A Follower by Pastor Bob Coy

Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 
-Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)

A FOLLOWER
by Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale

The disciples were a diverse cast of characters. There was Peter, boisterous and blunt. There was John, sensitive and sublime. There was Simon, the zealot, who was committed to the cause of rebelling against the Romans. Then there was Matthew, the tax collector, who was committed to collaborating with Rome.

Yet there was something they all had in common. They were all called at some point or another to follow. Jesus didn't leave them where they were when He encountered them. Instead, He invited them to drop what they were doing and follow Him.

For Matthew, it was his collection table. For Peter, it was his fishing business. Each one had to leave a lifestyle and an identity, all for the purpose of pursuing Christ's presence. And they did, as evidenced by the fact that we primarily know them as "disciples" (which literally means "learner-follower"), not as tax collectors and fishermen.

Just as Jesus called his disciples to follow after Him, He does the same with us. In the process, He calls us to lay down those things from which we derive our sense of identity so that our identity is found in Him. It's probably not a tax collector's table or a fishing net, but it might be a prestigious title, a car, or an image that says, "Check me out. This is who I am."

More than anything else, God wants us to be His followers. But for this to happen, we must be willing to set aside certain things so we can be in His presence. Then, and only then, will others identify us as disciples.

The Active Word Daily Devotion (RSS Feed) (Also Mailed for Free)

Source: http://www.activeword.org/dailydevotion.cfm?keyword=02-Feb-08  ©2011 Active Word

Equipped With Answers by Pastor Bob Coy

Always be ready to give a defense to 
everyone who asks you a reason for 
the hope that is in you... 
-1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)

EQUIPPED WITH ANSWERS
by Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale

What makes Christianity different from every other religion in the world? Is there any proof that Jesus really lived? How can a person be sure the Bible is true?

How would you handle these questions? Would you have a good answer for them?

You should, because being a believer means being equipped with answers-answers to questions that pertain to our faith. Jesus told us that we're supposed to love God with all of our minds (Matthew 22:37). That means our minds are to be engaged and educated about Christianity. It means reading a few books, taking a few classes, and investing in some information so we're ready when the questions start coming our way. In short, it means being an answering machine for Jesus.

Imagine if every Christian was able to give a good answer to the three questions that we've already looked at. What if they were able to share that Christianity is the only belief system where God is the one reaching out to man instead of man reaching out to God? What if they knew how secular history corroborates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth? What if they could explain how there is an inexhaustible amount of prophetic, archeological, and scientific evidence to prove that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God?

Here's the point: We have some solid answers to the questions that the world is asking. But are we as equipped as we should be? If not, why not? Being a Christian isn't an excuse to become mindless. Quite the contrary. It's our identity "in Christ" that sharpens our understanding and elevates our intellect...because now we have a real cause worth dedicating our hearts (and minds) to.

The Active Word Daily Devotion (RSS Feed) (Also Mailed for Free)

Source: http://www.activeword.org/dailydevotion.cfm?keyword=21-Sep-12&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+awdevo+%28Activeword+Devotional%29&utm_content=FeedBurner   ©2011 Active Word

Judgement Day May 21, 2011?

If you haven't see this video watch this first:


Then watch Pastor Bob's response which should be ours also:


Jesus said "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:34-36

And again Jesus said "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." Mark 13:30-33

When it's comes down to what someone else says and what Jesus says, I'm gonna go with Jesus, He's God.

Is Harold Camping and Family Radio a cult? by Got Questions Ministries YES!
"We strongly urge people to have nothing to do with Harold Camping and Family Radio. Do not to listen to him—he has forsaken sound doctrine on many issues."

What does Harold Camping Teach? by Alpha & Omega Ministries
Since his original declaration of Judgement Day in 1994, Camping's views have drifted further and further from orthodox Christianity. Despite the fact that he was wrong in his previous prediction of the end of the world (In his book 1994?).

Camping's latest heretical teachings include:

• A denial of total depravity (we are prone to sin) and original sin (we are sinners by nature). (Harold Camping, "Please explain what Romans 2:14...")
• Annihilationism (rejection of hell); the view that life will end and existence will cease for the unsaved soul. - (Harold Camping, "To God be the Glory!")
• Modalism/Oneness; a denial of the Trinity stating that Christ is a mere mode of God, not a different person within the Godhead - (Iron Sharpens Iron, Radio Broadcast, Debate with James White, http://mp3.sharpens.org/ISI/20090729ISI.mp3)

On May 22, 2011, after Harold Camping's predicted rapture of believers, Bible-believing churches around the world will open the doors and the Gospel will be proclaimed and Christ will still commune with His people on Earth. Churches like ours at Calvary Chapel Chico will welcome those who, deceived by Camping's lies, find themselves still here. We hope that those misled by the false prophecies of Harold Camping find a Bible-teaching church and abandon the Family Radio cult.