The Rest of the Gospel: The Real You (chapter 9)
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Key Verse
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21 NASB
Key Question
What is the flesh?
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The Rest of the Gospel: One Nature (chapter 8)
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Key Verse
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. Galatians 2:20-21 NASB
Key Question
Am I one person or two? Have I one nature or two?
Read MoreSong & Meditation for the Week: Christ in Me
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Christianity is a PERSON, not a procedure; the LORD, not a list! Not church attendance, not Christ-like qualities, not good works, not the Christian "to-do list" (which may vary depending on the group and "camp" you are in)...
Not evangelism, not mission trips, not a quality "quiet time," not Scripture memorization or Bible study...
Not spiritual disciplines, not prayer, not fasting, not obedience, not miracle-working faith...
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: Will not Hunger (Chapter 16)
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Key Verse
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35 ESV
Key Question
How can we say that Jesus is our total sufficiency?
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: Union with Christ {a summary}
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When I walk through the “gate” of salvation, I am thrilled with the revelation that my sins are forgiven through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am now reconciled to (at peace with) God my Creator. Not only that, I am His child, born into His family (John 1:12).
But it doesn’t take long before an important question/problem comes up: how do I live the Christian life?
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: the Swing (chapter 7)
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Dear Book Club friends, This week we will be reading and studying chapter 7 (The Swing). Toward the end of the week, I will post a summary of section 1: Union with Christ. What a glorious mystery is this mystical union of Christ with us His loved ones! Thank you for following along in amazement with us!
Read MoreSong of the Week: Found
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The first time I heard this song, I began to sob. It took me back to the darkest point in my performance-addicted, self-effort driven Christian life. When I finally had realized Christ in me, the hope of the glory of God being manifest in my human life...it was light into darkness...like being born again, again! I can't go back.
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: One Spirit (chapter 6)
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Chapter 6 One Spirit
Key verse:
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 ESV
Key Question:
How do we live in union?
The Rest of the Gospel: Doublecross {Christ lives in you}, chapter 5
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For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10 ESV
Key Question:
Who lives the life?
Revelation Song -- a Hymn for This Week
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...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 NKJV
How could we have died in Christ 2000+ years ago? Because that death happened in the eternal realm...before time began.
Does that blow your mind? It does mine. Aren't we glad that we have a God bigger than our finite minds can grasp?
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: Doublecross {what you died to}, chapter 4
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Chapter 4 Doublecross {what you died to}
Key verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God... 2Cor 5:17-18a NKJV
Key question: What did I die to?
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: Doublecross, Part 1 {you died in Christ}, chapter 3
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Chapter 3 Doublecross {you died in Christ}Key Verse: For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 NIV
Key Question: When & where did I die?
Read MoreHymn of the Week: Be Thou My Vision
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For years this hymn has been my go to song…from the time I was “in the convent” back in the late 1960’s to this very day no matter my Christian context. And recently it has been my morning song as I awaken the dawn walking in my area — even as the darkness is departing and my neighborhood owl is singing out the final hoo-hoo of his “day.”
And so I sing…even aloud…despite the high school young people passing me by on their way to the bus stop, wondering about this weird, white haired woman softly singing. I love the focus. I love the plaintive melody. I love my indwelling God who draws me toward thoughts of HIM Alone. And I love the story behind the song…
Read MoreOcean Wave -- a Perfect Gift for the Beach Lover on your List
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Unfathomable oceans of grace are in Christ for you. Dive and dive again. You will never come to the bottom of these depths. (author unknown)
Those of you who have followed my blog may have caught on how obsessed I am with the ocean and the beach.
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: The Line (chapter 2)
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Brothers and sisters, do you realize that we live in two realms simultaneously? Right now?
We live in both the temporal realm, and also in the eternal realm right here, right now.
And what is true about you in the fixed eternal realm affects you right now in the fluctuating temporal realm. How? Read along with us…
Read MoreThe Rest of the Gospel: Welcome to the Fall Book Club & the Gates (chapter 1)
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Welcome to our Fall book club here at A Branch in the Vine! Thank you for joining us in the study of The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel has Worn You Out, by Dan Stone and David Gregory.
My prayer is that we will all come to experience to a greater depth the truth of the key verse of our study: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)...that is, our only hope that the glory of God will be manifest in our lives right now on this earth...not just when we get to heaven!
Read MoreFall Book Club...starting soon
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Are you tired of working hard doing the Christian life — the "to do/don't do" lists (which vary depending on the group you are with)? Are you ready to give up trying in your own strength to get the "abundant life" Jesus promised? John 10:10
Great! Then you are ready to read along with us the potentially life-changing truths contained in...
The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out,
by Dan Stone and David Gregory.
My Safe Harbor: Living My Life in God
/... On the last day of our time at the Jersey Shore, the inlet was calling to me. I thought back to the years when my mom and I would grab our beach chairs, drive down to the inlet, place ourselves along the rocks lining the waterway and wait for the horn to blow. The unique sound of the horn signals the opening of the bridge for the party fishing boats, making their way from the harbor to the sea.
Read MoreWhat Do Sunrises Say?
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The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.[a]
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
Psalm 16:1-4a NLT
Another summer of sunrises at the Jersey Shore. Year by year, they do their speaking … always of the Glory of our Creator God … always of the gift of a new day …
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