RADICAL: LIVING THE CHRIST LIFE

This is the name I gave the series I am teaching for June and July. The word radical means that something is different from the traditional, it can be extreme and/or revolutionary. That certainly fits a description of our Lord Jesus. He was no doubt considered very radical in his day. Often the crowds would respond that they never heard teaching like His and never saw miracles like He performed. I would even say the reason the religious leaders of His day wanted Him crucified is because He was such a radical. They did not care that He was religious and they really did not care that He was becoming known as a “Christ”. But they could not accept His claim to be the son of God. That was just one area where he was too radical. So I hope this series will help us see and understand the radical nature of our Lord; the radical nature of His teachings; and the radical nature of the call to come and follow Him.

I think the “world” does not really care if people call themselves Christian and act religious in their religious buildings. As long as you don’t do something real radical like let your commitment to Christ affect your vote in politics or affect your stand on the value of life. You can be religious and be quiet and not many will care. Try being outspoken about your biblical beliefs and you will quickly discover the meaning and application of the word radical. The radical nature of our calling to follow Christ is based on what I have called right beliefs/Biblical Orthodoxy. It must result in right behavior and practices in what can be called Orthopraxy. Right beliefs and right behaviors are to be supported by right attitudes, what I have labeled as orthopathy.

So this series is designed to examine the radical nature of the Christ life. We began with one of the most radical concepts of all: Followers of Jesus are forgiven and are to forgive. Trust me. It is a lot easier to say than to live out. Just try it. You can listen to that message online at the church website. This Sunday we will look at another crazy radical idea: Followers of Jesus are blessed and we are to be a blessing. Again…very easy to say but completely radically life changing when you try to live it.  Think on this: Jesus invited those who would become His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him. Surely there was an easier membership class than that! What a radical.

See you Sunday, good Lord willing.

Pastor Tom



By the Way, we had 58 people under the tent Sunday morning. Two couples came in their golf carts and one listened from a bedroom window! Remember if it is raining at 10 we will not have an outside service. Raining before or after…not a problem.