FORGING FAITH
Forge is a verb ... it has action to it. We are given by God the capacity to have faith, grow our faith, and exercise our faith. But just because we're given the capacity to have something doesn't mean we have it (or have it in great quantity). Just like metal is forged (heated, hammered out, shaped, and cast) the same is true of faith. God gives us faith and then uses the process of sanctification (becoming more like Jesus) to forge a growing faith in Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says that it is God's will that you should be sanctified. So, in 2024, we're going to pursue this together.
FAITH & CULTURE
As we focus on forging our faith in 2024, we'll get to interact with the culture around us. Sometimes, we don't know exactly what to think about certain topics. Thankfully, there are some solid voices that have been put in unique places that can inform and inspire us. Throughout the year, we'll share timely videos with you. Welcome to our Faith & Culture series!
Rosaria Butterfield, a former tenured professor of English and women’s studies at Syracuse University, converted to Christ in 1999 in what she describes as a train wreck. Her memoir “The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert” chronicles that difficult journey. Rosaria is married to Kent, a Reformed Presbyterian pastor in North Carolina, and is a homeschool mother, author, and speaker. She has written three books; “The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert”, “Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ”, and “The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World”.
Click the link to watch her recent lecture given at Liberty University (lecture starts at the 27:02 mark of the video).
Voddie Baucham is a husband, father, grandfather, former pastor, church planter, best-selling author, and professor. He was the founding Dean, and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Divinity at the African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia.
Voddie is known for his ability to demonstrate the Bible’s relevance to everyday life without compromising the centrality of Christ and the gospel. Those who hear him preach find themselves both challenged and encouraged.
Whether teaching on classical apologetic issues like the validity and historicity of the Bible, or the resurrection of Christ; or teaching on biblical manhood/womanhood, marriage and family, or the Social Justice Movement, he helps ordinary people understand the significance of thinking and living biblically in every area of life.
It is impossible to understand Voddie’s approach to the Bible without first understanding the path he has walked. Raised in a non-Christian, single-parent home, Voddie did not hear the gospel until he was in college. His journey to faith was a very unusual and intellectual one. Consequently, he understands what it means to be a skeptic, and knows what it’s like to try to figure out the Christian life without relying on the traditions of men. As a result, he speaks to ‘outsiders’ in ways few Bible teachers can.
Click here to watch Voodie discuss CRT and Racism.
Dr. Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author or coauthor of five books: Hollywood Heroes How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God, Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to make their Case, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct and Legislating Morality. As the President of CrossExamined.org, Frank presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity at churches, high schools, and secular college campuses that often begin hostile to his message. He has also debated several prominent atheists including Christopher Hitchens and Michael Shermer, Founding Publisher of Skeptic Magazine.
Frank hosts an hour-long TV program each week called I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist which is broadcast Wednesday nights on DirecTV Channel 378 (NRBTV). His radio program and podcast called I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist with Frank Turek airs on 182 stations every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. eastern and is available continuously on the free CrossExamined App.
Click here to watch Frank discuss evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.
Abortion is an incredibly hot topic that we should be able to speak about. Fighting to end abortion is Lila Rose. She started Live Action from her family’s living room when she was just 15 years old. Live Action is a 501(c)3 human rights non-profit and the digital leader of the global pro-life movement. They exist today to defend the rights of the most vulnerable and make abortion unthinkable. Through compelling educational media, human interest storytelling, and investigative reporting, Live Action reveals the humanity of the preborn and exposes the abortion industry exploitation of women and families for profit. In the video that we’re linking to, Lila interviews Dr. Albert Mohler. He has preached the sanctity of human life for the last 30 years as the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. To watch just their conversation about abortion, start watching at the 37:49 mark.
Click here to start.
The month of May is Jewish American Heritage Month and with it our thoughts turn toward organizations that are pointing Jews to their Messiah, Jesus. There are several of these organizations that are doing an incredible work – Jews For Jesus and Chosen People Ministries are two such organizations. One For Israel, led by Dr. Erez Soref (picture left) is another great ministry and one that Mountain View supports financially. Take from their website, here’s a little bit about them. “One For Israel is an initiative of native-born Israelis on the forefront of high-tech media evangelism, proclaiming salvation to Israel, raising up spiritual leaders through One For Israel’s Bible College and equipping them with the tools they need to transform our communities.“ For more information and to watch a short introductory video about One For Israel, click here.
Each month of 2024, we’re focusing on a different “hot button” issue in order to engage and educate ourselves from a biblical perspective. So, for the month of June, we’re looking at what has been called “pride month” for those that identify as LGBTQ. Mountain View Community Church holds to and teaches the traditional, biblical, non-affirming view as it pertains to this topic. For content this month, we turn to Dennis Prager. Dennis is one of the most respected and influential thinkers, writers, and speakers in America. He’s a nationally syndicated talk show host, founder of Prager University (the most viewed conservative video site in the world), bestselling author, and lifelong theologian.
In the video, Dennis discussed why we shouldn’t view people through the lens of sexual orientation, race, religion, or any group that isn’t beneficial to society. (Note: The focus of this video ends at the 11:38 mark.)
Click here to watch it.
For July’s content, we turn to Don Whitney. Donald S. Whitney is professor of biblical spirituality and associate dean at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served in pastoral ministry for twenty-four years. He has authored six books, including Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, and is a popular conference speaker, especially on personal and congregational spirituality. Below are two short videos on the topic of spiritual disciplines.
For the month of August, we’ll look at simple ways we can share our faith with others. It’s an important spiritual discipline for every follower of Jesus Christ, regardless of one’s spiritual gifting. For content this month, we have identified several videos that can be learned from and/or shown to friends, family members, etc. The first video is called “G.O.S.P.E.L.” and, despite it’s age, remains a good way to understand and break the truth of the Gospel into an easily-memorized way. The second video is called “3 Circles” and is an easy way to both share the gospel and equip believers. Learn to share God’s story in three circles in three minutes.
For the month of September, we’re focusing on “rest.” A post about the subject on gotquestions.org says, “God desires rest for us because it does not come naturally to us. To rest, we have to trust that God will take care of things for us. We have to trust that, if we take a day off, the world will not stop turning on its axis. From the beginning (Genesis 3), when we decided that we would start making all the decisions, mankind has become more tense and less able to relax. If one of the definitions of ‘relax’ is ‘to become less firm,’ then relaxing our grip on our own lives, careers, families, etc., and giving them over to God in faith is the best way to relax.” This month’s video comes from Pastor Jonathan Evans and he speaks on overcoming the enemy with rest and Sabbath. To watch it, click HERE.
Voting. It’s a privilege that we have in America, and there’s hardly anyone that isn’t aware that 2024 is a presidential election year. A new series was recently created to help Christians, “think Biblically.” As the president of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers is passionate about equipping Christians to engage thoughtfully in the public square. His expertise in worldview training and leadership development empowers you to navigate the complexities of politics and culture with clarity and conviction. To learn more, click here.
Thankfulness. It’s on our minds this month but it should be a way of life for us. Psalm 136:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” God’s constant goodness and enduring love are two reasons we should be thankful. For perspective this month, we look to Joni Eareckson Tada. At the age of 17, a diving accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. As disabled as she was physically, she is as spiritually alive and energized at age 74 as any missionary in the field. God has used her to reach millions of people with the hope of Christ. To watch Joni, click here.