For those interested in personal reflection for the remainder of Holy Week, here are some passages from the Lectionary to guide our thoughts and prayers in light of Christ’s suffering and resurrection

Holy or Maundy Thursday

• Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10], 11-14 — the Passover of the Lord
• Psalm 116: 1-2, 12-19 — the cup of salvation
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 — proclaim the Lord’s death
• John 13:1-17, 31b-35 — the service of Christ: footwashing and meal

Good Friday

• Isaiah 52:13-53:12 — The suffering servant
• Psalm 22 — Why have you forsaken me?
• Hebrews 10:16-25 — the way to God is opened
  • Or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 — the merciful high priest
• John 18:1-19:42 — the passion and death of Jesus

Holy Saturday

• Job 14:1-14 — Hope for a tree
  • Or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 — I will hope in the Lord
• Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 — Take me out of the net
• 1 Peter 4:1-8 — The gospel proclaimed even to the dead
• Matthew 27:57-66 — the burial of Jesus
  • Or John 19:38-42 — The burial of Jesus

Easter Day

• Acts 10:34-43 — God raised Jesus on the third day
  • Or Isaiah 65: 17-25 — New heavens and a new earth
• Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 — On this day God has acted
• 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 — Christ raised from the dead
• John 20:1-18 — Seeing the risen Christ
  • Or Luke 24:1-12 — Women proclaim the resurrection

Easter Evening

• Isaiah 25:6-9 — The feast of victory
• Psalm 114 — Tremble, O earth
• 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 — Set your mind on things above
• Luke 24:13-49 — Stay with us, Lord

Normally on a topic as broad as the one mentioned above, I would bombard the reader with tons of Bible verses, cross-referencing, and probably a life story to boot. Today, though, I want to simply focus on Matthew 9:35-38:

The Workers Are Few

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Isn’t God’s Word good? What are some things you notice about the passage? Here are a few that God spoke to me:

Where did Jesus go? Through ALL the towns and villages…

What did Jesus do? Taught in their synagogues (similar to our religious buildings), preached the good news of the kingdom, healed every disease and sickness.

What was his mindset or attitude? Compassion.

What did Jesus tell his disciples? The harvest is PLENTIFUL. Plentiful means “existing in great plenty; yielding abundantly; ample; bountiful” (from dictionary.com)

How many “workers of the harvest” were there? FEW.

What does Jesus COMMAND us to do? ASK the Lord of the Harvest to SEND out workers into the harvest field.

There are many points I feel that I could extrapolate on, however I simply want to highlight a few. Jesus went TEACHING, PREACHING, and HEALING. In order to teach, we must first have learned. In order to preach, we must have a message. In order to heal, we must have faith and rely on the Spirit of the living God.

Jesus had COMPASSION on the crowds. I could reflect on this verse for a long time. It is crucial to any and all outreach. We must have compassion as Jesus did. I am not opposed to “cold-call evangelism” as many seem to be. I believe that any disciple of Christ who goes forth in compassion is doing what Jesus did. There are stories I could tell of times when God has filled me with extreme compassion, even to the point of tears for people I didn’t even know. I actually have never had the pleasure of “leading a person through the prayer of salvation” as many put it, but I have seen spiritual fruit born in other ways. Nevertheless, I long to see people choose to repent and follow Jesus Christ, and I pray the Lord strengthens me to work fully in His will. It is this compassion that confirms to me that the Spirit of God is at work.

Finally, believers are commissioned to ASK the Lord to send out workers into his harvest field. When is the last time you asked, “Lord, will you send out workers into your harvest field?” An interesting revelation God has just given me (as I am typing this entry) is that the harvest field belongs to God! Notice how the wording is “his harvest field” (v. 38). What comfort there is in realizing that the field belongs to the Lord, anyways! The Lord of the harvest knows where the seeds are sown, so He can direct you to where the crops and fruits may be reaped. Praise the Lord!

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Yours in Christ,

Toby C. Tatum

In light of next week being the final week before Easter, I just wanted to give a small reminder of the concepts that God has been revealing to our community through the Lentil season.

First Sunday of Lent (2/21): Our Family (Matthew 11:1-6)

Darcie Gill of Voice of the Martyrs reminded us of our place in the global family of God, the majority of which suffers unfathomable experiences only because they bear the Name of Jesus. Hearing their stories reminded us of our deep connection to that family and the demand of God that we pray for them daily. Darcie opened our eyes to see the darkness around the world, and yet showed us that the light is breaking through in incredible ways (seen even in the dreams and visions that Muslims are experiencing daily). Despite the darkness, light is arriving.

Second Sunday of Lent (2/28): Confidence and Anxiety (Psalm 27)

Beginning to follow the Revised Common Lectionary, we looked at Psalm 27 and were reminded of the tense nature of a life with God. On the one hand, we see a life confident in the God who raises us above the chaos and establishes us in security and intimate relationship, and yet the Psalmist (immediately in verse 7), seems to forget this confidence completely as he laments to God and questions God’s presence altogether. So we see both confidence and anxiety…faith and questions…both present in this life with God…and both are considered equal expressions of worship. Then the Psalm ends with the command to “wait”…to live in the tension between confidence and questions, to know that this life with God is controversial. Psalm 27 reminded us that to acknowledge and name the darkness (around us and within us) to God can be beautiful and worshipful expressions.

Third Sunday of Lent (3/7): Repentance (Luke 13:1-9)

As we reflected on the parable of the gardener and the fig tree, we analyzed the natural human tendency to get caught up in the character, motives, conditions, behaviors, abilities, and attitudes of others. This subtle focus away from the self helps us deny the darkness that resides deep within the intentions and behaviors of ourselves. Through this story, Jesus emphasizes the accountability of God’s people to give evidence (in word and deed) of their ecstatic relationship with God. God was pulling us toward repentance (literally “a change of mind”) and asking us to shatter the worldviews that we hold that promote injustice, manipulation, greed, etc. God is impatiently anxious to see His character in us lived out in word and deed toward others.

Fourth Sunday of Lent (3/14): Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
We opened our minds the reality of the new creation that came into existence after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This new creation encompasses all aspects of reality (politics, economics, social class, environment, human history, the global church, our community) and is characterized by God’s unbelievable reconciliation. Amazingly, God, the offended party, offered to mend the relationship with we offenders through Christ’s resurrection. This reconciliation governs not only our relationship with God and others but also should color our view of all parts of reality as we serve as God’s literal “ambassadors” of this reconciling power to those around us.

Fifth Sunday of Lent (3/21): A New Thing (Isaiah 43:16-21)

As we continued to acknowledge and name the dark places of our lives, God emphasized the newness of His initiative in our lives through the words of Isaiah which he had originally given to the helplessly broken and hopeless Israelites living in exile in Babylon (after Jerusalem had been destroyed in 587 BC). God was waking us up to the fact that He is moments away from breaking into the dark and helplessly hopeless places of our lives that we have given up on. With Easter almost here, God relentlessly was showing us that He had unfathomable possibilities for us and our community that are “springing” up now. He was drawing us and persuading us to expect the unbelievable.

This sunday will conclude the Lentil season and prepare us to celebrate the most definitive and transformational event of human history! God has been near to our church and community these last few weeks, and He has opened our minds and hearts to specific ideas as we get excited about unitedly celebrating His resurrection on our behalf on Easter morning.

Justin

With God calling Mount Paran North to a new vision, many of us are closely looking at our individual purpose and examining what we have to offer in today’s world as a Christian. Toby Tatum is especially facing many decisions right now that will affect his path for the Kingdom of God.

Each spring brings a new class of college graduates ready to venture out and claim their stake in the world. For some, it is greeted with anxious anticipation, while for others, it’s a reluctant necessity. Regardless, they are faced with decisions that may permanently determine their future.

Toby is one of Mount Paran North’s college students who will be graduating from Georgia Tech this spring with
a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy. Toby, like other graduates, is faced with decisions; whether to join the
workforce, go to graduate school, go to law school, and/or seminary. Seminary is not something a typical Georgia Tech graduate considers, but his decision process is not dictated by the pursuit of the highest paying career – but by how he can
best serve the Kingdom of God.

Toby has a passion for God. Even his decision to go to Georgia Tech was not arbitrary. It was after much prayer, he
decided that’s where God was leading him. While at Georgia Tech, Toby has been involved with starting or attending weekly
Bible studies with other students. He has also been part of a movement to bring together and unite several Christian groups for corporate gatherings.

Recently, he was asked to speak to this large group of students and share his vision and passion for God.

Now that he is graduating, he is listening to hear where God is calling him next. With a degree in Public Policy, Toby’s logical choice after graduation would be law school. This is what most of his advisors and friends feel is the direction he needs to go; however, he is not convinced. Toby is not reluctant to listening to advice and counsel; in fact he welcomes it. He respects the wisdom and guidance, but ultimately he listens to the Word of God for direction and to lead him in his next step.

In his heart, he wants to be directly involved in an occupation that serves the Kingdom of God. However, he realizes God may call him to serve in another area. It is not often you hear a 22 year-old college student speak of his legacy, but Toby does not hesitate when asked – “At the end of the day, I want to go wherever God leads and do whatever God calls. When I meet God face-to-face, I want Him to say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’” Whatever Toby’s decision, he wants his gifts utilized to glorify God. Regardless of where his journey leads, he is seeking his place in this world through his calling in Christ.

The Tatums (Eric, Teresa, Toby, Derek (his twin brother), Joey, Brandon & Carlia) have attended Mount Paran for 16 years. Toby has been actively involved in church, including being part of the Sanctuary Orchestra for nine years. He is currently an intern at the State of Georgia Capital Senate.

We are having our first Agape Meal as a community this sunday night at 6pm in the College Room. Because we are all new to this practice, let me provide some detail for the event…

What is an Agape Meal?

Within the first century after Jesus’s death and resurrection, the new communities of Jesus followers would regularly gather to share meals and take communion together. Through the conversations and encouragements that took place over these meals, the Christian community forged an unshakable family that serves as an awesome example for us today.

An Agape Meal (or “Love Feast”) is not a time to debate theological inquiry or cultural issues. Instead, it is an intentional moment to share what we have in common and to hear our stories of redemption. It is a means of restoring true community…

What does this look like?

Everyone is asked to bring something to eat and share. If you cannot bring something, don’t worry about it because this is a community meal and there will be plenty to share. So as to lessen the stress of the meal, please something that is shareable and easily distributed (e.g. finger foods — fresh fruit, crackers, cheese, etc.).

We will begin the meal with a quick thought, scripture, and prayer. This will include a short moment of reflection and then the meal will begin. After a few minutes of eating together, we will have a time of breaking bread with one another in which we encourage and share needs with each other. We will close the night by taking communion and responding with a worship song.

What’s the Point?

This moment has incredible potential for our community to experience the authentic love of Christian community. Many times, we can attend church services without hardly speaking to another person on any substantial level. We can be quick to joke and critique, but we lack the ability to engage one another in genuine and honest ways. I know that this meal can remind us of the unbreakable connection we have with one another in Christ.

What should I bring?

Something to eat that is shareable. again, think fruit, crackers, cheese, veggies. We will provide plates, napkins, drinks, and the bread and juice (for communion).

We are excited about this moment for our community and look forward to seeing you there!

Justin and Amanda