Grace Abounding

Getting Interviewed Via Skype

This morning during their chapel for students & faculty, my alma mater, Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Virginia Beach, interviewed me via video Skype about church planting & my seminary experience. I was thrilled to report back and give back to the local church-based seminary that showed us by example how Christ intends to build his church for God’s praise. We are particularly grateful for Central Seminary because three members of Grace Church of Alexandria (Garrett & Amanda Lee & I) are graduates of the seminary and received excellent preparation for Gospel ministry there. As well, two others from the local church where the seminary is based relocated to the Washington D.C. area and are helping us plant Grace Church.

Gospel-Centered Ministry

During the interview, Pastor Jim Newcomer asked me what urgent matters I want to convey to men and women preparing for ministry. I responded, first, make the Gospel central to your every day and learn how to relate it to every area of your life. For the life, death, burial and ascension of Jesus Christ are not just for non-Christians. These truths are at the heart of how to live as a Christian and minister God’s incredible grace to others. That’s why in every sermon and Bible study at Grace Church we relate the cross of Christ to the practical issues and struggles we all have in daily life. That’s also why in the first Bible studies of Grace Church, we studied through the book Living the Cross Centered Life.

Intentional Discipling Relationships

Second, I stressed that the seminary students ought to make discipling relationships a high priority. Find trusted believers and invite them to jump into your life, probe around, and help you run the race for God even more faithfully. And always be looking around for people in your life whom you can love as Christ loved and help them grow in the faith. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 says, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. . .” This Scripture text and many others couple the faithful teaching of the Word with the need for genuine, meaningful loving relationships.

I’m deeply grateful for the years of close friendship and faithful Word-centered teaching the faculty of Central Seminary of Virginia Beach provided me. Here inside the D.C. beltway, we endeavor to provide to our community the same kind of Gospel-centered ministry and meaningful relationships that have benefited us.