the quest: a spiritual community in urban columbus: December 2006

12.13.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

As we get closer to Christmas, sometimes we get so familiar with the story that we forget how amazing it is. The whole story is almost "unbelievable." Then consider the fact that many of the details were actually predicted centuries before. Check out these 9 different prophecies and how they were fulfilled in the chart below.

Frankly, it is quite amazing that the prophets hit the nail on the head over the course of so many years. So amazing that to put it in perspective, we talked about an illustration found in Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell:

"The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner in Science Speaks...Stoner says that by using the modern science of probability in reference to eight prophecies..."we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th power." That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.

In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability Stoner illustrates it by supposing that we take 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom.

This means these prophecies were either given by inspiration of God or the prophets just wrote them as they thought they should be. In such a case the prophets had just one chance in 1017 of having them come true in any man, but they all came true in Christ."

Wow does that ramp up my faith! I hope it does yours. I hope it encourages you to talk to others about our Jesus this amazing season!

It is truly all about Jesus!
Press On,

Mike

Here's a little worksheet from thequest INSTITUTE with more information::
What the Bible says about Jesus' Birth in the Old Testament (PDF)

To see the rest of the this week's UPdate HERE

LIFE BOX report from Kary Oberbrunner

Our partner and friend Kary Oberbrunner posted some details on his blog:

Intro to the LIFE Box delivery day: http://rtdministry.blogspot.com/2006/12/lifebox-outreach.html

More Pics: http://rtdministry.blogspot.com/2006/12/more-pics.html

Still More Pics: http://rtdministry.blogspot.com/2006/12/still-more-pics.html

12.06.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

A concept has been rolling around in my brain the last few days and weeks. Jesus being a stone. Not the kind of nickname most people want...to be called a stone. The Apostle Peter uses this image to illustrated a couple of different things, about Jesus and about us.

Since our theme is all about Jesus, we'll focus on Him in the passage (but read the context for what it says about His followers).

6 As the Scriptures say, "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." 8 And, "He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God's word,... 1 Peter 1:6-8 NLT

Peter pulls a Scripture from centuries prior as a prophecy that Jesus fulfills. Jesus was put in Jerusalem...and some believed and others rejected Him. He tripped up people while He lived here. He wasn't quite the "Messiah" they expected in Jerusalem. He didn't come in and bust up the Roman government and set up the Kingdom they expected. He was a stone to make people stumble.

Beyond being a tripping stone, Jesus is the cornerstone. The most important stone laid in ancient architecture. Placed carefully plumb in the corner, all the other bricks in a building aligning to it. And that is exactly the picture of this passage--people either align their lives to Jesus or they don't.

Embedded in this is quite a promise for those who align themselves to Jesus: anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced!

Jesus is a stone...the cornerstone...and someone we can align our lives to. Who else would you want to align with? How are you lining up with Him? It is truly all about Him..

Press On,

Mike

To read the rest of thequest UPdate click HERE

LIFE BOX project with our Powell Partners

I found out that our friend Kary O posted some stuff on his blog about our partnership with the Powell Grace Brethren Church on the LIFE Box project. Check it out HERE

There is also more entries on his blog, so click HERE for the whole blog

GLORY TO GOD on HIGH Street

At the Holiday Hop (Dec 2) sponsored by the Short North Business Association thequest and our sister churches from around the city presented Jesus through music to the crowds of thousands all evening.

Here was the lineup

5 - 5:45 pm - Pataskala Grace Brethren Church --Church Choir
6 - 6:45 pm - Grace Brethren Church of Powell --Men's Quartet
7 - 7:45 pm - Northwest Chapel Grace Brethren Church --Northwest Chapel Brass
8 - 8:45 pm - Southwest Grace Brethren Church --Church Choir
9 - 9:45 pm - thequest --Brass Band

Click Here for a copy of the flier we handed out at the Hop

Enjoy the pics below!