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What Difference Does the Resurrection Make? (pt 2)

April 10, 2012 By Lisa Lewis

The tumbling I mentioned has continued.  This question, What Difference Does the Resurrection Make? has rolled around in my head now for two days; the backdrop transforming thought as I have lived a regular life on the outside.

I’ve made a connection, thanks to the comment left on the post.

Right theology can lead to right thinking which can lead to right action. 

Please notice I did not say an absolute ‘does’ or a guaranteed ‘will’ lead to right result.  We can know all the right things but what we do with them, the outcome, has many opportunities to get messed up.

From the spring of 2009 to the summer of 2011 I had the privilege of meeting weekly with a group of younger women.  We called ourselves NTBS (non-traditional Bible study).  We didn’t go through a traditional Evangelical Bible study workbook.  We spent our time looking together at the big idea: “what difference does being a Christ follower make in my daily life?”  We had opportunity to work through Renovare’s Spiritual Formation Handbook and grapple with weekly Soul Training exercises that caused each of us to squirm a bit in different areas of our lives.

After working through the handbook we began to read and discuss and act on The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith.  In this and the following two books in the Apprenticeship Series a concept was introduced to us that none of us had ever tackled before; the idea of narratives we tell ourselves.

A.W. Tozer said “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Slowing down to really think about our thinking about God and His Word and, when necessary, work on aligning our false narrative with the True narrative found in Scripture was the focus of our time together.

I miss meeting with these women.  We became a community within our larger community.  One was moving for grad school, my life circumstances weren’t going to allow a weekly meeting in the evenings in the fall, so we agreed it was time to take a break from NTBS.  But I am a changed woman from spending the time with these women, allowing myself to really think about what I believe and how my beliefs affect my actions.

The tumbling thought of What Difference Does the Resurrection Make? is still rolling around in my mind and has bumped up against a false narrative I have told myself for a looonnnggg time.  More on that tomorrow.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Apprentice Series, change, false narrative, Renovare, Resurrection

What Difference Does the Resurrection Make?

April 9, 2012 By Lisa Lewis

I have spent the better part of today alone and musing.  I did have some lovely outdoor time hiking a nearby trail with a dear friend, but even then I spent more time listening or asking questions than talking about what’s rolling around inside.

Our Pastor Tim asked an open-ended question of his Easter Sunday audience: “What difference does the Resurrection make?”  And I’ve been mulling it around in my head ever since.

Our family shared a huge feast with 25 others yesterday at my friend Sue’s home.  The echo of the question was ringing in my ears keeping me distracted and not 100% in attendance with everyone sharing the Resurrection Cake (angel food—hole in the center covered with whipped cream) and singing three verses of “Up From the Grave He Arose”.  I listened and asked questions, but still “What difference does the Resurrection make?” was tumbling in the background of my mind like a rock polisher at work in the garage.

And just like the rock tumbler sands off the edges and shines up a stone, pondering this gem of a question reminded me of this portion of Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers:

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

That’s a power packed sentence but it says it well.  Accepting the reality and work of Jesus Christ through the resurrection means we accept His rescue operation.  You and I can have forgiveness for all we have ever done or said or thought that has been below God’s perfection.  Not only are we forgiven but He has bought us back from the domain of darkness and put us into His kingdom!

Have you thought about this question?  What difference does the Resurrection make?

It’s big.  There’s more.  Stay tuned…

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: change, Easter, Resurrection

Meet Lisa…

I am a native California girl married to my best friend, Colin; we currently live and work in the Silicon Valley. I am privileged to be mom to two fantastic grown sons, mom-in-law to a wonderful daughter, and recent Mimi to a grand-daughter! On any given Saturday, you can see my hubster and I out on our tandem bike somewhere, enjoying the beauty of creation! Read More…

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