In 2004 a documentary film, called ‘Super Size Me’, was created by Morgan Spurlock.  The film documents the physical and psychological well being of Mr. Spurlock as he ate only McDonald’s food, 3 meals a day, for 30 days.  During those 30 days, Mr. Spurlock gained 24 pounds and experienced several other physical and psychological changes.

  Spurlock’s documentary film has a scene that sought to prove how effectively McDonalds has impacted current generations.  In the film Mr. Spurlock meets schoolchildren and shows them images, one each of George Washington, Ronald McDonald and Jesus Christ.  All of the children recognized Ronald McDonald and most of the children recognized George Washington.  Not a single child was able to recognize a commonly seen image of Jesus Christ.

 This part of the movie brutally reveals that our nation is a post-Christian culture.  Most of us who attend Meridian Avenue Baptist Church grew up at a time where Jesus was still spoken of at school meetings and sporting events.  The influence of the church has declined with the passing of each of the past seven decades.

  First Timothy 2:3-4 says, ‘3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior. 4 who wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.’  Matthew 28:19-20 says, ’19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

  The Bible tells us what pleases God and instructs us to effectively impact the hearts and lives of people.  Morgan Spurlock’s documentary revealed that McDonalds has an increasing impact while the influence of the church is declining.  Most churches in our country have shrinking membership and have become stagnant. 

  To address this stagnation, many churches have introduced new programs; Saturday basketball for the kids, mom’s day out, date night for parents and concerts to mention a few.   While these programs are often good for kids and parents they don’t really address the mission of the church; the mission to make disciples and transform lives.

    Unless the church addresses their mission to make disciples and transform lives, the church fails God.  It is to this end that the Meridian Avenue has asked Pastor Dick to come and help us find our path, the path that God has chosen for us, to transform how we do things and effectively lead people to Christ.

*  recognition given to ‘Simple Church’ by Rainer & Geiger, chapter 8, pages 227-228 for the information shared above.

Billy Graham once wrote, ‘If we don’t know who we are, we’ll never know how we ought to live’.  This period following Easter is a very good time for us to consider who we are as a people who have accepted Christ as our personal savior.

   Having accepted Jesus, a Risen Savior, as our Lord we have placed ourselves into a new relationship with him.  As Jesus is our Lord, it is our responsibility, as followers of Christ, to emulate him and follow his teachings as revealed in the Bible.  That is, to daily strive become more like Him in our hearts, thoughts and actions.  We have much to reach for if we are to become more like Jesus every day.

   Having accepted Jesus as our Risen Savior has changed us in other ways.  As His followers we are now citizens of the Kingdom of God.  While we remain on this earth we have dual citizenship, one in this fallen world and the other in the glorious eternal kingdom.  Being good stewards of the latter we should strive to serve the former.  One way of doing so is by serving our fellow man and woman on this earth as Jesus served mankind.

   We have also become children of God by accepting Jesus as our savior.  God is our Father, Jesus is our oldest brother and all other followers of Christ are our spiritual siblings.  We have become members of the largest family you could ever imagine.  As members of this large family, bear one another’s burdens while practicing loving patience.

   Along with our relationship with Jesus comes a new purpose.  We must each determine where the Holy Spirit is leading us and towards what goal the Holy Spirit directs us.  It requires that every Christian willingly submit to the Holy Spirit’s guidance; guidance that often comes quietly and ever so, so gently.  To that end we can be assured that the Holy Spirit will provide us with power to accomplish the purpose for which we are meant.

   The word “conversion” means “change” and if we devote ourselves to following Jesus, living by Scripture and its teachings, a change will occur in everyone of us.
* The above is a synopsis of an online blog article, “7 Steps to a New Beginning”, found on the billygrahamlibrary.org.
* The entire article can be found at…  https://billygrahamlibrary.org/7-steps-to-a-new-beginning/

 A few days ago Helen was in a grocery store and entered into a conversation with a Spanish speaking woman who spoke broken English.  In the course of their conversation Helen asked her how she said Easter in Spanish.  The woman’s reply was ‘feliz dia del conejo’ which translates as happy day of the rabbit. 

   A Spanish translator would likely have replied with Pascua de Resurrección.   When translating languages you cannot always use a literal translation of words.  Pascua de Resurrección is the proper phrase meaning Easter but the literal translation would be more like Easter/Passover related to the Resurrection.  The Spanish word Pascua, is derived from the Greek word Pascha and Pascha is derived from the Jewish (Hebrew) word Pesha.  One of the old Hebrew translations for Pesha is ‘offering for transgression’.

   All of this language twisting brings us to the question of what does Easter have to do with Passover?  The simple answer is everything.  On the night that Jesus was betrayed he had celebrated the Passover meal, The Last Supper, with his disciples.  The Passover meal, the Seder, is a tradition of the Jewish people to emphasize both history and hope.  It is to remind them that God led them out of slavery in Egypt and restored them as a nation of his people.  The Passover is to remind them that there was an exodus from dark times and that God remembered them and provided for them.

  The Passover is largely about the exodus from Egypt and Easter is largely about the Passover.  As the blood of lambs had been placed on the doors of the Jewish people on the night that God’s angel passed through Egypt (Passover), it was the sacrificed blood of Jesus, the paschal lamb, that saved those who believe in Him from the penalty of sin.  Our celebration at the communion table is a symbolic reenacting of the last supper.

   We celebrated the resurrection of Christ yesterday.  As we continue in our faith journey it is well for us to remember that Easter is our Christian Passover because Christ’s blood has saved us from our sins.  Jesus was the utmost offering for our transgressions.