Renewal Church

Mary, a young girl, engaged to be married. Innocent and pure, but a common peasant with no distinguishing story or accomplishments. History was ready to forget about her...until God.

God’s merciful eye fell upon her and the world has never been the same. This nameless, faceless descendant of Abraham was chosen by God. Her womb would house and nurture the word made flesh. She would give birth to the Messiah, the one who is life and who is the light of all people, a light that dispels all darkness.

Isn’t this true of all of us who belong to God? Obscure. Forgettable. Yet, chosen. Washed in our Savior’s redeeming blood. Filled with the Spirit. Loved by God. Instruments of light that God uses to make all things new!

Being a Christian is more than changing sides or joining a new team. It’s more than deciding to live a different way. It’s more than praying a prayer or beginning to read the Bible. It includes all that...but it’s so much more!

Becoming a Christian a supernatural phenomenon. To follow Jesus is to become a part of Jesus; to enter into Jesus. Just as the root is in the soil, the bird is in the air, and the car is in the garage, so we are in Christ when we become believers. The Apostle Paul said we are “in Christ” in the first 14 verses of Ephesians 1. Eleven times!

This changed everything – the world! – 2000 years ago. And this changes everything now.

Being a Christian is more than changing sides or joining a new team. It’s more than deciding to live a different way. It’s more than praying a prayer or beginning to read the Bible. It includes all that...but it’s so much more!

Becoming a Christian a supernatural phenomenon. To follow Jesus is to become a part of Jesus; to enter into Jesus. Just as the root is in the soil, the bird is in the air, and the car is in the garage, so we are in Christ when we become believers. The Apostle Paul said we are “in Christ” in the first 14 verses of Ephesians 1. Eleven times!

This changed everything – the world! – 2000 years ago. And this changes everything now.

When we look at the New Testament, we see a Savior who had no place to lay his head. We meet disciples who were persecuted. We see a church that was so poor that a guy like Paul had to travel around and raise money for it. We see another group of believers who endured the plundering of their property and some of them were even hauled off to prison — presumably for their faithfulness to God. So what was it that fueled the relentless faith of these people? What kept them from growing bitter toward God? This Sunday, we are going to gaze into the magnitude glory of Jesus and what he meant to these ancient believers. And what he means to so many people around the world today. Our hope is that we will grasp what the blessed life truly is: living in union with Christ and relishing the lavish grace of Christ. This will get us through any storm.