Monthly Archives: May 2024

eBrethren

Transformed by God

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A theme reflection for the 2024 Young Adult Conference by Lauren Flora

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for God. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what God wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” ~Romans 12:1-2, The Message

It’s countercultural to live like Jesus, to resist conforming to the patterns and cultures surrounding us in our everyday lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the superficial customs and groups trying to get us to conform and strip us of our individuality. They entice us to adopt worldly thinking and behaviors; along the way we can lose sight of our own ideas and beliefs. We fall into a pattern of chasing things like power, status, and wealth instead of focusing on living out our vocation and individual identity. How do we recognize these forces threatening our values and instead hold firm to our beliefs?

This year at Young Adult Conference, we will learn about what it means to live a radical, counter-cultural life. We will dive into conversations about how we can focus our attention on God rather than ourselves. As Christians, we are called to be transformed by God and to embrace attitudes that align with “living like Jesus.” He wants us to live for him and resist conforming to the patterns of the world. Join us as we discuss allowing God to transform us. Living a countercultural life means placing our hope in something which cannot be removed. God wants us to be leaders, to find and keep our individuality, and to be change-makers in this world!

This reflection was originally featured in the spring issue of Bridge produced by Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Pray for those who are traveling to and attending Young Adult Conference this weekend (May 24-26) at Shepherd’s Spring Camp near Sharpsburg, Md. Support Discipleship and Leadership Formation staff who host events to grow courageous disciples at www.brethren.org/givediscipleship.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)

eBrethren

A breath of fresh air

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Pentecost Offering banner 2024
www.brethren.org/pentecost
Photo by Chris Brumbaugh-Cayford

A theme interpretation written by Matt DeBall, coordinator of Mission Advancement Communications, for the 2024 Pentecost Offering

“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house.” ~ Acts 2:2

Inhale. Exhale. The simple but life-giving rhythm that sustains all humans and creatures. Every breath— involuntary or intentional—is a gift from God. In particular, deep breaths can serve many purposes. Physically, deep breaths can help us quiet our minds, discern our emotions, or maintain steady movement. Relationally, they can help us listen more closely and receive fresh perspectives that are shared by others. Spiritually, deep breaths provide a cadence to take in inspiration from one another and from God.

Following the ascension of Jesus, the disciples gathered for fellowship and prayer. On the day of Pentecost, a great wind filled the house where they were gathered. It was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised, a burst of new energy, a breath of fresh air.

To be clear, the Holy Spirit wasn’t full of hot air, providing a false sense of security or inspiring naivete. There would be challenges ahead. There would be (real and metaphorical) hills to climb and valleys to traverse. Jesus had told them that they would face the hostility of neighbors and adversaries (Matthew 5:11) and speak before councils, judges, and governors (Matthew 10:16-20)—but those were concerns for another day. On that day of Pentecost, the disciples breathed deeply and embarked on a new season of ministry that was powered and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

The Pentecost Offering of the Church of the Brethren highlights our passion for calling and equipping fearless disciples and leaders, renewing and planting churches, and transforming communities. Through the work of Discipleship and Leadership Formation and other ministries of the denomination, we take deep breaths together and welcome the movement of God among us. Together we create space to witness and receive strength and inspiration from the Holy Spirit, and we use this energy to serve God and others.

No one knows what the future may hold or what challenges we will face, but if we lean into the Holy Spirit, we will receive strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Let us inhale and exhale, receiving a breath of fresh air from God.

Find this and other worship resources for this year’s Pentecost Offering (suggested date: May 19) at www.brethren.org/pentecost or give an offering today at www.brethren.org/giveoffering.

(Read this issue of eBrethren.)