January Newsletter

I hope that this Discipleship Inc newsletter finds you well. December was a busy month. My plan was to take advantage of Christmas Break by meeting with as many young adults as possible. 

By month’s end there were 10 students that I met with; 9 of them attended college out of town. We also held a Bible Study at Panera. What a joy it was to reconnect with these students. One of them said after our lunch, “I am so thankful for your mentoring me.’

Another encouraging thing that happened in December came out of a meeting I had with a PFW student. We met in late November; during our time he revealed to me that he was struggling with his faith. We talked about many things, but he just appeared ready to give up. 

After our time together it seemed to me that he needed something different to encourage him. I suggested a book by Lee Strobel called, ‘The Case for Christ.’ It is an apologetic that gives solid evidence supporting Jesus Christ being the Son of God. After telling him about it and inquiring if he would be willing to read it, he said he would. 

I purchased 12 of these books through our ministry. Once he received his copy it occurred to me that there were many other students that would benefit from this knowledge. Over the next 4 weeks, 10 more copies were passed out to students. My hope was to strengthen their faith as well.  

One of those was given to a former tennis player. She took lessons from me for 5 years at FWCC. We met one morning for coffee to catch on all that has happened since she graduated from high school.    

We talked about her time in college, as well as her strong desire to continue playing tennis. Soon the conversation turned to the subject of God. She told me that she was no longer going to church but still believed in God.

This led to the subject of truth—before long we were talking about the Bible. We discussed, Who Jesus of Nazareth was? Is the Bible the True Word of God? What happens when you die? We covered a variety of Christian topics. At the end of our time I told her about ‘The Case for Christ?’ 

After briefly discussing it she was willing to consider reading it. I had a copy in my car to hand out. What a blessing our time together was—even more that I was able to give her “a reason for the hope that is in you (me)”.   

PFW started school this week so I purchased a dozen more books. What an exciting opportunity this semester will be to hand out more copies.  

May Christ bless you and your family in the month ahead.

Steve 

I hope that this Discipleship Inc newsletter finds you well. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. There are many reasons for this, most importantly it is the birth of our Savior. The whole gospel hangs on this reality, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

I remember my pastor once saying, ‘The virgin birth is the gatekeeper for the Christian faith.’ Larry King was once asked, ‘If you could ask any person in history one question, what would it be?’ The talk show host quickly responded, ‘I would ask Jesus Christ if He was virgin born?’ He too realized the importance of this doctrine. 

Over the past couple years, as I proclaim “the gospel of God” to lost souls, there is one word I use to start all conversations. That is the word truth. This word is central to all we do in life; most certainly it is essential in declaring the gospel to young adults. 

If Jesus Christ is not virgin born we might just as well be celebrating reindeer and snowmen. If it is true, and it is, salvation has come to mankind. This reality caused the angel of the Lord to tell Joseph, “Do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

The Word of God gives overwhelming evidence to support this fact. To believe this is not doing a ‘brain-check at the door.’ NO! A thousand times no! Rather we are using evidence, reasoning, and critical thinking as the gospel writers’ call us to. When we do, there is only one conclusion we will come to, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

We will declare with the apostles, when Jesus calmed the storm, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33) We will fall down at His feet in fear as demons did declaring, “You are the Son of God.” (Mark 3:11) Finally, we will marvel at Him with Nathanael declaring, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel.” (John 1:49)

May you and your family take time this Christmas to ponder, ‘WHO is this virgin born Baby?’ When you do may the majesty and wonder of His birth stir your heart to sing with the hymnist, ‘Joy to the world; the Lord is come; let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing.’

I hope that you and your family have a ‘Christ filled’ Christmas. 

Steve

PS There is a new post on our website www.discipleshipinc.org. It is on the tab ‘A dying man to dying men’. Here I reproduced the last words of many dying saints. What an encouragement their words have been—they died well.