Romans 1:16
16 For dI am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is ethe power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew ffirst and also to gthe Greek.

School is back in session and along with that comes new teachers, friends and of course, homework. My son brought home a sheet explaining he had to create a Pennant with 5 things on that describe who he is in some way. After completing the assignment he has to prepare a 3-minute speech explaining it to the class, as a way to introduce him to public speaking. One of the first things we talk about when picking him up from school is what that night's homework will be:

Me (and my Wife): So what things do you want to put on the pennant?

My boy: I want to put a football and baseball, Lego Batman, and ummmm Pokemon and a picture from the beach of Dad and I boogie boarding--oh, and a diamond I found in Payson on the diamond hunt.

Us: Well that is more than 5 things so you will have to narrow it down. Also this pennant is defining who you are--not what you do. Do you think it would be a good idea to put something about Jesus on it? Since you claim to know him?

MB: Oh yeah! How about a picture of the Bible since we read that together?

Us: Sounds great--let's do that and narrow some of those other things down.

MB: Dad what if (his teacher's name) doesn't know Jesus? She might kick me out of class!!

Us: What do you mean? Why would she do that?

MB: I don't know...she just might not like Jesus or something.

Well, that launched us into some teaching on what it means to be a follower of Jesus and that often times, it is not popular. We went through some verses and discussed that our responsibility is to fear God and obey his commands. Part of that obedience is to tell other people about the gospel no matter how they respond.

I think it went well and I really appreciate the opportunity the project gave for the conversation. He still has to present this Friday, so please pray that it goes well. My prayer for all that read this is that they would not be ashamed of Jesus and that we would boldly share him today.

1 Peter 1:25
Living Stone and a Holy People
2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who vdo not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.