From the Staff . . . .

           Martin Luther was a Catholic monk that challenged the teachings of the Church. He was an instrumental player at the start of the Reformation.

           In those days people believed that the only faith necessary was the belief of Abraham, the one who trusted God’s promises so much that he would do anything God commanded. Abraham carried out God’s command to sacrifice his son, Isaac, although it appeared to contradict the promise of a new nation through him. This kind of faith was so rare that only saints themselves exhibited it, and not even at all times. Human beings were capable of no more than partial or weak faith. This faith was not good enough. They were so weak, partial, and prone to sin and error that humans could never offer anything worthy enough of themselves that might please this righteous God insisting on absolute obedience. Any good deed that a person could give always fell short of the unattainable mark. There was always some element of human selfishness involved. The human balance sheet continually showed a deficit.

           Late Medieval theologians were especially emphatic on the point that the Christian couldn’t find and preserve true salvation. It was very well known that St. Paul insisted that salvation came from grace alone, “lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:9). They knew that no matter how Holy, “Christian”, or “spiritual” one’s outward life might be, sin still reigned within. There was no spiritual self-improvement course that could ever impress God.

On October 31, 1517, however, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses. These 95 Theses were an invitation for anyone to debate the prestige of the Church. His writings were viewed by the high clergy as threatening the authority of the church. Luther’s theology taught grace from a loving God, justification through faith, and the corruption in the catholic church. One might say Martin Luther became a celebrity overnight. Dr. Martin Luther’s writings incited many devoted Catholic clergy and laity to question the status quo.

He claimed simply, “justification by grace through faith.” What does that mean for us in today’s success-driven society? Who really believes those words and behaves so accordingly? Or consider, perhaps, Luther’s paradoxical notion that Christians are “at the same time justified and sinners.”

Luther’s theology was a theology of the cross. So then, how can we live faithfully? The theology of the cross is one of faith not sight; hope not finality or consummation; and love not power (D.J. Hall).

Remember, life is a voyage on the great murky sea of the in-between. The trick is how to navigate one’s frail boat – with eyes wide open – from the real dangers of its depths; then we can carry on with courage and expectancy.

ChristCare

Small Group Ministry News

Check out the ChristCare table in the Narthex

for information on new and expanding groups . . . .

      The ChristCare Table in the narthex has lots of information about ChristCare Groups in general – and a listing of our new and existing groups that are open to additional members. You will find a description of each of the groups, when they meet, and the contact information for the group leaders.

A New Model for ChristCare Group Leader Training . . . .

     Earlier this year, Stephen Ministries published a new model for ChristCare Leader Training that we will be implementing here at Resurrection this fall. Traditional training has involved sixteen modules – possibly grouped together — in a classroom setting. This worked well, but some people who went through training had no experience of being in a ChristCare Group and therefore felt a little unsure of themselves as they began to lead a group of their own.

     The new model places the training within a ChristCare Group experience. Over the course of sixteen sessions, the training participants will themselves form a ChristCare Group and take part in all four core elements of ChristCare during the training. Therefore at the end of training they will be thoroughly prepared to lead a ChristCare Group, both from a theoretical and experiential perspective.

     If you are interested in participating in training to be a ChristCare Leader, see Pastor Mitch for an application and more information. We plan to begin the training in early October. Previously trained leaders are welcome to join in this new training model as a refresher.

Circles of Care with Christ at the Center

Community Building & Care – Prayer & Worship – Biblical Equipping – Missional Service