“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-3
Long Beach Mission Team
On May 17th, our God “opened the floodgates of heaven” for the Phoenix Church by blessing us with a Missions contribution of over $31,000.00. (Malachi 3:10) As Paul encouraged the Macedonian church, so I commend the 78 disciples of the Phoenix Church! We will send a mission team to LA on July 15th, put Luke Speckman on staff as our Campus Minister. His wife, Brandyn will also serve in leading the women in our campus ministry, though for now she will still work her secular job. Sonja Chloupek will be on staff part time as our Womens ministry Leader. Some of the money will also be used to support the on going local operations of the Church in Phoenix. To God be all the Glory!
Luke and Brandyn Speckman Phoenix Campus Ministry
The Exclusive Claims Of Christianity
Isa 43:11 (NIV) “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.” ”
John 14:6 (NIV) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna, and others taught a way to God, some truth about God, and gave instructions on how to live life. These religions did not originally claim to be exclusively true, just better than competing brands. Christianity, however, is unique. It claims “revelation” truth: that God has once and for all “expressed Himself”. Jesus Christ is what God wanted to say.
John 14:6 (Phi) ”I myself am the way and the truth and the life. No one approaches the Father except through me.”
Acts 4:12 (NIV) “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
The Chloupek Family
The Parable of The Various Opinions About The Door
Imagine that you are trapped inside a large building, where people are arguing about various opinions about if there is a door and how to get out. Some believe that this wall has a door in it, others that wall. Groups are formed to encourage belief in which phantom door is best. One group asserts that the way out is up through ladders that extend into the sky. And here is a group trying to tunnel out using dark, secret, ancient maps. Another group is sure that any wall will have a door if you “just believe” that there is one (this group is famous for big lumps on their heads). And yet another group insists that “the door” and “outside” are merely a state of mind. Some have seen through all this nonsense and given up the search entirely.
Enter one who says: “I have some good news! There is a way out, but only one. It’s a narrow, low door. I will prove it. Give up your deep, sophisticated, or silly notions and follow me!” But the various groups are so enamored with their own ideas that few pay much attention. The “phantom door” group thinks it unsporting to assert that there is only one door. The “sky exit” types complain that this “good news” lacks sophistication or intellectual appeal. The “deep ones” go to inspect the door, collect facts about it, even “hang out” around it, but never go through it. They become experts at door trivia. The “just believe” types are always happy to hear of a new door and are emboldened by this news to try ever harder to walk through doors that don’t exist. More lumps on the head. In the end, for various reasons, very few make it out through the revealed door.
One Way?
John 10:7, 9a-10 (NIV) Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever come before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved…. The thief comes only to steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Acts 4:12 (Phi) “In no one else can salvation be found. For in all the world no other name has been given to men but this, and it is by this name that we must be saved!”
David Josephs' Baptism April 24th 2009 with Mark Garrido
Many find this aspect of Christianity offensive. “How arrogant! What an insult to the other great world religions!” But consider this: If God ever did desire to express what He was like, wouldn’t He also make sure to say: “This is it–the true version” to differentiate His revelation from contradictory, man-made religions? If God ever has really revealed Himself, that religion would “stick out” by claiming to be exclusively true. Some are likely to be upset by this, but if there is any truth to be had, it must be packaged like this.
God Decides To Communicate With Man
John 1:1-2,14 (Phi) At the beginning God expressed himself. That personal expression, that Word, was with God, and was God, and he existed with God from the beginning…. So the Word of God became a human being and lived among us.
John 1:14b (NIV) We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 Tim 2:5-7 (Phi) For there is only one God, and only one intermediary between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. He gave himself as a ransom for all men–an act of redemption which stands at all times as a witness to what he is… (I speak the sober truth; I do not lie)….
Fact Or Fiction?
Christianity has claimed to be true from the very beginning. These events really happened.
1 Cor 15:1-7 (NEB) And now, my brothers, I must remind you of the Gospel that I preached to you; the Gospel which you received, on which you have taken your stand, and which is now bringing you salvation. Do you still hold fast the Gospel as I preached it to you? If not, your conversion was in vain. First and foremost, I handed on to you the facts which had been imparted to me: that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised to life on the third day, according to the Scriptures; and that he appeared to Cephas, and afterwards to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over 500 of our brothers at once, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, and afterwards to all the Apostles.
Life is short, then we get to go to Heaven,
Love your brother in Christ,
Chris Chloupek
Evangelist
