Central/Southern Illinois Synod Assembly 2008

Pastor Brent Dahlseng

Named and claimed in the waters of Named and claimed in the waters of GodGod

What does this mean?What does this mean?

In Christ…In Christ…we are a NEW Creation!we are a NEW Creation!

Water: Water: A drenched communityA drenched communityClaimed by Christ in the watery Claimed by Christ in the watery gravegrave

United with ChristUnited with ChristBorn into a new communityBorn into a new communityWhere our spiritual thirst is Where our spiritual thirst is quenched dailyquenched daily

Wood:Wood:In the In the cross cross of Christ is our hope & of Christ is our hope & lifelife

In the In the arkark, God saved Noah & his , God saved Noah & his family family

Abraham’s son’s life was saved by a Abraham’s son’s life was saved by a lamb sacrificed to God on a lamb sacrificed to God on a pile of pile of wood wood (Gen 22:7)(Gen 22:7)

God’s presence dwelt in the God’s presence dwelt in the ark of ark of the covenant the covenant (Ex 25:10)(Ex 25:10)

Earth:Earth:Out of the Out of the soilsoil, our first parents , our first parents were formedwere formed

Human – born from the Human – born from the humushumus““Remember that you are dust and Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” (AW – to dust you shall return” (AW – Imposition of Ashes)Imposition of Ashes)

““Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust” (Committal Service at to dust” (Committal Service at funerals)funerals)

Wind :Wind :God created by the God created by the windwind that that swept across the earth (Gen 1:2)swept across the earth (Gen 1:2)

The The windwind created a safe passage created a safe passage through the Red Sea (Ex 14:21)through the Red Sea (Ex 14:21)

God brought quails to feed the God brought quails to feed the exiles by the exiles by the wind wind (Num 11:31)(Num 11:31)

The sound of a violent The sound of a violent wind wind filled filled that house on Pentecost (Acts 2)that house on Pentecost (Acts 2)

Fire:Fire:The angel of the Lord appeared to The angel of the Lord appeared to

Moses in a flame of Moses in a flame of fire fire out of a bush out of a bush (Gen 22:7)(Gen 22:7)

The Passover lamb was roasted over The Passover lamb was roasted over fire fire (Ex 12:8)(Ex 12:8)

At Mt. Sinai, the appearance of the At Mt. Sinai, the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring glory of the Lord was like a devouring firefire (Ex 24:17) (Ex 24:17)

Divided tongues of fire…rested on each Divided tongues of fire…rested on each of them and they were filled with the of them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

We are born as people of the We are born as people of the earth;earth;Claimed by Christ in the Claimed by Christ in the waterswaters of of

Baptism;Baptism;Given new life through the Given new life through the woodwood of the of the

cross;cross;Cleansed by the purifying fire of the Cleansed by the purifying fire of the

new covenant;new covenant;And empowered by the wind of the And empowered by the wind of the

Spirit.Spirit.We are a We are a New Creation New Creation in Christ Jesus!in Christ Jesus!

Neo = New..revival:Neo = New..revival:Neo-ThomismNeo-Thomism - Modern revival of the - Modern revival of the

philosophical and theological system philosophical and theological system developed developed

Neo-ConfucianismNeo-Confucianism - In China, a - In China, a rationalistic revival of Confucianism in rationalistic revival of Confucianism in the 11th centurythe 11th century

Neo-ImpressionismNeo-Impressionism - Movement in - Movement in French painting of the late 19th century, French painting of the late 19th century, in reactionin reaction

Neo-KantianismNeo-Kantianism - Revival of Kantianism - Revival of Kantianism in German universities that began 1860.in German universities that began 1860.

In Christ, everything old has passed In Christ, everything old has passed away…everything has become away…everything has become new! new! (5:17)(5:17)

PardonedPardonedForgivenForgivenGoneGoneOverOverDoneDoneNada – no more power over us!Nada – no more power over us!

““Live no longer for ourselves, but for Live no longer for ourselves, but for Christ who died and rose for us” Christ who died and rose for us” (5:15)(5:15)

In our baptism, we die daily to In our baptism, we die daily to ourselves & rise with Christourselves & rise with Christ

Its about Christ and his mission – Its about Christ and his mission – others, my neighbors, the worldothers, my neighbors, the world

““I am crucified with Christ, therefore I am crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live, Jesus Christ now I no longer live, Jesus Christ now lives in me,” (Gal 2:20)lives in me,” (Gal 2:20)

Renewed day by day (4:16)Renewed day by day (4:16)It is the activity of the Holy SpiritIt is the activity of the Holy SpiritSpiritual disciplines:Spiritual disciplines:Open Scriptures (daily) Open Scriptures (daily) Book of Book of FaithFaith

Pray: listen & intercedePray: listen & intercedeServeServeGive – be generousGive – be generous

Tell: “We are ambassadors for Tell: “We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his Christ, since God is making his appeal through us” (5:20)appeal through us” (5:20)