Do you think about the REAL future of the tomb?

I was always under the impression that Jesus was placed in the tomb OF Joseph of Arimathea. According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John, I am wrong.

It turns out that Jesus arranged to receive the body of Jesus from the cross and placed him in a tomb which he arranged.

there’s nothing to indicate that Jesus was placed in the tomb labelled J Arimathea.

Nonetheless, I wonder what happened to the tomb after the resurrection of Jesus.

Was it used again?

Depending what you think of first-century burial rituals, after a while the bones from the tomb would be relocated into a collective family burial site.

Thus, it was routine for tombs to be recycled.

So, does this mean that the tomb that Joseph arranged was reused?

I ask because, on occasions, we elevate the nature of the physical tomb.

It is eternally empty...
The stone is always rolled away...

Romantically, we sing out these words.

But, chances are, they are incorrect.

Sure, it isn’t the most important theological point, but I wonder what it says about the way we mythicise biblical events.

Can celebrating the past show our one-ness?

Ephesians 4:3-6 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirt through the bond of peace. There is one baby and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

One.

I wonder, in light of this passage, how should this shape the way Christian denominations treat each other’s practices.

I can think of numerous practical reasons churches have split. When I say this, I’m not referring to elements of belief - even though these will affect our practices - but the activities we do and the way we do them,

Baptism.
Communion.
Church governance.

These are the trinity of division.

We have split over the age and method of baptism.
We have split over the frequency, elements and significance of communion.
We have split over the eligibility, authority and longevity of leadership.

But, we are meant to be one.

So, do we show this in our practice?

Do we acknowledge the faith practices of other denominations? 
Or do we belittle them?

Do we insist that things are done “our way?”
Do we insist that they are done the “right way?”

I’ve been baptised, confirmed and married - twice.

Each of these things in my past can be challenged, even discredited, by those of different denominations.

I wonder, what message the church would send about the overriding unity we have in Christ if we openly acknowledge, celebrate even (!), the meaningful steps of someone’s faith journey in the past, just done within the tent of another denomination?

Are you with me? Do I really want you to answer?

I haven’t been at a church where the preacher regularly asks the congregation for affirmation that they are “with them.”

I am now.

I wonder how sincere the question is.

In the past, I think I’ve only used the enquiry when trying to describe a concept I’m probably doing a rubbish job of communication, like the Trinity. 

But now, every sermon I hear is punctuation with the question “Are you with me?”

I wonder, what if I’m not?
What if the congregation isn’t?

Would the preacher be prepared to describe the point again? 
Could they explain it in a different or simpler way? 
If they could do the later, why would they not have done that the first time?

Furthermore, how many people would need to respond no for a redo to be instigated?

Then again, that’s the danger of putting the question out there from the pulpit...

Why you should send the words of your prayer

I’ll share with you the biggest lie that christians tell each other... 

I’ll pray for you.

Truth be told, you probably won’t. 

Life is busy.
You have your own problems.

Forgetting to pray for someone isn’t an act or malice. Usually, it’s merely due to forgetfulness or as an avenue to show care for someone else, but commit a short timeframe.

Frankly, we can and should do better. 

One effective way to convey the concern we have for others and show someone we are actually praying for them is the following...

Show them the words.

Send them the prayer you pray.
Let them know what specifically you prayed for.

Aside from showing the person that you’ve actually kept your word, this can also be a source of encouragement for the immediate timeframe and, by the physical keepsake, an encouragement for the future.

When the person holds the words you pray, these can be really impactful.

How do you respond to the statuesque response?

A sermon which doesn’t have any application is one of the four easy steps to give a bad sermon. One great way to land the sermon plane is to provide a time of response.

I’m always intrigued when there’s a response time with two options, but only one with a physical action.

Once the options are explained - say to pray/reflect quietly in your chair or stand/come down the from of the church - what happens if no one accepts the later choice?

I’m intrigued because, in theory, no one moving should be a perfectly fine response.

But, this reaction usually results in a desperate reiteration of the options and a prompt that they can now make a physical response.

Again, in theory, this makes perfect sense.

Maybe people were confused by the initial instructions.
Perhaps they were waiting to be allowed to move.

Nonetheless, it gets awkward when, in these statuesque response times, the leader gets progressively more desperate or disappointed.

The one thing a leader can use to sooth their ego is the rationalisation that everyone in attendance is just an introvert...

A church must have a plan to send well

I sometimes feel that this blog could be titled “Ramblings about Youth and Young Adult Ministry Drop Out Points.” I write about them a lot.

Some drop out points are initiated by life change alone.

No underlying animosity.
No awkwardness.

In fact, some drop out points should be celebrated like getting married or the birth of a child.

In light of this, every young adult ministry must have a strategy for these transitions. 

In short, they must have an aim to send well.

If it’s sending them to another church, be it down the road or the one that their new spouse already attends...
If it’s sending them abroad to study...
If it’s releasing them from some of their ministry commitments due to full-time work or a fresh newborn...

Send them well.

Bless them.
Pray for them.
Celebrate them.
Tell them that they will always be welcomed back, even if only for a visit.

Is there a pastoral mid-life crisis?

After a minister has been preaching for a decade, usually in his/her 40’s, they’ve hit many of the “high notes” of the scriptures.

They’ve preached through all the gospels.
They’ve preached through their favourite books.
They’ve preached through the major books.
They’ve preached about the major characters.

In a church which follows the lectionary, they have completed three cycles.
In a church which follows the liturgical calendar, they have mined all they can out of the seasons of Lent and Advent (themes, characters, symbols).

What do they do next?

Potentially, the minister falls into the pastoral mid-life crisis.

They attempt to be creative with the worship space.
They try to take a “fresh” approach to familiar bible passages.
They experiment with innovative technology.

One of the causes of the chronological mid-life crisis is boredom. 

Does a long term minister inevitably face the same thing?