In this morning’s sermon, Pastor Giotis used John 15 to describe what abiding in Christ should look like. “I am the vine, and my father is the vinedresser… Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you.” From this passage, Giotis presented two important questions to ask when evaluating if you are really living in Christ. Many of the experiences I’ve had in Athens help me consider these two questions in a new light:
Towards the end of our time with them, the missionaries noted the tremendous work of the Greek church (evangelical and orthodox) during the refugee crisis. This overwhelming wave of uncertainty changed the economy, population, and religious atmosphere of Greece, but it did not threaten the church’s identity. Instead they served with abandon.
Sunday evening we attended a lecture by our very own President Halvorson on the medieval roots of the Protestant Reformation. In it he noted that the fathers of the reformation were not shaken by their oppressors because, as Bernard of Clairvaux said, “Our righteousness comes from Christ’s righteousness, our merit is Christ’s compassion and mercy.”
When Paul visited Athens, he came at a time when Athenian pride was damaged by Roman occupation. The Greek Evangelical Church’s youth minister drew a parallel between Paul’s Athens and our Athens, where Greek pride is dented by economic destruction. He hopes God’s softening of previously hard hearts will make room for Jesus to flourish, just as in Paul’s time. In meeting these people, it has been clear that God's kingdom has little to do with our possessions, choices, and desires.
Sunday evening, we attended the baptism of a little boy named Nicholas from the Glyfada church plant. Though the service was in Greek, the message was a familiar and important one. As I sat in a pew I couldn’t help but think that we are all like little toddlers, crying and kicking as we are baptized, while God quietly says to us: Abide.
by Lucy Green
What voice do the ears of your heart heed?
Our identities are often formed by what external forces can do or say to us. On Sunday afternoon, our group got the chance to hear from MTW missionaries who work with human trafficking victims. When the missionaries ask victims how they identify themselves, often they define themselves as “slaves” because their experience has told them so. Through this conversation, missionaries have the chance to introduce them to a new identity that is untouchable by human wickedness.Towards the end of our time with them, the missionaries noted the tremendous work of the Greek church (evangelical and orthodox) during the refugee crisis. This overwhelming wave of uncertainty changed the economy, population, and religious atmosphere of Greece, but it did not threaten the church’s identity. Instead they served with abandon.
Sunday evening we attended a lecture by our very own President Halvorson on the medieval roots of the Protestant Reformation. In it he noted that the fathers of the reformation were not shaken by their oppressors because, as Bernard of Clairvaux said, “Our righteousness comes from Christ’s righteousness, our merit is Christ’s compassion and mercy.”
What is the love that defines you?
On multiple occasions, our group has been able to meet with those who by the world’s standards possess very little. At the Iranian wedding, one of the refugees attending told us of his life changing journey to Athens, not to mention the high-profile career he had to leave behind. Though he has been robbed of his wealth, and has little prospects for the future, he addressed us truly joyfully because of his Savior. This is a remarkable kind of abiding: in which union with Christ is my first love, maybe because it is all I have.When Paul visited Athens, he came at a time when Athenian pride was damaged by Roman occupation. The Greek Evangelical Church’s youth minister drew a parallel between Paul’s Athens and our Athens, where Greek pride is dented by economic destruction. He hopes God’s softening of previously hard hearts will make room for Jesus to flourish, just as in Paul’s time. In meeting these people, it has been clear that God's kingdom has little to do with our possessions, choices, and desires.
Sunday evening, we attended the baptism of a little boy named Nicholas from the Glyfada church plant. Though the service was in Greek, the message was a familiar and important one. As I sat in a pew I couldn’t help but think that we are all like little toddlers, crying and kicking as we are baptized, while God quietly says to us: Abide.
by Lucy Green
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