Monday, April 1, 2013

Backpack

Last week I sat in my recliner thinking of all the good outdoor things I would do this Spring.  kayaking, cycling, walks, fishing ... I could go on.  But to do all those things with excellence some preparation is needed.  For my prep, I sat in my chair going through the things in my backpack, making sure I had all the things I would need.  A good knife, fishing lures, waterproof bags for clothes and cell phone, a change of clothing, maps, and other useful items are part of my outdoor tool kit.  But the outdoor stuff isn't the most important thing I am doing.  Jesus, just after His resurrection, gave us all a command called the Great Commission.  The command said we were to go into all the world, preaching and baptising new disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28).

This brings me to our new Wednesday evening series.  It will be called "Backpack" and we will be looking at all we need to do, all we need to know and all we need to have to be prepared for making and being disciples.  Specifically we will learn:
       - What is being a disciple all about?
       - What is making disciples all about?
       - How can I make the Bible real to me and to those I am talking to?
       - How do I tell others about the Church and specifically my church?
       - What are the most important things to know about the Old and New Testaments?
       - How are these "basics" tied to United Methodist beliefs?
In essence we will study our backpack, what important things are in our backpack and how we can use our backpack to do what God has asked us to do, namely MAKE DISCIPLES.

I hope you will be part of this study.  If you are wondering about tying basic United Methodist beliefs to Scripture, wondering what being a disciple is all about, wondering how to study your Bible more effectively, wondering about the true nature of the Church, wondering how God can use someone like you in His amazing plan, then this is your time to gather, learn and prepare for what God wants for you.  Get ready to pack your bags and journey with Jesus!  Come every Wednesday for the rest of the Spring (6:30pm after pot luck dinner ... every week except April 24th till May 15th [last pot luck dinner for the Spring]).  I will be using, as a basic resource, Francis Chan's new book, Multiply ... grab a copy if you like and, of course, the Bible.  See you Wednesday!  Pastor Randy