Greetings friends,

I want to express my enthusiasm for a new study that I've been leading on Wednesday nights, 'John: The Gospel of Light and Life'. This is a new study produced by Adam Hamilton that highlights the deeply spiritual aspects of the Gospel of John. The study can be completed in six weeks but can be stretched a couple of weeks due to the many layers within each week's study.
I've enjoyed seeing my group learn new things about the Gospels, mostly how John is very different from the synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke-you knew that already i'm sure), and to have so many great questions. Each week we are personally challenged to consider our walk with the Lord, the Church, and Christ's mission in the word.
Bible studies the incorporate a video component have tended to be my favorites. During these videos Adam teaches in front of a group each week and they too are allowed to ask questions which helps us as well. As many have come to learn Adam is a great teacher and presenter (he does speak a lil' fast for my country ears) and this is just one of many great resources that he has made available for individuals and Churches.
'John' is one resource of many that we are using during this season of Lent to be with our Lord. As a Church we are studying daily together, 'Living Lent: as people of the Resurrection,' there are other small groups meeting together using resources focused around Lent, and the sermons each Sunday are all themed so as to unite us as One people within God's story.

May you be richly blessed as you journey with God toward Easter,
Brian.

check out the video link below for Adam's study. Perhaps you and your small group/study group would benefit?

We've begun the season of lent! Lent is a season of six weeks (40 days) that lead us to Easter. Lent comes from the word "lenten" meaning spring. We kick off lent on Ash Wednesday by praying and reading scripture and smearing ashes on our foreheads to remind ourselves of our mortality and sinfulness and need for redemption and restoration.
Lent commemorates the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness and overcoming temptation by satan. Lent has traditionally been used as a time for fasting, prayer, and repentance of sins. Early converts to the faith were examined and prepared for baptism and Church membership during lent and received into the Church on Easter. I find this to be a beautiful and profound expression of the faith.
I am always personally challenged during this season of the Church year. I've had the privilege of witnessing many people, young and old express their faith and accept the challenge of lent and sacrifice their desires to be closer to their savior. Years past as a Youth Pastor I witnessed many young people take this season very serious and commit with prayer and fasting the entire 40 day period, this was very encouraging for me.
This will be my third year as a Sr. Pastor leading my congregation during lent. Each year I have been inspired to provide the Church with devotional material in order to provide for a Church wide experience. This year we have devotionals again but will include a time weekly where we gather together mid day to read scriptures and pray together then pray and meditate own our own at a local park.
I am excited for this season of lent. I am expecting it to be a challenging season but the rewards far out weigh the struggle.

His Peace,
Brian

Tomorrow is Christ The King Sunday. This is a special Sunday ending the Church year, and next Sunday is the first Sunday of four Sundays of Advent which begins the Church year by celebrating Christ's coming into our world. I can't think of a more fitting way to end the Church year and begin a new one than by reconsidering Christ my King, Christ Our King, for Christ Is King!

please find the link to the video i posted to go along with this post, it's great! (Click on my name 'brian sanderson' in orange beside my pic. just to your right and up a bit)

His peace,
Brian

Greeting brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last week i was privileged enough to spend several days an event, 'Leadership Institute' in Kansas at The Church of the Resurrection the largest United Methodist Church in the U.S. This retreat is a requirement for the second year Residents In Ministry in the Fl Conference.




To be quite honest i felt as if my time would be best spent serving the people in Ocala and getting administrative needs done, and a Sermon ready for the upcoming Sunday worship service. I even confessed my reluctancy to the Church the previous Sunday with the additional confession that it's usually when we feel this way about a retreat that God works the most in our lives. This retreat didn't disappoint! For me the breakout sessions were good, there was plenty of helpful offerings but no new content covered. Mostly, for me it was the worship and surrounding Spirit of solidarity in mission that encouraged me most.



My greatest takeaway came from observing this Church's laity in mission. These Christians epitomized the gift of hospitality, they wanted everyone to feel welcomed and helped. Everyone worked together with a sense of purpose and mission that carries over into all of their ministries especially outreach ministries.


I am proud to say that I also serve a Church that is loving toward one another and cares deeply for their community. It is my prayer that I can be open to the Spirit's leading and model for Druid Hills UMC and our community the mission God has called me to.

May we know that God has called us.
May we all discover our gifts for ministry and glorify God with our lives.

Pastor Brian

A Sweep of the Bible

Last Wednesday we began a 10 week study of the Bible called 'Invitation.' This study was put together by one of my favorite seminary professors Dr. Brian Russell and takes participants on a journey from creation to new creation. We had a great experience together. First, we played a game, then watched Dr. Russell's video lesson, then discussed the teachings/learnings in small groups.
At the end of the session we closed with a challenge to invite/bring someone next week followed by praying for our Church family, friends, our community, and our world.
I don't know where you are geographically as you read this, so you may be outside of the reach of this particular study, But please know that God invites you continuously to a lifelong study of God's Word. As God's people we yearn to spend time with God to know God more intimately and to know that which we are called to be and to do.
At our Church we recently began a sermon series from the book of James entitled Back-2-Basics. The idea is for Christians to get back to the basics of knowing and following God in order that we might know and serve God better. The first Basic of the series was reading/studying God's Word the Scriptures. SO will you also accept the challenge to read and study God's Word? If so, also find others who you can join with. If you do…Your life, the life of others, and our world will be transformed. You're Invited.

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Recently I begun a short series from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I have focused on Ch.4 1-32. There are some amazing lessons/principles for us to learn and live by in these few verses of scripture.

I. In (Vv.1-16). (please go and read) Paul calls the Church a "body of Christ" and this "body" must function as members of one another.
God has gifted each believer to do the work of ministry and we can all use our gifts and abilities in the local communities of faith (no matter your age) to build up the body of Christ. Did you realize that you were a Body Builder? Which naturally leads to the next question, "what kind of shape are you/we in?"

II. (Vv.17-32). Since we are members of one another and ONE in Christ we are to be holy as Christ is holy ('Walk worthy' v.1) becoming what He created and desires for us to be. This 'walk' is a particular walk that is in step with the ways of Christ and not of this world. Paul reminds the Church that once we are saved we receive a new identity. Our new identities in Christ take discipline to perfect, so we naturally desire to imitate Christ and this takes effort. I use to tell my students in youth ministry that it may be better to think about discipleship as training and not practice which carries a negative connotation.

The good news is that Christ has provided all of the resources we need: the Holy Spirit, and one another

May we as ONE Body continue to walk worthy of our calling

Pastor Brian

Theology for Thursday

I have been preaching from the book of John the last few Sundays. Last Sunday and this Sunday focus on Jesus as the 'Bread of Life.' We could actually spend five Sundays discussing this issue but we will most likely only need two. I found it interesting and informative to run across all of the "i Am" statements again that Jesus makes in John's Gospel.
"I am he" (4:26)
"I am the bread of life" (6:35)
"I am living bread" (6:51)
"I am the light of the world" (8:12; 9:5)
"Before Abraham was, I am" (8:58)
"I am the sheep's door" (10:7)
"I am the door" (10:9)
"I am the good shepherd" (10:11)
"I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25)
"I am the way, the truth, the life" (14:6)
"I am the true vine" (15:1)

He Is! But (I am) had its beginning with a burning bush story, and not just the one concerning Moses and holy ground. I have had a burning bush experience when i experienced God in a profound way and heard God call me, send me, and encourage me in spite of my perceived flaws. Have you encountered I am? God comes to us, and lives among us in so many ways. May we once again come to know the many faceted Jesus-gift of life and share it with the world.

In THE I am, Brian