so the implication of last week is that
1. Our world is dominated by images (pictures, metaphors, idols of accomplishments...)
2. Those images tell a story (of how to be a- success, happiness, and hope)
3. That story is probably not the Christian one (even if it uses some of our language or imagery)
4. We need to hold fast to the central “image of the Invisible God” (Jesus)
5. His story may clash with the things we “swim” in everyday
Hearts knit together in love... (remember when Paul writes answer consider the questions or situation it may have stemmed from originally...)
so if the empire failed to control our imaginations with the images of hope, success, and happiness... then what is the next most probable place of attack is IDENTITY... individually and communally the hope of Empire is to make us doubt who we are, destroy those we love, and distress our daily lives so that we might cave and just fall into that story
Star Wars-ian Moment= the storm/clone troopers are mass produced so that their identity is shared and their purpose is singular... an army of mindless automatons. Dressed the same, programmed the same, feed the same... the all do the bidding they all follow suit... produced and uniform (isn’t that the hope of cool?)
“This is who we are” a quote that carries a lot of weight... that sometimes we need
one of the hard things about being a Christian in the time we live is that our identity seems so fractured... there are a hundred different versions of a thousand different churches that all claim to be “christian” but who is right, what is correct, who are we... really?
We Worship-
Wall Tall, Walk Hard-
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
(Colossians 2:6–7 ESV)
purposeful, strengthened, rooted.... Christ-following people must not tread lightly or without regard
(interesting inclusion of the word thanksgiving... that a people under weight of Imperial Force might feel forgotten or ill-favored)
Gratitude and Thankfulness- the necessary component Christians- if there is something that can get tough for Christians in the daily living and grind of life its staying thankful... in fact staying thankful in the midst of adversity is really a form of resistance...
Come hear more tonight at 6:30pm- so excited to see you all!!
First Baptist Church of Bethany Student Ministries (FBCBSM)
3800 N Mueller Ave
Bethany, OK 73008
(405) 789-3312
Youth Center
3700 N Mueller Ave
Bethany, OK 73008
Open Hours
Sundays 9am-11am, 4pm-7pm
Wednesdays 5pm-8pm
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