Being Made New

The Apostle Paul said that those who commit their lives to Christ are made new. The old person dies and a new life begins. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is more than simply making some improvements in our lives. It is becoming new in Jesus Christ.

That’s the way I’m looking at my New Years Resolutions. Where is it that I need to be made new in Christ? I need more than simply to improve. I need to be changed by the power of Christ.

As I think about that, I remember what Paul said in Romans 7; “I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” He would go on to write, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:18-19, 24-25; NRSV)

It is Christ who makes us new. Through His Word, God gives us some instructions on living this new life, this changed life. That’s what we are going to be looking at in the message series that begins this Sunday, January 10, 2010 – “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick.” The issue really is being changed and staying changed. We cannot do that on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to keep the change.

This is what John Wesley referred to as Sanctifying Grace. It is the grace of God that justifies us, makes us clean, gives us a new life. He called that Justifying Grace. Sanctifying Grace transforms us and gives us the power to live differently, to live the change. If you want to understand and experience the fullness of God’s grace, I recommend the Emmaus Walk. If you want to know more about this 72 hour spiritual weekend, drop me an email. Or, talk to someone who has attended the Walk to Emmaus.

We have many new, exciting, faith-growing classes beginning tonight. I encourage you to find a class to grow deeper in your faith. I know it is cold outside, but the heaters are working here. If you are reading this after Wednesday, then come next Wednesday. It will not be too late to join a class.

Over the next few Sundays there will be training in several areas vital to the growth of the church. It begins this Sunday, January 10th with Fellowship Friends and Prayer Usher Training. Fellowship Friends come alongside new members to help them get connected to the Body of Christ here at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon. That training begins at 12:15 and includes lunch. To help us be good stewards of the food, please sign up with the office. Prayer Ushers serve alongside the pastors during the altar times in our worship services. That training will be at 4:00 PM.

The following Sunday, January 17, there will be Hospitality Training at 4:00 PM. We are all responsible to make this a welcoming community. But with the many entrances to this facility, it is easy for people to enter and not be truly welcome. It can even happen in the main entrance places if we are not being intentional. This training will essentially be Hospitality 101. Come see where you might use your gifts to make guests feel truly welcomed.

On Sunday, January 24, there will be two more training events. Our Evangelism System training will be at 12:15. This one includes lunch, so please sign up. There are a variety of opportunities in our Evangelism System where volunteers are needed who have a heart to bring people into the church. The Evangelism System includes Sunday Computer Teams, First Time Visitor Follow-up, Telephone Teams, Cultivation Teams and Welcome Wagon Teams.

Also on January 24, Care Team Captain training will be held at 4:00 PM. These teams are vital to providing care to our growing congregation. Each Team consists of about 5 families. The Captain sees that the Care Team truly cares for one another.

Participation in any of these training does not obligate you to serve in that area. Come and learn what your church is doing and see if one of these might be a place you can use the Gifts God has given you.

You may have seen that some warming shelters have been established in the area to provide a place for people to get out of the cold. Boutwell Audorium will be open as a place to sleep during this period of record cold. They opened Tuesday night and will be open through Sunday night. Hours are 6:00 PM to 7:00 AM. There will not be any meals provided, but some warm drinks and snack. http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/01/downtown_birmingham_warming_sh.html

There is an opportunity to volunteer at the warming shelter. Volunteers are needed to help guests feel welcome, serve coffee, help families to their cots, general clean up and help with the information booth. If you would like to volunteer, here’s a contact email Candi@handsonbirmingham.org.

As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.