EP*C

Darrin Patrick & Matt Carter Exponential 2010 from Exponential on Vimeo.

One of the best things about summer is time with friends, whether it’s heading to the drive-in, hitting the beach or just relaxing. Summer is also a great time to make great friendships.

Some of us have a great group of friends and life is awesome, but it’s not the same for everyone. As part of the ‘Summer: Use It or Lose It’ series, one of the best things you can do this summer is connect with people you know don’t know that well.

Having a BBQ? Invite your close friends, plus someone you’ve never hung out with before. Headed for sushi? Grab someone you’ve only just met and introduce them to your mates. Hanging out with someone new is always worth it.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. – Jesus

Perspective is a powerful thing.

Persecution in India: Francis’ Response from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

Persistent Prayer from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

Loving God and Loving People are often talked about, but sometimes hard to define. Here’s a great message on this topic by Francis Chan.

Francis Chan “Love God Love People” from Unite All To Christ on Vimeo.

As a church and as a young adult community, we’re committed to making a lasting difference in our city. One of the ways we do this is by planting satellite sites that are able to reach out to different areas around St. Catharines.

Our downtown site recently started leasing a property right in the heart of the city. Throughout April the whole church will be volunteering to do some much needed renovation to the building. Join us by lending a helping hand to clean, paint, dry wall…whatever you can do will make a massive difference.

For more information on how to help, email natalievanderwier@centralcc.ca.

Part 2 of the CHANGE AGENTS series.

Here’s a question – how often do you think about the gospel? How often does Jesus and what he has done for us come up in your everyday life?

I ask the questions not to condemn, but as encouragement to focus on the important things in life.

Josh Patterson of the Village Church has an excellent post on the gospel, and whether it is something assumed in your life, or purposefully made explicit by you in your life. He says:

” The issue with an assumed gospel is that it is often too personal and, therefore, becomes private. The person who lives under the assumption of the gospel often knows how it relates to their life, but nobody else does…..their co-workers are left to wonder about what makes them different. Those who live under the assumed gospel often find it awkward to bring it up and talk about the work of Christ. Why? Because they never bring it up and learn to articulate the implications of Christ’s work and their life.

On the contrary, those who are explicit about the gospel in their relationships have a different effect. By living out the gospel and speaking about the gospel and working through the gospel (verbally), they are helping to connect the dots for those around them….co-workers are privy to the reality that this person is not simply a moral guy/girl, but one who is forgiven and transformed by the death and resurrection of Christ.”

You can read the rest of the post here.

So, are you explicit or do you assume the gospel in your everyday life? More importantly, how do you plan do become more explicit?

Tim Keller explains how the gospel should impact Christians in everyday life, thereby affecting culture.