Update

Wow! It has been a long time since I have posted in this blog! Hello everyone once again. This is an update for everything that has been going on since I last posted in February. I have finished my first year in college, at California Baptist University. I went on a two and a half week tour with the performing ensemble, Male Chorale, that I sing with. I went on another tour, but this one was for two months with a small singing group ensemble called Hope. Hope had eight individuals including me. It had seven singers, and one pianist. It started on June 3rd, and ended on July 29th. After that I came home and just spent time with family, and now awaiting the new school year starting September 4th.

I have learned a tremendous amount of who and what God is. He has shaken my life dramatically, and is still in the process of doing so. During the two months that I was away with Hope, He was teaching me patience and love. Being in a van with seven other individuals for two whole months had its challenges. There were times that it was hard to show God's love. It was hard to be happy. It took a lot of trust to get through each and every day. But, it was one of the greatest experience I have ever had in my life. God spoke to me, I felt, each and every day about everything. There were so many moments where I felt Him so powerfully in our performances, I could not help but get emotional. Every time that we would go to a new destination, I would be overwhelmed at how loving our brothers and sisters in Christ were.

I almost forgot to share what we exactly did, and went in Hope. We sang in different churches, camps, and outside venues throughout Western America. We started in Southern California, and traveled to: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Northern California, back to Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and back through California. We were counselors for two camps: one in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California. The other in Donnelly, Idaho.

Okay, back to before. During the entire time, like I said before, God stretched me. He showed me what it takes to be His disciple. I remember my last post about discipleship, but this time I got to experience it. I got to see miracles happen. I got to see lives changed. I got to see my own life changed.

I thank all the people that kept me in their prayers during this time. I am sorry that I never posted anything about it before then. It actually was a surprise for me. I auditioned for it, but did not make it. I made other plans, and all of a sudden got a message and said I was in. I was shocked! But, overwhelmed with excitement! I am happy to be back, and rejoicing that I got to participate in such a wonderful ministry.

God Bless,
Matthew Kost

Soli Deo Gloria!

Loving Jesus

Hello all! These past two weeks have definitely been eye-opening in the way of how I view God. This blog is all about becoming a disciple, but what I intend and want to do is to ultimately help and show others a life that is worth living. A life that rejoices in the Lord always and His truth. A life that wants to promote good in everything, including itself.

I want to define what a disciple is: a disciple is one who follows Jesus and serves Him in their lives. One who acts obediently towards Him and His will. Luke 9:23 gives a good description of a disciple:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. - Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

If you look in the New Testament you see that Jesus appointed twelve men to be His disciples during His time on Earth. They followed Him everywhere He went. They watched Him as He performed miracles, spoke sermons, and loved others. Christ is the perfect example. He lived a perfect and blameless life. He cared for others so much that He died on a cross to save them.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. - John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

This man took the punishment for mine and your sins. Man acts in disobedience to God through sin. Sin is an act that is rebellious towards the goodness of God. Me and you live in a world of sin. Our very flesh desires to sin. Our hearts are immoral. Sin does not bring life, but brings death. But Jesus gives us hope.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

If you have not already accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, I welcome you to do so. If you are not sure or have any questions about Jesus or the Gospel feel free to ask me. The first step into becoming a disciple is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior. To know that you are separated from God.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV)

If you want to be saved it is through Christ. Believing in Him and confessing that He is Lord assures eternal life. But through this belief, through this acknowledgement of sin, through this confession comes forth a life of change. A life about transforming your mind and yourself into the image and mind of Christ.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

If you have confessed that you are a sinner, believe that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord; I welcome you to the family of God! This is the biggest decision you will ever make. If you have dedicated your life I would love to know so I can encourage you personally. I would also love to pray for you. You can email me at matt.kost@yahoo.com.

Thank you all, and God bless!

Soli Deo Gloria!

- Matthew Anthony Kost

Encouragements

Everyday is a blessing given to us by God. Everyday we wake up we should be grateful for everything God has given us; His son, salvation, forgiveness, blessings, eternal life. There is so much to be grateful in our lives. It is funny how when we are being tested God is the first one to blame. Today was an inspiration. Going through James 1:16-19 it shares with us that God is the Father of lights and has no variations and no shadow of turning. He is the same God in the past, now, and forevermore. Whenever we are in a trial where it seems like God is not with us, think again. Go back and re-look at what God did for us on Calvary. He gave His life for us so that in Him we may be new again and join with Him in eternal paradise (heaven). Next time you go through a trial or if you are going through one right now thank and praise God because He will never give you more than you can handle, 1 Corinthians 10:13. I hope this may be an encouragement to all of you:) God bless!

Soli Deo Gloria

- Matthew Anthony Kost

Purpose

Hello everyone, again. I want to share with you the purpose behind this form of ministry. The title of this blog is Becoming a Disciple. The objective to this is exactly how it sounds. I am going to share with you what it means to become a disciple of Christ.  It is a journey that I am going to take and I encourage and invite you to join me. I am going to share struggles, fights, victories, scriptures, encouragements, and much more with you of the journey down the road to becoming a disciple and having the faith to live according to God's word. I am really excited for this and I hope you are too! Until next time, God bless!

Soli Deo Gloria

- Matthew Anthony Kost

Introductions

Hello everyone, I would like to take a moment in my first blog post to tell you a little bit of who I am. My name is Matthew Anthony Kost. I am currently 18 years of age, about to be 19 this coming year, and I attend California Baptist University. I have a deep passion and hunger for God's word and becoming more Christ-like. I love music and am currently in 5 performing ensembles here at CBU. My character is unlike many you would find today. I am very old-fashioned for my age. I am usually mistaken as a teacher on campus. My nick-name used by some of my friends here at CBU is gramps. I laugh every time I hear that, haha. I enjoy spending time with family. I plan to be in ministry as I grow up and dedicate my life fully to the service of God. I am nothing without Him. I would not be where I am in life if it was not for the grace He gives all of us so freely. The love He has shown me in my life is indescribable. Over time you will discover more of my character in my posts. I thank you for taking the time to read this and invite you to continue reading the blogs I post. I pray that every one of you has a blessed day. God bless!

Soli Deo Gloria!

- Matthew Anthony Kost