Love Covers a Multitude of Sins: Both Yours and Mine Our Naperville church plant, Cross of Christ Fellowship, is growing. As we grow, we hope to be develop God-honoring community, where people are known and cared for. True community—where believers are really known and share each others burdens (Gal 6:2)—is a place where temptations for […]
Author: Tom Schmidt
Christian, husband of Rach, Church Planter,musician,
Love: A Fundamental Characteristic of Christian Community Right now our Naperville church plant, Cross of Christ Fellowship, is in the core team building stage. We are working hard to find other believers–striving for at least 40 adults–who are willing to sacrificially come together to create a new community, in order to see Jesus treasured in […]
BOOK REVIEW: Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by C. John Miller (1986, Zondervan) Part 2 (this post is the second part of my review, to see the first go here) Miller goes on explain how God’s glory is the missionary motive for the church (ch 5). He gives four steps to pursue a renewal of the […]
BOOK REVIEW: Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by C. John Miller (1986, Zondervan) Part 1 This was a required read for my church planting residency at Redeemer Fellowship. Even though it was written in 1986, the book is just as relevant, timely, and important today. Essentially, it is a call for ingrown, self-centered, evangelism-neglecting churches and […]
Incompatible New Identity The Creator has recreated a people to display His glory and enjoy His presence forever. God witnessed His creation rebel against Him and descend into the darkness of slavery to sin and death; but, in His loving-kindness, He came and redeemed a people to be His children and enjoy fellowship with Him […]
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Incompatible Security
Incompatible Security In Jesus we have a security which cannot be shaken. God, who began a good work in us, will carry it on until the day when the risen Lord Jesus returns to earth (Phil 1:6). Our hope is in the Holy One who came to earth as a man and killed death by […]
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Incompatible Joy
Incompatible Joy In Jesus we have a joy that is more wonderful than all the pleasures of the earth. Our hearts are enraptured with the God of the universe who made us in His image and redeemed us by his blood. The joy springs up from an awareness of God’s grace: God saw us in […]
Did Christ Die for Everyone? (Tsouloufis) [The following is a post by friend Dan Tsouloufis] It’s a commonly held position to assume that Christ died for everyone, not just for the elect. Yet John 17:1-9 seems to indicate otherwise, as does John 17:24. As John 17:9 states: “I pray for them. I am not praying […]
The Sin Beneath Our Cynicism If you’re like me, you are often tempted to indulge in cynicism. It’s the urge to believe that things aren’t quite what they portray themselves to be; it’s the assumption that an ulterior motive is at work, an impure approach is practiced, or a better way is intentionally overlooked. These […]
Crossfit and Christianity What do Christianity and Crossfit have in common? I have been considering this question the last few months, since becoming a member of a local Crossfit community [Crossfit OLAF]. (Crossift is an intensive exercise program [in a group setting with coaches] that uses weight lifting and gymnastic exercises–it is known for being […]
