“You must be born again.” John 3:7

Jesus and Nicodemus

New birth brings about new life!

If you hadn’t noticed, we have a bit of a baby boom going on at IBCB.  The Lehmann’s started things off—a bit prematurely—and will soon be followed by at least three other babies in the near future…including one this week.  I had a chance to visit in the neonatal ward of the hospital this week and to see firsthand the result of new births.  Lots of new life…and not only that of the babies!  Mothers and fathers, siblings, nurses, doctors, relatives, church-family, and others were bustling about celebrating, supporting, nurturing, and caring for the new borns.

New birth brings about new life!

That’s the way it is for our new life in Christ.  We experience being “born again” and everything is new and different.  We receive new life and a new family.  We learn how to live our new life—how to eat, talk, walk, etc.—and we learn what it means to be a part of a family.  We are shaped and called by new birth:  we are made new in Christ; we have a new purpose in God’s family and in God’s world.  We are formed inwardly and are called to live outwardly.  New birth calls us to a journey of personal and public discipleship.

How has this year’s “Lenten journey to the cross” influenced your personal discipleship?  Have you discovered or practiced a “new” spiritual discipline…a “holy habit”…that has deepened your spiritual passion?  Perhaps you’ve tried fasting for the first time?  Maybe you have learned to practice the presence of God through the “daily office”?  Your new life in Christ is one that includes “living like Jesus” and these “practices” were habits of Jesus’ life!

How has this year’s “Lenten journey to the cross” influence your public discipleship?   What have you done to break down racial barriers and to proclaim the oneness of God’s people?  What issue have you selected to be your personal, family, or small group expression of God’s concern for justice in the world?  What will you do to live like Jesus and to proclaim the Kingdom of God?  Your new life in Christ is one that includes “proclaiming the year of our Lord;” that’s what Jesus did!

May God grow us all in personal and public discipleship as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ…

On a Lenten Journey to the Cross,

Scott Corwin, Pastor

Sunday’s Sermon Slides:  Shaped and Called Shaped by New Birth

Listen to Sunday’s Sermon by clicking here.