Click to learn more about our men’s ministries:
Entrust | Morning Star Mission Services | Sports Ministries
Entrust
In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul writes to his ministry protégé Timothy:
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
At Calvary, Entrust is one way that we attempt to obey this command. Entrust is a monthly theological forum for any man who is interested in “digging a little deeper.” Though we are firmly committed to richly biblical and doctrinal preaching at Calvary, we still believe that there are certain theological topics that are better covered in a more informal setting. For this reason, our Entrust meetings are very relaxed and discussion driven, quite distinct from regular worship services of the church. We provide this setting to allow men to freely bat around significant questions they might have with the pastoral team.
Those who participate in this ministry are given assignments to be completed before the next meeting. The reading and sermons that are selected are to serve as “pump primers,” to both frame our interaction and expose pertinent questions related to the topic. The only resource that participants need to purchase for Entrust is Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. This is available in our bookstore for a discounted price. The rest of the assigned articles and sermons are available online at no charge.
There is a common tendency in the church today to avoid deeply theological issues. Statements like, “I’ll leave that to the pastors” or “Theology isn’t for everyone” abound. We believe this trend to be ultimately harmful for both the church corporately and Christians individually, for what we believe about the Bible ultimately impacts the way we live. As one author writes:
“No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nevertheless. The issue for Christians is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are going to be good theologians or bad ones.” – R.C. Sproul (Knowing Scripture, 22)
It is our hope that through Entrust we will be transferring the truths of the Word of God to faithful men in our church. We believe this not only glorifies God, but helps our church become a more vital testament to the life-giving power of the Scriptures. (click here for schedule)
Morning Star Mission Services
“The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 41:17
It is clear from this verse that God not only has compassion for the needy, but acts on their behalf. As Christians, we are to strive to imitate the thoughts and deeds of Christ. Getting involved in the Morning Star Mission Ministry serves as a practical way for men of Calvary Baptist Church to do just that. Morning Star Mission is a non-denominational organization dedicated to relieving the spiritual and physical hunger of the poor. They do this by providing food for the hungry, clothing for the needy, shelter for the homeless, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ for all.
Every first Tuesday of the month, a group of men from Calvary heads over to the Mission to share the Gospel message with men who are receiving aid from the organization. Through the Gospel that is shared and the relationships formed, it is Calvary’s hope that the men at the Mission will see the love of Christ shown to them in a tangible way, come to trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and be freed from the bondage of sin. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and run approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. If you have further questions about this ministry or feel that it is a means by which you can serve, please contact Austin Thompson at (815) 641-4926 or email him at austin.thompson@cbcjoliet.org.
Sports Ministries
Calvary participates in two inter-church sports leagues throughout the year. Men’s basketball and softball are available in the winter and summer respectively. At Calvary we believe that these leagues are an excellent way to fellowship and get to know new people through the medium of sports.
The sports ministry is not just for fun, but it is also to help build relationships with others and to share the love of Christ with them. We desire to reach those in our community in a relaxed environment, and sports provides a perfect venue to accomplish that. For more information about our sports ministry or for a schedule of games, contact Devan McCammack at devan.mccammack@cbcjoliet.org or Ken Lehmann at ken.lehmann@cbcjoliet.org.