What makes Christianity unique and enduring: Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be the incarnation of the LORD of the Universe. He claimed to be both the Son of the LORD, as well as the LORD himself.
The LORD of the Universe claims to be above all gods, supreme in power and intelligence, unsurpassable in loyalty and mercy, incomparable in creating and ruling. There may be many other gods vying for allegiance and worship, but there is none like the LORD of the Universe. Jesus makes the same claims as the LORD, he seeks the same allegiance and worship. What makes him different from the LORD is his humanity, his history amongst men and women of Judea, his dying and resurrection make him unique and enduring.
What does it mean to be a Christian? To be one who gives their allegiance to the LORD of the Universe, Jesus of Nazareth. So how do you know if someone is a Christian, someone who has put their allegiance in Christ? Everything they do is done for Jesus, as a gift to him, or in response to his initiatives and teachings. It also means that we want every aspect of our life to reflect our allegiance, that we are not satisfied with offering only bits and pieces of our life. It also means that we live by grace, knowing how often we end up only offering bits and pieces of our life. By the grace we receive from Jesus the LORD, we give.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Why Kid's Ministry is Important
Yes, a ministry to children is important.
At Anchor, there are several reasons why we say yes.
One reason: for some children, they will not hear or learn anything constructive about the Scriptures while at home. Over the years, Anchor has had many children come to church on their own, which means that the importance of our kids ministry skyrockets. Within our public schools, the Associated Churches has a program where they travel around to the elementary schools providing some form of religious education. Fortuantely, many children are given some positive teaching about the Scriptures and Christianity. However, there is nothing that replaces the kind of ministry that can happen as part of a church gathering.
Another reason: many parents of children and youth want to make sure that some form of religious teaching is provided. They personally may not be that interested, but they want it for their kids. We're happy to oblige them. We're also convinced that if we do our kids ministry right, the benefits of it will increase the interest of the parents for their own religious awakening. Some of those parents are interested in their own spiritual growth, so they want to make sure that they are part of a church that can help each member of their family mature in their faith. We want to honor that interest.
And not the final reason: the impressions that children have of church has a lifelong impact. We want to make sure that our kids ministry impresses upon children patient love, contagious fun, helpful lessons. If kids have this kind of experience, they will be more likely to stay interested in church as a youth and as an adult. As teens become adults, they will possibly have some disillusionment with the church - it's just what happens. But despite the disillusionment, we want them to still have good memories; memories that provide a seedbed for hope. As teens become adults, they must shed their child-faith and develop an adult-faith; as they do this, we want them to not shed the memories of love, fun, and helpfulness, but to let those memories sustain their desire to rebuild their faith.
At Anchor, there are several reasons why we say yes.
One reason: for some children, they will not hear or learn anything constructive about the Scriptures while at home. Over the years, Anchor has had many children come to church on their own, which means that the importance of our kids ministry skyrockets. Within our public schools, the Associated Churches has a program where they travel around to the elementary schools providing some form of religious education. Fortuantely, many children are given some positive teaching about the Scriptures and Christianity. However, there is nothing that replaces the kind of ministry that can happen as part of a church gathering.
Another reason: many parents of children and youth want to make sure that some form of religious teaching is provided. They personally may not be that interested, but they want it for their kids. We're happy to oblige them. We're also convinced that if we do our kids ministry right, the benefits of it will increase the interest of the parents for their own religious awakening. Some of those parents are interested in their own spiritual growth, so they want to make sure that they are part of a church that can help each member of their family mature in their faith. We want to honor that interest.
And not the final reason: the impressions that children have of church has a lifelong impact. We want to make sure that our kids ministry impresses upon children patient love, contagious fun, helpful lessons. If kids have this kind of experience, they will be more likely to stay interested in church as a youth and as an adult. As teens become adults, they will possibly have some disillusionment with the church - it's just what happens. But despite the disillusionment, we want them to still have good memories; memories that provide a seedbed for hope. As teens become adults, they must shed their child-faith and develop an adult-faith; as they do this, we want them to not shed the memories of love, fun, and helpfulness, but to let those memories sustain their desire to rebuild their faith.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
It's Good
Being part of Anchor is good.
Part of what makes it good is who is part of Anchor.
Part of what makes it good is the atmosphere of Anchor.
Part of what makes it good is the location of our gathering.
And the best part of what makes it good is the good work God is doing in and through us.
I - we - need to keep remembering that Anchor is at it's best - not when we are gathered, but when we are out and about during the week. What makes being part of Anchor so good is not how great our gatherings are - though they are good- but how great our love is in the everyday moments of our life. If we don't show great love in little things (see Mother Teresa) during the week, we won't have much to praise God for when we gather on Sunday.
It's good to love others as we love God.
It's good to love God by loving Anchor.
It's good to be part of Anchor.
Part of what makes it good is who is part of Anchor.
Part of what makes it good is the atmosphere of Anchor.
Part of what makes it good is the location of our gathering.
And the best part of what makes it good is the good work God is doing in and through us.
I - we - need to keep remembering that Anchor is at it's best - not when we are gathered, but when we are out and about during the week. What makes being part of Anchor so good is not how great our gatherings are - though they are good- but how great our love is in the everyday moments of our life. If we don't show great love in little things (see Mother Teresa) during the week, we won't have much to praise God for when we gather on Sunday.
It's good to love others as we love God.
It's good to love God by loving Anchor.
It's good to be part of Anchor.
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