Archive for the ‘Pastor’s Blog’ Category
Names of Jesus – The Significance
What’s in a name? Do the titles and names of Jesus hold a significance? In the days when the Bible was being written, the Israelites often chose names for their babies based on the child’s character or appearance, i.e. Esau (hairy) and Korah (bald). Some babies were named because of an incident at their birth or their names were based on some hope or prayer of the parent, as in Zechariah’s name (God has remembered). Sometimes babies received the name of an everyday object, like Tamar (palm tree), and Tabitha (gazelle). Parents often named their children by the time of day they were born. For example: Shaharaim (dawn), Hodesh (new moon). The condition of the mother also frequently inspired a name: Leah (exhausted) and Mahli (sick).
Jesus was named prophetically. Matthew 1:20-23 says, “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us.’”
Names of Jesus – The List
Why are there so many different names of Jesus? The names serve as a description of who Jesus is and how He works in the lives of individuals. Some scholars have located over 700 titles and different names for Jesus in the Bible. Let’s study a few of them here.
God – Jesus is called God in several passages in the Bible. Along with His sinless life, miracles, and resurrection from the dead, His claims to be God stand firm (John 20:28).
Lord – In the New Testament, this term is used as a salutation to honor a man of distinction. The disciples used this term to salute Jesus as their teacher and master (Matthew 22:43-44).
Word – This title was used by the apostle John to describe the mission of Jesus. The title states Jesus’ Godhead and eternal and absolute deity (John 1:1, 14).
Messiah – The long awaited “anointed one” who would deliver Israel. Jesus came to deliver mankind from sin and death (John 4:25-26).
Alpha and Omega – These two characters were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. This descriptive title expresses the eternal nature of God – the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8; 22:13).
Savior – Jesus is the person who rescues mankind from an eternity in hell.
Redeemer – “One who frees or delivers another from difficulty, danger, or bondage, usually by the payment of a ransom price.” In the New Testament, Jesus is viewed as the ultimate Redeemer who gave His life as a ransom (Mark 10:45, Titus 2:14).
Light of the World – Jesus is the Person who brings true knowledge of God. Those who reject this light bring judgment upon themselves (John 8:12; 3:19-21).
Lamb of God – This title refers to the Old Testament sacrificial system where God accepted the blood of animals as atonement for sin (John 1:29, 36). Jesus’ blood made atonement for sin!
Ruler of Creation – Christ existed before the creation of the world and He is sovereign over it (Revelation 3:14).
Mediator – Because Jesus is fully God, He can represent God to man. Because He is fully man, Jesus can represent man to God. Reconciliation is possible (1 Timothy 2:5).
Bread of Life – Jesus is the one and only supplier of true spiritual nourishment (John 6:35).
Way, Truth, and Life – Jesus is the only way to heaven, the only source of truth, and the foundation of all life (John 14:6)!
Names of Jesus – Personal Meaning
What do the names of Jesus mean to you? Do they have personal significance? Is Jesus your Savior, your Mediator, your Redeemer? If not, we encourage you to learn more about Him and accept the gift of salvation He has offered to you.
If Jesus is your Savior, are you overcome with thankfulness for what God has done for you? Take a moment and praise Him using His various names. “Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are my Life, for without You my life would be worth nothing. You are my Savior and my King, the Lamb of God who atoned for my sin. You are the Alpha and Omega and You control the beginning and end of each circumstance in my life. You are the Bread of Life and I can feast on Your spiritual nourishment to keep me in perfect peace. You are my Lord and my God. In Your holy name, amen.”
-Author Unknown
~ God Bless
PT
Sometimes you just have to laugh…at yourself!
There are times in the Christian faith that you just have to sit back, lighten up and laugh at yourself. As a Pastor I see such great value in the small group paradigm because it brings about true discipleship if done correctly. Let me show you what it looks like when not done correctly.
Remember: “Who doesn’t want to be SUPER”
Love in Christ ~
P.T.
How Great Thou Art…!
I really don’t have anything to say after that except is that does not make you worship and praise Jesus then we need to check your pulse. I hope that you take a second and just worship and praise God for the mercy and grace that He has freely given us.
God Bless ~
Pastor Tyler
Methods vs. Means
The ministry methods that succeeded in evangelizing people during the modern age simply are no longer working because the average lost person is culturally different than he or she was a few generations ago. ~Mark Driscoll
It seems very obvious to me to say that people in 2011 are very different from those born in the 1950′s and even still there is a greater difference from my Grandfather who was born in 1918. Think for a second about the changes that he has seen in this country during his life.
The US National Academy of Engineering, by expert vote, established the following ranking of the most important technological developments of the 20th century:
- Electrification
- Automobile
- Airplane
- Water supply and Distribution
- Electronics
- Radio and Television
- Mechanized agriculture
- Computers
- Telephone
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Highways
- Spacecraft
- Internet
- Imaging
- Household appliances
- Health Technologies
- Petroleum and Petrochemical Technologies
- Laser and Fiber Optics
- Nuclear technologies
- Materials science
Now, do you think that my Grandfather who lived in rural NC and didn’t have indoor plumbing and running water till much later in life can identify with the young adults today who for as long as they can remember have had computers in their home? Of course not! Why then do we as the corporate body of Christ struggle to see why a Church must begin to evaluate it’s effectiveness and learn to change and adapt. Let me give you an example of what I mean by the way of two questions?
1) How many people did Jesus tell that the only way to enter in to Heaven and to have that right relationship to the Father was through Him the Son?
The answer: ALL.
2) How many people did Jesus tell that they had to be “Born Again”?
The answer: one (Nicodemus)
So, what this shows us is that Jesus himself was aware of this need to adapt the methods without changing the content. See Jesus knew that to reach people you had to do it where they were. There are so many churches that are dying because they are holding on to a way that was successful reaching people 30 years ago, and not looking at the fact that people today are not the same people from 30 years ago. There have been so many changes that we don’t even really recognize the people from those times when we look at pictures or see old video footage.
So instead of reaching people right where they are and showing them the love of Christ and the hope of Christ we stay inside our doors and argue over what is better a Hymn that praises God or a Worship song that praises God. The result of this is a Church that will quench the Spirit and become ineffective in reaching those that need to hear the Gospel of Christ.
Jesus, being 100% God and 100% man had the ability to meet people right where they were and communicate with them in a way that they would understand exactly what He meant. When He was in the temple the He spoke in scriptures and things that the Pharisees and scribes would understand. When He spoke with the Centurion he spoke in terms and about matters that He would understand.
Jesus is the perfect example of how to reach those that are in need of being reached. And He went to them, and meet them, He did not expect them to be a certain way prior to engaging them.
Church…let’s get beyond our ridiculous arguments about preferences and styles and begin to reach people where they are. Let’s show them that Christ loves them by loving them ourselves!
God Bless
~ PT
