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A Testimony: Basketball Evangelism

Published by KingsWay on July 23, 2008 in By Steve, Evangelism/Outreach and Testimonies. 0 Comments

This past Sunday afternoon, in the sweltering heat, I played a couple games of basketball with Alan, Rob, and James Denison and 2 other guys at Rockwood Park.  After having fun playing a few very competitive (and tiring) games, a few guys left and Alan and I decided to “throw in the towel” for the day.  As I am chugging some water, trying to catch my breath, I notice Alan making his way to a bench, where one of the other guys was sitting.  Alan began to draw him out about his church background and if he had found a church in the area.  As I listened, I wondered if and how this might transition to talking about the Gospel.  In a very gentle and winsome way, Alan transitioned the conversation toward the reality that life and salvation is not about going to church but it’s about a relationship with Jesus.  He began to explain to our new friend what this meant, while briefly sharing his testimony in small, understandable chunks.  Alan and I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with him over a 15 minute conversation.  I so appreciated Alan’s heart to spend a few minutes (even when tired with many other things he could have left to do) talking with this man about the Gospel and taking a genuine interest.   Alan got our friend’s phone number and planned to call him to follow up and invite him to a Sunday Meeting and we had the opportunity to pray for him as well.

To our knowledge, our new friend did not repent and believe there on the spot but we trust that God will use our conversation to help him see his need for the Gospel and perhaps someday he will be saved.  Thank you Alan for your faithfulness and boldness in evangelism and for not giving in to your sinful (and tired) flesh.  You provoke me by your example.

- Steve

A Testimony: Sharing the Gospel With a Friend

Published by KingsWay on July 17, 2008 in By Steve, Evangelism/Outreach and Testimonies. 0 Comments

Listen to this wonderful testimony from Danielle Ognibene:

“Last weekend, I had the opportunity to talk about the Lord with a good friend.  Over the past year, my friend has been asking questions about the Christianity. My family and I believed that God was working in her heart for a while.  I thought sharing the “How Good Are You?” booklet with her would help her understand salvation.  After we finished reading through it, she prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Last Sunday, she visited KingsWay again with us and felt that Mr. Campbell’s message gave her a better understanding of eternity.  This week, she shared with her parents that she became a Christian.  We’re praying for her and her family!”

Danielle, thank you for your faithfulness to come alongside of your friend and allow God to use you in proclaiming the Gospel!

-Steve

Leadership + Family Vacations

Published by KingsWay on June 4, 2008 in Application and By Steve. 0 Comments

Fathers and husbands - check out C.J. Mahaney’s post here about leading your families well in a “God-glorifying, grace-filled, relationship-building, memory-making time together” as you prepare for summer vacation trips. I know I will be studying this and preparing my heart before we leave for vacation in a week and a half.

- Steve

New Attitude Conference Testimonies

Published by KingsWay on May 30, 2008 in Application, By Steve and Conferences. 0 Comments

Early this past Wednesday morning, 85 singles and young married couples from KingsWay returned from the New Attitude Conference. From the Corporate Worship, to the fun with new and old friends, to meditating on Scripture and discussing application to our lives in Family Groups, to the main session messages, to many other things… this Conference was an amazing blessing from God. I am definitely coming back with a renewed excitement to delight in God’s Word daily.

I asked some of the folks that went from KingsWay, “What was your favorite part of the conference?”

Here are a few responses:

“Through C.J.’s first message I became very aware of how much I listen to myself. I plan to read the scriptures with intent to speak to myself and to God much more than I do now. I want to understand God’s Word better, so that I can more effectively live my life for the spread of the Gospel. I also wanted to discover new ways to get more out of the scriptures in my daily quiet times.”

“During our Community Groups we took time to meditate on Scripture in a structured way. It was very helpful to learn how to more effectively meditate on Scripture this way and is probably the most valuable thing I will take back from NA and apply to my life. I have gained a noticeable appreciation for God’s Word; and now, not only have I made a plan for devotionals, but I have greater motivation to make it happen. All I can say is that I have learned a lot, and will definitely need to listen to the messages again.”

“I feel like I dug deeper instead of climbing to a height. I love the amazing teaching – it is such a privilege to sit under each of the men who spoke. In worship before Josh Harris spoke, I sensed God imparting to me a much deeper understanding (but FAR from truly understanding!) of the fact the He is worthy…of my life, my death – anything I have to offer. He was slain for me, who is so unworthy. As I struggle to overcome sin, as I face opposition and ridicule for being a Christian, as I suffer in this world and seek to honor Him in my response, I hope to keep in front of me those words – He is worthy.”

The 8 main session messages are available for free download here. They are definitely worth a listen or two or three.

Next year, New Attitude is in Baltimore (only 3 hours away). If you are single (any age) or are married (in your 20s or early 30s), plan on joining us! We’ll have more information in a couple months.

- Steve

New Attitude 2008 - Tomorrow!!

Published by KingsWay on May 23, 2008 in By Steve, Conferences and News. 0 Comments


Tomorrow morning, 84 singles and young married couples from KingsWay (in addition to about 3000 others from around the country) will be making the trek to Louisville, Kentucky for the annual New Attitude Conference. Please pray that God would accomplish his purposes in the conference and in each person going. The theme is Scripture, so you can also pray that we would leave the conference with a greater love for and intentional pursuit of application of God’s Word. If you’d like to keep up with the conference, visit this to read live-blogging of the conference by Justin Buzzard.

- Steve

A Cell Phone and the Gospel

Published by KingsWay on May 15, 2008 in By Steve and Testimonies. 0 Comments

I recently received the following testimony from Melody Van Der Hyde:
“A couple of weekends ago, I went with a group of ladies to Sandbridge for a planning retreat. On the last day, some of us went out on the beach to relax, pray and enjoy God’s creation. While we were there, we met a couple of ladies looking for a missing cell phone.

We told them we’d pray that they find their cellphone. After we prayed, a friend of mine suggested we go help them look for the phone. So we all got up and helped the young women search for the cell phone. I remember saying a quiet prayer to myself asking God to help us find the phone. At that moment, I heard a cellphone ring and I looked down at my feet and there was the cellphone in plain sight.

I started shouting to everyone, that I had found the phone. It continued ringing and in my excitement, I handed it to another lady to answer. While we waited for the owner and her friend to come back out on the beach, we discussed how we might share the gospel with the ladies.

When I met the owner of the phone I hugged her and I handed her the phone and said ‘God answered our prayers.’ We asked if we could pray with them and both ladies said yes. In the course of the prayer the gospel was shared and after we ended we invited them to come to our room for coffee, but they declined. They were on their way back to Pennsylvania.

The young women were very appreciative and it’s my hope that, hearing the gospel, seeing God answer prayer, and our kindness left an indelible mark on their lives. “

Thank you Melody (and others) for your example of being led by the Holy Spirit and being willing to serve and reach out to others. May these types of testimonies regularly be a part of our life together as a local church as we seek to pursue unbelievers around us and proclaim the gospel.

- Steve

Wearing a “cap” on Sunday

Published by KingsWay on May 13, 2008 in By Steve, Fun and Messages. 1 Comment

Upon first glance, you might think that Gene’s new preaching attire from this past Sunday is interesting. A red hat turned sideways and a tie? Interesting. A faithful KingsWay member took this picture during last Sunday’s message on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (download/listen here). Gene skillfully used a hat (or “cap” as he would say) to show that different ways of wearing hats (up high, backwards, sideways, covering eyes) often can show what may be in a person’s heart and their intentions. We heard all throughout the message that “God’s design is for His Glory and our good” and that Biblical Womanhood and God’s design is something to celebrate not apologize for. This message is certainly worth a listen or a re-listen to better understand and apply God’s design of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Toward the end of the message, Gene asked a very helpful question which I would encourage you to consider in the coming days. “How can I best reflect, as a man or woman, who God has created me to be and celebrate manhood and womanhood?”

- Steve

Together for the Gospel Highlights

Published by KingsWay on April 24, 2008 in Application, By Steve and Conferences. 0 Comments

Wow! What a wonderful conference and time away we had last week. I am so grateful to God for C.J. Mahaney, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, and Ligon Duncan and their desire to serve pastors and churches and to encourage unity in the gospel. Their friendship and togetherness in the gospel, even though they hold a vast array of doctrinal positions, is such an encouragement to me and many others.

I want to seek to briefly summarize some of the highlights of the conference in hopes that you are encouraged in your faith in some small way. All of the conference messages are worth downloading and listening to here, but especially John Piper’s message, John MacArthur’s, R.C. Sproul’s and C.J. Mahaney’s.

I’m coming away from the conference with a few things (I could write more but for brevity’s sake, I’ll confine my comments to only a few):

  1. I’m so grateful for the friendships I have with the other pastors at KingsWay and other churches (both in and outside of Sovereign Grace). We had much rich fellowship as well as fun with each other.  The friendships we share are a gift from God.
  2. I’m freshly grateful for how God saved me. John MacArthur’s message on “Total Inability” reminded me that due to my sin nature, I was not able to come to God. God acted on me first. What wonderful, humbling, Biblical truth!
  3. I was challenged to pray and consider what God-glorifying, risk-taking, sacrificial life and ministry should look like through John Piper’s preaching. The reward of Christ and reality that he suffered for us should encourage us to suffer with joy. I believe God is calling me to faithfully befriend my neighbors and to live in such a way that our ungodly culture does not influence me. He is calling me to step out and take “risks” for the kingdom - whether boldly speaking the gospel to someone or serving a neighbor.

If you would like to read more about the conference, visit www.t4g.org or www.challies.com .
- Steve

Together for the Gospel Conference

Published by KingsWay on April 16, 2008 in By Steve and Conferences. 0 Comments

Greetings from Louisville, Kentucky! Your pastors are enjoying time here at the Together for the Gospel Conference. Rich fellowship, sound Biblical teaching, as well as fun and laughter have marked the time thus far. For a play by play description of the conference content you can visit www.challies.com.

A highlight of our trip so far was last night when we had dinner with Bob McCan, who is now serving at ChristChurch in Wales and Ken Delage, who is currently at the Pastors College. We had the privilege of hearing about what God is doing in Wales. Bob and his family are doing very well and send their greetings. We also heard from Ken about how God is working in his life. After graduating from the Pastors College this June, Ken and his family will be re-locating to Midlothian to serve on the Pastoral Team with a view towards, Lord-willing, planting a church next year.

Conference Messages will be available for free download at the Sovereign Grace website here. Thank you so much for your prayers and for making it possible for us to attend and benefit from this conference. You are very much on our hearts and we greatly anticipate coming home and being with you next Sunday. May God bless you this week in all that you do!

Shepherding a Child’s Heart - Part 2

Published by KingsWay on April 12, 2008 in Application, By Steve, Conferences and Messages. 1 Comment

The seminar was broken up into two main sections, formative instruction and corrective discipline with the main emphasis on formative instruction. Formative instruction is teaching that gives our children principles and absolutes to live by and teaches them how to evaluate and respond to life. Formative instruction is the foundation for corrective discipline. Initially, I was surprised that so little time was planned to talk about correction (basically one session at the end) but later I understood why. Jen and I are walking away from the seminar with this challenge: that we must take advantage of every opportunity to teach our children about God, his commands, the Gospel, and the application of Scripture to life. This is where we are to live. I believe that Jen and I focus so much on corrective discipline at the expense of formative instruction. I’m guessing there are other parents that have this common struggle as well. We will be looking to grow in increasing formative instruction in the coming days.

Dr. Tripp said many things during the seminar that are quotable and helpful. One of the statements was this, “Your home is the laboratory of life for your children.” Basically, that your children will learn all about life from all that goes on in your home. Dr. Tripp also passionately stated, “Your love and joy in God is the foundation for everything you say to your children” and “you can’t give away what you don’t have.” The first couple sessions were more about parents’ hearts than children’s hearts. Dr. Tripp used the Psalms to paint a picture of God’s glory and beauty that was captivating. At several points during the evening, I kept thinking, “Oh, I must see God’s beauty and live in light of it and pursue Him with greater fervor.” I’m so grateful that the Gospel empowers me to live in this way. My sins are forgiven through Jesus and now I get to live life in a close relationship with the creator of the universe, almighty God. How amazing! God is glorious and worthy of all of our (and our children’s) worship. I’m excited to refocus on showing my children how great God is.

Another helpful thing Dr. Tripp spoke was that training our children in the knowledge and understanding of God starts with the parent’s relationship with God. Is this relationship with God vital and obviously affecting you daily? Does God’s glory captivate you? Communicate this to your children each day. Let them in on what God is showing you each day in your time in Scripture and prayer. Use the common events and things of each day to explain God to them as Deuteronomy 6 commands us. There are opportunities all around to illustrate who God is and what he has done. Let’s pay careful attention and seek to draw our children’s attention to them daily.

- Steve

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