Gospel
Application
NOTE FROM REV. JEREMY GRAHAM CHRIST & COVID
Gospel Application is:
In June-July, we shaped our Sunday services around six hot-button pandemic issues: suffering, racism, hospitality, lament, mental health and medical perspectives on life and health. Each week, we invited scripture to realign our attitudes and behaviours to conform with Jesus and his gospel. We also created a blog to accompany the series, publishing apologetic videos, recording the testimonies of St John’s members and missionaries, and curating gospel-centred articles from around the web. The sermons and resources remain available on our website.
the thoughtful, daily implementation of biblical truth in every area of our lives. As we hear and receive God’s living word, the Holy Spirit enables us to respond in gospel-centred, often counter-cultural ways, that glorify our Father and draw us into deeper union with Christ.
Our Gospel Application priority aims to equip and encourage the body of Christ at St. John’s to apply the gospel in our unique and challenging cultural contexts. Post-modern, post-Christian—whatever label you attach to our cultural moment—it’s clear that it requires the people of God to humbly discern how best to follow Jesus’ calling to be in the world but not of the world (John 17). In doing so we resist the twin temptations of retreating from our culture or uncritically embracing every cultural value around us.
TESTIMONIES
For years we’ve wanted to make testimonies a regular part of our Sunday worship. It’s an unexpected blessing of this pandemic season that we’ve finally been able to implement this wonderful ministry. The ability to pre record these testimonies in an informal setting has opened the door to including many of us who might not feel comfortable speaking in front of a room full of people. These testimony videos have added a new texture to our service, allowing candid glimpses from people of all ages into how Christ is powerfully working in this challenging season. We look forward to continuing to include testimonies as a regular part of our Sunday worship once in-person services resume!
In 2020, we began the year with several Gospel Application events: • Evening Service Catechesis on the Ten Commandments • Youth Parent Night on the topic of pornography • Sunday School Parenting Series on “The Tech-Wise Family”
However, our best-laid plans were short lived as the pandemic prevented us from completing several of our planned projects. In his mercy, the Lord opened two new doors for a continuing emphasis on congregation-wide Gospel Application during Covid: our Christ & Covid sermon series and blog, and the introduction of testimonies in our Sunday services.
JEREMY GRAHAM
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