Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus is describing how he pushes the reset button in life.  He uses imagery that sounds like baptism.  Baptism is when someone is washed with water, to show on the outside what God is doing on the inside, washing away the sin from our hearts.  When adults are baptized by becoming fully immersed, one can plainly see the imagery of them having died to sin, and then rising out of the waters to new life.

We are baptizing our first RTC member this February.  It will be her reset moment.  Looking back on her life, she says this represents a new beginning.

In the Christianity 101 course, we illustrate the life of faith with a line with markings at 0, 50 and 100.  Whether we’ve run as far from God as possible, stayed close, or jumped around – what matters most is where you go from there.  Will you move closer to God by following Jesus, or run away?  The 50 point is when someone decides to do this intentionally, and although that moment is important and has a real impact, there are many moments to follow when the Holy Spirit transforms a Christian’s life.  New decisions, directions and priorities all come with time and relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

In this series we’re going to look at a number of ways a “reset” life is different from before.  Specifically:

  • Reset: Goals
  • Reset: Time
  • Reset: Money
  • Reset: Work
  • Reset: Body & Food
  • Reset: Sex & Marriage
  • Reset: Family
  • Reset: Compassion
  • Reset: Nature
  • Reset: Society
  • Reset: Death

Challenge: If you’d like to reset life, here are some steps to consider.  Take our live Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting next week to explore the first steps.   Consider being baptized, to show on the outside the reset that has taken place inside.  Just get in touch with Ryan if you’re interested!

Reminder: Coffee hours are tonight at 7:30pm at Starbucks in the Ajax Chapters Store.  See you there!

Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community – so check out today’s reading here.

Reminder: The best way to grow spiritually this year is to join our Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting January 22nd. Register for you and a friend today!

Read the Bible in Sync Today

Ryan Sim - July 16, 2013

Tuesday - Study It - Originality

We're looking at the final section of the Sermon on the Mount this week: "When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29 ESV) Jesus' teaching is widely thought of as being the greatest and most original human teaching to have ever existed. No one is quoted more than Jesus. Many people, even those who are not Christians, have the greatest respect for Jesus and try to live by his teachings. A friend of mine once proudly quoted to me: “Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’” I had the joy of telling him that Lincoln was actually quoting Jesus! When I began a Masters degree – I read through the grading structure – what constitutes an A, B, C, etc. Description of an A+ was "Profound and Creative - Strong evidence of original thought." This is a rare thing indeed – someone who can come up with completely original ideas, rather that simply quoting, or worse, stealing the work of others. Jesus dared to do this - in the Sermon on the Mount, he regularly started with, "I say to you." or "I tell you." Whenever he says “they say” and quotes another religious teacher, he is about to say they’re wrong! He was acting as if he could just say these things under his own authority, as if he was the source of all wisdom, knowledge and morality. Because he was! But they didn't know that yet. Question: Reflect on all that Jesus has been teaching and what we have studied in the Sermon on the Mount through the last several months. What has amazed you about his teaching? What has confused you?

From Series: Sermon on the Mount | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

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