Kevin Hardy

Global Celebration - Making Disciples!

Two years ago, the Lord convicted me about making disciples!  I was invited to a Discipleship Forum with twenty other Pastor’s from around the country.  At the end of the two forum, I was given a book as a gift, One Conversation at a Time.  I started to read this book as I was driven to the airport to fly home!  I could not put it down and I finished the book by the time I landed in Baltimore.  This book and the forum, really made an impact upon my life.  I needed to be more intentional about making disciples - followers of Jesus Christ.  

Last night, Dr. Jerry Porter spoke about the discipleship pilgrimage. Once again the question was asked, “Who are you intentionally discipling?” and “Who is intentionally discipling you?”.   Well, I have been intentionally discipling some guys for the last two years.  As I look back upon the many hours invested, I am so excited about the growth in their lives.  Homes have been restored, some have started to serve in ministry, many are reading the Word daily, and Christ is growing His KIngdom through them.  

 Jesus said, “Go and make disciples!”  This is His mandate for a follower of Christ.  I wonder what would happen if every follower of Christ intentionally started one conversation at a time with 2-3 people who need to be discipled!  Wow!  Just think about the multiplication effect upon the world.  Here is my next step!  I need to challenge the guys I have been discipling to start discipling someone else.  

The mission statement of the church I pastor, Crossroads Church, is “To make Christlike Disciples by; Engaging Culture, Encountering God, Embracing Community, Experiencing Service”.  

Global Celebration - Take UP the CROSS!

Yesterday was another amazing day!   Last night was all about the cross!  A 28 foot cross was placed right in front of the platform!  Dr. Warrick preached about the cross!  He quoted John Fischer, “The church ... has become increasingly accustomed to Christianity without a cross - or, at best, with one hanging harmlessly in the background.  In our eagerness to popularize Christianity, we have created a very user-friendly gospel that asks for hardly a sacrifice.  We have forgotten that in the middle of this gospel stands a cross - an instrument of (death) execution, the splinters of which are largely ignored by a contemporary Christian world eager to tell mostly the good part of the story.”

Jesus said,“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  Matt. 16:24  He said also, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”  Mark 8:35  The true victory of a Christian is found in the death of oneself on the cross!  Everyone needs to make a journey to Calvary, not to take a look at a memorial or museum, but a joining to die on the cross with Christ!  This journey is not easy and it will cost you something, actually it will cost your everything!  

When I came to the service last night, I was wondering why they put such a large cross in front of the stage and the pulpit!  I thought to myself, “this should be on the back of the stage”.  But I was wrong!  The cross should always be front and center.  We should never lose sight of the death of Christ, so that His life can live within us.  The daily death experience is so important that we need the CROSS to intrude upon us, annoy us at times, get in our way, so that we cannot ignore it or minimize it!  Paul said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1 Cor. 1:17-18 

Have you died to yourself?  Is Christ living within you?