Archive for the ‘Gary Deddo’ Tag

“Living In The Divine Dance: The God Who Includes You”

From the beginning, we were made for communion. Not for striving or performing on our own strengths, or standing at arm’s length from God but to be drawn into the eternal joy shared between Father, Son, and Spirit. This isn’t abstract theology. It’s the dance we were born to join.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:14

As Trinity Sunday approaches, we’re reminded that Christianity is not just about following rules or imitating Christ. It’s about being included in a relationship so deep, so eternal, that it reshapes how we see ourselves, each other, and the world. We are invited to stand in awe of the mystery and majesty of God-Father-Son-Holy Spirit; one God in three Persons. As Jesus commands in Matthew 28:19:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
This isn’t just a ritual. It’s a revelation. An invitation into God’s own life.

T. F. Torrance writes, “God draws near to us in such a way as to draw us near to Himself within the circle of His knowing of Himself.”
God is not distant. He is relational. He is love and through Jesus Christ, He brings us near.
“God loves you so utterly and completely,” Torrance continues, “that He has given himself for you in Jesus Christ His beloved Son… He cannot go back upon it without undoing the Incarnation and the Cross.”
Our inclusion in God’s life is not temporary or fragile. It’s secured in who God is and through the Holy Spirit, we are not left on the outside. We are brought inside the fellowship of God Himself.

Gary Deddo explains:

“Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, [Jesus] gives us a share in His meaning, significance, security…”
We are not just followers—we are participants.
We are not just observers—we are included.

Jesus Himself prayed:

“May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.” — John 17:21
In Christ, we are welcomed into the very oneness Jesus shares with the Father. A unity brought alive by the Spirit.

Gary Deddo deepens this vision:

“This is the trinitarian life. We are given to share in this life—in the Spirit (which is Jesus’ Spirit)—sharing Jesus’ own joy, life, righteousness, peace, work, evangelism…”
In Christ, we don’t just work for God. We work WITH Him.
“Ministry is going with Jesus—doing what he is doing, going where he is going; sharing obediently in His ministry… Obedience and fellowship are one and the same thing.”

When we lose sight of this, ministry becomes a burden. We chase effectiveness, compare our outcomes, trust in our techniques. But Gary Deddo reminds us:

“It’s not our ministry—it’s Christ’s ministry. Jesus continues to minister by His Spirit… Sometimes we’re tempted to trust in our own loaves and fishes—programs, techniques, even our theology. But just give it to Him and let Him use it. Focus on sharing in Christ’s continuing ministry.”

Jesus doesn’t just reveal the message of God, He is the message, the center, and the way into the life of the Trinity and by the Spirit, He leads us to the Father and holds us in the communion we were made for.

So, take a breath. Let your soul rest in this truth: You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are known, loved, and invited into the divine dance of GOD-Father, Son, and Spirit.

Reflection:

This Trinity Sunday, let us reflect on how profoundly we are known and loved. Be awakened to the wonder of being included in the life of the Triune God. God dwells in unity and through Christ and the Spirit, He welcomes us into His life. As T. F. Torrance says, step into “the circle of His knowing.”  Your soul isn’t alone. It’s wrapped in the eternal fellowship of the Trinity. As Gary Deddo teaches, we are invited to share in Christ’s joy, peace, and ministry through the Spirit. And as Scripture declares:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
— 2 Corinthians 13:14

Prayer:

Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—You are one God in perfect communion. Your love transcends time and space. In You, I find belonging. In Christ, I find redemption. In Your Spirit, I find life. On this Trinity Sunday and always, remind us how deeply we are known and loved. You dwell in unity, and through Christ and the Spirit, you welcome us into Your life. Our souls are not alone; they are held in the eternal fellowship of Your love. Guide me today as I walk in the shadow of Your presence. Let my life reflect the dance You have drawn me into; one of joy, peace, purpose, and shared ministry. Amen.


Selected quotes from:
Gary Deddo, Clarifying Our Theological Vision, — Parts 1–5 Grace Communion International – 2013–2015Published on GCI.org

Selected quotes from:
T.F. Torrance, The Christian Doctrine of God: One Being Three Persons (T&T Clark, 2001) and The Mediation of Christ(Helmers & Howard, 1992)

Why Jesus’ Church Fellowships More And More! pt.1

fellowship

(We had a few audio problems while recording this message and apologize, but it is still in good enough shape to hear!)

https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/15-03-08-why-jesus-church-fellowships-more-and-more-pt-1-heb-10-tah.mp3

In this season of Lent, Pastor Timothy Brassell of  New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the GOOD NEWS of The God Revealed in Jesus Christ through his message entitled “Why Jesus’s Church Fellowships MORE And MORE!” pt.1. He explores Hebrews 10: 19-39 , posing the question to the congregation: “How can this Lenten Season perspective be VERY helpful to us as we hear about the subject of Fellowship?” He shows that God has shared HIS fellowship with US, through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. So God is a Union and Communion of persons TOGETHER, and that must be who and what His Church is like!

Hear in this message:

  • YOU are who YOU are in JESUS CHRIST and NOT what others say about you OR what you have!
  • What the fundamental cause of our transgressions against each other is!
  • Why Prayer and Scripture reading is vitally important!
  • Why we MUST begin with JESUS CHRIST and not any other or anything else!

Listen to this interactive message, as Pastor Tim poses these questions to the congregation:

  • What are the reasons you been told as to why you need to attend Church?
  • Why is meeting together important and encouraged MORE AND MORE?

Identity Christus!

identity in christ

https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/01-15-22-08-identity-christus-eph-2-1-10-john-3-14-21-tony-marra.mp3

On this 5th Sunday of Lent, Pastor Tony Marra of  New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the Good News of the God revealed in Jesus and shows through  Ephesians 2: 1-10 and John 3: 14-21, that our TRUE identity is in JESUS CHRIST! God’s will is that ALL would come to know him through Jesus Christ and that our identity Crisis is something that needed to be overcome and accomplished ONLY through Jesus Christ!

Hear in this message that:

  • God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. We are FREE in CHRIST!
  • We no longer find our identity in the dead life of sin and darkness. God the Father sent His one and only Son to rescue us from our false identity inherited from Satan the father of lies.
  • We were blind to our identity until our Triune God of love broke through our darkness and revealed our true identity in Christ. Through Jesus and the Spirit we now know who our real Father is and are raised up to our eternal home where we were always meant to be.
  • The whole world needs an “Identity Christus“. In Christ we find our true identity as beloved children of God seated at the right hand of the Father and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

photo compliments christcenteredstudentministry.com

Who Are You, Lord?


who are you lord- photo

 

(Part 1)      https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/gary-deddo-who-are-you-lord-part-1-gospel-learning-day.mp3

(Part 2)      https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/gary-deddo-who-are-you-lord-part-2-gospel-learning-day.mp3

(Part 3)      https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/gary-deddo-who-are-you-lord-part-3-gospel-learning-day.mp3

(Part 4 Q and A)   https://trinityandhumanity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/gary-deddo-who-are-you-lord-part-4-qanda-gospel-learning-day.mp3

On this Gospel Learning Day, Dr. Gary Deddo, of Grace Communion International, Proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ at New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, MD. in this 4 part message entitled “Who are You, Lord?”

PLUS, hear Dr. Deddo, in Part 4, respond to questions and answers from the audience, giving clarification on Gospel related issues that you will find extremely thoughtful and helpful!

“Accurately describing a person well is not easy. It’s hard to find the right words and put them together in such a way that they reflect and convey, in a fairly deep way, who they are. This challenge is no less the case when we speak of Jesus Christ. How do we grasp and also express to others who Jesus is? When this task is taken up in a serious and disciplined way by believing people, the church, it’s called Christology. In this class we want to spend some time considering how we can speak, pray, worship, witness and love Jesus Christ as faithfully as we can. With a foundation in Scripture and the help of a number of church teachers down through the ages we’ll see if we can grow deeper in our understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”  – Dr. Gary Deddo

Check it out!

photo compliments devotedconversations.com