In the last training session before our departure from project, Matt Reagan shared about heaven. He encouraged us to live with our heads in the clouds, never giving up the hope for more we have in Christ. He illustrates the splendor of our new body and souls to encourage us to see that the prize is worth any cost. As a practical, he pushes us to play the “heaven game” on the way back with others to remind each other the hope we have.
Resolutions
Jon Saunders, the last of the RET speakers, tells us to grow up. Discipleship is not babysitting so we cannot approach it with an “I-deserve” mentality. “Long for Jesus and you will grow up.”
The Cost of Discipleship
“Discipleship is our mission.” Steve Discher talks on the significance of discipleship in the pursuit of Christ, both for disciples and for leaders.
How Do You Avoid This Summer Being a Mountaintop?
In this RET session, Paul Poteat encourages us to make the most out of our time and our resources in order to avoid spiritual amnesia. STP is not a mountaintop that you climb and then coast down for the rest of the year until next summer. Instead it is a continual fight to battle our compulsion to forget the impact of the gospel on our lives.
Sharing with Family and Friends
Eric Lonergan explores the dangers of being indifferent or overly passionate in sharing with others after STP. He reminds us that God loves us despite us, not because of us. He encourages us to share with love and with words, letting the gospel bleed out from us and define who we are.
How (Not) to Fall Away from CO
In the first Return Training talk (RET), Ken Currie, the director of COM, shared on practicals of staying in Christian Community by giving main reasons why people leave. He explains how our culture tends to value individualistic tendencies, but he defends the value of community from a biblical perspective.
Then he encourage us to commit to three P’s: A Purpose, A Person, A Process.
The Cost of the World
Andrew Knight came down with the CCP team and shared on the significance of missions as a calling and as a lifestyle for Christians. How do we become global Christians? How can we go out and love others in the world. “If not you, who? If not now, when?”
The Cost of Vulnerability
“That at all costs, we would be open to each other in the context of community, because of the gospel of Christ.”
Steve Discher shares on how we are made to be in community and encourages us to live in the light, to be accountable to each other in our successes and our failures seeing what Christ has done in us.
The Cost of True Love
Over the period of two days, Matt and Lisa Reagan share on the struggles and joys of friendship, dating, and marriage based on their experiences.
In the second part of their relationships talk Matt and Lisa Reagan focus giving gospel-centered answers to practical questions such as: “How important is physical attraction?” “How do I know he/she is the one?” “How do I guard my heart?”
The Cost of Yourself
“Jesus comes and says, ‘You don’t have to fight, you don’t have to try, you don’t have to keep struggling… It’s over. I did it for you. You can be done now. Just come, be part of my kingdom and enjoy everything, I give you everything….’”
Matt Reagan borrows imagery from the film Alice in Wonderland (2010), comparing our self to the Red Queen in rebellion against the White Queen, Christ. In doing so he reminds us to whom our life belongs and the battle against our flesh.
The Cost of Your Freedom
Matt Reagan shares on “the most important thing”, that is the joy we have in our salvation through Christ which is more worthy than any costs.
The God Who Pays Costs
In his second theme talk, Matt Reagan talks about the god who sent His Son to pay the cost of our sins. “He gives, you take. End of story.”
At All Costs
The first talk heading off STP2010. Matt Reagan opens by explaining what our theme “At All Costs” really means.