• About
    • OUR LEADERSHIP >
      • OUR STAFF
      • DEACONS
      • CHURCH COUNCIL
    • OUR VISION >
      • VISION
      • MEMBERSHIP
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR HISTORY
    • OUR BELIEFS
    • FAQ
  • New Here
    • VISIT
    • Covid-19 Guidelines
    • FRESH START
  • Messages
  • Giving
  • Ministries
    • KIDZONE
    • ADULTS >
      • MEN
      • WOMEN
    • STUDENTS
    • HOST TEAM
    • PRAYER TEAM
    • SMALL GROUPS
  • Events
    • Upcoming Event Details
    • Office Calendar
    • Christmas Eve at Southtown
  • Contact Us
Southtown Baptist Church
  • About
    • OUR LEADERSHIP >
      • OUR STAFF
      • DEACONS
      • CHURCH COUNCIL
    • OUR VISION >
      • VISION
      • MEMBERSHIP
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR HISTORY
    • OUR BELIEFS
    • FAQ
  • New Here
    • VISIT
    • Covid-19 Guidelines
    • FRESH START
  • Messages
  • Giving
  • Ministries
    • KIDZONE
    • ADULTS >
      • MEN
      • WOMEN
    • STUDENTS
    • HOST TEAM
    • PRAYER TEAM
    • SMALL GROUPS
  • Events
    • Upcoming Event Details
    • Office Calendar
    • Christmas Eve at Southtown
  • Contact Us

The Pastor Ponders

Showing the Image of Jesus

3/16/2017

0 Comments

 
What is so special about Jesus?

What made people stop and talk about Jesus?
What made people want to hear more about Jesus?
What made people change their schedules to get a glimpse of Jesus or to hear him speak?

So many things. One of them was his teaching. Over and over again, people would be struck to their souls by the words that came out of him. They used words like "astonished," "amazed' and "authoritative." Matthew recorded, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matt 7:28

What was so amazing about his teaching? Was it the words? Was it his style? Was it new and different topics? Was it his power? Was it his truth?

As the religious leaders took time to create theological, political and logical traps, Jesus always responded in ways that turned the question around and pierced the heart and mind of his plotters and listeners. One example was when the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by asking  "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"

If Jesus responded, "Yes," the crowds would have turned against Jesus; a win for the Religious Leaders. If Jesus responded. "No," the Romans would come after and arrest him; a win for the Religious Leaders.

Jesus responded, "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed."

Why?

Jesus re-taught them how to be a God honoring citizen. More importantly, he also struck to each person's center by challenging each person with whom is their God. The coin clearly bore the image of its owner, Caesar's. Each human bears the image of its Creator, Jesus.

So, this astonishing teaching is a soul-haunting challenge. Are your hands, feet and mouth being used by Jesus to serve every person you encounter; Christian and non-Christian alike?
Do you, as a Christian, who bears the image of Jesus, reflect Jesus' image in everything you do, say and are? Does each person you encounter every day, marvel in their minds that you must have met with Jesus that morning?

When was the last time you served someone in a way that they wondered about Jesus?
When was the last time you talked about Jesus' amazing teachings with someone, especially a non-Christian?
What is Jesus wanting to do in your life this Easter season? 
How does Jesus want to use your hands, your feet and your mouth each day?
How is your life reflecting the image of Jesus?
Are you giving back to God what is God's?

Are you still astonished about Jesus or do you take him for granted?

Willing to show the image of Jesus,
Pastor Chris
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Pastor Chris Reinertson enjoys all sports, especially those involving a ball.  He loves to hang out with people and challenge them to be Jesus REVolutionizers.

    Archives

    December 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All

    Subscribe to our mailing list

    * indicates required

    RSS Feed

VISIT
STAFF DIRECTORY
SUNDAYS
KID'S MINISTRY WEDNESDAYS
STUDENTS


MUSIC
MISSIONS
MESSAGES - LISTEN ONLINE
CALENDAR
CONTACT US
GIVING

Picture
  • About
    • OUR LEADERSHIP >
      • OUR STAFF
      • DEACONS
      • CHURCH COUNCIL
    • OUR VISION >
      • VISION
      • MEMBERSHIP
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR HISTORY
    • OUR BELIEFS
    • FAQ
  • New Here
    • VISIT
    • Covid-19 Guidelines
    • FRESH START
  • Messages
  • Giving
  • Ministries
    • KIDZONE
    • ADULTS >
      • MEN
      • WOMEN
    • STUDENTS
    • HOST TEAM
    • PRAYER TEAM
    • SMALL GROUPS
  • Events
    • Upcoming Event Details
    • Office Calendar
    • Christmas Eve at Southtown
  • Contact Us