How to do church Part 21: model new life

A letter from me to you

To all my friends out there on their individual faith journeys,

Our faith is all about new life. It’s based on new life in Christ. That’s the good news we have to share.

Is that what people see when they look at us? Is that what we’re modelling in our daily lives? Is that what our churches are all about?

It’s good to be reminded about the power of Jesus, who turned water into wine, healed the sick, led people from the darkness into the light. He demonstrated new life, new hope, a new beginning throughout his life.

And then he conquered death! Death could not hold him! He came back to life! That’s resurrection power!

And by the grace of God, I am what I am. This new life is available to me too. Every single day in a million small ways.

It’s hard to get your head round resurrection, I know. Death seems so final. And yet this faith makes no sense without it. If this life really is all we’ve got, then this faith is a waste of time. What’s the point in taking any risks and putting ourselves out for others? We might as well eat and drink and enjoy ourselves as much as we can.

However, I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead by resurrection power and that in him, we can all be made fully alive. I don’t understand how and when, but I don’t feel I need to. I’ll leave all that to God. I now how a natural physical body; after I die, I will have some sort of spiritual body. That’s as much as I know.

And so I stand firm in the hope of what is to come. And this hope is not in vain.

I serve God the best that I can every single day. 

And so as a church, let us model this new life. Let us discover hope where there is despair, love where there is hatred, light where there is darkness. Let us snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Let us rise from the ashes. Let us pursue reconciliation and restoration in all relationships. Let us prove over and over that love wins. Let us shout about this new life in Jesus that is available to all.

Grace and peace and resurrection power be yours,

Now and always,

Helen

This message for us as church today was based on 1 Corinthians 15.