Adult Confirmation - Session 3: Jesus, Human + Divine

When we study Jesus and His ministry, there is a tendency for us to focus on just one aspect of His being. We find comfort in looking to Jesus the man; a man who laughed and cried, and who went through experiences and emotions not all that dissimilar to our own. At the same time, we are drawn to Jesus' divinity in the miracles He performed in order to find our own healing and hope. Yet, we cannot become fully formed disciples of Jesus Christ unless we partake in His fullness as the Word of God enfleshed - not just one half or another.

This intersection of humanity and divinity is prominent in Jesus' teachings. One of the main vehicles for these lessons were parables. These parables were illustrations that took imagery and substance that the men and women of 1st century Palestine would have understood, and infused them with powerful and transformational spiritual wisdom. Take for example this passage from Luke 13:18-19, 

"He said therefore, 'What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches'."

For us today, this illustration doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense (unless you're in the agriculture business). When we read these parables in Scripture, rather than pass over them when they don't make sense, let's pause, figure out what the message is, and try to put it into modern terms. This was the exercise our table groups did this past Sunday. Here is some of their work:

Matthew 18:10-14, "The Parable of the Lost Sheep"

• Point: Everyone is worth the same in God's eyes.
• Example: As a teacher, you have a classroom of twenty-five children, and twenty-three of the children understand the concept being taught. The teacher won't just settle on the twenty-three who were able to get it, but would make sure that the remaining two children did as well.

Luke 18:9-14, "The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector"

• Point: Don't give generously to draw attention to yourself. Give generously to draw attention to God.
• Example: A successful business man is close to retirement, and one of his last acts is giving $25 million to build a new education facility with his name on it, so that all who enter its doors know of his generosity. At the same time an oil man is also near retirement, and likewise, gives $25 million to build an education facility. The difference is that he does so anonymously. 

How can we partake in the wisdom of God if we skip over the parts we don't understand? This exercise was challenging, but rewarding. We would do well to not be fearful of the things which we can't comprehend, and instead prepare our hearts and minds to experience the fullness of Jesus Christ, the Word of God enfleshed.

Yours,

Michael C. Andres

Director of Discipleship

Adult Confirmation - Session 2: God + Creation

"When God began to create the heavens and the earth..."
"I believe in God the Father Almighty..."

These two opening phrases from Genesis and The Apostles' Creed respectively connect us with the first identifier of God - God as Creator. From the grains of sand on the beach to the gaseous star-birthing nebula light years away, all of it has come to be through the creative will of God. There is nothing in creation which can supplant God in word, thought or deed. And out of all of God's purposed creation, we are the ones who have been designated and tasked to be co-laborers with God, to exercise our own creative energies in stewardship and love of creation.

As a part of this responsibility, there is consequence. In Genesis 2, Adam is charged with naming creation; whatever something is named, that is what it shall be named. For example, Adam could have named an elephant, "Flappy Ear Tusk Trunker," and rather than God, ever so gently, encouraging Adam to pick a less cartoonish name, the name would have been allowed to stay. The point isn't about Adam naming every species in every genus; rather, the results of our decisions stand. There is consequence - for good or for bad - in being co-laborers in the Kingdom of God.

In exercising and sharing in this creative endeavor, we share in the results. Yet, because we are not God, our decisions and actions don't always align with God's creative and purposed will. The consequences of these erroneous decisions and actions - sin - have divided us from God, and upset the order of creation. We are a people in need of redemption; to have our relationship with God restored. This is why our redemptive narrative cannot simply begin with "In a manager..." In order for us to understand more thoroughly who we are, whose we are, and our call as co-laborers, we must trace our narrative back to "In the beginning..."

There was much, much more that we could have discussed and shared in exploration of "God + Creation." I am excited for our future sessions, and for the continued thoughtful and earnest discovery that will come in sharing in God's Word together!

Yours,
Michael C. Andres
Director of Discipleship

Adult Confirmation - Session 1: Introduction

Last Sunday evening was the first meeting of The Adult Confirmation Class, a new joint effort between the Discipleship and Youth Ministries of our church. Like the first day of school, I was both nervous and excited for this new phase in the life of the church to begin, and sure enough, the Holy Spirit's movement within the church compelled twenty-five men and women to take this next step in their faith journey. From lifelong disciples wanting to revisit their roots, to new Christians just beginning, we were a diverse group.

After reviewing our syllabus and set of expectations, I had the class join me in an exercise called "lectio divina" (holy reading). Our Scripture reading came from John 15:1-11, and the participants were given the following instructions for each reading:

• 1st Reading - Allow the words to wash over you and try not to concentrate on specifics
• 2nd Reading - Listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you, hold onto it briefly, but then let it go
• 3rd Reading - Listen for that same word or phrase again, and this time give thought as to why it was that word or phrase that came to you
• 4th Reading - Take that word or phrase and pray it 

The group shared what God revealed to them in the reading and reflection. We were amazed by the variety of  ways through which God spoke to us from the same set of words. While we will be reading from specific passage in regards to specific topics throughout the course, the ways in which God will speak to us and reveal His wisdom to us will look different to each of us. However, through our times of sharing, our experiences become one voice, and the Word of God will indeed be affirmed. 

It was indeed wonderful that there were more people than than we had chairs, but what is truly cause to celebrate and rejoice was that the men and women in that room left with a new passion to know and delve into God's Word. I am greatly looking forward to these next ten weeks!

Yours,

Michael C. Andres

Director of Discipleship