Beginners Guide to Advent: A Short History of Advent

Posted on by Matthew Laker

The season of advent “ties our lives to Christians throughout history”( John Feister, the editor of AmericanCatholic.com).

For many, the season of advent is filled with indulgences, distractions and 

commercialism that pushes us to rush into Christmas.  However, observing this centuries-old Christian practice has the potential to feed us and lead us to a deeper and more fulfilling state.

Advent is a season you will not find in the bible, and for this reason, an argument is sometimes put forth against this tradition. This objection, however, does not undermine the value of this practice to our faith formation and journey with Christ.

The early stages of advent are not well known.  It is not until sometime between the 4th and 5th century in Gaul and Spain that “advent” was first seen in its early stages.  

During the end of the 400’s there are some sermons that speak of preparation before the birth of Christ.[1] In a sermon from St. Gregory the Great, who was a Pope from 590-604, he speaks of the second Sunday of advent. By 650 in Spain, we see the celebrating of five Sundays. Some have shared it was during the 6th-century that followers of Jesus in Rome started linking the season to the coming of Christ, focusing not on his birth but on the second coming. It is during this time momentum for advent begins to take off[2]. Different regions seemed to work out different practices around this season. Then Pope Gregory (1073-85) takes the celebration from five Sundays to four, the preparation initially not being about Christmas day, but Epiphany.

Epiphany is a celebration found in early January that celebrates the Baptism of Jesus, the miracle at Cana and the visit of the magi.  Once again, we see the use of the calendar for the purposes of teaching and making disciples.  In many cases, this is used for new Christians to be baptized and welcomed into the church.  Like lent people would spend 40 days examining their life and repenting.

Traditionally the Christmas season began Christmas Eve and went for 12 days ending with Epiphany.  The time before this was advent, a season of preparation for Christmas. Today, the Eastern Church participates in a fast that is longer and more like lent and the Christmas celebration lasts for three days.  In both the eastern and some western Churches there are services held on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

During the Middle ages, there was a pagan celebration in December and the church worked to counter and Christianize it, thus further developed advent. Therefore, it became more connected to December.    This does not mean that advent is a non-Christian activity.  It just means Jesus followers at the time were looking for ways help people turn to Jesus.  Thus, the development of a system to help focus on Jesus. 

Advent seems to be a tradition that has evolved over time.  It is a time calling the church together to fast, celebrate and remember.  It has carried themes reflecting on both Christ’s first coming and his second coming. For the moment, there seems to be a strong connection to traditions from the last couple hundred years, but I suspect it will start to adapt again since strong culture shifts are taking place all around us.

[1] (http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/the-history-and-meaning-of-advent/article/173/sort/relevance/productsperpage/12/layout/grid/currentpage/1/keywords/advent

[2] (http://www.canticanova.com/articles/xmas/art1e1.htm) and (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/decemberweb-only/12-2-52.0.html)

The Apostle Peter’s faith goes deeper

The Apostle Peter’s faith goes deeper

Posted on by Matthew Laker

(Series: Walking with the Apostle Peter and Jesus)

Jesus will transform your life, just as you are part of the journey in transforming someone else’s life.

peterIn Luke 8:40-9:6, Jesus calls a little huddle among the 12. Among this group is Peter. Jesus gives the apostles power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure disease. Then Jesus sends them out to preach about the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

Previously, Peter has been watching people who have faith that Jesus is their only hope.   Peter has been witnessing the power of the kingdom of God in others and has been learning how God views him and who he is. Now Jesus creates an environment for Peter to experience him in a deeper and new way.  This is an opportunity to trust in him and his word.

I remember when my triplets were born.  During those early months we were experiencing much stress and I remember one important conversation.  A good friend said to me, “now you have a choice to live out your theology or not.”  At the core of that comment was this question:

Do you believe who Jesus says he is and who he says you are?

Jesus sends Peter out on a training mission and tells him to take nothing.  We know this is to bring about a lesson, because later he would tell them they can take things with them as they proclaim the Kingdom.

Peter would go from knowledge of Jesus to experience of Jesus.  But the question is, for both Peter and ourselves, will what we really believe about Jesus come out in how we live our life?

Peter now has to live out his trust in Jesus as he goes out on his own  and trust in who Jesus says he is.  Peter’s theology (belief) and faith is put to practical tests.

David Benner shares “true knowing of our self, demands that we know our self as known by God, and true knowing of God demands that we know God not just as an abstraction or as objective data but in and through our lived experience”(The gift of knowing yourself).

Jesus sends Peter into a lived experience so that he would know Jesus in a new and deeper way.

Three questions of reflection:

a) Looking at the circumstance you currently find yourself in, what is God revealing about himself to you? What do you need to accept about him?

b) Looking at the circumstance you currently find yourself in, what are you learning about yourself? How does that align with God’s view of you?

The sending out of the 12 was to proclaim the kingdom of God.  However, the first priority was the training of the 12.  It was a season for them to put into practise what Jesus had revealed to them;  a season for their life to be transformed.  Transformed lives have a natural way of proclaiming the kingdom that goes beyond one self.

As you serve others and as you proclaim the kingdom, be aware that Jesus is wanting to teach you something in this process. Be aware that Jesus is wanting your life to be transformed as you are part of the journey of transformation in someone else.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit – Part 2

Posted on by Matthew Laker

holyspirit 1

Why do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

The first question you must ask is “Why?”  Why would we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?  Any time we see this happen in the Scriptures, it means that people are living counter cultural, and some are  thrown into jail (Acts 3).  The bigger question is “Are you willing to yield to the Spirit, thereby becoming obedient?

Be careful to not jump out and say “Yes” here.  Do you really believe that Jesus is the only hope?  Do you live as Jesus is the only Hope?  We will speak more to this in part 3, but let’s look at the first question.

We must remember that the Holy Spirit reminds us about Jesus, and he will call you to obedience in your life.  One person in Scripture tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit.  They wanted the power without the full cost.  He  wanted to bargain, and failed to understand the Holy Spirit was a gift from God (Acts 8).  If you  are seeking the power for yourself, you will not get the power.

In Ephesians 5:18 Paul encourages the Church to be filled with Holy Spirit, and Jesus says we need the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).So take a moment and ask yourself “Why do you want to be anointed with the Spirit?  For what purpose?  Do you just want the thrill without having to pay the price? Do you want others to look at you in a certain way?  Is there something you are looking to gain in status among your community?”  If so, you really are not worshiping Jesus.

Why do we want the Spirit in our life?  The plain answer should be, “Jesus said we need the Spirit”.  As we lay our life down as a sacrifice on the altar of God, surrendering to the Spirit’s work and leading, we will bear the fruit we were created for.  The Holy Spirit came to draw us to God, but the bigger role of the Holy Spirit is to make us effective witnesses, and to guide us.

Check out this post on who the Holy Spirit is.

If you still desire the power of the Holy Spirit, then spend some time reflecting on Romans 12 this week, and check out part three of the series next week.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must empty our self so He can come in.  Seeking the power of the Spirit is so that the name of Jesus may be known, not ours.

Beginners Guide to Lent : Lent and Fasting

Posted on by Matthew Laker
beginnerguidetolent.com

“Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.” -John Wesley

What is fasting? What is its purpose and connection to Lent?

Fasting for the Jesus follower is to be a regular rhythm. Fasting has been part of the life of God’s people throughout biblical history.  Sometimes the behaviour was commanded, and sometimes it was voluntary.  

Fasting takes on two important roles.  One of mourning and one of hope.

Ken Berghuis provides a large list of all the reference to fasting or fasting events throughout scripture.

It is worth a read.

3 Purposes of our Fasting –

1. Worship of God

Throughout scripture fasting has been connected to giving devotion to God.  It is a declaration of our dependence upon God.  The act of fasting is a reminder that we live in need of God’s word and his Spirit in our life. Fasting accompanied with prayer, and reading of scripture helps centre us on Jesus.

“Our human cravings and desires are like rivers that tend to overflow their banks; fasting helps keep them in their proper channels.” -“Celebration of Discipline” by Richard foster

2. Seek God’s guidance – Throughout scripture fasting is seen as a way to seek direction from God.  It becomes an extension of our prayer life.

3. An avenue to prepare to meet with God.

Scott Mcknight shares “Lenten fasting as [is] a response to sins and the prospects of death in our culture, our nation, our church, and our own life, and that we also learn to see fasting as entering into the divine pathos about sin and death.”

He later shares: “Lent reminds us where we were, who we were, what we were doing and have done, and teaches us to tell the truth about ourselves—that as image-bearers of God we have sinned against God in thought, word, and deed, in what we have done and in what we have left undone, in not loving God and ourselves and our neighbors as ourselves—and to turn to God for mercy.

We are not fasting to get something from God but to meet with him. Acts 13:2: “while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,…”

Joel 20:26: “So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the Lord.”

Tips for Beginners to fasting during Lent

a. Start slow.

Try fasting one meal time throughout your week.  Then use that time to pray and read scripture.

b. Don’t eat extra snacks.

If you are fasting your lunch, do your best to not eat something till your next regular pattern of eating.  Yes, you will be hungry.

c. Let the hunger pain remind you of your need for Jesus.

I often will pray, “I need Jesus more than food.” Know that the hunger pain will pass.

“Arm yourself manfully against the wickedness of the devil; control the appetite, and you will more easily control all bodily desires” – Thomas a Kempis

d. Drink water and drink more water.

e. Understand you may get tired.

When fasting, consider cutting back on your daily activity.

Fasting is connected to Lent because of its ability to help with self-examination. It allows us to reflect upon our own sin and need for the gospel. Fasting is not about our health and has everything to do with our journey with Jesus.

Whatever time you choose to fast during Lent, remember that the purpose is to draw closer to Jesus. Let it be a time to wrestle with your idols and take hold of Jesus.

The next post in this series will look at self-examination.

Bible Reading Tip #3: Reading in Community

Posted on by Matthew Laker

Are you stuck in your bible engagement? Consider reading with a community.

Reading the bible can be so hard sometimes.  Some really do try to engage it, but struggle.  We know that there is a goodness in it, but we struggle.  A young lady was struggling in the discipline of reflecting on God`s word in her life and approached the pastor for help.  He suggested, “Why not try our small groups?”  When they gather, reading scripture is a regular part of the experience.  This can be a great step in developing the discipline of bible engagement.

Brian Hardin writes – Too often we experience faith in a solitary way. We rarely think of it in terms of “us” and “our,” and frequently see it as “me” and “my.” But we can’t mistake these Western, individualistic values for biblical values. The Bible is clear that living in community with other believers is irreplaceable in the Christian life. (https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/08/living-the-bible-in-community/)

There is something special about reading scripture together and discussing it in community.  In the West we have pushed very heavy toward individual study.  There is a place for that, but God will use community to form us.  Just like having a workout partner helps your physical health, so too does community for Bible engagement and spiritual formation.

Reading in community also provides a healthy environment to ask questions, and work through the text.

Consider gathering with another believer to read scripture and talk about it.  When your small group gathers do you read scripture?  Do you reflect on scripture?  Are you in a small group?

Regularly reading scripture together in community will help develop the discipline of engagement in the scriptures.

Are you stuck in your bible engagement? Consider reading with a community.