Communion Thought (5-24-2009)

Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

This morning I had the pleasure of giving the Communion thought at the Central Church of Christ. Typically, this seems like a difficult task. I don’t want to risk sounding like just another individual saying the same mantra and letting the message fall on deaf ears. What I do want is for people to take a minute and truly contemplate what we are honoring through the Lord’s Supper.

As I was reading I noticed the story of the woman anointing Jesus (Mark 14:3-9), and how Mark placed this in between the chief priests contemplating arresting Jesus and Judas’ agreement to help (in Matthew and Luke, these events are placed together). As I re-read this passage a few things stood out to me.

1st – Jesus was anointed. This is very reminiscent of the anointing of the Jewish Kings in the Old Testament. It was as though Jesus’ closest companions did not see him as King, but this ‘woman’ did and honored him as one.

2nd – The financial Sacrifice. This woman did not use some everyday perfume. As those in Jesus’ presence pointed it out indignantly, this perfume could have been sold for more than a year’s wages. She did this willingly, breaking off the top of the bottle to ensure that every last drop was dispensed.

3rd – Jesus’ rebuke. There are various times that Jesus rebukes his followers and each time it is a sobering event. While we can see that those in the crowd were trying to be good people (i. e. giving to the poor). However, Jesus rather pointed to the fact that his death was coming soon and this anointing is another sign (preparation) for his coming burial.

4th – The woman was honored. For her act of financial sacrifice and willingness to honor Jesus, Jesus in turn honored her by stating, “wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (v9). Likewise, we should be confident in believing that as we sacrifice and honor God today; he will be faithful in honoring us as well.

Brief Disclaimer….

For the next 6 weeks I am finishing my last class in college. Fortunately/Unfortunately (depending on who you are) this is a Historical Theology class, and thus my next few posts will be parts or whole papers that I have written for class. Please feel free to enjoy one or two of them, or just click on the archives (lower right hand of your screen) to get to something more interesting.

Thanks for visiting.

Brad

Edict of Milan, the Council of Nicea, and the Council of Chaledon

Introduction

Throughout history, there have been many pivotal moments that have affected the way that humans view Christianity. These pivotal moments began with the Apostles witnessing the death, burial, and resurrection, as they finally understood what their rabbi had been teaching them for three long years. From this point they sought to instruct others in accepting a message of eternal love and salvation. As time progressed, the message became less of a revelation and more of universal creed. This however did not come without many moments that progressed or limited the Christian faith. Three of such instances are Edict of Milan, the Council of Nicea, and the Council of Chalcedon.

Edict of Milan

Christians had lived in a culture of constant turmoil due to the various rulers of the Roman Empire. At times the emperors would simply ignore the monotheistic believers. While at other times they openly persecuted them due to their growing popularity. The Edict of Milan, “was the outcome of a political agreement concluded in Milan between the Roman emperors Constantine I and Licinius in February 313. The proclamation, made for the East by Licinius in June 313, granted all persons freedom to worship whatever deity they pleased, assured Christians of legal rights (including the right to organize churches), and directed the prompt return to Christians of confiscated property” (Edict of Milan, Encyclopedia Britannica Online). This was a cosmic step for the Christian church as they moved from being an underground movement, to a recognizable religion in Rome and the surrounding territories. In fact, the edict itself states that, “we (the emperors) thought to arrange that no one whatsoever should be denied the opportunity to give his heart to the observance of the Christian religion, of that religion which he should think best for himself, so that the Supreme Deity, to whose worship we freely yield our hearts, may show in all things His usual favor and benevolence. Therefore, your Worship should know that it has pleased us to remove all conditions whatsoever, which were in the rescripts formerly given to you officially, concerning the Christians and now any one of these who wishes to observe Christian religion may do so freely and openly, without molestation” (Edict of Milan, gbgm-umc.org). Without this edict establishing the freedom of religion, one must consider if Christianity would have been as wide spread or accepted with such reverence that it eventually received.

The Council of Nicea

After Constantine defeated Licinius in 323, thus ensuring the preservation of religious freedom, the Christian’s themselves began to fragment over the Arian controversy. The Arian controversy began, “as a debate between the bishop Alexander and the presbyter (pastor, or priest) Arius. Arius proposed that if the Father begat the Son, the latter must have had a beginning, that there was a time when he was not, and that his substance was from nothing like the rest of creation” (The Council of Nicea, Columbia.edu). This controversy agitated Constantine, but he called the council together in 325 and “presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions. He hoped a general council of the church would solve the problem” (Council of Nicea, Encyclopedia Britannica Online). From this gathering of “some three hundred bishops”, the word, “”homoousious” or “consubstantial” meaning “of one substance”” was coined and used to refute Arius’ assertion (The Council of Nicea, Columbia.edu). From the concept of Christ being homoousious, the council sought to prevent additional disputes in discovering what Jesus was.

The Council of Chalcedon

The Council of Chalcedon met in 451 and “confirmed the decisions of Nicaea, and responded to new debates of which had subsequently erupted over the humanity of Christ” (McGrath, 1998, P. 33). Presided over “by the emperor Marcian, it was attended by about 520 bishops or their representatives and was the largest and best-documented of the early councils. It approved the creed of Nicaea (325), the creed of Constantinople (381; subsequently known as the Nicene Creed), two letters of Cyril against Nestorius, which insisted on the unity of divine and human persons in Christ, and the Tome of Pope Leo I confirming two distinct natures in Christ and rejecting the Monophysite doctrine that Christ had only one nature” (Coucil of Chalcedon, Encyclopedia Britannica Online). While this council convened to primarily to approve the work of previous councils and creeds, yet it provided a model of constantly checking and revising what previous theologians have taught as.

Conclusion

Through their many functions, the Edict of Milan, the Council of Nicea, and the Council of Chalcedon, each had a long lasting effect upon the Church or culture as a whole. First, the Edict of Milan was a major milestone, marking a vast acceptance of various religions, but most importantly Christianity. Progressing it from an underground religion and into everyday Roman life. Rome’s established freedom of religion could be argued to be a model for the forefathers of the United States constitution, thus providing a model for today’s religious acceptance or tolerance today. The Council of Nicaea was the first large gathering of church leaders to answer the Arian Controversy. From this council the edict of Christ being of one substance or homoousious, was established and is no longer a key issue for the church today. Additionally, the convening of this council set precedence for churches then and now. Following the model of Acts 15:4-22, the council of Nicaea sought to be orderly and unified on key issues in the Christian faith. Finally, the Council of Chalcedon convened primarily to ratify what other councils and creeds set forth as norms close to a century before, thus, establishing a clear example of constantly looking backwards to see what our predecessors have done and how that is impacting us today. Through each of these aspects of theological history we begin to see and accept how the church of today was formed and shaped by these key instances. This must remain in the forefront of our minds as we continue to influence the church today.

References

Council of Nicaea. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/413817/Council-of-Nicaea

Edict of Milan. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/382119/Edict-of-Milan

Council of Chalcedon. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/104580/Council-of-Chalcedon

McGrath, Alister E. (1998) Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. Blackwell Publishing. Malden, MA.

The Council of Nicaea. (2009). Columbia.edu. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/sbrandt/nicea.htm

The Edict of Milan. (2009). The Bible: The book that bridges the Millennia. Retrieved May 17, 2009, from GBGM-UMC.org: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/milan.stm

The Patristic Period

Introduction
“Historical theology acts a major resource to those studying church history, allowing them to understand the specific nature of the ideas which affected the church at critical periods in that history” (McGrath, 1998, P.12). However, the implications of historical theology extend much beyond the classroom as, “Christianity often unconsciously absorbs and values from its cultural backdrop” (McGrath, 1998, P. 13). In doing so, culture begins to define the lessons of the Bible, rather than the original messages defining how we view culture. To constantly keep this problematic viewpoint in check, the church and its ministers must be dedicated to the topic of historical theology through their studies. In studying historical theology one realizes that, “it is virtually impossible to do theology as if it had never been done before. There is always an element of looking over one’s shoulder, to see how things were done in the past” (McGrath, 1998, P. 12). To achieve this we begin by recognizing the four distinct time periods, which mark when significant changes took place in theological thought. These time periods are, the Patristic period; the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period; the Reformation and Post-Reformation period; and finally, the Modern period.

Periods of Historical Theology
The Patristic period (c. 100 – 451) was the first, and arguably one of the most influential periods of church history. Credited to this time period was the formation of apologetics, the adoption of Rome, the recognition of theology as a disciple in itself, as well as specific issues and people that had long lasting impacts upon the Christian faith. Then, the Middle Ages and Renaissance period (c. 500 – 1500), marked a time of volatility. The fall of Rome shook Europe, while the tension within the Christian world that led to a, “final break between the Catholic west and Orthodox east [churches]…[in conjunction to] the rise of the monasteries” (McGrath, 1998, P. 95). Next came the Reformation and Post-Reformation period (1500 – 1750). This period was marked by a time of new ideas. “The most significant development was the Reformation, a movement which sought to return the western church to more biblical foundations in relation to its belief system, morality and structures” (McGrath, 1998, P. 156). Finally, we enter the Modern period (1750 – Present Day). As an ongoing reality many churches seek to continually accomplish that which defines this period, a rescue of Christianity from crisis and indifference. Each of these historical periods have had positive and negative impacts on Christianity as a whole, but special attention must be give to the Patristic period as it laid the foundation for the spread of the Christian faith throughout various cultures and lands in Europe

The Patristic Period
The impacts of the Patristic period can be seen within the culture it suffered and thrived in. During this time the Roman Empire comprised of most of the Mediterranean world. This included the birthplace of Christianity, the region of Judea. Under the Romans, Christianity laid its foundation and was met with apathy, fear, persecution, and finally acceptance. The Roman Emperor Constantine converted from paganism to Christianity after a “decisive battle [that] took place on October 28, 312” (McGrath, 1998, P. 20). From this establishment of Christianity as an accepted religion, “theology thus emerged from the hidden world of secret church meetings, to become a matter of public interest and concern” (McGrath, 1998, P. 20). Due to the public interest, contention began to surface as the once independent churches began to debate on who’s theology was correct. Subjects such as, Christology (the person of Christ), the Trinity (God, Son, and Holy Spirit as one), and Church consensus became the specific issues, which the Churches disagreed and Constantine sought to rectify. Through individuals such as, Justin Matyr (c. 100 – c. 165), Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130 – c. 200), Origen (c. 185 – c. 254), Tertullian (c. 160 – c. 225), Athanasius (c. 296 – c. 373) and Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) (McGrath, 1998, P. 24-26) who became the voices of wisdom through letters and debates. These influential people challenged doctrine (correct and incorrect), establishing the New Test Cannon, developing apologetics against the rise of Gnosticism, establishing sanctioned traditions, the giving argument to the validity of scripture as a whole, and developing creeds recognized by the Christian religion as a whole. Each of which has lasting impacts upon every church today.

Conclusion
Historical Theology seeks to fill the gaps where Churches, or Church-goers, accept something as truth even though they have little understanding of why it is accepted as so. By understanding the progression from the Patristic period; to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period; to the Reformation and Post-Reformation period; and finally into the Modern period, we are able to see how our Christian beliefs were formed and the influence great thinkers have had upon those beliefs. Most notably was the Patristic period as it was the first building block for the Christian churches. Aspects such as the New Testament Canon and the creeds are commonly accepted with little or no objection. Also belief in the Trinity, disbelief in Gnosticism, and the teaching of apologetics is also common teachings for Christians of all denominations. Through all of this one can see that variances in beliefs have been debated, but settled throughout time. Today we must follow the example of the Patristic period and continue to seek a more harmonious consensus as we are all praising the same God.

References
McGrath, Alister E. (1998) Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. Blackwell Publishing. Malden, MA.

Self-Redefinition or Better Clarification

While seeking of new employment and being on the verge of completing my degree, I have to struggle with redefining myself or just trying to better clarify who I already am.

This may confuse many people. However, a majority of Americans define themselves by the career they hold. This is keenly the case for me as both of my parents were career individuals. So as I seek new employment, do I become defined by my job? For instance, if I get a job as a minister, am I defined as holy or as a good person? Or if I get a job as a trash collector, am I defined as an underachiever due to my degree? Or if I get a job working at an office in a cubical, am I considered just another average Joe?

The fact of the matter is that we are defined by what we do. If our jobs pay more, we are considered successful. If we are paid less, then we are judged as less successful. The unfortunate aspect in this realization is that my preferred professions (working with teens) will never pay well. So while I may be defined by my work, I know that my work provides me with a sense of worth.

It is this sense of worth that provides better clarification to the person that I am. Working with teens teaches me that I am not first (or second), in fact I realize that I am typically considered last. Teens are focused on their needs first, and as I work with them I tend to become a servant. In fact, real self-clarification typically comes through serving others. Just ask a mother, father, or minister. These are all people who truly know themselves in a humble way, and stand as true models for us as people and as Christians.

Strength or Weakness

A strange phenomenon came to my attention as I have been doing a yearlong Bible reading. The Bible, namely the New Testament, has an alternative approach to the idea of weakness.

Our culture views weakness as a despicable thing. People are encouraged to workout to increase physical strength. Vitamins are advertised to strengthen our immunities. It is taught, and later experienced, that the strong personalities find success more readily than the weak. So why does the Bible state otherwise?

For Example:

• If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness (2 Corinthians 11:30).
• I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:5).
• We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection (2 Corinthians 13:9).

In these verses it appears that Paul is not only acknowledging our weakness, but also lifting it up as a virtue. The Church of Corinth in many ways is like our churches today. They prized the individual over the whole. They gave honor to those who were wealthy and/or famous. They even sought to continually impose their culture on the church, as well as others. Not surprisingly this caused many problems in their church as it does today in ours.

Maybe if we were able to hear Paul’s words, we would recognize that in admitting Weakness we gain Strength. Not strength in ourselves, but in the only one who had no weakness, yet the willingness to become weak.

• For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you (2 Corinthians 13:4).

Foundation of Youth Ministry

In the book Youth Culture 101, the Barna Group states, “our postmodern times [are] pushing kids away from a belief in absolutes and transcendent truth, orthodox biblical Christianity is not only not embraced, but it is often looked down upon” (Mueller, 2007, P.58). This unfortunate reality is seen in the mindset of teens throughout America. Ministry to these teens can be executed through exemplifying an authentic faith in Christ.

Jesus summarizes the Ten Commandments in three verses, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Pairing this with the command to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a). We, as Christ’s Apostles, are given clear instruction to first love God, love others, and seek those who do not know Christ.

Loving God:

One of the greatest steps in loving someone is to understand them. Christians get to know God through studying His word, the Bible, and through daily prayer and meditation. Biblical study shows us God’s interaction with mankind through out history. We witness the failings of un-godly and godly people alike; and we see God’s faithfulness in restoring those who seek his grace. Additionally, we are given God’s command in how to live a holy life. These commands go beyond any culture’s standard of a good citizen and are the ultimate pursuit of perfection. Jesus states, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Daily prayer is also an important aspect of a relationship with God. Jesus himself prayed forty days before starting his ministry (Matthew 4) and continued to seek solitary places of prayer while ministering to others (Mark 1:35; 6:32). We are also taught how to pray through the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4). By observing this example we consistently align ourselves with God’s purpose as we encounter victories and struggles. Through these efforts to know God, we learn to love Him. When we, as ministers set this example in our personal life, it allows us to successfully teach others how to love God too, fulfilling the “first and greatest command”.

Loving Others:

In the same way that we love God, we must also learn to love others in the spirit of love as described by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. These are difficult attributes to attain, but through practicing prayer and meditation and building a strong foundation in Christ, God is able to help us grow into someone who can love like Christ does. Living in a culture that promotes a constant agenda of success through achievement over others makes it very difficult to act in love as Paul has described. However, I believe that if we look to the church established in the book of Acts, we see that it can successfully be accomplished. This church shows the ultimate result of a body of believers loving each other as Christ loved. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (2:42-47). This is a great example of sharing, teaching, self-sacrifice, and love; which reflects all the teachings of Jesus.

Creating Disciples:

Finally, after we have established ourselves as people that Love God and Love Others, we must reach out to those who do not know God. This is commonly referred to as outreach or evangelism. Unfortunately, these terms have a tendency to carry a negative connotation. In the past, well-intentioned people have sought to be diligent in baptizing non-believers, but then left the new Christians to grow or whither on their own. Effectively creating disciples should be modeled after the example that Jesus and his disciples set. A minister should concentrate a majority of his efforts on a select group of people, while openly teaching everyone. After this select group is well prepared they will be able to reach out to others and disciple them as they were taught.

When our teens are able to witness authentic belief that impacts them in a positive way, then they will be willing to listen again. This authenticity must be seen in ministers for it to pervade Christian thought. It must be exemplified in the actions of ministers through a concentrated effort to observe Christ’s summation of the Ten Commandments, the Great Commission, and His unfailing love. I believe this is the authentic response that youth and culture are searching for.

Good = Bad and Bad = Good (?)

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people?

First we need to ask who is “good”. The apostle Paul states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). So can any of us actually call ourselves good? Additionally, when Jesus is asked about “good”, he responds by saying, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There is only One who is good” (Matt 19:17a). Once again pointing to the fact that God is good and we are only sinners.

So maybe bad things happen to good people (sinners) and good things happen to bad people (still sinners). We Christians elevate ourselves over those not in church. We pat ourselves on the back and say, ‘we are good! and you are bad!’. In reality we are all “bad” for we have all sinned.

In reality we must ask ourselves why are we followers? Are we following Jesus because we think we will receive good things? If so, then we have it all wrong. Jesus did not promise us good things, but exactly the opposite when he stated, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).

So we must accept the “bad” and the “good” as this life is promised as only temporary (see:Matthew 5:12).

An Outreach Concept – Internet Forum

GetFilled.com

Introduction

Today’s youth is inundated with the speed of life. Many kids rise at the crack of dawn and do not slow down till way after the sun has gone down. They are dragged to before school and after school programs; they are involved in extra-curricular activities and social groups; they eat in the car and believe that a hamburger is a healthy meal. Through all of this, church becomes just another activity on the long list of things to accomplish each week. As the average family continues to accelerate their lives, relationships suffer. Getfilled.com will work to bring relationship back to those who are seeking Christ.

Calling, texting, emailing, or IMing is as common today as the doorbell was to those fifty years ago. Communications through electronic devices have grown in popularity and have allowed kids to achieve a level of peer-connectedness that no culture has experienced before. Of late, “online social networks” such as Myspace and Facebook have become the central ground for peer communication. They allow kids to remain connected to friends, meet new ones, and foster relationships via the worldwide web.

Currently, there are Christian social networks that bring together Christian friends, but these forums have been met with limited success as they only seek to offer the same services as the non-Christian networks do. Getfilled.com will seek to go beyond the profile based social network and seek to create an online world where people can meet, talk, and learn about the Christian faith.

Getfilled.com will offer an array of services from an online profile, status updates, picture posting, and a friend bank. These services are typical of any social network, but Getfilled.com will seek to take it a step further. Through an innovative design, Getfilled.com will allow the user to create an avatar (digital creation of a human, similar to that seen in the Sims). When the user is signed on, the avatar will appear in a digitally created coffee shop. Objects and other avatars will be accessible to the individual’s avatar as they control the avatar in similar fashion to playing a game. The digital coffee shop is the main forum in which extended services will be provided. Some examples of these are; a prayer board, where individuals can post a prayer or read others prayers; community games, such as send someone a hug or a cup of coffee; ask a minister, where questions can be sent via email to registered ministers to get a question answered; ask a bible professor, where individuals with deeper biblical questions can ask registered bible professors for some feedback; or chat rooms, where a variety of biblical and other daily life questions can be discussed by those seeking their peers advice. Additionally, to be able to email and join chat rooms, the avatars will be able to communicate with each other and acquaintances could be made through these encounters.

The desire of Getfilled.com will be to primarily encourage and teach its subscribers through its registered ministers and bible professors. These individuals who stand in life as examples of Christ-like influence, can now enter into the world of the modern computer user. Getfilled.com will seek to be a non-threatening way of present Christians to seek advice, teaching, or encouragement. Additionally, for new Christians or seeking individuals, the online forum is particularly non-threatening as it is not a face-to-face interaction.

Schedule of Access to Getfilled.com

1. Log-on to Getfilled.com
2. Create an Online Profile
a. Insert user information (address, phone number, email)
b. Upload pictures to profile
c. Upload songs to profile
d. Upload videos to profile
e. Search for friend’s profiles
f. Customize colors or background
3. Create user avatar
a. Customize face and hair
b. Choose an outfit
c. Accessorize
4. Use tutorials to discover how to control avatar and access services of GetFilled coffee shop
a. Provides a walk through to key board controls
b. How to talk to other users and add as friends
c. How to access friends profiles
d. How to access email module
e. How to access chat room module
f. How to access prayer wall
5. Access various services
a. Prayer Wall
b. Bible in a Year reading
c. Chat rooms
d. Email
e. Community Games
f. Friends
g. Ask A Minister
h. Ask A Bible Professor
i. Church Locator
6. Remain online and enjoy the fellowship

Advertising

Like many online websites, the best audience is those who already commonly access similar Internet websites. For this reason Getfilled.com will advertise through click-able banners on social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. This will attract attention of those who commonly use these networks, by adding an additional one they may belong to. Additionally, Getfilled.com will advertise through search engines such as Google and Yahoo. Continuing to attract those who commonly spend time online.

To attract those who do not use the computer as frequently, Getfilled.com will seek permission to set up a table or hang a banner at Christian events, like summer camps, concerts, or community events. This visibility will ensure that the website’s name will gain presence with those who are members and future members.

Invitation Call/Email

For those individuals whose information is gathered via advertising table or through member sign-up, an automated phone call and email will be sent to encourage interaction on Getfilled.com. The script will be adjusted as it is reviewed, but will be similar to:

Thank you, for you recent interest in Getfilled.com. Our staff wishes to create a forum that is uplifting, enlightening, and a great place for you and your friends to visit online. We are constantly wishing to serve you better. Please continue to look for new services and online forums to get involved in. If you would like to get your friends signed, please visit our website, log-in, and use our “Invite A Friend” link.
Thank you for being a part of our community!
In Jesus,
The Staff at Getfilled.com

With the proliferation of cell-phones and email accounts, Getfilled.com will seek to engage both of these communication devices to encourage the continued use of our online coffee house.

Lapse Member

In the event that a member’s profile is deemed inactive for a period of three months or more, an email will be sent to that person’s online friends. They will be encouraged to follow a link to choose a form letter or create their own, encouraging that person to remain connected in the Getfilled coffee house. The desire is that rather than an impersonal email being sent, a message sent from an individual’s friends will prove a greater encouragement to remain connected. If the account remains inactive for a period of longer than a year, it will be closed and a form email will be sent apologizing for the inconvenience.

Minister/Biblical Professor Involvement

As one of the main objectives of Getfilled.com, our website will seek out and utilize the callings of ministers and biblical professors to disciple our users. Due to this, much time and effort will be placed on training and familiarizing these Disciplers in the use of Getfilled.com. The following will explain how we will seek to educate our Disciplers:

Introduction Letter
Dear ____________,
Thank you for your interest in becoming part of Getfilled.com’s dicipling efforts. As today’s youth continues to spend more time on the computer and less time in the church, Getfilled.com hopes to provide a forum that will allow for teachable moments and guidance back into the local churches. Getfilled.com seeks to be non-denominationally focused, but to stand as a place for Christians and non-Christians to learn about the teachings of Christ. We hope that your expertise and call to service, will translate into the beginnings of relationships between the users online and yourselves.
The following links will provide tutorials to help you get started on Getfilled.com
• Create an Account: www.getfilled.com/accountcreation.htm
• Create an Avatar: www.getfilled.com/avatarcreation.htm
• How to control Avatar and access features: www.getfilled.com/basicinstructions.htm
• How to access “Ask A Minister/Bible Professor” forum: www.getfilled.com/howto/discipleforum.htm
May Christ guide us,
The staff at Getfilled.com

Follow-Up on Contacts Made

As the Disciplers’ avatars roam the Getfilled coffee house, they may be approached and asked questions by some of the users. We encourage the Diciplers to add these individuals as friends and therefore gain access to their Getfilled email account. Adding a user as a friend will allow the Discipler to continue contact, via email, even if the two individuals are never online at the same time again. This active involvement by the Discipler will allow for conversation to continue past a basic question or a simple hello. This is critical as Getfilled.com hopes to be more than just an entertainment spot for bored Internet surfers.

Conclusion
While the online open forum idea is not the most ideal for ministers who wish to create those close relationships with today’s youth. We must remember that, “in an age of meaningless, there’s not much for people to cling to. As people search for what’s transcendent, most will encounter the meaning in and through relationships” (Johnston, 2001, P.54). Getfilled.com hopes to be the stepping stone needed to reconnect today’s youth, to today’s church, allowing those personal relationships to grow in every forum our teens are involved in.

A Sermon – On Connecting to Culture

Athens’ Culture and Today
Sermon Title: “Athen’s Culture and Today”
Text: Acts 17: 22-31

Central Idea:

The Apostle Paul struggled with the fact that Roman culture was full of idols and did not know or worship the God that he loved (Acts 17:16). He sought to use the Roman’s current religious beliefs to explain God in a meaningful, acceptable way. In much of the same way, our culture needs to hear the gospel that preaches to the hearts of the up and coming generation. Otherwise like Paul, we will stand there dismayed at all the idols dominating culture.

Sermon Content:

1. Read Scripture: Acts 17: 22-31
2. Personal Admonition
a) Recognize the personal impact of culture upon my life
b) Use Johnston’s observations of a postmodern culture.
c) Recognize the centrality of relationships in outreach to future generations
2. Reflection on decline in Church
a) List statistics of un-churched in 16-29 year old age range
b) Talk about struggle against culture
c) Statistics of TV watched and it’s impact on the next generation
3. Apostle Paul on Mars Hill
a) Athens two schools of philosophy
b) The similarities to modern culture
4. Apostle Paul’s response
a) Paul’s recognition of some positive aspects of the Athenian culture – Acts 17:22
b) Used culture to proclaim gospel – Acts 17:23 & 28
5. Relation of Athenian culture to Present Day
a) Relate the Athens’ philosophy to postmodern philosophy
b) State difference: postmodern philosophy wants relationship
6. What we can do
a) Quote from Kinnaman about postmodernist desire for authenticity
b) Relate: postmodern philosophy relationship to that in Christ
c) Affirm: that relationships in Love are what wins people to Christ

Sermon:

Scripture Reading: Acts 17: 22-31

I stand before you today, a product of our modern age. I grew up with a postmodern mindset. Culture has ingrained into me that, “former sources for answers…are obsolete”; “every person…determine[s] [their] right path”, “complete openness to possibilities is applauded, and…[only] arrogance would cause someone to eliminate options based on someone else’s prescribed standard”; and “relationships are essential, and the pursuit of meaningful relationships is…the highest goal” (Johnston, 2001, P.24).

For those of past generations this self-centered, self-serving, mindset is unthinkable or even sinful when perceived in the context of church. However, as the number of those who are not believers or are non-practicing believers continues to grow, we must ask ourselves; what is the church doing wrong? David Kinnaman, of the Barna Group, tells us, “there are about twenty-four million outsiders in this country who are ages sixteen to twenty-nine” (2007, P.18). This number is growing each year and even within the church itself, as many teenagers graduate from their faith when they graduate high school. This is a struggle against culture. “The average amount of television watched daily by eight to 18-year-olds is three hours and four minutes” (Mueller, 2007, P. 107). And this is not considering time on a computer, in the classroom, on the phone, listening to the radio, or any of the growing number of communication and entertainment devices. Now compare this with three to five hours our families spend in church, and we begin to clearly understand the impact our culture has on our youth, and on our lives.

If we look to the account of Paul on Mars Hill, we begin to see this struggle is not a new one. Now Athens was home to “two major schools of thought…the Epicurean and Stoic philosoph[ies]” (Roper, 2001, P.104), and while these differing philosophies had many opposing thoughts, what they did have in common stood in opposition to Christianity. These philosophies, “both exalted man and his capabilities. Neither acknowledged the need for a personal God. Neither believed in a conscious existence after death. Both were uncomfortable with dogmatic statements concerning truth” (Roper, 2001, P.105).

Paul answered this by first finding positive aspects of the Athenian culture, “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious” (Bible, 1996, Acts 17:22). He then proceeded to use their own objects to proclaim the gospel, “for as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you” (Bible, 1996, Acts 17:23) and again in verse twenty-eight, “As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring” (Bible, 1996, Acts 17). He understood their opposing schools of thought and sought to provide them a view of a fresh view of a God that is opposed to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophies.

Read: Acts 17:24-31

In many ways the culture of Athens is very similar to the culture of our postmodern times. People rely heavily upon their own ability to create the life that they desire. They put little weight in the metaphysical and treat church as something to do if they have the time. With the rise of science over the past 200 years, culture has begun to accept evolution, rather than creation. And now, to my generation, Truth is only that which is experienced. So we, like Paul, must remind ourselves, and others, what God is all about, relationship.

This present generation is looking for relationship. They seek, “authenticity…not pretending to be something you are not, being open about your faults. Young people are searching for this type of person, this kind of lifestyle” (Kinnaman, 2007, P.55). While none of us are perfect, we can we must embody Christ’s love. Through this love, a relationship is possible. A relationship, which Christ brought, taught, and was crucified for; an eternal relationship, which was received when he rose on the third day; that relationship, which we received by believing in him and being baptized into fellowship with him. It is through relationship that they will understand God and salvation.

References:

Holy Bible. (1996). New International Version (NIV). Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI

Johnson, Graham. (2001). Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-First Century Listeners. Baker Books. Grand Rapids, MI

Kinnaman, David & Lyons, Gabe. (2007). UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…and Why It Matters. Baker Books. Grand Rapids, MI

Mueller, Walt. (2007). Youth Culture 101. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI

Roper, David L. (2001). Truth For Today Commentary: An Exegesis & Application of the Holy Scriptures, Acts 15-28. Resource Publications. Searcy, AR