Jesus Alone

As I mentioned in my last post, I had the privilege to be sent by HCBC to a conference in NYC. Thank you to the team that deemed it appropriate to invest in me through this conference and thank you to the people of Hill Country Bible Church for their gracious support of the ministry I am a part of!
The theme of the conference was DWELL based on the passage in Jeremiah that speaks about the remnant of the Jewish people in exile to dwell in the city and seek it's welfare. But in my opinion the title could have just as well been Jesus alone.
Each speaker in his own way brought church planting in our urban centers back to this one theme: JESUS ALONE!
CJ Mahaney spoke about humility (he has a great book out on this topic: click here) which really speaks about laying aside my pride and self-will and the need for me to let Jesus have preeminence in everything. Mark Driscoll spoke of "dwelling in the text" the idea of loving Jesus passionately and loving him through being in His word. He spoke of the dangers of being in the word for the sake of a sermon or a good marriage or good parenting or even a good church. But the bottom line is that we must read the Bible because we love Jesus passionately and we encounter Him in scripture. To put it succinctly: You have to know and love Jesus and in order to do that you have to in scripture often and intentionally. JESUS ALONE!
Darrin Patrick asked the question, "do I have non-christian friends" but we might as well phrase his question am I being like Jesus to the people around me? Do I love them and care for them individually just as Jesus loved and cared tax collectors and prostitutes? Living missionally or living like Jesus: JESUS ALONE!
Tim Keller spoke several times in typical intellectual Keller fashion (I loved it...), but his key message was about the elements of the Gospel. Tim distilled the Gospel to it's core message naming three core elements: Manger - Cross - Crown. Jesus' Incarnation, His Death and His Exaltation! JESUS ALONE!
I want to keep that mindset always before me, planting a church is hard work, and it it exhilarating and it is fun and stressful, but ultimately it is about JESUS ALONE! He is worthy of all my efforts, and making the church all about Him and His glory is naturally create a church concerned for people's welfare, the poor, social justice, civil rights, environmental issues, etc. but not as ends in themselves but as natural byproducts of people making it their primary aim to love and exalt JESUS ALONE in everything they do!