“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:24-25
I’ve become convinced that there is no life in the Spirit without the foolishness of the Cross.
And yet, as a Pastor, I’ve noticed that much talk about the Spirit filled life is disconnected from a life formed by the cross. The death and resurrection of Jesus has been reduced to a ticket to heaven and the Spirit-filled life has been reduced to experiencing my best life now! Jesus invites us to something far more compelling.
The good news of the Bible is about more than what Jesus did for us. The good news is that what Jesus did for us forms us to be more like him. This is what freedom looks like. The Holy Spirit moves us from living out of our selfish desires to embodying the sacrificial, self-giving love of God!
This is what I have given my life to. I help people experience the love of God and then partner with the Holy Spirit to replicate that love through their lives. As we are changed by God’s love, we love others like God loves us. This is Cross shaped Spirit filled Discipleship.
This is how I spend my time at Rockharbor Church, and how I might add value to your life or ministry.
Teaching, Preaching, & Writing:
I help people both understand scripture and find themselves in the Biblical story. My heart is to teach towards a response. As we uncover how God is speaking, I want to help people respond to God.
You can find sermons and courses here.
You can find writing and other resources on my Substack.
Ministry Training and Strategic Ideation:
- Preaching Lab: learn my sermon process from study and writing to delivery and recovery.
- Theology & Pastoral Training: training for pastors and lay leaders in key areas of theology and ministry.
- Alpha Training: consulting, equipping, and training for running the Alpha course.
- Prayer Ministry Training: theological and practical equipping in prayer ministry.
- Discipleship Pathway Ideation: consulting on how to build discipleship pathways and ecosystems
Discipleship and Development:
I love walking with people to help them embrace a Cross shaped, Spirit filled life. This last one mostly happens in the context of Rockharbor, but occasionally beyond.
What my friends say about me is mostly that everyone really likes me.
Ben Simonson is the Executive Director of Ministries and Associate Teaching Pastor at Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, CA. Ben is passionate about helping people become Cross shaped, Spirit filled disciples of Jesus. He holds a MA in Theology from Vanguard University. Ben is married to Bethany and has two kids, Nora and Charlie. He enjoys hanging with his family, rewatching Star Wars, collecting records & CDs, and grilling.