Christmas: So What?
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DECEMBER 2007 CHRISTMAS: SO WHAT? BY TIM KELLER hristmas is the church’s is a polarizing statement. If he is salvation is by grace. In every C annual observance of the not who he said he is, he should other religion the founder is a miracle of the incarnation, that be mocked or utterly ignored. If human being sent by God to show God became human in the person he is who he said he is he should us what to do to be saved. But of Jesus Christ. So what? What be adored completely—we should Jesus is God come himself. If we practical difference does it make center our lives entirely around could save ourselves by our per- that Jesus is not just a human him. Jesus is God—and therefore formance, God would have only being, but God himself? What he should be the pre-eminent needed to inform us what to do practical difference does it make concern of our choices, the ulti- for salvation, and he could have that Jesus was not simply a divine mate Lord of over our wills. sent a prophet. His personal com- figure, but a real human being? Third, if Jesus is God, his salva- ing, however, means he did not Jesus is God himself. First, if tion is of infinite value. His blood just tell us what we had to do to Jesus is God, it is not enough to was shed as a ‘ransom’ (Mark be saved, but he did for us all that simply believe in him or even to 10:45) to pay for our sins. But his we could not do ourselves. obey him. He is to be worshipped blood was the blood of God (Acts Jesus is a real, fully human (2 Corinthians 3:18), reveled in, 20:28)! Imagine how valuable being. First, if God became truly savored, and rejoiced in. The that is! He is able to save ‘to the human, we have a remarkable purpose of our lives is to behold uttermost’ (Heb. 7:25-King James resource to face pain and suffering. his glory and beauty (John 17:24.) Version.) No sin is too great to be The incarnation means that Jesus is God—and therefore he forgiven; no corruption is too for whatever reason God chose to should be the ultimate beauty and great to be healed. Jesus is God— let us fall into a condition of satisfaction for our heart. and therefore he should bring being limited, to suffer, to be sub- Second, if Jesus is God, he complete rest and assurance to ject to sorrows and death—he has must be given the central priority our consciences. nonetheless had the honesty and of our lives. Jesus’ claim to be God Fourth, if Jesus is God, then (Continued on page 6) DIACONATE MERCY FUND: SPECIAL OFFERING Sunday, December 9, 2007 Once a year the Diaconate receives a special offering at all five services to fund the needs of Redeemer members and regular attendees who are under its care. Please prayerfully consider contributing to this vital ministry, which supports men, women and children who are experiencing financial, physical, social and spiritual hardships. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12: 9-13) ABE CHO JOINS REDEEMER STAFF braham Cho comes to of 1) rearticulating the historic Abe grew up all over the A Redeemer as the newest gospel in an increasingly secular United States from Minneapolis, assistant pastor and Director of world and 2) building authentic MN, to Virginia Beach, VA, and Fellowship Groups after having gospel communities that will finally to New Haven, CT. served as the Director of stand as a lived-out apologetic Thankfully, his baseball alle- University Ministries at Citylife for the watching world. Abe says giances lie with the Minnesota Presbyterian Church in Boston. he is thrilled to be a part of the Twins, conveniently sidestepping He completed his M.Div. at any hostility that may have other- Gordon-Conwell Theological wise threatened his career in Seminary in South Hamilton, New York City. MA, and then went on to pursue He currently lives in Harlem a second degree in missiology with his wife of three and a half with a particular interest in years, Jordyn, whom he met in approaching post-Christian secu- seminary where she pursued a lar contexts as the missiological degree in Christian education. challenge of our day. He was He has two children, a daughter, ordained as an assistant pastor Lydia (almost two), and a new- at Redeemer at the end of born son, Ezra (four months). All November. Jordyn, Lydia, Ezra and Abe Cho things considered, the transition Abe comes to New York with into the city for the Chos has a strong sense of calling to min- Fellowship Group team as it been a remarkably smooth one. ister in post-Christian urban set- seeks to build and deepen They are thankful for the warm tings. He senses that the two authentic gospel community in a welcome they have received from greatest challenges that face the place as busy and as mobile as the community at Redeemer. church today are the challenges New York City. Center for Faith & Work Upcoming Events in December 2007 DATE EVENT DETAILS Sat, Dec 1, 10:00AM What is a Gospel-Centered Venture? An Entrepreneurship Initiative workshop. Register at www.faithandwork.org/ei ($20) Thu, Dec 6, 7:00PM Legal Fellowship Dinner Monthly vocation group meeting at Redeemer Office Sun, Dec 9, 12:00PM Finance Chat Held at Hunter College Room 507 Tue, Dec 11, 7:00PM Graduate Students Group Monthly fellowship at Redeemer Office Wed, Dec 12, 7:00PM Marketing & Sales Christmas Party New vocation group at Redeemer Office Thu, Dec 13, 7:00PM Health Care Fellowship Monthly Prayer Fellowship. Contact [email protected] for location and details. Fri, Dec 14, 7:00PM InterArts Fellowship Monthly fellowship at Redeemer Office Sun, Dec 16, 12:00PM Health Care Fellowship Lunch Monthly lunch gathering. Meet at Hunter College welcome desk at 69th St. entrance Mon, Dec 17, 7:00PM Entrepreneurs Fellowship Apply for this group at www.faithandwork.org/entrepreneurs Thu, Dec 20, 8:00AM Legal Fellowship Breakfast Monthly study on the book of Galatians. Held at Redeemer Office Advance Registration or RSVP required for most CFW Events. Go to www.faithandwork.org The Redeemer Report is a publication of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church. REDEEMER REPORT OFFICE • 1359 BROADWAY (BETWEEN W. 36/37TH STREETS) • FOURTH FLOOR • NY, NY 10018-7102 (212) 808-4460 (PHONE) (212) 808-4465 (FAX) www.redeemer.com Kathy Keller HUNTER COLLEGE AUDITORIUM ETHICAL CULTURE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH East 69TH (Between Park & Lexington) West 64TH and CPW Corner of West 79TH and Broadway Heather Klein services at 10:30AM • 6:00PM service at 9:15AM service at 5:00PM & 7:15PM 2 CALVIN CHIN CHOSEN TO HEAD ENTRPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE alvin Chin, a former investment banking, lending, and Fellowship, the annual business CRedeemerite and member private banking. His successful plan competition, the EI Net- of Redeemer’s first church plant career included building and work of people with skills and in Rye, New York,has been hired managing relationships with high experience to mentor, partner, to manage the growing net worth individuals, institution- and consult with entrepreneurs, as Entrepreneurship Initiative run al investors and senior corporate well as a variety of seminars and by Redeemer’s the Center for managers at Alliance Bernstein, workshops.The EI will help start Faith and Work (CFW). The Chase, Bank of America, and gospel-centered ventures in much Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) Burnham Securities Inc. Calvin the same way as Redeemer’s began in March, 2006, when Church Planting Center helps CFW held a Forum for prospec- pastors start new churches. tive investors to gauge interest in Calvin Chin According to Katherine Leary, a program to help Christians start New Director CFW Executive Director,“Calvin gospel-centered ventures (see is a great person to manage this www.faithandwork.org/forum20 of the effort. He has a strong banking 06). After this Forum, a Steering Entrpreneurship background and is passionate Committee was formed to about helping entrepreneurs Inititiative develop a full scale CFW draw upon the resources of our Entrepreneurship Initiative. It faith, the church community, formally launched last January earned his M.B.A. from NYU’s and the best practices of other with a church-wide business plan Stern School of Business. successful entrepreneurs.” competition.The next step was to The Entrepreneurship Initia- Calvin was born and raised in hire a full-time director. tive’s goal is to create a movement New York City’s Chinatown. He Calvin has served on the of new, gospel-centered, culture- lives with his wife,Amy, and their board of Hope of New York renewing institutions and ven- two children, Megan and Allison since September, 2006. For the tures. In addition to the annual in Scarsdale. past 17 years Calvin worked in EI Forum, the Initiative includes Visit the website to learn the financial services industry in the monthly Entrepreneurs more: www.faithandwork.org/ei KNITTING FOR NEIGHBORS BY KRISTIAN ROSE ew York winters can get Redeemer members, pile up dur- might experience the kindness N awfully cold. For over ing the summer in anticipation of and graciousness of God through 30,000 of our neighbors living on the coming cold.