Tag: christianity

On Christmas

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Quotes2 Comments

On this side of eternity, Christmas is still a promise. Yes, the Savior has come, and with him peace on earth, but the story is not finished. Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long for peace in our world.

Every Christmas is still a “turning of the page” until Jesus returns. Every December 25th marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that draws us closer to…home.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you long for peace in the world this Christmas?
  2. Do you long for home?

Resources

Joni Eareckson Tada, A Christmas Longing, 137 via Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus edited by Nancy Guthrie

Image

Longing For Peace?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

Peace

We are in the midst of the Christmas season. It’s a time to be merry. A time to celebrate with family. A time to give. Most importantly, it is a time to celebrate and learn more about Jesus’ birth. The church calendar commonly refers to this time of year as Advent. With Advent in full swing, I have been studying a lot about Jesus’ birth.

Jesus’ Birth Announcement

As we all know Jesus was born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem. After his birth, an angel appeared to shepherds in a nearby field revealing to them the good news. As the angel wrapped up his report, a multitude of angels appeared singing praises to God.

Here is what they sang,

“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!“

What is in a Song?

Among other things, their song reveals Jesus brings peace to the world. His subsequent death on a cross will, and now has, purchased peace for man.

Peace, the Longing of Man

If we are honest with ourselves, we all want peace. We look for it in all sorts of ways. Some seek peace through drugs or alcohol. Others through the neighborhood in which they live. Still others through meditating, self-help books, or vacations. 

But you know what? The peace we seek cannot be found in earthly things. No matter what we do, we will never experience true peace until our relationship with God is restored. The only way to restore our relationship with God is through Jesus.

It’s Christmas, and I am an evangelical, so I have to ask: Do you believe Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior? Have you experienced the peace only He can offer? If you haven’t turned to Jesus, turn to Him. Repent of your sins. Submit your life to Him. The peace you are seeking is found only in Him.

Question for Reflection

  1. Have you experienced the peace only Jesus can provide?

Resource

Image

On Isaiah 9:6 & Jesus’ Incarnation

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, QuotesLeave a comment

The Son of God did not want to be seen and found in heaven. Therefore he descended from heaven into this humility and came to us in our flesh, laid himself into the womb of his mother and into the manger and went on to the cross.

This was the ladder that he placed on earth so that we might ascend to God on it.

Question for Reflection

  1. What should our response be to Jesus’ incarnation?

Resources

Martin Luther on Isaiah 9:6 via Stephen J. Nichols, Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas, 56-57.

Image

4 Reasons Christian Community is Important

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Practical5 Comments

People in Transit

Some see Christian community as optional.  They don’t see Christian community as a necessary part of their Christian life. It is a take it or leave it sort of thing. They go to church when they want, and they associate with other Christians on their terms.

I, however, believe Christian community is an important and necessary part of our Christian life. It is something all Christians should strive to cultivate.

4 Reasons Christian Community is Important

First, being apart of a Christian community is important because it’s vital for Christian growth.

We need other Christians to teach us, encouragement us, pray for and with us. We need other Christians to hold us accountable and provide us with godly counsel. All of which are vital for Christian growth. Without them, we might grow some, but we aren’t going to become fully mature disciples of Christ.

Second, being apart of a Christian community is important because it’s vital for our well being.

Being apart of a Christian community means that when we fall on hard times, we have somewhere to turn. We can count on the church for financial assistance and general care. All of which are vital to our well being.

Third, being apart of a Christian community is important because it’s vital for our mission.

As Christians we are called to make disciples. Making disciples includes winning people to Christ, baptizing them, and teaching them, so that they become fully mature followers of Jesus Christ. In order to be an effect witness, we need Christian community. In order to effectively teach others, we need Christian community.

Lastly, being apart of a Christian community is important because community is a Grace.

It is a gift God has given us. Sadly many in the American church don’t recognize it as a gift of God. I think that’s because we are free to worship as we please, where we please, and with whom we please. We have taken for granted what we have. Commenting on this one writer says,

“It is true, of course, that what is an unspeakable gift of God for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden under foot by those who have the gift every day. It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us… Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living a common Christian life with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.” [1]

Conclusion

Christian community is important and its something we should desire. All believers should want to be apart of a Christian community. To gather together with other believers. To fellowship with them. To do life together with them. To worship with them. By nature Christians are a communal people. God has set it up that way, and we should honor God’s design. We should be apart of a community of believers.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you believe Christian community is important?
  2. Would you add another point to my four above?

Resources

Want to learn more? You should check out:

Image

[1] Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 20

On Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Quotes3 Comments

Repentance and faith are heart postures you take toward the finished work of Christ. You might express the beginning of that posture in a prayer. But don’t make the mistake of equating that prayer with the posture.

The sinner’s prayer is not a magic incantation or a recipe you follow to get a salvation cake.

The real stuff – the stuff that matters – is the posture of repentance and faith behind the words you speak. The prayer is good only insofar as it verbalizes the posture.

Questions for Reflection

  1. What do you think of the sinners prayer?

Resources

J.D. Greear, Stop asking Jesus into your heart, 7.

Image

Christian Community Occurs In and Through Jesus

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Practical5 Comments

Jesus Cross

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together, a book exploring Christian community, says,

“Christianity means community through Jesus and in Jesus.” 1

Bonhoeffer blends two concepts into one succinct sentence.

Bonhoeffer’s Two Concepts

(1) Only those who profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior experience Christian community. 

You can’t pay your way into Christian community. Only through Jesus’ payment on the cross and our subsequent salvation are we granted entrance.

In other words, only through a relationship with Jesus Christ are we able to experience Christian community.  That’s because Christian community isn’t a club or organization. It is a gathering of believers whose hearts have been changed by the gospel.

(2) Only those who are empowered by Jesus can live in Christian community.

We not only must experience the grace, love, mercy, peace and forgiveness of God before we can express it in community, but we must also be empowered by Jesus to live in Christian community in a way that honors Him.

Christian community is comprised of people from every walk of life, nationality, race, socioeconomic class, etc. It is a melting pot that is ignited and sustained by Jesus. Only through His empowering are we able to live together in a way that honors Him.

Conclusion

Bonhoeffer is right. Without Jesus there is no Christian community. We need Him to create it through His death on the cross. As well as we need Him to sustain it through His empowerment.

Christian community then, in Bonhoeffer’s words, does in fact occur “through Jesus and in Jesus.”

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do believe Christian community occurs in and through Jesus?
  2. How have you experienced Jesus bridging the gaps between you and others who are not like you?
  3. How have you experienced Jesus empowering you to live in Christian community?

Resources

Want to learn more? You should check out:

Image

_____________

  1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 21. ↩