This is part three of an informal conversation between Jim Reynolds and his grandson, Jadon.

They engaged in an informal exchange of questions and answers on a variety of subjects including church history and tradition, the doctrine and the unity of the church, the modern Christian culture, and the role of women in the church. 

Other subjects addressed are the Bible vs. culture, the sanctity of marriage, homosexuality, and same sex marriage, the issue of church vs. state, identity politics, and Jesus the Lordship of Jesus.

This is part two of an informal conversation between Jim Reynolds and his grandson, Jadon.

They engaged in an informal exchange of questions and answers on a variety of subjects including church history and tradition, the doctrine and the unity of the church, the modern Christian culture, and the role of women in the church.

Other subjects addressed are the Bible vs. culture, the sanctity of marriage, homosexuality, and same sex marriage, the issue of church vs. state, identity politics, and Jesus the Lordship of Jesus.

This is part one of an informal conversation between Jim Reynolds and his grandson, Jadon.

 They engaged in an informal exchange of questions and answers on a variety of subjects including church history and tradition, the doctrine and the unity of the church, the modern Christian culture, and the role of women in the church.

Other subjects addressed are the Bible vs. culture, the sanctity of marriage, homosexuality, and same sex marriage, the issue of church vs. state, identity politics, and Jesus the Lordship of Jesus.

The Bible, as I conceived of it, tells of a God who at times in the past was very near, but for the most part was “above the bright blue.”  For example he was very near us during the life of Jesus and for another seventy years after Jesus disappeared, but then his Spirit left us, leaving the best book in the world, the Bible as a memento of his visit to this planet.  We talked about the Second Coming of Jesus as if he was long gone now, but would some day find his way back.  All of this created a strange distance between us and a God that we said loved the world.  Through the years I began to realize that Jesus did not “go off somewhere.”  He ascended to the “right hand of God.”  This is a biblical phrase for his assuming his place as Lord of heaven and earth during these times before he “appears” to bring all things to completion.  At Pentecost, less than a month after Jesus’ ascension, Peter declared that Jesus, as ascended Lord, was pouring out the Spirit in Jerusalem.  Jesus was in fact very near.  Wow!  Come explore with us where Jesus went and why it matters.

When someone first asked me the question, “Why did Jesus live?” I was knocked off balance.  The answer was not hard.  In fact it seemed very appropriate.  Yet I was aware that I had asked and been asked a very different question all my life.  “Why did Jesus die?”  It seemed that everything that happened between Jesus birth and death was relatively unimportant.  Also after His resurrection Jesus apparently just disappeared.  So for years I never thought much about the second question, “Why does Jesus live now?”  This has become embarrassing for me to admit. These two questions are on my mind now and the answers to the two questions about His life give me perspective on why He died. Jesus is now “ruling and reigning at the right hand of God.”  Come and explore the beautiful life of Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who became flesh, and is now the ascended Lord of this world.

I have read Paul’s letters more than I have read and prayed the words of King Jesus in the Gospels.   Paul was converted by King Jesus.  He was sent with authority by Jesus to the nations.  It was Jesus who established the Kingdom of God on earth, not Paul.  It was Jesus who was with God before the world began, became a man, lived, died, was raised, and ascended to the Father, not Paul.  Paul was self-described as an administrator of the Mystery to the Gentiles.  Jesus was and is the Mystery.  Come and explore why the Scriptures make a lot more sense when we give Jesus his rightful place as Lord of all.

Because only these four books give us eye witness accounts of the life of Jesus, Israel’s Messiah, Savior and Lord of the world.  Stories tell us who we are.  If someone asks us who we are we tell stories. The story of Jesus as told by these four witnesses reveal who He is, who God is, and who we are with stunning clarity.  The stories tell us about his birth, his tumultuous three year ministry, his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the Father.  The Gospels are of first importance because eye witnesses tell us of what they saw, heard, touched, and loved, the amazing life of the Word becoming one with us.  What is amazing is all four Gospels tell us that Jesus wants us to become a part of His story.  “Follow me.  Come and see.”  Come and explore why the Four Gospels are of first importance for all of us.

The answer is no and yes.  Our faith is not about hearing what Christ said long ago.  It is rather the real Son of God at our side and in our bodies, giving us life and turning us into real live people.  Yet the Four Gospels, all written to disciples, call us to follow a real historical Jesus, taking on his character, obeying His words and doing His mission.  They tell us who he was and what he did and what he is doing now!  The stories and words of the Four Gospels guard against us making Jesus to fit who we would like Him to be.  Mohammad, for example, did this in the 7thcentury.  The Gospels declare that the Jesus, who lives in us now, is the historical Jesus described in real time two thousand years ago.  Come and explore why we need the Four Gospels to know the living Christ today.

The word Gospel means Good News. It is about the “Breaking News” of what God has done, is doing, and will do in the world that will forever change this world.  The Good News is not about how I respond to God with faith, repentance, and baptism.  The Good News is not that the Church is full of good people.  It isn’t!  The Gospel is not “Jesus died for my sins so I can go to heaven when I die.”  That is a small piece of it.  So what is the King Jesus good News?  Come and explore with us these questions and much more.

Why do we pull over when the patrol car’s red lights are blinking at us?  In one word, authority. Someone with the right and the power to arrest us is communicating to us.  Authority is not something we construct or can escape on this earth.  It is something already in the world when we are born.  Does reacting against abuses of authority lead us into freedom?  Have you noticed how musical groups and symphonies are full of very gifted people who have submitted themselves to the music, a conductor and other musicians in order to play the most beautiful music?  Could the church be like a big band or symphony or choir?  Come and explore these challenges with us.