Eric Smith's Pastoral Musings

MBBC's FIRST ANNUAL SPRING FLING!

Spring is the season in which the dormancy and deadness of Winter gives way to an explosion of life. Tree limbs are heavy laden with buds, flower beds are a profusion of color, the grass is green again! Spring and every season stands as an annual testament to the reliabilty and great goodness of God. The words from Thomas Chisolm's song Great Is Your Faithfulness come to my mind, "Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to Your great faithfulness, mercy and love."

WHY THE SPRING FLING?

Because as recipients of God's grace we have passed from the deadness of Winter to the life of Spring. In Ephesians 2:4 and 5 we read, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved." Our Spring Fling is an opportunity for us to roll out the red carpet in Jesus name to our community. The Spring Fling is an event through which we the church family can focus all of our energies upon holding up the banner of Christ and His love and His mercy and His goodness to all who will come to the church campus. The Spring Fling is a minstry event in which every member of MBBC ought to participate.

We know with certainty that Jesus died in the Spring. He was laid in a tomb dead! How do we know that He died in the Spring? Just hours before Jesus was laid in that borrowed tomb he shared the Passover meal with His first followers. The Jewish Passover was and still is observed in late March or early April. Easter is the time that we as believers accentuate the truth of the Gospel as found in 1 Corinthians 15:3 and 4, "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." We serve a risen Christ who has charged us with being His witnesses.

So, as we host the Spring Fling we will enjoy great, God-honoring music, we will have many family friendly activities, and lots of opportunities to enter into meaningful discussions. Let's do everything we do on that day with purpose and resolve.

1. Why will we have music? Because He has placed a new song in our mouths, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:3). Because we are to sing to the Lord and to one another, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:19). We are a singing people.
   
2. Why will we have the "Resurrection Egg Hunt?" Because we will create the opportunity to tell the resurrection story using eggs. The children will hunt for eggs and gather to hear the story of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Pray for God to work in the hearts of the children and parents who hear the Gospel on March 22nd. May they have ears to hear and respond to the life transforming, eternity impacting Gospel! And the use of eggs ties us to the Jewish Passover feast. A roasted egg can be found on the Pasover Seder table. We are a witnessing people.
3. Why will we have a lamb rather than a bunny? Because in Exodus chapter 12 we read the account of the very first Passover in which God instructed the children of Israel to take a lamb for each household. The lamb was killed and some of the blood was placed on the doorpost of the house. Whereever there was blood on the doorpost the promise of God as found in Exodus12:13 applied, "The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt." John the Baptist had this to say concerning Jesus, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). The writer of Hebrews descibed Jesus as the one "who offered Himself without blemish to God" (Hebrews 9:14). Bunnies have much to do with pagan fertility cults and nothing to do with Christianity. How I pray for many to ask, "Why are you using a lamb?" So that we can respond that the lamb reminds us that Christ paid the price for our sins as the lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Yes, and that God is our shepherd, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11). Jesus Christ is shepherding His lambs.

Plan to participate in the Spring Fling. Experience the joy of God working through you. Witness men and women pass from the bleakness of winter into the promise of spring. Watch 2 Corinthinians 5:17 unfold in you and others, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"