West Main

A BODY BUILT FOR PRAISE

The writer of Hebrews says, “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book'” (Hebrews 10:5-7).

One of the major topics we will be discussing in our upcoming seminar on human sexuality concerns the role of our human bodies in creation and the history of salvation. As you note above in the quote from Hebrews our salvation depends on the bodily experience of Jesus Christ. We are embodied beings who live in a physical and tangible world. We experience nothing in this world separate apart from our flesh. James teaches the peculiar dynamic of how we experience holiness and sin within the same body: “With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:9).

What we do with our bodies is an expression and witness to the glory and image of God. Our experience of sin is embodied in our flesh and therefore our bodies need to be redeemed. The fact of the matter is that sin does not just go away or disappear like morning mist. Sin always embeds itself in oneself, others, and society. Sin is like a stain that does not washout with mere forgetting or promises not to sin again.

Because we sin in the body, Jesus “bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). We do not experience sin outside our bodies and so we do not experience salvation apart from our bodies. If sin is not bodily, then there is no need for God to take on a human body. No need for God to be Emmanuel, God with us.

God will be with us by resurrecting our bodies. Our bodies will be the one constant between our experience in this world and in the world to come. Paul tells us, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus Christ]” (1 Corinthians 15:49). What kind of body does Jesus have? In the Gospel of John, the resurrected Jesus tells Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27).

So whether in this world or the next, we will experience life in a bodily form. Now our heavenly bodies will not be like our earthly bodies for Paul says, “There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another” (1 Corinthians 15:40). Nevertheless, whatever the exact nature of our eternal life, it will be an embodied experience; a body that can be touched and felt like Jesus’ wounded hands, feet, and side. You have a body built for praise. May you praise God now in your body like you will praise God in your resurrected body.

– Terry

Blurred Lines:  Sexuality, Marriage, & God  --   Our first seminar is tentatively scheduled for October 17, 19, and 20^th. We will meet in the auditorium on Thursday, October 17^th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (includes dessert); Saturday, October 19^th from 5:45-9:00 p.m. (includes dinner) and we will conclude on Sunday, October 20^th during worship services. Child Care will be available.

We will focus on how the Scriptures define human sexuality. The discussions will consist primarily of defining sexuality as a core part of our being created in the image of God and how our genders are reflections of what God wants to show of himself through our sexuality.

We will then have a seminar in the winter (possibly Jan 24-26) on defining marriage. Note, this is not a marriage seminar on how to relate to one another in a marriage, but what is the biblical theology of marriage. Thus the marriage seminar will include issues on singleness, chastity, and societal concerns.

Finally, we will have a spring seminar on the issue of pornography and its effect on men and women in the church today.

Financial Peace Seminar is being held in the East Room - classes began on October 2. Please contact Ron Zielke if you would like to take this class.

Ladies Workshop  --  Ladies, we have been invited to a workshop at South Salem Church of Christ on November 9, 2013. Please see the notice posted on the courtyard bulletin board for more information.

Disposable Kitchen Containers - Ladies thank you for bringing containers for the kitchen. We now have enough containers and no more containers are needed at this time.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!   Shannon and Isiah Brooks are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Raiya Dee, who was born on September 26. Raiya weighed in at 6 pounds and 2 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long. Shannon and Raiya are doing well at home. Proud grandparents are Brad and Ronda Holm.

Baby Shower  --  We are honoring Lane and Whitney Augustson with a baby shower on Sunday evening, October 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room.   (Please note the change of date.) They are having a boy. Please bring finger foods to share. To contribute towards a group gift, please contact Sally Zielke, Wyndee Thomas or Chaley Johnson. Whitney is also registered at Target if you need gift ideas.

August   Financial Statement

INCOME:

EXPENSES:

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October 4-6:  Ladies Retreat

October 17, 19, 20:  Marriage Seminar

October 20:  Baby Shower for Lane & Whitney Augustson in the FSR;

                      5:30 p.m.; Bring Finger Foods

October 27:  Anniversary Sunday