Blessings We've Received from God through Sovereign Grace Ministries

One of the chief blessings our church has received through our relationship with Sovereign Grace Ministries has been a new ability to see the centrality of the gospel for all of life. This is not a cliche for us; it's life-blood for our souls.

The only thing worth declaring and the only boast worth having is the gospel of Christ's atoning death on the cross (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14). This is the "thing of first importance" (the "main thing" as one of our SGM friends and leaders, C.J. Mahaney, would put it) by which, it should be noted, we not only were saved, but we "are being saved" (1 Corinthians 15:1-3).

The cross is not simply what delivers us from hell; in a very real sense, it is what delivers us from everything. We cannot face any need or crisis or temptation or sin without a fresh look at the cross and its implications for our lives. At TFC we have always believed, preached, and lived the gospel. But in recent times we have seen its glorious relevance for all of life. We are those who are redeemed, ransomed, delivered, empowered and secured by the atoning and wrath-averting death of Christ.

Because God was willing to deliver Christ up for us all we are sure that God will freely give us all things we need for life and godliness (Romans 8:32). Perhaps a few words from and cited by C.J. in his widely read and delightful book, Living the Cross Centered Life, will crystalize this for us today:

"We never move on from the cross, only into a more profound understanding of the cross" (from David Prior).

For this reason we should:
1. Preach the gospel to ourselves everyday.
2. Memorize the gospel through gospel texts.
3. Pray the gospel.
4. Sing the gospel.
5. Review how the gospel has changed our lives.
6. Study the great doctrines of the gospel.

Because of the gospel of Christ's atoning death and triumphant resurrection we should "expend all our energies admiring, exploring, expositing,and extolling Jesus Christ" (from Sinclair Ferguson).

If people attending our church think they sense a fullness of joy and a deep appreciation for grace, it is because we have become increasingly cross centered. I believe that Trinity Fellowship Church has become more humble, more holy, and simply put, more happy, precisely because it has become more radically and pervasively a community of the Cross.

And for this emphasis we are indebted to God's grace channeled to us through Sovereign Grace Ministries. For this I, for one, am thankful.