February 23rd, 2021
By Eddie Keith
What season of life are you in? How do we understand The Way of the Cross today? What is the Way? These are the same questions the 12 closest to Jesus wondered, though they may not have known it yet. In the Gospel according to John, he writes of a time that Thomas had this question. “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:5-7).
There really is only one way. Through the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Jesus was leaving the Earth, he left this instruction to his 1, “therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
What does that mean for us today? The 12 were his disciples in whom Jesus spent three years pouring his life into. They were then told to go. How is that this group of 12 ragtag individuals set the world on fire with the Jesus Movement that would last 2000 years. The answer I think is simple, they embodied the message of Jesus. “Embodiment literally means to give flesh to the ideas and experiences that animate us. If these ideas and experiences are really believed in and valued, then they must be lived out” (Alan Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways, pg. 122). Discipleship in Christ is meant to be lived out in the world. It’s not a passive thing that we are just meant to consume. We are meant to be active participants in the message and worship of Jesus Christ!
With that, the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ spoke to the body where they were in the here and now. At St. John’s, this concept is not different. In the context of our culture, we are constantly trying to improve our worship experience so that we can engage you, the body of Christ. We are excited to do this through continuously enhancing our digital ministry. Better cameras, stage design, lights and digital sound have made the experience so much more engaging to the eye and ears over the last year. We are continuing to find new ways to those aspects of worship…. Now we need to engage your hearts and minds..
Discipleship is meant to engage in the body of the church to move us out into the world to make more disciples. With that, maybe it is time to start reengaging in some of the volunteerism here at St. John’s. Maybe you want to help reach more people through digital ministry. The team could use you. Maybe you have a heart for the hurting and lost...There is a place to serve…
The Way of the Cross is waiting on you this Easter season…. Re-engage… Make Disciples...
What season of life are you in? How do we understand The Way of the Cross today? What is the Way? These are the same questions the 12 closest to Jesus wondered, though they may not have known it yet. In the Gospel according to John, he writes of a time that Thomas had this question. “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:5-7).
There really is only one way. Through the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Jesus was leaving the Earth, he left this instruction to his 1, “therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
What does that mean for us today? The 12 were his disciples in whom Jesus spent three years pouring his life into. They were then told to go. How is that this group of 12 ragtag individuals set the world on fire with the Jesus Movement that would last 2000 years. The answer I think is simple, they embodied the message of Jesus. “Embodiment literally means to give flesh to the ideas and experiences that animate us. If these ideas and experiences are really believed in and valued, then they must be lived out” (Alan Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways, pg. 122). Discipleship in Christ is meant to be lived out in the world. It’s not a passive thing that we are just meant to consume. We are meant to be active participants in the message and worship of Jesus Christ!
With that, the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ spoke to the body where they were in the here and now. At St. John’s, this concept is not different. In the context of our culture, we are constantly trying to improve our worship experience so that we can engage you, the body of Christ. We are excited to do this through continuously enhancing our digital ministry. Better cameras, stage design, lights and digital sound have made the experience so much more engaging to the eye and ears over the last year. We are continuing to find new ways to those aspects of worship…. Now we need to engage your hearts and minds..
Discipleship is meant to engage in the body of the church to move us out into the world to make more disciples. With that, maybe it is time to start reengaging in some of the volunteerism here at St. John’s. Maybe you want to help reach more people through digital ministry. The team could use you. Maybe you have a heart for the hurting and lost...There is a place to serve…
The Way of the Cross is waiting on you this Easter season…. Re-engage… Make Disciples...
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