Although the impact of COVID-19 has continued to present a strain on churches assisting their communities, the CGN Church Relief Fund has been a source for the Calvary Global Network to aid pastors and churches in the network. We have given a total of $34,875.00! Thank you for helping our CGN local churches!

Pastor Franklin Garcia of Calvary Chapel Logos in Fullerton, CA, shares a bit of the impact of COVID-19, and how the relief fund has been helpful to aid many who are immigrants, lower-income, or have lost their jobs in their community during this time. If you would like to donate directly to Calvary Chapel Logos or the CGN Relief Fund, visit calvarychapellogos.com or calvaryglobalnetowork.com.

We are working on granting more churches with relief funds soon. God is doing amazing things through pastors serving in difficult areas around the world! We look forward to sharing them with you soon.

Together, let’s do our best to help the vulnerable churches around the world!

Blessings,

The CGN Funding Team

Jeff Gipe . Josh Turansky . Wayne Taylor . Mike Mugavero

Below are the updated shared funds!

_May

_{$5,000: Roots NYC}

_June

_{$1,610: The Living Gospel Church}

_{$2,000: Calvary Chapel Kampala}

_{$4,765: Calvary Chapel Fort Portal}

_{$3,000: Calvary Church of San Dimas}

_{$3,000: Calvary Chapel Logos}

_{$2500: Refuge Fellowship Yangon}

_{$7000: Friends of Peru}

_July

_{$3000: Calvary Chapel Christ Church}

_{$1000: Calvary Chapel Prishtina}

_{$2000: U-Turn for Christ}

In this video, Jimmy Schauerte of Roots NYC shares a praise report of the Calvary Global Network churches who came together and sent funds to help them as they continue through this season of healing!

Through this COVID-19 pandemic, Roots NYC (and NYC overall) has been greatly impacted by the virus. Jimmy shares the church’s experience through this season.

To stay up to date with Roots NYC, visit rootsnyc.church. To learn more about the CGN Church Relief Fund, visit calvaryglobalnetwork.com.

If anything is certain over the last few months, it is that the predictability of ministry has been anything but certain! Because of the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, people around the globe have been asked (or ordered by their respective governments) to shelter in place, practice social distancing, work, and school from home, and avoid any and every crowd that consists of over 10 people. The very community we long to be meeting together with is now suggested to be a perceived threat to our health. This has caused most churches to transition to online services, pastors to preach to empty rooms and into a camera lens, and the gathering together of God’s people in person to be restricted to viewing their church’s streaming content from their own homes.

Church budgets simultaneously pay utility bills to keep lights and a/c on in empty buildings, while finding new line items to make room for camera, sound and lighting upgrades. Every pastoral team suddenly found themselves attempting to be video producers. Every home fellowship either was postponed, or moved to video conference calls–where our koinonia has been digital, virtual, and fumbled. If that weren’t difficult enough, our economy went into a tailspin and many congregants were unable to make their bill payments–so our benevolence funds have been tapped, maxed, or exhausted. People in our communities are frightened, anxious, and desperate for hope–and yet are seemingly unable to congregate with the body of Christ and hear the transforming hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In short, we long to meet together again!

Many states are reopening and establishments such as restaurants, gyms, and movie theaters are safely accommodating their customers and patrons as they open back up for business. And though the church never ceases to be “closed”–whether due to a pandemic or due to a government decree–we do praise God for the amazing opportunity to be gathered together again with the saints to worship God and be equipped. However, there are some challenges ahead that we should be prepared for. Here are five best practices for the reopening of local churches after the coronavirus pandemic:

1. Give people options.

There are many Christians who are not living in a paralyzed panic–but who are genuinely “high risk.” They may have pre-existing conditions that put their health at risk. They may be a caretaker for someone who is high-risk. They may have a family member who lives with them that is more susceptible to disease. Whatever the unique cases may be, there are plenty of people in each and every church who will not have the flexibility, freedom or peace to immediately gather again in-person. We need to make sure we extend an online viewing option to them for the foreseeable future. There are many great resources out lately for churches to offer an online option–do some research and keep it simple!

2. Give people reassurance.

Make sure the congregation knows that the building(s) you will be meeting in will be sanitized and disinfected in between gatherings. Ensure that seats are spread out or partitioned to allow for social distancing. You may have to move to an additional service in the meantime to accommodate a smaller crowd in a bigger room–but in this season (and in every season for visitors!) people will appreciate a little distance or empty seats around them.

3. Give people grace.

As we begin to meet again, one of the new social norms we will be adjusting to is the face-to-face greeting. In the past, a handshake or hug was an expression of welcome or affirmation (or for the first-century church, a holy kiss!). Today, people may misinterpret a fist-bump or an elbow bump as a rude gesture. If someone goes to hug another churchgoer who is not comfortable with physical contact yet, this can create a tense exchange that can leave people with misunderstandings and awkwardness. We need to champion grace in this season: grace for those who don’t want to shake hands, and grace for those who want to hug every friend they’ve missed for two months. The more we can communicate grace from the pulpit in these confusing times, the better.

4. Give people clarity.

Each church should take the necessary time with their leadership teams to have a clear strategy for reopening. What is the timeline for your gatherings? If there is a limitation on size, what kind of registration will we be offering, and where online will this registration be found? What are the next steps for people to give financially, serve the body, or respond to the call to receive Christ? Will we have health screening, hand sanitizer, masks? Will there be children’s ministry, or will we be having a family service for the foreseeable future? What safeguards have been put in place for volunteers, and what are the options for future home fellowships? The more clarity we provide, the less confusion and frustration we will experience as a church community.

5. Give people hope.

More than ever, our communities need the hope of their sins forgiven and their standing with God to be made right. They need to know that God is sovereign, good, and in control. They need to know that in His great love for us, He sent His Son to put on humanity and take their place, receiving the wrath they deserved. As the world scrambles for a vaccine as a relief from the threat of sickness and death, we have the true answer for the brokenness of sin: Jesus Christ! So as the church begins to gather again, give more opportunities in your church than ever before for unbelievers to repent and trust Christ. Take the time now to plan out new believers’ classes and evangelism training for your congregation. Spurgeon said, “The fact is, brethren, we must have conversion work here. We cannot go on as some churches do without converts. We cannot, we will not, we must not, we dare not. Souls must be converted here, and if there be not many born to Christ, may the Lord grant to me that I may sleep in the tomb and be heard no more. Better indeed for us to die than to live, if souls be not saved.”

Let’s be the city on the hill that is ready to draw a dying and desperate world to the hope that is only found in Christ.

Let’s be ready to “open” and to gather together again in-person with God’s people.

Let’s thank God for this sovereign interruption–even as it has wrought incredible difficulty, challenges, and even death for many–as part of God’s wise and trustworthy rule continues to provoke our praise, gratitude, and submission. In our current cultural moment, can anything be more essential than that?

As we wrestle through the tough questions raised by Covid-19, we begin to look at the topic of God’s wrath. Could God be the one behind this pandemic? Is it a sign of His wrath? What even IS wrath?

We see clear examples of God judging people harshly all throughout scripture, especially in the Old Testament. What is the purpose of wrath? Mere crime and punishment? God getting angry and doing something about it?

Or could it be possible that God’s wrath actually plays an extremely important role in the story of redemptive history? Is it possible that God’s wrath flows not only out of His anger at sin, but perhaps even more so from His love for the world? Aaron and Brian take some time to discuss and dialogue about this issue that is incredibly important to the Christian life and our understanding of God and His character.

––

The GoodLion podcast is a show by Aaron Salvato and Brian Higgins, the founders of CGN’s GoodLion Podcast Network. Each episode, their goal is to ask hard questions, push past easy answers and always look to Jesus, the God who is not safe but is very good. Visit GoodLion.io.

“Racial Blind Spots, the Church, and the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery”– CalvaryChapel.com
“The Church was pivotal in the creation of many systems that form the backbone of our American culture: from educational, health care, and social services; the Church has led the way for centuries. At present, however, on matters of racial inequities, the Church has not been leading.”

“Oh God, Make Us Angry!”– The Gospel Coalition
“Like relentless waves, the news keeps crashing: Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. George Floyd. Each one, an image-bearer of God. Each one, beautifully woven by their Maker and bestowed with brown skin. Each one, senselessly killed. These three people, three deaths, three situations point to a larger issue with broad implications. It is godly to get angry. I’ll say it again: It is godly to get angry.”

“Remembering Ravi Zacharias – Amy Orr-Ewing, Vince Vitale and Abdu Murray”– Unbelievable?
“Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias recently passed away, aged 74. In a special tribute edition of the show Justin is joined by Amy Orr-Ewing, Vince Vitale and Abdu Murray from RZIM to share personal memories and reflect on his life and legacy.”

“Trump Says Places of Worship Are Essential Services”– The Wall Street Journal
“President calls on governors to let churches reopen, threatens to ‘override’ any who don’t”

“CGN Covid-19 Relief Fund”– Calvary Global Network
“COVID-19 has caused a financial famine for many churches in the Calvary Global Network. This is why we have created the CGN Church Relief Fund, so that we might “excel in this act of grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). To excel in this act of grace, we have put a plan in place using the example Paul set for us in 2 Corinthians 8: The Committee, the Criteria, Contributions, and Communication.”

“Overcoming Imposter Syndrome”– GoodLion Podcast Network
“Aaron sits down with Mike Neglia (Calvary Cork, Expositors Collective) to discuss the struggle of ‘Imposter Syndrome’, a psychological pattern in which one doubts one’s accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’. This is something many people in ministry struggle with, including Mike and Aaron. The two get vulnerable about their own struggles with this problem and then discuss some ways that Jesus has led them to push past it and overcome it. We hope that this discussion is encouraging to you”

“How to Better Love Our Asian Brothers and Sisters”– LifeWay
“For the month of May, the United States has been observing Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In this video, we asked speaker, author, and Bible professor, Dr. Christopher Yuan, how Christians, and specifically White Christians, can better love their Asian brothers and sisters.”

The Link is a collection of content from around the web, discussing topics in culture, theology, ministry and current events. CalvaryChapel.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with every message or perspective in the diverse pieces posted on The Link. By providing The Link, we hope to help you stay informed of important events and conversations taking place in the world that are relevant to the Christian faith.

Monday, May 11, began a new chapter in France’s struggle with the Coronavirus. The time of confinement is transitioning into renewed activity. Many people are excited to get back to work, some are worried this might be too soon, still, others are buried under a mountain of responsibility and work. Though the sun is shining, the birds are singing the song of spring; hospitals are still treating new cases in vertiginous numbers. Thankfully, they are in decline, but health care professionals continue the fight for the lives of those already infected. We are still in a time of suffering.

I was listening to a non-believing friend share his worries and was moved by his hopelessness.

I asked him about it, and he bounced between temporal goals and ideas on how to move forward, but the uncertainty was eating away at his heart. He was thankful to talk about it, and I was eventually able to share my hope. Indeed, listening is a large part of communication. It reminded me that is what God does for us in prayer. He listens to us—but that’s not all.

Jesus knew how to listen and ask questions. When he spoke to Nicodemus in John 3 or the Samaritan in John 4, we can picture Him sitting, listening and then speaking. He, the living God incarnate, was a physical instrument of divine goodness. If He were to sit with someone today, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear the question of our age brought to His attention, “If God is good why…” Certainly, He might respond to some with a call to repentance as He did in Luke 13:1-5, but I wonder, for others, if He might talk more about living water as in John 4:13.

One thing I’m assured of is as He stood there, took an interest and listened, He ministered God’s goodness. Before apologetics, the goodness of God was already applied in the form of a Man. He is our example, we who have been filled with His Spirit, and are called into His mission, and are faced with these questions. We often realize this, as believers, before we present our best arguments: We are an instrument of the goodness of God ministering to those in need. What a responsibility! How can we measure up? No one can meet the stature of Jesus, but there are some things we can do.

I need to remind myself often that people who don’t have Christ, don’t have our same hope.

I’ve become used to the blessing. I lean into it daily to the point that I’m tempted to think it’s my stability—as if to say the Nikes I’m wearing are simply my own bear feet. But they’re not, as a quick walk across the street barefoot will teach me. There are rocks and glass on the road, and they hurt. This inspires me to listen. Studies have shown that much more is communicated in conversation than what is intended. People can say the funniest things that seem out of place but may lead to deeper concerns.

I was talking with a couple who seemed to be arguing about the same thing from two different points of view. They were blocked and couldn’t agree. The lady mentioned some off-subject remark about her parents that left me confused. It seemed important to her but just didn’t fit the context. So, I asked her about it. It turned out we found the source of this communication issue. She shared her parents’ political convictions, which were the opposite of his. This colored the way she saw how to resolve the issue they were facing, and he, who also saw a similar solution, refused to cede because he was offended by her methods. It came back to their worldview, their political views and the meaning behind the words they were speaking. Well-formed questions can be a powerful helper in unlocking what lies beneath the surface.

What are some questions to ask? I’m not the best at this; I usually refer to Paul Tripp’s Instruments in the Hand of the Redeemer for this subject, or I just listen and try to understand. I want to find out what they are really worried about. There is the thing we first say, and for some people, that is as deep as it gets. But there are others, like me, who might let you in on the first level, but it will take time to see the next. Now there comes a time when too many questions become an interrogation or just irritating. I want to know their world vision, so I can discover their true hope, not just the one I think they are counting on or learned about in some seminar. People are complicated and rarely fit into prepared molds.

While listening, I like to pray for them, especially if the conversation was spontaneous rather than a formal counseling session. I’ll ask the Lord to speak to me, to show me something in what they are saying, to help me understand them, to see from their point of view. If I want to be used as God’s goodness, I need to know how to speak. And I want to speak because we have the hope they need. There is a pattern of how we can be used to bring hope and be used to bring the goodness of the Lord through comfort in 2 Corinthians 1:5: “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” We share the divine comfort we receive.

And I believe there is a call to compassion as in Job 6:14, “He who withholds kindness from a friend, forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” I’m not the best example of this, but I need verses like this to remind me.

Being an instrument of divine goodness through comfort will mean we share in their pain.

We can build trust with them. Trust is good when people are suffering, unsure or facing uncertainty. This being said, we can also destroy it with false hope. We want everything to be alright. We pray that God will work powerfully. But there are some things we cannot guarantee.

A friend shared a story about visiting someone in the hospital before the COVID outbreak. He began comforting a person he met in the waiting room. He wanted to give them a quick answer, but as he spoke from his heart about how much he wished the best for the person, they received his words. He realized he could bring comfort by avoiding pre-made answers because they so often bring confusion and aren’t pertinent to the situation.

In a similar way, I’ve noticed that conspiracy theories can become a parasite to the Gospel. They are interesting, grab our attention and create the same rush we feel when we watch an intense movie. If I avert someone’s attention to a conspiracy theory and spend all my time talking about it, how have I served the Gospel?

From 2 Corinthians, the comfort we can give is the comfort we receive in Jesus, in His Word.

That’s why I feel we can speak simply, leaning into the Word. We don’t need to quote chapter and verse with an unbeliever who is sharing their thoughts and worries. Understanding clarity and truth through study, we are well-positioned to help. To paraphrase Cornelius Van Til, we share common ground with the unbeliever, according to Romans 1:18-19, they know the truth even though they might suppress it. This might be the moment God has destined for them. If they ask us how a good God could allow such a thing, they may have already asked Him. It may just be, therefore, He wants to respond through us, an interpreter of His goodness. Wouldn’t that be our greatest honor? May the Lord equip us for such a task.

When we face some sort of big global crisis, many make statements about how this is certainly proof of God’s wrath and judgment against the world. Aaron and Brian dive into this concept, examining the Prophets’ warnings, specific examples of God’s judgment in the OT, and the importance of context in the metanarrative of Scripture. As usual, there are no easy answers found here, but at the GoodLion Podcast, we want to continue to dive deep into the concepts and stories of the Bible and show how they directly relate to the current Covid-19 crisis Christians around the world are facing.

––

The GoodLion podcast is a show by Aaron Salvato and Brian Higgins, the founders of CGN’s GoodLion Podcast Network. Each episode, their goal is to ask hard questions, push past easy answers and always look to Jesus, the God who is not safe but is very good. Visit GoodLion.io.

Conference dates and more information will be coming soon!

In light of COVID-19, the Calvary Chapel/CGN Conference “Essential Church: Identity, Power and Mission” will be moving to an online-only format.

We are disappointed that we will not be able to fellowship with you in person, but we feel moving to an online platform is the safest and most effective way to carry out the conference this year.

We are currently in the planning stages of building a livestream package for you, our ministry partners, to advertise your business or ministry on our conference livestream platform.

Stay Tuned for More Details!

New Summer Study with Cheryl Brodersen!

Ladies! We are taking up The Mark Challenge, a short daily devotional that will carry us through the summer! We invite you to join us LIVE on live.cccm.com this Friday, May 15, at 10:15 AM PT as Cheryl Brodersen introduces us to this exciting study! You can also download daily lessons FREE at women.cccm.com this Friday or NOW via the button below.

When to Watch

Tune in to watch live each Friday at 10:15 AM PT over 15 weeks, May 15 – August 28 (no study on July 3). We will be having a conversation about a new passage in Mark each week with Cheryl Brodersen, Angie Emma, Jasmine Alnutt, and guests.

Invite a friend to study with you … they can join in from anywhere!

Click Here to Download the PDF

Click Here to Watch Cheryl Live every Friday at 10:15 am PT

The COVID-19 crisis has been a major disruption worldwide, affecting the lives of nearly every person on the planet. Movement has been restricted; jobs have been furloughed or ended; businesses have suffered, not to mention the emotional stress it has put on the population. Almost universally, church gatherings have been limited in an effort to slow the spread of the virus and protect the vulnerable.

As the crisis has continued and stay-at-home orders have been extended, the situation has become increasingly divisive, and since the responses in different areas are determined by local authorities, it has also become political.

The discourse has also shifted from simply questioning the actions of authorities, business owners and other civilians, to questioning their motives and accusing them of everything, from indifference to malice.

Christians have not been exempt from this.

Differing views on the motives of everyone from government authorities to church leaders have led some Christians to view each other with suspicion or even contempt. In a highly politicized and media-heavy world, it is very easy for Christians to get caught up in social and political divisions to the point where a person’s views on these issues become their primary source of identity, and they begin to view those with whom they disagree with enmity.

The Apostle Paul’s words to the Ephesians are particularly important for Christians to hear and take to heart in these times:

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3, NASB).

Paul later warns the Ephesians not to “give the devil any opportunity” (Ephesians 4:27, NASB). As David Guzik explains: “The devil’s work is to accuse and divide the family of God, and to sow discord among them. When we harbor anger in our heart, we do the devil’s work for him” (Enduring Word commentary, Ephesians 4).

As Christians, our identity is found not in our opinions about politics or current events, but in Jesus who gave His life for us to make us new people individually and the people of God collectively.

A powerful example of this can be seen in the example of the people Jesus called to be His closest disciples.

Disciples from Opposite Ends of the Political Spectrum

In Matthew 10:1-4, we have a list of Jesus’ 12 disciples. Two names on the list are particularly interesting: Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot.

Tax collectors were Jewish people who worked with and for the occupying Roman government to collect taxes from their fellow countrymen, which not only took money away from individuals but was used to support the Roman occupation and its military. For this reason, tax collectors were seen as sell-outs and traitors by more nationalistically minded Jews, who despised them.

The Zealots were a political action group of far-right nationalists who were willing to use violence in resistance to the Roman-occupying forces. Zealots reportedly carried hooked knives under their cloaks with which they would seek to wound or assassinate Roman officials and their collaborators as they walked in public places.

Political divisions are nothing new; they existed in Jesus’ time as well. Simon the Zealot was someone who would have killed someone like Matthew the tax collector because of their differing political and social views.

However, Jesus called both these men, from opposite ends of the political spectrum, to follow Him and become His disciples. He gave their lives a new direction and a new purpose. In Jesus, they received a new identity and a new community. Apart from Jesus, these men would have been enemies, but because of Jesus, they became brothers, and they set aside their differences for a higher calling and a greater allegiance: not Rome, not Israel but the Kingdom of God.

As Christians, today in this politically divided climate, may we be those who are “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” “showing tolerance for one another in love,” as we have been called together in one body and given a new identity and purpose in Christ.

Think back with me to the elementary schoolyard. Any time there was a conflict when I was a kid, the “go-to” self-defense was: “You can’t tell me what to do; this is a free country!” Here in the US, we take pride in our freedom, our constitutional rights that no one can take away from us (Apologies to our international readers for the “Ameri-centric” post, but the principles we will consider transcend national identity). Our rights-entitlement is something that is woven into our psyche from the very foundation of our nation. The second line of the Declaration of Independence is said to be one of the best-known sentences in the English language:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

When we read those words, there is something deep within us that sparks up in affirmation, and rightfully so; God-given freedom is something to rejoice over. However, in this article, I would like to pose a question for consideration:

Is standing up for our rights always the right thing to do as a Christ-follower?

In an attempt to answer this question, I would like to first look to our Lord, Jesus Christ. If we as God’s creation have unalienable rights, the God of creation Himself has infinitely more. Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, is rightfully due honor, glory and praise. He has inherent rights to the throne over all creation; He rightfully owns all things. It is His right to execute justice and to demand righteousness. However, the incarnation of Christ is the most radical example of the laying down of rights that the world has ever seen. Jesus laid aside His glory in exchange for humility; He laid aside His honor in exchange for humiliation. He stepped off His throne to be placed in a manger. He sacrificed His heavenly home to dwell in a tent of flesh in the dark and messy world we inhabit. As Paul puts it to the Corinthians:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

As if it was not enough that Christ laid down His rights as God to become a Man, He then went on to lay down His rights as a Man for our sake. Jesus lived His life on this earth, fully Man, yet without sin. He was the only Man that ever walked this earth in complete innocence, yet at the end of His life, He was betrayed by His friend, falsely accused, put to an unfair trial and condemned to death. He was mocked, tortured and publicly executed despite His absolute innocence. In all of this, you will not once see Jesus defend Himself or demand His right to a fair trial, rather, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

In a world that tells us freedom is found in standing up for your rights, the Gospel tells us that Jesus Christ laid down His rights in order to give us true and everlasting freedom.

So, for you and I, brethren, as we face a political climate where many are very fearful that their rights are being increasingly stripped away, how should we respond as Christians? My simple answer would be to let us seek to be like Jesus. That is, after all, what it means to be a Christian isn’t it? We are seeking by the grace of God to follow Christ and to be conformed daily to His image.

When Christ calls a follower, He says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians about the rights that he has as an Apostle and as a minister of the Gospel. He shows that he was more than willing to lay down his rights for the sake of the Gospel and for the glory of God saying: “Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12).

My encouragement is this: May we focus less on our rights and more on showing the radical gospel of grace to an unbelieving world.

Sounds good in theory, but how does this work out practically? Am I saying that we as Christians should compromise our principles? Should we be apathetic in an increasingly godless political and moral climate? If we don’t make a stand for righteousness, what kind of world are we going to leave for our children?

Again, let’s consider Christ Himself. Jesus was far from morally apathetic; He did not for a second compromise righteousness. From His birth, there were many who expected Him to take a political stand against the godless oppression of the Roman Empire, to stand up for the rights of the nation of Israel. But Christ rejected the political path, choosing rather the path of sacrifice and grace. His message was not moralistic or political in nature, rather, He called sinners to come as they are to meet with the God of Mercy to be forgiven and freed from the path of sin that leads to death.

As for the world we will leave our children, as Christ prepared to return to heaven, He spoke of the world He would be leaving the children of God in. He said, “If they hated me they will hate you… If they persecuted me they will persecute you” (John 15:18 and 20b). Biblically, the world will become more godless as the return of Christ draws nearer; and historically, the church has thrived under persecution and has struggled in comfort. Though I completely understand and share in the concern for our children, when we step back and look through the lenses of scripture with the scope of eternity in mind, the words of Christ bring great comfort.

So, practically, I would simply ask that we consider what our primary message is.

What are we preaching on social media, in our conversations with friends and coworkers, from our pulpits and in our community groups at church? Are we standing up for our constitutional rights at the expense of the gospel of grace? Are we so busy boycotting a godless corporation that we forget that the unbelieving world doesn’t need political reform so much as the transforming work of God, through the unconditional forgiveness and love that is found in the Gospel? My dear brothers and sisters, this is not compromise. The Gospel is the power of God and the only message that can bring any lasting change in an individual’s life and in the life of a nation.

Will you allow me to encourage you, next time you feel your rights are being threatened, to seek to be more like Jesus rather than our founding fathers? Don’t let your politics overshadow your gospel witness. Please let your tone be love and your message be grace. In this world of darkness, let’s shine Christ.

_{This piece was originally posted on June 16, 2016}

The world as we know it is always changing. We have all experienced that recently with the COVID-19 crisis. In order for us to preach and teach God’s Word faithfully in an ever-changing world, we need to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Interactive Webinar

As part of their ongoing mission to help equip the next generation of expository Bible teachers, the Expositors Collective is excited to announce their first-ever online event: an interactive webinar on May 9, 9-11 AM Pacific Standard Time.

Schedule
. Brian Brodersen: “The Holy Spirit & Preaching”
. Q&A / Discussion
. David Guzik: “Consistent Message, Changing Styles”
. Q&A / Discussion

How to Join
The webinar will be over Zoom, promptly at 9:00 AM PST, and will be limited to the first 100 people who log in. Make sure to log in on time to ensure your spot.

Click Here

The Covid-19 Crisis has been the most challenging thing our world collectively has faced since WWII. For many, a part of that challenge has been the tough theological questions that have been raised about God, His Love, His Judgment, His Mercy, and His plan in all of this. In today’s episode, Aaron & Brian dive into the question: Did God Cause Covid-19 in order to Punish Specific People? They examine some claims by popular televangelists about God’s judgment, discuss our tendency to want a “scapegoat” for the issues we face, and try to begin to lay a theological groundwork for both God’s wrath and mercy.

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The GoodLion podcast is a show by Aaron Salvato and Brian Higgins, the founders of CGN’s GoodLion Podcast Network. Each episode, their goal is to ask hard questions, push past easy answers and always look to Jesus, the God who is not safe but is very good. Visit GoodLion.io.

Tune in for FB Live prayer sessions happening 24/7, every hour, on the Calvary Chapel FB page. Pastors/ministry leaders have agreed to host a prayer time throughout each day.

We know that God is on the throne and will help us through this time. Please join us on our Facebook page, as we come together in prayer.

God Bless,

– The CalvaryChapel.com Team

Tune In to the Live Prayer

“Conspiracy Theories and the Gospel”– CalvaryChapel.com
“Jesus did want us to take action against the injustice happening in the world at the hands of corrupt government, corrupt officials, or corrupt angelic powers, but it wasn’t through the whisperings of conspiracy, the spreading of leaflets, the emailing newsletters, or even through military might.”

“Creation Fest 2020 Official Update”– Creation Fest UK
“Mission and Ministry Lead Sarah Yardley and Festival Director Brian Brodersen bring us the official announcement about Creation Fest 2020.”

“Why Art and Beauty Matter During a Pandemic”– Christianity Today
“These theologians and artists found beauty in suffering.”

“Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues”– TheWeeFlea
“Of making many books about culture, there is no end, and much study wearies the body. So, it was with a degree of trepidation that I ventured into the unknown of this collection of short essays on a wide variety of cultural issues. I need not have feared, however—it ended up being rather brilliant.”

“The Unstoppable Word of Christ”– Nate Holdridge
“And though Jesus is portrayed in Mark as silencing the crowds, the demons, and people he healed, this parable shows us he would one day be shouted about from the rooftops. One day he would be made manifest and come to light (22). Even these parables, designed at least for a moment to keep him mysterious, would one day be known by all. The Jesus secret would be made known. He would be widely broadcast by his people. The gospel would be preached. One day, the church would plainly declare the message of Jesus!”

“Is Christianity Unbelievable?”– Think Biblically
“For over a decade, Justin Brierley has been hosting the popular radio show Unbelievable?, which is a program that features discussions between Christians and non-Christians. In this interview, Justin shares some of the insights he has learned about how to communicate gospel truth effectively in our increasingly secular world. And he shares some of the reasons he is still a Christian after all these years of conversation with atheists, skeptics, and other non-believers.”

The Link is a collection of content from around the web, discussing topics in culture, theology, ministry and current events. CalvaryChapel.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with every message or perspective in the diverse pieces posted on The Link. By providing The Link, we hope to help you stay informed of important events and conversations taking place in the world that are relevant to the Christian faith.