This is a Lent series for March-April, 2025. In this series at Cross-Way, we’ll explore many different angles to the meaning of “the Cross of Jesus Christ”. John RW Stott says that the Cross of Christ is the center and heart of Christianity, shaping the faith, ethics, and mission of the Church. “The cross is the unique place where God’s love, mercy, holiness, and justice meet.” Therefore, “the cross transforms everything.” It gives us a new, worshipping relationship to God, a new and balanced understanding of ourselves, a new incentive to give ourselves in mission, a new love for our enemies, and a new courage to face the perplexities of suffering.” (11).
According to Stott, “Stott presents the cross as the defining event of Christian faith, emphasizing its necessity, significance, and implications for believers. He engages with biblical, historical, and theological perspectives, addressing key questions about atonement, salvation, and discipleship.” (chat GPT in summary of The Cross of Christ. No, I don't use ChatGPT to prepare my sermons).
These are some of the themes we will explore in this series. Here are some quotations from the book: “The cross enforces three truths: about ourselves, about God, and about Jesus Christ.” “The Christian life is not just a matter of getting into heaven, but of taking up the cross and following Christ.” “Suffering is the badge of true discipleship.”
The need for this series address is that, our world of Nepali Christianity does not resonate with (or understand favorably) suffering, loss, pain and grief as a good and necessary part of our discipleship (following Christ honestly). The hardest challenge to Christianity is that “If God is so good, why is there so much suffering and evil in the world?” Personal sufferings, evil and injustice, especially if it comes upon innocent people like children. Similarly, the wars and its impact on people’s lives and community (like currently in Sudan, and Ukraine). We will address these, but exhaust the answers. The Bible tells us that if we are to follow Christ, suffering is part of our lives calling, and we better learn to view them in the light of the Bible.
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