Help to Get more out of your Christmas Season

Posted on November 27, 2014November 26, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Christmas for many can feel like a burden, lonely, and be a stressed-filled season. In the West, there is great pressure to live up to an image that, let’s face it, no one can. The author “Ann” of “aholyexperience.com” shares, “Whenever Christmas begins to burden, it’s a sign that I’ve take on something of the world and not of Christ. ”

This is why I have come to appreciate the value of the Advent season. This tradition over the years has been practiced in different ways with different purposes, but similar purposes. However, at its core has always been a call back to spiritual disciplines and reflection upon Jesus. It does not matter if it was a 40 day experience or a 4 week experience, it has been about preparing, pausing, reflecting and seeking Jesus.

This is an opportunity to develop a different spiritual discipline in order to understand God more deeply. It is a season to let go of the world and grab Jesus. In the world of weight lifting, if you are going to grow you muscles you need to stress and relax the muscle. You lift heavy weights then give them rest. Advent is a season to lift some weights to grow your spiritual muscle.

Help To get more out of the Season of Christmas

1. Make a choice to lift weights.

ok not physical weights, though that may help with the extra eating we do at this time of year. But choose to practice some extra or different spiritual disciplines over this season.

2. Find a community to do this with.

This could be Christian friends, small group or family. Having people to do this with will only increase your opportunity to grow and God will use others to help shape your spiritual formation.

3. Bible meditation, Pray, Fast, Serve

Perhaps you are already doing some of this, but change it up this month. In my local church setting we try to provide a bible reading plan for the current advent season. If you would like the current one, email matthew@matthewlaker.com. You could meet with a group this season to read scripture and talk about it.

Continue to develop your prayer life, perhaps add a prayer walk or community prayer time. Perhaps, find an advent devotional to guide this process.

I would encourage you in the midst of a season full of food in the west. Consider fasting as a way to be reminded of the Lordship of Jesus and your need for him.

Serving is increased in our Canadian culture at this time of year, but consider how you may impact one person or a group of persons this advent season. You just may find Jesus there.

Ok, so you are saying is this not what we are already called to do as followers of Jesus? Yes, many of us struggle to do it, so this is a great time to refocus. In my own life I practice most of the basic spiritual disciplines. However, this time of year I try to add a few extra or change in order to seek him more. It is a set time to be still and know God.

Things in my house we do or have done.

a. We light a candle each night that has a count-down to Christmas day on it.As part of that time we have prayers.

b. We watch a movie about the first coming of Jesus, and then my wife and I often sit and talk about it.

c. Join in with church advent traditions. This often includes lighting of candles, extra reading, Christmas Eve service.

d. Personally I often pick up an extra advent/Christmas devotional to read.

e. Engage in spiritual conversation with others over a meal . The last number of years this is often with our kids, as we talk about what is Christmas all about.

f. We try to find ways to invite people into our life to share the experience. For example, host an evening with people who do not know Jesus in your house. Serve dessert and drinks and be intentional about hearing their stories about this time of year. You will have opportunity to shares yours.

g. When my wife was growing up, each week they used to put out a new person to the nativity scene that would end with Jesus on Christmas morning. We have not done this yet but keep talking about it each year.

This season take on Jesus and not the burden of the world. What traditions do you have?

Understanding Baptism

Posted on October 29, 2014November 8, 2014 by Matthew Laker

I was watching the TV show “Heroes” the other day, and one of the characters at the end of the episode was baptized. The concept of baptism is found in different culture and/or worldviews.

For us as followers of Jesus, baptism plays a huge role in our life. We see Peter on the day the church is born in Acts Two call people to repentance and to be baptized. As followers of Jesus, who are now sons and daughters of God’s family, we are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them everything Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).. Looking further back in the life of Jesus, we see one who is perfect and does not need to repent, but who self identifies with us by being baptized.

In the book of Romans, Chapter 6, Paul reminds us of the symbolism behind it. Baptism illustrates the death and resurrection of Jesus in our own life; an illustration of leaving the past and its identity, and embracing a new identity and life in Jesus.

Baptism serves as a marker in our life before other people and the heavenly realms that God is at work in our life and we are surrendering to him. We have a new identity.

A quick Summary of What is Baptism:

a. God’s idea, not ours.
b. Sign of the cleansing work of Jesus. The external washing of water over us, denotes inner cleansing that restores us and begins the restoration of our lives.
c. Sign of death to sin.
d. Sign post. We can look back and remember who we are.
e. Water is a sign of new life.
f. It is a means of grace. A vehicle through which by faith we receive the blessing from God, and impartation of the Holy Spirit.

Is it time for you to be baptized? What questions do you have about Baptism?

Three passages for you to check out to help understand baptism:

Matthew 28:19-20

Acts 2

Romans 6

Here are some videos of Baptisms

Why Go to Church?

Posted on October 24, 2014October 21, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Why go to church?

Behind such a question is a need to understand the purpose of church. We live in an age with information at our finger tips so why would we go to church?” Some might think, ‘I can gain good information without having to go anywhere.’ However, church is more than just information. Kenneth Schak shares in his post what pastors should know about the bible: “The bible is not just about information but transformation.”

The same can be said about the church. It is a people who have embraced the gospel of Jesus, and who bear witness to the gospel, and who act as a catalyst for transformation not only in their own lives but also in the lives of others.

In the West, we struggle with the stereotype that going to church is about a building and meaningless ritual. However, this is not Jesus’ intention.

Ephesians 2:10 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms”

From the beginning, in Genesis, God has called a people to be in relationship with him and each other, and be his witness and stewards of his creation/kingdom.

Therefore, three reasons to “Go to Church” are:

1. We are called to be together.

2. The intention is that the “Jesus community” becomes a place for the fruit of the spirit to be developed in each of us. .

3. We bear witness together.

John 13:35 – By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Perhaps it is the wrong question to ask “Why go to church.” Implied in the question is a certain form or expression. A better question to ask is, “What is the purpose of the church?”

The gathering of God’s people in a local setting is part of our new identity as disciples of Jesus. The shape of that will look different over the years.

To follow Jesus means to gather with his people.

What do you find to be the joys and challenge of the spiritual discipline of gathering with Jesus followers?

God is Glorious: So We Do Not Have To Fear Others

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Sermon Monday’s

Title: God is Glorious: So We Do Not Have To Fear Others

Series: Four G’s : 4 Liberating truths about God Character of God

Original preached September 15 2013

This series is developed from some work by Tim Chester and Caesar Kalinowsk. I am grateful for the impact their work has had.

Bible Reading Tip #1 A Reflective Reading of the Bible

Posted on August 22, 2014March 5, 2015 by Matthew Laker

A hands-on-approach to developing the discipline of engaging the bible to guide your life.

One individual shared that when he heard I was teaching on something called “Lectio Divina,” he thought perhaps he would not come. It sounded hard and not very practical. He figured it was Latin and assumed he would lack something. After the teaching, he shared “I can do this, this is simple.”

An old discipline called “Lectio Divine” is a good rhythm of reading the bible. Its basic form involves meditating upon a short section of scripture.

The basic method is simple and involves reading through the text a number of times with short bursts of silent reflection. We set aside the analysis side of life, and come with hope to listen to God’s word for our lives This is not to say analysis will not help, but this practise is more about reflection. Often I find myself combining the two without thinking much about it.

Looking for help with more of an analysis method? Check out this post.

The readings can be done aloud or silently. I recommend a combination.

As you read, you are looking at what captures your attention, what words or phrases strike you. How does the passage touch your story? What is it calling you to do? During this time, prayer is part of the meditation.

Lectio Divine can be done in a group or on your own, individually. To some extent, I use this format in my weekly reading of scripture. The assumption is that God has something to share with us through the regular discipline of engaging the bible.

A path to follow for Lectio Divine:

1. Find a quiet space and time.
2. Bring up the passage and take a few deep breaths.
3. Read aloud the passage. There is no need to rush here.
4. Silence.
5. Read the passage again and make note of words, phrases, or sentences that stick out. Perhaps write them in your notebook or journal. Do not be worried about the why.
6. Silence and prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you why these words caught your attention, what is it he wants you to know?
7. Read the passage again
8. Spend some time in prayer
What might God be saying to you this week?