOP    August 22, 2011

 Christ Fellowship 


For I determined not to know anything among you
except Christ and Christ crucified.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:2
 
Freely expressed struggles, tears of joy, widened eyes of revelation, smiles of affirmation, insightful questions, loving responses, unified laughter, intense listening, hopeful prayers...these characterized a Grace Life Conference I partnered with a friend to teach in Hendersonville, North Carolina this weekend (photo above).
 
This conference was more than a Christian fellowship.  The word Christian is not used as an adjective in the Bible.  It is a glorious noun meaning Christ-one!  This fellowship was a Christ fellowship!  We gathered around the Person of Christ, and He was our Teacher and our Hope and our Joy.
 
My heart is that everyone who attends this conference will not say "Man, what a great conference this was for me.  I now know how to better live the Christian life," but will say, "Wow!  What a glorious Savior I have!  I want to know Him even better!"
 
And we can only know Christ in His finished work for us through the cross and resurrection.  Christ died for us for the forgiveness of our sins.  And we died (spiritually and literally) with Christ so that we could be re-born in His resurrection a new creation united with Him!  The remainder of our lives is a gift of God for us to grow in this glorious reality and intimacy!
 
CLOSING
God's purpose for all of history is to reveal His dear Son exalted through the cross.  History is His story of His Son for you and for me!  God has now given us the privilege to be a part of His story by manifesting in us the life of Jesus for others!
 
 
PS, I am so grateful Joni Antonelli invited me to teach this conference in memory of our beloved mentor Joyce Revels. 
 
Thanks to Sylvia Rosburg for her hospitality in hosting. 
 
It was such a joy to partner with Renee Berry in teaching this conference.  Renee is with Grace Life International (GLI) in Charlotte, NC where I trained 12 years ago.   GLI link
 
And I am thankful to John Best for mentoring me in truths of the cross that are not academic to me, but are the very foundation and hope of my life.  You can view John's discipleship resources at the following link:Abundant Living Resources 
 
 
 
 

 » About
DISCIPLESHIP COUNSELING
TEACHING & TRAINING
 
GREGG GIBBONS
PASTORAL DIRECTOR
 
 
 ALL ROADS IN THE BIBLE
LEAD TO THE CROSS
The chief thing on God's mind
throughout the whole Bible
is His Beloved Son
and His wonderful saving acts
on the cross and in the resurrection. 

Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
 
The cross is pictured 100s of times through the Old Testament,
first when God clothed
the fallen Adam & Eve
with skins from sacrificed animals.
 
Graphic details of the cross
are predicted in Psalms:
Rejected of men
Given vinegar to drink
Pierced with nails
Forsaken by God
Surrounded by enemies
Agonized with thirst
His garments were divided
No bone was broken
Committed His spirit to God
Rose from the dead
Rose with no corruption
Ascended into glory
 
There was no communication from God for 400 years between the Old and New Testament periods.  It was a holy hush.  God had used all of history to this point to prepare us to receive the cross as the climax of all of history.  It seems as if God took a breath before He spoke His final Word...and then...
 
...and then John the Baptist appears out of the wilderness to recognize Jesus, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
 
Then, nearly 1/2 of each of the four Gospels is dedicated to Jesus' last week on His way to the cross as the Lamb of God.  So, the most important thing in the Gospels was not His teaching nor His miracles, but His death and resurrection!
 
The theme of all New Testament epistles is the two aspects of the cross:   Christ died and was raised for us AND we died and were raised with Christ!  Oh, we must know how personal the cross is to us!  
 
Even the last book in the Bible is anchored in the cross:  "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power" (Revelation 5:12).
 
In conclusion, you can relate to God's heart by seeing the cross as the theme of Scriptures and Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures!  As you do, you are experiencing the Spirit making the Word come alive!
 
 
 
 
 
 
JOURNEY IN CHRIST, INC.
926 N.E. Main Street   Suite F-155
Simpsonville, SC  29681
(864) 228-HOPE (ministry)     (864) 483-3201 (Gregg cell)