Discipling the Next Generation
I am the proud husband of Diane and father of two wonderful daughters. I serve as the Lead Pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Joplin, MO. I am passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and discipling the next generations. I also enjoy visiting our National Parks with my family, reading stories from U.S. history, and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.
That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.
Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that by our godly behavior others may be won to Christ.
No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.
Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us
Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried…The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Ed Willougbhy 