Oxford Bible Fellowship
Doing everything we can by faith through the living Word of God and in the power of the Spirit to equip this next generation in the love of Christ for a lifetime of service throughout all the world.
800 Maple Avenue, Oxford Ohio 45056 (513) 523-5300 Pastor: Jeremy Carr
Monday
December 1 2008

Director of Youth & Ministries-Jared Pierson

Some people view Christianity as religion, some as an activity, some as a set of rules, some as a culture. Regardless of what they view it as; the Bible tells us that it is none of those. John 17:3 says “and this is eternal life, that they may know the only true God, and Jesus the one you have sent.” Christianity is more than a religion; it is knowing the only true God.

My heartbeat and passion for ministry with teens comes from Matthew chapter 9. In Matthew 9, Jesus heals a paralytic man. The passage says, “Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Notice from this passage what Christ was passionate about. A paralytic man comes to Jesus and the first thing Jesus notices is NOT his physical appearance, but the man’s spiritual needs. Jesus is passionate for people because they have eternal significance, created in the image of God.

C. S. Lewis said, "You don't have a soul, you are a soul.  You have a body." It is easy for us to look at a person and notice whether they are ugly or attractive, annoying or fun to hang out with, yet Christ first sees a precious, sacred image of God. If we can consistently discipline ourselves to keep this mindset… We will have more passion in life, be more prone to minister, be more humble because every person is a reminder that we were created in the image of God, that we have eternal significance.

jpierson@obf.org