Calvary Chapel Conference 2021
Let Us Rise & Rebuild: Pastor Jeff Johnson
Compiled by Trinity Grau
Photo by Christian Rodriguez
The Calvary Chapel Association held its 2021 Los Angeles (L.A.) Regional Pastors and Leadership Conference March 5-6 at Calvary Chapel Downey, CA, close to L.A. The theme of the conference was Let Us Rise and Rebuild, from Nehemiah 2:18: And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.
Jeff Johnson, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Downey, CA, opened Saturday with a strong message regarding the power of God’s Word. “God’s Word brings power, it brings conviction … teach with the Word! When you tell a story, tell a story from the Word!” He supplemented this idea by following the growth of the Church through the growth of the disciples from the early church, through the decades, to the modern body. Using James 1, he discussed how we are to be doers of the Word (verse 22). The message of how the Bible sheds the light on our sins and truly grows us in Christ was a powerful thread that ran through his time speaking.
Going through Acts and several stories from the Gospels, Jeff continued to illustrate how the church should—as a body and as individuals—face a world that views us as the enemy. “If you’re not a joyful Christian, then there’s something wrong!” he exhorted. Using the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10, he explained how we should daily find ourselves at God’s feet. “I would say He’s large and in charge. We need to run to Him often.”
Mary … sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:39b, 42
All verses above are quoted from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
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