Family Matters
Jen Jeffrey, Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator
Greetings, Cornerstone family! You know, our Lord’s true identity was always difficult for people to grasp. Nathanael was skeptical about Philip’s discovery of “the One Moses wrote about in the Law, and the One the prophets foretold.” After all, Jesus was from the wrong side of the tracks. Mary and Joseph were just average people from an average town. Jesus didn’t grow up with any fanfare – what a shift from the heavenly celebration that heralded His birth! And when He began to teach in the synagogues, the people were astonished, dumbfounded. Who is this carpenter-turned-rabbi from Nazareth? How can He teach this way, as if He has authority? He is not like the scribes…
Just as He asked Peter and the disciples, Jesus also asks us this most important of questions: Who is He? During His earthly ministry, the people speculated that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or anoth-er prophet. The religious leaders accused Him of being a false teacher, an agent of Satan, an enemy to the Jews and to Caesar. Since His ascension, people have continued to address the question of His identity. The world offers a lot of different answers, including prophet, teacher, angel, political dissident, myth – the list is long, but for us – the answer is simple. Let us confidently answer with Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
With that, I would like to repeat the invitation to everyone who would like to join our upcoming online study group (begins Wednesday, May 6th) as we dig into the Scriptures, strengthening our grasp of key texts that proclaim the Gospel clearly and boldly, as well as supporting historical and literary evidence, so we grow in our witness to the community and world around us, who desperately need the light of truth, the unmovable Rock that is Christ.
If you would like to join the group, please contact me by April 29th, so you can get your materials early. The easiest ways to sign up are to email me at [email protected] or through Facebook Messenger, so I have a digital contact for sending your weekly materials. May our Lord bless each of you, providing ways for you to bring Him glory and point to His kingdom!