"...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence..."

II Peter 1:3

It's happened to all of us.  The phone rings, you check your email or read a text and find that a friend is finally reaching out.  Maybe you didn't expect it to be this person.  They had it all together and you're shocked there's trouble.  Or maybe you knew it was just a matter of time before they would ask you for help.  Or maybe they're asking you to help a friend of theirs...

Really?  Just because you're a Christian does it mean you have the answer to everybody's problems?

You cringe and immediately search for your pastor's email to pass along to your friend.  He'll have the answers and you're off the hook. 

But they don't want to talk to someone else. They want to talk to you. So you offer to pray for them, maybe even with them to encourage them but that's as far as you feel comfortable to go.

Again, really?  Just because you're a Christian does it mean you have to answer everybody's problems?

Well...I guess if I have to be brutally honest with you...my answer to the above question is...yes.

Who else has the answers in the world?  Psychologists?  Doctors? Academics?  Media?  Philosophers? Atheists?

Or Jesus?

• Jesus said He is the Light of the World.  When the light is turned on, it's much easier to see, right?
• Jesus said He is the Bread of Life.  When hunger is taking over, doesn't bread hit the spot?
• Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life - who can get to the Father without Jesus?

In his second letter, Peter encourages the church that in God's divine power (love and grace) God has given us everything we need for life through the true knowledge of Jesus. How do we know Jesus? By the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit working through the written revelation of Jesus.  In other words, through the Bible.

Friends, we have the answers.  We really do.  The world does not. And if we don't share the answers, then what hope is there for the hurting and the lost?

When crisis hits, that is an opportune time to share the Way, the Truth and the Life with your friends - and even complete strangers.  But you cannot share the hope of Jesus if you don't know Him deeply yourself. So making yourself available to help the lost and come alongside the hurting demands a commitment to spiritual growth.  I know it sounds hard and maybe even scary, but the benefits outweigh the fear factor.

This weekend at Harvest Spring Lake we are doing a discipleship training conference. We are going to get you started on this calling of discipleship and answer questions like:  

• What does it look like to come alongside a hurting friend with the hope of the gospel and the Word of God?  
• How do you get started?  
• Why is homework a valuable tool in counseling?  
• What is an advocate?  
• Can you really do this?

We'll also hit gender specific topics, as men work with men and women reach out to women.  

Friday night - 7-9 p.m. 

Saturday morning - 9 - Noon

There is no babysitting but there will be donuts. :)