Mandarin Baptist Church

As stewards, we celebrate the Gospel here; we celebrate redemption, restoration, healing, and the things of God. Even in the middle of difficult times, we choose to celebrate the mercies of God. "Celebration is godly defiance in the culture of doubt" - Jon Tyson.

Not only do we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, the central point of our faith, but because of what He's done, we celebrate our own resurrection. He rose from the grave to life, and raises us to new life with Him. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life!

Christ’s own joy, comfort, happiness and glory are enlarged as he shows grace and mercy; as he pardons and relieves; as he brings comfort to his own. - Gentle and Lowly

We are a people who are coming to know Jesus; becoming like Jesus; and living as Jesus lived as we make our way on this journey. 

According to scripture, we should be explorers and stewards of the mysteries of God. When we lose sight of the Gospel of Christ, we are truly missing the central aspect of the church He began. We should constantly be preaching and responding to the mystery of God, which is the Gospel, in our lives. We should then steward it well and make it our focus.

We must constantly ask of ourselves, "Are we a place where those in the community know that they will experience belonging?" Nothing and no one supersedes the Gospel. It will change us, transform us, and challenge us as God is the one who gives the growth. As we mature in faith we will search our hearts to evaluate how we have been complicit in under-playing the Gospel. 

In First Corinthians, we see how Paul is calling for the believers to mature in their faith. They made a big deal of small insignificant issues the church faced. When we look at some of what they were struggling with, we actually can see struggles the church today struggles with. To sum up some of what Paul was saying, we need to get over ourselves and realize that our own wisdom is nothing compared to Christ.

According to the book of Acts, we see what ruled the lives of the church at its inception: the apostles' teaching, the fellowship of believers, communion, and prayer. These are things that the global church should still be devoted to just as much as it was so long ago. As we are devoted to those, our fellowship will always be space to be with Jesus; become like Jesus; and do what he did to live to the full.

In encountering the Word of God made flesh, and now engaging with the scriptures, we should be asking 'So what should we do?'. How are we supposed wrestle with the texts found in scripture? What should be our aim, or our response to Christ coming? We should live a life filled with consistent repentance.

Ann Voskamp says, "Any time and place that you make space for Jesus, you become a womb for the goodness of God." Mary became a sacred space, and we too can become a sacred space for our Savior. Let us display His goodness, and grace all around us. We should use this season to remind us of the effects of making space for Jesus. It is much bigger than just a Christmas season.

All throughout scripture we see that God’s methods and His timing point to His strength not ours. No matter what we face, or how long we wait, we also see that God always fulfills His promises. Believers should then respond in faith when God calls us to be a part in His redemptive plans. As people anticipating the impossible let us live in a posture of faith and submission.

 The ‘prophetic perfect’ promise of Isaiah was a steadfast truth for the people of Israel for 750 years. There is a posture of faith in hope, in the midst of all that life brings, ‘look up’. These promises from Isaiah are anchors. May you live in the prophetic perfect posture, stirred in unending promises of our God in Christ. 

In Hebrews it tells us that we should be thankful because we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. So while circumstances are tough and we may feel we are surrounded by struggle and sorrow, we should remember that what God is doing is a far greater story that we might not yet see. In the midst of the storms, trials, and chaos we should pause and thank Jesus for who He is and what He is doing, but also knowing that there is a bigger story He's unveiling. Lord, please open our eyes.

Is Jesus an experiential reality of our faith, our tradition, our family or is He simply a historical study? We see Paul asking God not for assistance, but for the Spirit to completely take over. In our own lives we should be willing to give up our control and see the Spirit fully take over. We are a people of revelation and mystery. Let us stoke the fire of what God is doing.

Our posture throughout life should be one that demonstrates and helps increase faith in the power of God. Whatever situation, or 'cell' that you find yourself in is an opportunity to reveal God's story. Don't let the story stop. You cannot experience the resurrection apart from the crucifixion.