j.p. serrano

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

(John 3:3 NIV)

As Lutherans we often have trouble with John 3:3.  Some people have used the term born-again as a classifier to denote a certain kind of “better” Christian.  We hear it with questions like, “Are you a born-again Christian?”  As if there were hierarchy among those who are followers of Jesus.  Well, there is only one response for the Lutheran follower of Christ, a resounding, “Yes.” 

So what does it mean to be born again? 

(A little background, skip this if you get bored easily)

The Greek phrase for Born again in this passage is gennethe anothen.  The New Revised Standard Version translates this pericope, “born from above.”   Another translation comes from the American Standard Version and the World English Bible, which renders the phrase, “born anew.”  The phrase is actually a Greek idiom, which is most accurately rendered in the NIV main text as born again.

We ought not shy away from this verse because it is apart of our scripture and has something to teach us.  We all need a new start.  Jesus is telling us that in order for us to understand what he is talking about and see his Kingdom at work in the world, we need fresh eyes from which to look.  We get those eyes in a very specific way—Baptism. 

When we were baptized, we died with Christ and where raised with Him into a new way of living.  But, as with most new things, we need practice.  For us this new way of seeing fades over time—like any skill—if it is not cultivated.  Just as with any discipline like music and sports we need perseverance and continual repetition to advance our skill.  If we want to be able to see God’s Kingdom at work, there are things we must do to tune in to it. 

These practices come in the form of meditating on scriptures, listening to God in silence, participating in the sacraments, and worshiping with a community.  Here is what you can do this next year to tune into God’s Kingdom.

Spend time in the scriptures.  Read the Bible a few chapters at a time and ask God to speak to you through your reading.  After you read the chapters sit in silence and listen to what God has to say to you.  This practice helps one become tuned in to what God is doing in their life and in the world.  For a scriptural example of this read 1 Kings 19:1-21.

Friends, this New Year may you remember that you are born again.  May feel a freshness in your faith in 2009 and may you remember James 4:8. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

My hope is that this will be our rallying verse for this New Year.

Peace,

Jeremy            

F.Y.I. iThoughts are articles I write for My Church’s monthly newsletter.

December is my favorite month.  In it we mark two transitions.  At the beginning of the month we celebrate the start of the Christian year in Advent, and at the end of the month we celebrate the end and beginning of the calendar year.  It is a great time of anticipation for not only the coming of Jesus, but also for what God will do in our lives this next Church year.  Here is a brief look at our Church Year.

            Advent is a four-week period where we prepare for Christmas.  In advent we look forward to the coming of hope into the world with the Christ child—the King, God with us, Savior.  We anticipate God’s reign in the world and over our lives through his Word.  This is a time when we can look forward to how God will use the Church seasons to transform us into more devoted followers of Jesus.

            Christmas begins with evening prayer on Dec. 24^th and ends with midday prayer on Jan. 5^th.  It is during the Christmas season that we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord.  After Christmas day marks the beginning of what is usually called the twelve days of Christmas.  During this time we should reflect on how Jesus has come into the world and into our lives.

            Epiphany follows the Christmas season and ends on Ash Wednesday.  It begins with the feast of Epiphany on Jan 6, which celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child.    The term Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, which means manifestation.  The Epiphany season is a time in which the community of believers celebrates the appearance of Jesus as God and man.  In Epiphany we celebrate Jesus’ Baptism and the Transfiguration.  During this season we are mindful of Jesus’ person and that he is the one who came to die for the sins of the world.

            Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with midday prayer on Holy Saturday (The Saturday before Easter).  Ash Wednesday begins this season by the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers as a sign of penitence and a reminder of human mortality.  Lent is a time in which we “lengthen” our faith by preparing ourselves for what Jesus does during holy week.

            Holy week culminates the preparation time of Lent.  It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday.  We focus, during this time, on Jesus life in Jerusalem until his resurrection. On Maundy Thursday we are reminded of Jesus’ “mandate” to practice the Holy meal and serve the world.  On Good Friday we mourn the death of Christ but at the same time joy remains because we know that Easter is around the corner.

            The Season of Easter is a victory celebration for the resurrection of Christ and his victory over sin and death. It is a time for all Christians to proclaim their faith boldly in the risen Lord.  In Easter we celebrate the Ascension and the season ends with Pentecost, the celebration of the birth of the church with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  It is a time to be reminded of the joy that we have because we have been set free from our sin.

            The longest season of the year is the season after Pentecost.  During this time the Church focuses on growing in God’s grace by focusing on the teachings of the Lord.  We hear about Jesus’ healings and teaching his disciples.  It is a time when believers should look to the teachings of Jesus in order to be transformed by his word.  The last Sunday of the year is celebrated as Christ the King Sunday.

I hope that this next year is more than just steady monotony of daily routine; I pray that this church allows God to work though the Seasons to transform you into an even more faithful servants and followers. Amen.

Peace,

Jeremy Serrano

F.Y.I. iThoughts are articles I write for My Church’s monthly newsletter.

What is the most important function of Youth Ministry?

A)   Introducing young people to Jesus.

B)    Providing healthy activities.

C)   Involving young people in service.

D)   Good theological training.

E)   Making them leaders.

ANSWER: None of the above.

The most important function of youth ministry is life-long discipleship—to join with parents in shaping children into unabashed, boisterous, reckless followers of the way of Jesus.

I think often we have mistaken notions and expectations for what ministry to young people should look like.  I often hear that the young people should have more activities; extra events in general—more stuff “to do.”  But discipleship does not come through more fun activities.   In fact, I am of the school of thought that believes we should slow down, live fully in the present, and see God in the stillness.  It is the job of every youth ministry to stop the ever quickening, plugged in, pace of youth and help them waken to the presence of God around us.  It the job of the youth leaders to help the youth become fully awake to what God is doing around them.

A youth ministry cannot only be about one thing, but it can have one goal with a wide base for support.  That is why here we focus on the F.L.O.W. way of forming lifelong disciples. F.L.O.W. stands for: Fellowship, Learning, Outreach, Worship.  Our ministry to Jr. & Sr. High youth takes the following shape. 

We meet weekly for Youth Group and Sunday School, so youth can fellowship with one another and learn about the Bible.  Once a month, we have an activity for youth to bring their friends.  This month the youth group will be trick or treating together.  This is an activity that is created in such a way that youth can feel comfortable bringing their friends knowing that it will not be a “churchy” activity.   It is a good way for them to make connections in the group.  We have also been doing Outreach/Service this year by providing lunches for the Union Station Foundation.  Additionally, we encourage the youth to come weekly worship.

            We have a very solid Jr. & Sr. High ministry, to get to this stage in the ministry building process has taken time (2 years) and patience.  As we come into the New Year expect to see some changes to the Children’s Ministry with a similar focus of helping children become life-long disciples.

            Change comes slowly for good reason.  We must be careful of what we are focusing on, if it is anything other than Jesus, we have lost our way.  If it becomes about numbers or fear that we are a dying congregation, then we will have completely missed the words of our Savior, when he says “Go and make disciples.”  We don’t make disciples by providing more “stuff.”  We make disciples by getting into peoples lives, having lasting relationships, praying with them, studying scripture with them, and bringing them into a community where they can be loved and appreciated for who they are.

Peace,

Jeremy Serrano

F.Y.I. iThoughts are articles I write for My Church’s monthly newsletter.

Recently I read a news story about a man who was auctioning his life over the Internet.  For a certain amount, he was hoping $500,000, the man would walk away from his life with only the clothes on his back.  The winning bidder would be introduced to his friends, receive his house with all of it’s content, his Job for a week, possibly longer if the bidder was a solid worker, and take over his hobbies.  This seller wanted to walk away with what he thought was a clean slate.  What prompted this, you may ask?  Well it all came about after the seemingly sudden divorce between he and his wife.

If only it were this easy. 

There is no doubt in my mind that this man is severely traumatized by his divorce.  So much so that he thinks if he moves away, and has no ties to his past it will make his life easier. 

I have known people who have ran to far away colleges, moved across the country, and even out of the country, because they thought if they just moved far enough away from the place were they were unhappy, it would all be better.  The fact of the matter is our pain follows us were we go.  The scars we carry are not location based.  The likelihood of us feeling better long term when running from our problems is zero to none.  The hard task of working through our situations with all of the emotional and spiritual baggage needs to be met head on.  Emotions and pain don’t get buried and die, they get buried alive and will eventually poke their ugly heads out.

In Matt. 11:28, Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

We all may not have the traumatic voice of divorce in our ear, but we all carry burdens.  Jesus calls us to come to him, He will help, He will heal.

-peace

jps

F.Y.I. iThoughts are articles I write for My Church’s monthly newsletter.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5.16-18)

As Lutherans we pride ourselves in the way we view the Bible.  We divided it up into two main categories-Law and Gospel.  The Law is prescriptive; in other words it tells us what we are supposed to being doing with how we are to live our lives).  The Gospel is descriptive; it describes what God has done for us (how God loves us, saves us).  If you didn’t already know this consider it your in depth Lutheran theology for the month.

The passage above falls under the prescriptive category.  Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians is exhorting them to rejoice, and give thanks at all times in all places.  Truly this is a hard command and difficult to maintain.  The question that I often hear is; how is one to maintain joy and give thanks in all circumstances?  Well, I think that the modern church has played word games with passages like this and written them as being unattainable.  I, however, do not believe that God through Paul would give us a command that we could not attain.

I think we have made pain and sadness the converse of Joy, and this is simply not the case.  Sadness is the opposite of happiness, while despair is the opposite of joy.  One can be sad and in pain and still maintain the Joy of Christ’s indwelling.  In fact, the book of Acts recounts an incident after the Apostles were flogged.  “As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”  Rejoicing after receiving punishment?  There is no doubt they were in pain and badly beaten, but they were still rejoicing.  They had the knowledge of Christ indwelling and put their hope in Him. 

This kind of Joy only comes to those who have abandoned their lives into God’s hands, without such surrender joy will always be elusive.  If we continue to put God in the passenger seat of our lives, then we will have something missing.  If we choose ourselves to be our own masters, then we are picking a person who does not know the best course for our lives.  The hard part of our faith is walking the narrow path letting Jesus into every room in our mental, emotional, and physical houses-allowing Him ultimately do the clean up.  I say allow because Jesus does not enter into an area of your life if you continually push Him out, or keep him away from.

I think Job was this kind of person.  He was wealthy with land, career, and family and God allowed it all to be taken away from him.  Before his wife died, the whole family was without land and wealth, she said to Job,  “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.”  But Job kept his trust in God. 

Shadrach, Mishach and Abed-nego, before they were about to be thrown in the fire said to the king,

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

This is the kind of trust that brings a life of Joy-God is able to save us, but even if he doesn’t we will still follow.  O, that we would all attain this kind of trust, faith, and Joy.

-jps

F.Y.I. iThoughts are articles I write for My Church’s monthly newsletter.