Phone: 941- 739-0202

Christian Education

By Laverne A. Farmer, Elder, Christian Education

E. Stanley Jones, who died in 1973, was an author, evangelist and missionary.  One of his great accomplishments was the establishment of the Ashram, a Hindu word that means “retreat.”  The Ashram is a week-long structured Christian retreat that focuses on solitude and community building.  He had a keen understanding of the spiritual life and the means of spiritual renewal.  The following is an excerpt from his writing, Conversion.

“Conversion is a gift and an achievement. It is the act of a moment and the work of a lifetime.  You cannot attain salvation by disciplines—it is the gift of God.  But you cannot retain it without disciplines.  If you try to attain salvation by disciplines, you will be trying to discipline an unsurrendered self.  You will be sitting on a lid.  The result will be tenseness instead of trust.  ‘You will wrestle instead of nestle.’  While salvation cannot be attained by discipline around an unsurrendered self, nevertheless when the self is surrendered to Christ and a new center formed, then you can discipline your life around that new center—Christ.  Discipline is the fruit of conversion—not the root.”

This month begins Braden River’s film/dialogue series on this most inspirational movie, Jesus of Nazareth.  This is a 12-part series covering the entire life of Jesus on earth. This film series can help each of us to “discipline our lives around that new center—Jesus of Nazareth.”

The original film was 12 hours long.  In its present format it has been edited to six hours. Each hour-long session of the film and dialogue will be offered three times per week, with the film comprising approximately 30 minutes and dialogue 30 minutes.

You may choose the presentation on each Wednesday, 10:00 a.m., Thursday, 7:00 p.m., or Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m.  It is important that each of us indicate on the signup sheet in the narthex our preference for attendance.

The Wednesday, 10:00 a.m., presentation will be led by pastor Caroline.  Both Caroline and I will lead in the Thursday, 7:00 p.m. presentation, and I will lead the Sunday morning, 9:00 a.m., presentation.I want to emphasize the impact this film/dialogue can have on our congregation and community. Rarely does one see and discuss the entire life of the Christ who came, died, and rose again for each of us and established His church.

         

Please help in encouraging all to take advantage of these presentations.