I recently posted a blog at The Gospel Project site titled “Pastor, Don’t Waste Your Summer!” In the post I plead with pastors to utilize the summer for gospel growth and mission in two ways.
Have a Strategic Plan for Personal Discipleship
Have a Strategic Plan for Relational Discipleship
Essentially, it’s a call for pastors to be proactive with discipleship strategies. Here is the conclusion:
In 2 Timothy 2:2 we see that the church is to be a learning and teaching fellowship in which the passing on of what we learn is vital to the health and spiritual progress of the body. It’s also clear that pastors are men set aside for equipping saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12-16). I believe that a lasting ministry is built in the quiet hours of pastoral reflection and in smaller intimate discipleship groups. Pastors, let me encourage you to not waste the summer. Develop an intentional plan not only for personal discipleship, but also for relational discipleship during the summer months – this is where faithful and fruitful ministry often occurs.
At this year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Houston The Gospel Project is hosting a discussion panel on Christ-Centered Preaching and Teaching. Ed Stetzer will moderate the panel with Trevin Wax, Eric Hankins, and Jon Akin. We are working with several publishers to give each attendee free resources on Christ-Centered preaching and teaching. There will also be a free breakfast. We only have room for 350 so sign up soon!
Here are the details;
Christ-Centered Preaching and Teaching: A Discussion Panel
Tuesday June 11, 2013
George R. Brown Convention Center
Room 351A-F on Level 3
6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
On May 17-18, LifeWay is hosting The Gospel Project Experience – a conference that will focus on the main events of the gospel. The purpose of The Gospel Project Experience is to walk participants through the entire gospel story (incarnation, life of Christ, death, resurrection, and second coming). J.D. Greear, David Nasser, Ed Stetzer, Trevin Wax and Ken Whitten will each speak on one of those five gospel themes. Matt Boswell will lead worship for the event.
For those who are currently using or considering LifeWay’s Gospel Project Bible study, there will be break-out sessions that help train and inform participants on how to get the most out of the Bible study. But even if you are not using The Gospel Project, you are invited to attend.
Prayerfully this event will be a time of refreshment, training, and inspiration focused on living out the implications of the gospel in your life, in your church family, and in your community.
The Gospel Project, led by General Editor Ed Stetzer and Managing Editor Trevin Wax, is designed to unify the entire church under a single Christ-centered curriculum. In every lesson that each age group studies, participants are immersed in the gospel story and ultimately challenged to live on mission for God. If you’re not sure what it is, I’d invite you to check it out when you have a moment. You can even sample four of the lessons for free.
After much prayer and wise counsel I accepted a position with LifeWay Church Resources in Nashville, TN. I will be joining the Church Resources Division as the Brand Manager and Strategist for The Gospel Project.
The Gospel Projectis a Bible study resource that invites adults, students, and kids of all ages to dive deeply into God’s story of redemption through Jesus Christ. In every lesson, participants are immersed in the gospel and learn how when the gospel works on them, they become a part of the story, the very hands and feet in God’s gospel project.
This is a solid biblical resource for the church. I have linked to a few PDF’s from The Gospel Project website to give you a sense of the material.
There are a few particular elements of The Gospel Project that are unique when compared to other small group or Sunday school resources. First, the material delivers a combination of story, systematic and biblical theology, and missional application. Moreover, the material is always pointing to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Second, each session offers an in-depth study with discussion questions, focusing small groups and Sunday School classes toward a lifestyle of gospel-centered discipleship. Third, The Gospel Project is designed to unify an entire church under a single Christ-centered curriculum. Separate study plans for adults, students, and kids ensure the proper focus and depth for each age group.
Beyond the material, I also look forward to joining The Gospel Project team! LifeWay has assembled a stellar team of churchmen and theologians.
The Marketing Department is led by Jon Emery, from whom I have a lot to learn.
The Church Resources Division is led by Eric Geiger.
The Gospel Project is led by General Editor Ed Stetzer and Managing Editor Trevin Wax.
Pray for us as we make this transition to Nashville by mid-February. We will miss our church family at Calvary West dearly, but we believe this is a wonderful opportunity to minister to the universal church. Allow me to borrow the words of the Apostle Paul in regards to Calvary:
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Matt Capps 