Recent Posts

Have you noticed over the last decade that it seems that the United States has become a nation of uncontrolled extremes?  In saying this, I’m not referring to a particular tribe or group.   I’m talking about ALL of us.  Every conversation, every movement, and every thought proposition seems to be dominated with radicalism. 

If you ask most active Christians what the Gospel is, you will get some version of “Christ died on the cross for my sins so I can have eternal life.” And while this is certainly “good news,” Pastor and Theologian Ralph Erskine would want us to know that it is not the “full banquet” of the Gospel. Forgiveness of sins is incredible – especially when it is completely unmerited, but in a banquet analogy it’s potatoes. Potatoes are great. They’re a staple food. But they aren’t a complete meal. So we need to remember that the gospel is indeed a banquet of grace, and our King desires us to eat and drink fully from the table of God.

When I was a younger Christian and Student Minister, I would often emphasize to my students over and over again that “Christianity is a relationship.”  Strangely, that was not always a popular thing to say.  In fact, I was often criticized by older pastors who warned me against saying such a thing because it was pietistic, mystical, and based on emotion rather than the firm foundation of scripture.  This always confused me. 

Ultimately, Hope Christian Discipleship will offer an online video discipleship resource that is built around the foundation of Union with Christ. It is called “Christian Discipleship and King Jesus.”

Lesson 1: Learning to Depend on King Jesus introduces the idea of Christian Discipleship.

Lesson 2: “What is the Gospel?” The Gospel of King Jesus is a message of “good news” that essentially has One Foundation: which is Union with Christ; and Three distinct components: which are Regeneration, Justification, and Adoption. In this video, we explore the historical background of the meaning and robust nature of the Gospel of King Jesus and how it contrasted with the Roman Gospel that was pervasive in the time of the New Testament.

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Friends and loved ones, Martha Jo and I are very excited about the upcoming year.  As many of you know, we resigned our positions from Surfside Presbyterian Church this past August.  As we consider what ministry Christ will call us to next, we are both convinced that a large part of our ministry will include Christian counseling and discipleship.  This ministry will be called Hope Christian Counseling.

We offer an online Devotional Study Guide that will accompany the video series, “Christian Discipleship and King Jesus.”  Each video lesson will have four to five devotionals that will Biblically affirm and unpack the teaching in the video. Continue reading “Devotional Study Guide” →

Use with Video 1 / ​Learning to Depend on King Jesus 

Read: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;