Immersion

Sorry we have not posted anything for awhile. We are working on a new website that 'Know What You Believe' will be changing into. We are sensing that God is moving in a bit of a different direction and has some new plans for what he wants the website to be/do. 'Know What You Believe' is going to become a website called 'Immersion' (we will have a new web address which we will notify you of soon). The vision that God has given us for "Immersion' is that it will be a movement that leads to revival in THIS GENERATION. A movement that will exhort and equip this generation to live out Biblical Christianity and to walk in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. The vision is not too far off from what we are already doing at 'Know What You Believe,' but we feel that God is calling us to a totally new start. We will be giving you more information as we progress. We hope you will continue to read our articles and listen to our podcasts when transfer over to this new website! Although 'Immersion' will have a mission of generating revival in our generation, it will still always be committed to equipping people to be dedicated solely to one man, Jesus Christ.

- Luke LeFevre

Our Podcast is Now on iTunes

Our podcast is now available on iTunes! Go subscribe and help us spread the word. Here is a link: Know What You Believe Podcast

Podcast: All or Nothing

I am excited to release our very first podcast! 

"Jesus isn't calling the crowds. He's calling the committed."

Give it a listen...

All Or Nothing: YOLO

The acronym YOLO (you only live once) is used all over social media. We use it in a joking way most of the time, but if you really stop to think about it, this is a very sobering statement. “YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!” We have got one life. One opportunity. One shot at not wasting our lives.

Nobody wants to come to the end of their life and say, “I wasted it.” We all want our lives to count for something. We want to live a meaningful life, not a meaningless one. So what, then, qualifies a life as meaningful? What are the criteria for a life well lived; a life not wasted?

Well, according to the world, the goal in life is to succeed at a career, have a family, retire with enough money to live comfortably, and maybe go a vacation now and then. As soon as someone graduates high school they begin to climb the ladder of “success.” Despite what the world tells us, this is not a life well lived, this is a life wasted.

 If we look at people who the Bible says were successful, we see people who didn’t know where their next meal was going to come from. We see people who were thrown in prison, killed, and persecuted for living for Christ. Christ himself never had money. The Word says that “the Son of Man had no place to lay his head.” He didn’t even know where he was going to sleep every night. The world will tell you that unless you gain wealth and prestige, you will never live a meaningful life, but that is not what makes a great life.

Devoted Generation

Hey everyone go check out our new article "Know What You Believe" on devotedgeneration.com. This is a great website and we recommend that you all go check it out!  http://devotedgeneration.com/know-what-you-believe/

Youth Need Apologetics

   We came across this great article published by Apologetics Canada and wanted to share it with you guys.  It shares a great testimony about the importance of young people knowing the proofs for Christianity. You can find the original publication at http://www.apologeticscanada.com/2012/06/15/youth-need-apologetics/

      I remember taking a couple youth out for lunch one day, as I had not seen them for a while, and just wanted an opportunity to reconnect.  Although it was an enjoyable experience just to be able to sit and catch up on life, I was there for more than a casual visit; I wanted to understand the reason behind the lengthy departure from our youth group. 

      As I subtly probed them with questions, I was greeted with a few outstanding thoughts that they presented concerning not just their own Christian walk, but Christianity in general.  They began to describe for me situations they found themselves in at school where they were questioned on what they believed.  Unable to find sufficient answers to not only subdue the attackers with their hostile questions, but also convince themselves of what they believed, they soon found themselves discouraged about their faith.

“These youth were not only unaware

that it is reasonable to believe in God,

but they were convinced it was more

reasonable not to.“

      They admittedly suggested that they had to believe “blindly” in God, and that there is so much more “proof” against the existence of God.  This was hard for me to hear coming from two dedicated youth.  The feeling, however, only intensified when I realized that most of the youth in my group had adopted the same belief.

      Although this is my personal experience with youth in my own group, I do not believe it would be too bold to suggest that this situation exists in youth groups and schools everywhere.  I believe that youth are constantly being challenged in their schools, not just by their peers, but also by their teachers.  Youth are finding themselves, out-numbered and ill-equipped to deal with questions that not only challenge their faith, but their ethical beliefs as well.  With the rise of the new-atheist movement, Christians have been painted in a negative limelight as hateful towards peoples like, Homosexuals and Pro-choice abortionists.  Youth have felt the pressure of this and feel that calling themselves Christians can single them out as “haters” so to speak, which becomes particularly daunting in a school full of “accepting” people.

      This all may seem very sad and discouraging to know, but I say with enthusiasm, there is hope! Youth are hungry for answers, much more than we would begin to think.  In fact, the very idea that there is information out there that exists to support the existence of God, seems surprising to many of them.   Many of my own youth have responded positively when informed that their faith is reasonable, and it leaves them wanting more.  Not only that, but it appears to excite them and boost their confidence when talking about their faith with others.  Apologetics has become more and more relevant over the years, and is now becoming necessary.  The amount of opposition that Christians face, especially in High School and University, is ever increasing; to the point where it is more than just a good idea to educate individuals on why they believe what they believe.  This is not to suggest that Apologetics is the alpha and omega of all ministry; but rather, it is a necessary part of what Jesus commands us to do that we all too often seem to overlook when reading Mark 12:30 as it says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (my own emphasis).

      I encourage everyone to prayerfully consider equipping young believers with the ability to defend their faith.  It can be done in a number of different ways whether you integrate it into teaching on a youth night, or perhaps just in a casual conversation that arises while spending time with them.  I remember one youth, who was teetering on the fence with his faith, told me that it was a conversation he had with me on the bus about reasonable faith that gave him that little extra nudge he needed.  Perhaps there are youth in our groups right now that just need that extra nudge, or maybe just need that extra encouragement.  No matter the instance, I hope you will partner with me in a journey to better equip a generation to firmly stand for what they believe! 

Article by, Dustin Huguet

All Or Nothing: An Undivided Heart

The ‘All Or Nothing’ message, at its root, begins with an undivided heart. When our worship is not solely devoted to God, we fall into idolatry and lose our ultimate potential. God desires a generation that has an undivided heart; a generation that will give its all… or nothing at all.

We cannot serve two masters. It’s not simply that we should not serve two masters, but that we cannot. Luke 16:13 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” When God is not primary, the other things vying for our attention get our allegiance. No one is capable of serving God and serving their own desires; it’s either God or us. Once we choose to make God secondary, God becomes distasteful to us. Before we know it, we don’t want to be around God and we don’t want to talk about Him. Timothy Keller describes idolatry by saying, “When we build our lives on anything but God, that thing – though a good thing – becomes an enslaving addiction, something we have to have in order to be happy.” We were created to worship. As Pastor Matt Chandler states, “We want to worship something. Worship is an innate response. We are wired for it by God himself.” But what we give our worship to is the key.

What exactly is worship? According to Matt Chandler, “Worship is the attribution of ultimate worth to something.” Chandler continues, “When this ultimate worth is attributed to anyone or anything other than the one, true triune God of the universe, it is idolatry.” The Bible says that anything we place above God is an idol. If our sports teams, our friends, music, or anything else becomes more important to us than Jesus Christ, it becomes an idol. The Bible says that King David was a man after God’s own heart. One of the main reasons that this was said about him was because of his burning desire for an undivided heart. David wrote in Psalms 86:11, “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Again, in Psalms 51, after David had sinned against God, he cries out for a heart that is purely devoted to Him when he says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” King David was a man after the heart of God, and that is the type of generation that God wants. He is not looking for perfect people, but people with an undivided heart.

Many times we begin to think, “I have been faithful to God for a long time, I just want to do what I want for a little bit,” but faithfulness doesn’t work like that. It’s is not about the length of your faithfulness, it’s about the day by day. If a couple had been married for fifty years, and the husband had never looked at, thought about, or even entertained a thought about another woman, it would never make it okay for him to begin to flirt with another woman simply because he had been faithful for fifty years. When we give our lives to Christ, we put on a wedding ring; we make a commitment of faithfulness and fidelity. God is looking for daily devoted disciples. He is looking for a generation that will give Him their undivided allegiance, passion, and love day by day. 

A divided heart equals a divided potential. Unless we give God everything we are capable of, we will never reach the potential that God intended for our lives. The catch to this statement is that this is impossible…..on our own. We are not capable of giving all that God requires. Thankfully, God doesn’t ask us to do it alone. He provides the Holy Spirit and His all sufficient grace to help us do what we can’t do on our own. When we surrender he gives us the strength for whatever he calls us to do. As Guillermo Maldonado says, “The only ability God requires is availability.” Unless we surrender everything to Christ, we will never reach the peak of what God has created us to be and do.

A generation that is consumed with the things of the world will never see a great move of God. The generation that will see revival is the generation that is dedicated exclusively to Jesus Christ. God doesn’t ask for perfect people, he gave us a perfect Savior. God asks for a people willing to follow him no matter the cost. He asks for people who give Him their undivided heart. But, we cannot accomplish the task in our own strength; thankfully, God doesn’t ask us to. God provides the grace as we provide the faith. An undivided heart starts with the day by day; it starts with daily devotion to Christ. God is calling this generation to give our all, starting with our hearts. 

Reading List: 2014

This is our first ever release of our top ten suggestions of books to read in the new year. We have compiled ten books that cover a variety of different subjects from apologetics to prayer. These are listed in no particular order, but are all of great importance. We hope to continue this trend every year, providing good material for a generation who wants to know the Word and Jesus Christ at a deeper level. 

1. God's Not Dead by Rice Broocks

Description: "Faith in God is rising, yet so is skepticism. The evidence for the existence of God must be grasped and clearly articulated to answer this challenge, "says author Rice Broocks. "The success of the atheistic agenda is mostly due to the fact that the theistic responses to atheists' claims have not been widely circulated." God's Not Dead guides seekers and reminds believers that: real faith is not blind -- it is based on evidence, life is no accident -- there is meaning and purpose in the universe, good and evil are no illusions, and the God who exists has revealed Himself in history through Jesus Christ. Drawing from the areas of philosophy, science, history, and theology, we can form persuasive arguments for God's existence and His presence in our lives. This book equips us with the tools, providing clear, easy-to-follow explanations of the key concepts and controversies. God's Not Dead is apologetics for the twenty-first century.   

2. Radical by David Platt

Description: In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple -- then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus. 

3. Follow Me by David Platt

Description: Is it possible for people to say they believe in Jesus but not truly be born again? Is it possible for people to claim they have accepted Christ into their hearts yet not actually be Christians? Not only is it possible, but according to Pastor David Platt, it's also highly probable. The author of the bestselling book  Radical is convinced that many people

The Gospel

         Have you ever wondered exactly what the Gospel message is? Most people know that Christ died on the cross and paid for their sins, but why did that work? Why did Christ have to die? Maybe you have never heard the Gospel message before. Maybe you have never been told that Christ died for YOU. If you have never heard the Gospel, or aren't sure what it is, this is for you. Even if you have heard it before, maybe you have never responded to it. Whatever the case may be, we have laid out the Gospel in a clear, concise way in order to help anyone who wants to know more about its message. Maybe you are already following Christ and you know that He has commanded us to share the Gospel, but you're not sure where to start or what to say. If that is the case, this is for you too. We all need to know the Gospel message inside and out. The Gospel is the most important message you will ever hear or ever share in your entire life. The message of Gospel is the greatest gift we have ever received and the greatest gift we could ever give.

What Is the Gospel?

The gospel is the good news that God became a man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died in our place. Three days later he rose from the dead, proving he was the son of God and offering salvation to all who would repent and believe His message and follow Him.  

The Problem of Sin

The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Well, what is sin? Sin is anything that is stands contrary to or falls short of

All Or Nothing Series

Don't miss our new 'All Or Nothing' article series! Coming soon! 

   "Humanity admires feats of heroism, sacrifice, love, and honor. We revere people who stand up with fervor and fight for justice, truth, and who forgo their own personal gain for the benefit of others. We are moved by acts of courage and valor, and by the people who accomplish them. When someone inspiringly portrays these acts in a film, we award them with Academy Awards and Golden Globes. The stories that we cheer on, laugh with, and cherish are the ones of great love, great courage, or great sacrifice. The stories of people who laid down their life for another or who go to great lengths for love. These are the ideals that humanity identifies with, and in which we search for our purpose in life. Out of all of the stories, legends, and tales, there is one true account of love, sacrifice, courage, and hope that stands above all the rest. The story of Jesus Christ is the greatest account of courage, the utmost description of sacrifice, and the deepest love story ever told…"                

If you haven't read our base article for this series yet, here is a link: All Or Nothing

New Website Design

Check out our new design! We have revamped the website with a brighter, cleaner look. Let us know what you think!

God's Not Dead Trailer

God's Not Dead Movie

 

All Or Nothing Wristbands

Check out these All Or Nothing wristbands! If we get 20+ orders we will start producing them. They are a great way to represent Christ and an awesome reminder in this new year to go all in for God and give Him nothing less than our best. They will be $1.50 plus shipping. (place a commitment for an order in the comment section of this post by writing: "I want one") 

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All or Nothing: Putting Christ at the Center of Our Lives

Check out our new article 'All Or Nothing' on therebelution.com. therebelution.com was started by the authors of the book 'Do Hard Things,' Alex and Brett Harris. Their website is full of great resources and I highly recommend their books. Check out the article and like it and share it on Facebook or tweet it and help us get the word out!   All or Nothing: Putting Christ at the Center of Our Lives

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All Or Nothing

God is calling this generation to its true purpose in Christ. This is an appeal for this generation to live up to that purpose and become what it was destined to be. “All or nothing” is a battle cry; a cry to rally and stir up a generation that will give God our all or nothing at all. A generation that does not make Christ simply a part of our lives, but a generation that puts Christ at the center of everything we do.

We live in a generation where apathy is the norm, not the exception. We are known for our addiction to video games, lack of interest, and irresponsibility. Researchers suggest that this is the most biblically illiterate generation in history! It’s time to change that. When Jesus tells us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” this is not a suggestion but a command. So let’s be the generation of David’s, the generation of

How Great Is Our God

Check out this incredible video that helps to put in perspective how truly great God is. Louie Giglio lays out the vastness of the universe in which we live and puts the greatness of our God on display.