by Pastor Patrick Cho

Whenever we approach the beginning of a new year for Grace Life Family Ministry, thoughts flood my mind about the things we could cover together. There are so many issues that could be hugely beneficial for our families. Many topics have been suggested such as the importance of good communication, how to love your spouse, God-centered marriage, biblical parenting, etc. While these practical issues and more should be addressed by the church, it is important for a ministry to first consider laying down a good theological foundation to build upon. It is important to help young families understand how they ought to live, but it is also more important to explain clearly why they ought to live that way.

I have had many conversations with people about different convictions I have held and know the frustration that results when you talk to someone who is simply not thinking from the same theological framework and reference point. Try convincing someone about the sin of homosexuality when they don’t hold to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture and you will quickly learn how frustrating it can be to make a point. Even in the church, with so many who would agree that the Bible is inspired of God, and so inerrant, infallible, authoritative, and sufficient, there are still too many who don’t understand some of the more fundamental doctrines prescribed in their Bible. So in counseling I have learned over the years to keep stepping back until the basic theological framework is understood so that practical matters are addressed with greater stability.

Last year, Grace Life covered a series titled “What Do You Think?” The purpose of that study was to examine sin’s effect on the mind and how that trickles down to everyday decisions. In Christ, God has illumined our hearts and minds and made it possible for us to understand Scripture rightly. Instead of depending on intuition and worldly wisdom, we can have the mind of Christ and think God’s thoughts after Him. Through our meetings together, we looked at the importance of developing a biblical grid through which we should filter our thoughts and convictions.

This year, we will be walking through the theme “Amazing God.” That adjective is often appropriately associated with grace because of the beloved hymn, but grace is only amazing because God is amazing. The purpose of our times together will be to gain a greater biblical understanding and appreciation of the God we serve and live for and then to take those ideas and connect them to our lives in a practical way. In other words, how should we live in light of who God is? I’m super excited for Grace Life this year and hope it will be a blessing for all who come out.