“Christianity Explored”

Sunday’s service focused on introducing our church to the “content” of the course “Christianity Explored.”  In order to ground us in the basics of the gospel and to initiate our church evangelism project 2012, IBCB is studying this seven-week look at the life of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Mark in our small groups or in the church-based Wednesday group.

Here are the slides from Sunday’s introductory training session.  Review these slides to complete your notes and to incorporate these truths into your life.  Make plans to participate in one of our Christianity Explored groups and get to know the process so that you can invite friends to the next course.

Experiencing the Word: Who am I?

“Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’” Mark 5:9 (NIV)

What is your name?

In some cultures, names carry with them major significance.  For example, in Germany the name “Hohenzollern” is that of the royal family.  If “von” is before your last name then your family comes from the aristocracy.  In other cultures names are given because of their meaning in order to make a statement to the child and to others.  For example, some people choose the name “Grace” or “Faith” to declare their gratitude or trust in God.

In biblical times, names were a statement of identity and character.  That’s why God’s name…Yahweh..”I am who I am”…is praised.  It tells us that God is the eternal and unchanging God of love, grace, mercy, and justice.  That’s who God is and always will be.  That’s how God acts—in keeping with his character and identity.

That’s why it is so important for us to know our “name”—our identity…or who we are.  When we know who we are then we begin to act in ways that give expression to that identity.  When we are confused about our identity is shows itself in the way that we act.  So, to get clarity about how we should live, get clarity about who you are.

So, who are you?  What is your name?  As a follower of Jesus Christ, this is what God says about you and me:

• I am God’s child (John 1:12)
• I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
• I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
• I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)
• I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am a member of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
• I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
• I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
• I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)

And these are just a few of the things that are true of us…not because of what we’ve done…but because of who Jesus is and what he’s done for us!

Receive the truth and let God renew your mind.  Allow the Spirit to correct everything in your thinking that is not in keeping with God’s truth.  Thank God and praise him for what he’s done and who he has made and is making you to be.  When you begin to get a grasp of who you are, then you will begin to live in keeping with your identity.

What is your name?  God says your name is “my child.”  You’re a child of the King.  You’re a part of God’s royal family.  You’ve received an inheritance of love, grace, mercy, and justice.

Now go and live like it!

Scott Corwin, Pastor

The Naked Anabaptist

The Naked Anabaptist by Stuart Murray

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No wonder I like this book!

My “general” Baptist background kindles in me warm affections for my Anabaptist cousins. Add to that my Anabaptist studies under the tutelage of Wayne Pipkin in Zürich and my interest in the theology/ethics of James William McClendon, Jr. and my ‘baptist convictions are fanned into flame. On top of it all, T.B. Maston’s Christ-centered, discipleship ethics–the focus of my doctoral studies–fueled my passions for a “life and teachings of Jesus” focus. (BTW: Maston was one of McClendon’s professors.)

I like the fact that “The Naked Anabaptist” puts this “third way” back into the conversation especially since this counter-cultural ‘baptist perspective has something significant to say about “following after Jesus” in a postmodern/post-Christian world. Two significant contributions: This perspective speaks to issues of personal discipleship in the company of the community of faith in the context of the broader culture and adds a balancing corrective to an evangelicalism too often dominated by Reformed scholasticism.

I highly recommend this book though one must read it with a view to its inherent limitations (i.e. written by an “outsider” summarizing Anabaptism from a contemporary rather than historical point of view).

View all my reviews

2nd Service and Children’s Ministry

Over the past few months, IBCB’s leadership and deacon councils have been prayerfully considering starting a second worship service.  All indications lead us to believe that this is an important and strategic decision for us as a church and that now is the time for us to act.

We conducted an informal survey during worship to find out which times would be best for a second service and after reviewing the information we’ve identified 16:00 h as the most likely time for a second service.  The major logistical issue for our current consideration is our ministry to children.  Some of the questions that come to mind:

• How do we best minister to our children?
• Which is most important–family worship or children’s Bible study?
• When do we offer Bible study for our children?
• How do we find volunteers for additional children’s ministry responsibilities?

These questions are not easily answered.  They too require wisdom and guidance that comes from God.  Convinced that God speaks through the body, I’ve prepared another survey specifically for the parents of children.  This survey is intended to help the leaders and deacons get a clearer sense of the needs of our families with children so that we might plan accordingly.

• Here are some of the possibilities into which we need your insight:
• Would families bring their children to worship later on Sunday afternoons (16:00 h)?
• Would they expect for us to offer children’s Bible study during that time?
• Would those families prefer a family worship and forego children’s Bible study?
• What if we had an all-age Bible study after a 1st service and before a 2nd service?

We need to hear from parents!  So, please, take a few minutes to complete the survey embedded below.  (If you have trouble with this embedded survey, please, click here.) On Sunday immediately following worship, I will meet briefly with parents (5 – 10 minutes) to give some explanation and to get some feedback.  Thanks for participating in God’s work in and through IBCB!

ReFresh 2012 Retreat #1

What a great experience to see a diversity of people representing a wide-ranging variety of individuals within our church coming together to pray, consult Scripture, share our convictions, listen with consideration, prioritize our values, and develop a first draft of our core values statement.  And we did it all with unity and laughter!

We sensed God’s presence and guidance in our time together as we began our strategic planning process, ReFresh 2012.  It comes at the end of our 21 Days to Breakthrough–IBCB’s first of the year emphasis to dedicate this year to God’s purpose in our lives as individuals, in our lives as families, and in our life together as a church.  God never disappoints!

Below is a slide show of the presentation and handouts for the Friday and Saturday sessions.  Take a look at these to get a sense of what we did and to get into the process yourself.  You can expect to hear from the Vision Team and to participate through a “Core Values Audit” in the near future.

This was a great first step in our ReFresh process.  Praise the Lord!