Welcome On behalf of Calvary Church, let me say how glad I am that you have joined us as we present, “A Time for Christmas.” Through storytelling, music and drama, the cast, crew and musicians have been working for months to make the wondrous, awe-inspiring events of this season come to life. As Christians, Christmas holds a special meaning for us; it is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we hope you will take minute to read through the next couple pages. We have also included questions you may be pondering and stories highlighting what it means to put your faith in Jesus Christ and live life with God. I especially hope that you will read the note from our Assistant Director of Evangelism and Discipleship, Jake Boerman, on page 5. If you’re looking for a church, I’d like to invite you to try Calvary. It’s a big church I know, but with the host of opportunities available you’d be surprised at how quickly it can come to feel like home. Throughout the pages of this magazine you’ll find details on the many ways you can experience life with the Calvary Church family. We would love to have you join us as we journey together. Wishing you a blessed Christmas season, Jim Samra, Senior Pastor 4 | December 2012 | calvarygr.org
What is a Christian? There are a lot of different answers to that question. Some think a Christian is a good person who follows the golden rule. Others claim that a Christian is a person who believes in God, prays and attends church. Some might say that Christian are people who go to church and think that they are better than everyone else. However, none of these answers are sufficient. Can we even know what really makes someone a Christian? Thankfully the answer is yes and the answer is found in the one place that resolves this confusion— the Bible. The Bible is the authority on all things Christian, and the Bible alone can teach us what it is to be a Christian. The Bible says that a Christian is a bad person. Surprised? Most people are when they hear that for the first time, yet that is what the Bible states. Of course that is not the whole story, but that is the first part. The Bible tells us that: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible claims that there is not one person (including Christians) in the world who has not sinned and fallen short. The Bible also tells us that the punishment for sin is death, which means total separation from God. This presents a serious problem for us all; because we all know that we are far from perfect. Thankfully this is where the good news comes —”God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). What does this mean? The Bible tells us the reason that Jesus came and lived a life on this Earth was to die for us. The Bible tells us that Jesus lived a perfect life in which He committed no sin. The Bible also tells us that because of His great love, when Jesus died on the cross He took the punishment for our sin upon Himself. When Jesus rose from the grave He defeated death and made freedom from sin and death available to mankind. The Bible tells us that by believing in Jesus and turning away from our lives of sin we can be forgiven of our wrong doings and receive eternal life, meaning we are never separated from God again. Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your
mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
So what is a Christian? Christian are people who recognizes their short comings. People who know that they are not perfect and understand that on their own they cannot make it. So, they choose a different path. Ultimately Christians are people who in faith believe that the only way to be right with God is to trust and hope in the power and work of Jesus Christ alone. Simply put, a Christian is a sinner saved forever by Jesus. One of the most famous Christians of all time put it this way: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). If you have more questions about the idea of being a Christian or want to know more about Calvary Church, we would love to talk with you. Contact Calvary’s Associate Director of Evangelism, Jake Boerman (jboerman@calvarygr.org) at ext. 5165, to set up a time to get together. God designed us to live this life together; being a Christian isn’t something you can do alone. We gather together, at church on Sundays and throughout the week in community groups, to encourage and support each other. If you are curious about faith and want a safe place to ask questions and learn from others in a similar place, check out Simple Faith (beginning February 17 on Sunday mornings) on page 13. There are no dumb questions. Wherever you are today, Christ wants to meet you there. As a church family, we hope you will take a moment this season to answer His call.