Brandon Ives

Aug 31, 2010 

You Follow Me

Jesus took the twelve disciples out for a walk and instructed them to pick up a rock to carry with them. Peter decided to select the smallest rock he could find, so that his journey would be easy. After a few hours, Jesus told his disciples that it was time to break for lunch. He instructed each disciple to take their rock out and when Jesus prayed over it, the rock became bread. Everyone ate their bread, but Peter left lunch hungry.

A few miles into the afternoon hike, Jesus once again asked his disciples to pick up a rock. This time Peter knew exactly what to do. He found the largest that he could find and hoisted it up onto his shoulder. After a few hours of walking, the journey came to an end beside a large lake. Jesus looked at his disciple and instructed them to throw their rocks into the lake. Peter became disgruntled and started to complain about the other disciples’ rocks, but Jesus stopped him and asked him a question. “Peter, who were you carrying the rock for?”

Do you remember the words at the end of John’s gospel? Peter has just been given difficult news about how he will one day suffer the same way Jesus did. And Peter quickly turns to the other disciples and says, “Ok Jesus, what about this guy?” And what does Jesus say, “What is that to you? You follow me.”

Our job is to follow Christ and carry his mission-for us. Our focus shouldn’t be on everyone else.

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Aug 22, 2010 

The Ministry of the Unnoticed

The following is an excerpt of My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers


“Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3)


The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character—things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted.


He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him—something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness—I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.

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Mar 16, 2010 

A place that holds my wife's heart...

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Feb 16, 2010 

Thoughts on Discipleship


Both of these come from George Barna's book Growing True Disciples. We are using them in a Sunday School teachers discussion tonight. Thought I'd share...


What are the Marks of a Disciple…

  • Disciples experience a changed future though their acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and of the Christian faith as their defining philosophy of life.
  • Disciples undergo a changed lifestyle that is manifested through Christ-oriented values, goals, perpectives, activities, and relationships
  • Disciples mature into a changed worldview, attributable to a deeper comprehension of the true meaning and impact of Christianity. Truth becomes an entirely God-driven reality to a disciple. Pursuing the truths of God becomes the disciples lifelong quest.

Questions to ask yourself about your discipleship…

    1. Are you certainthat your eternal salvation has been determined by your confession of sins and your acceptance of Christ’s gift of forgiveness?
    2. Do you consistently obey Jesus’ teachings?
    3. Do you always love other people in practical ways, especially fellow followers of Christ?
    4. Have you put the attractions and distractions of this world in their proper place and focused of knowing, loving, and serving God?
    5. Do you carry the burdens of following Jesus with joy?
    6. Do you live in such a way as to show others what the Christian life looks like?
    7. Do you relate to other Christians consistently, in a spiritual setting and for spiritual purposes?
    8. Are you sharing your faith in Christ with those who have not embraced Him as their Savior?
    9. Are you helping other believers to grow spiritually?
    10. Do you consistently seek guidance from God in all you do?

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