IN LAYMAN'S TERMS

Reflection: God's Motivation for Sending Jesus

Motive has been interesting to me for as long as I can remember. From novels to crime television shows to true-live documentaries, motive plays a key role in almost every story. And because it's so prevalent, it also can be complicated. Since we’re coming close to Christmas, I think we should explore why we even have this holiday.

After all, Christmas is not really about buying presents, Santa Claus, Rudolph and other elements of the season. Christmas is a religious holiday when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ child.

Why did God send Jesus to earth? What was God’s motivation? Let’s explore and find out together.

Reflection: Jesus as the Light of the World

In this Bible-teaching episode, Todd Seifert shares a reflection on John 1:1-18 and explains how the opening poetry of this gospel introduces Jesus as the light of the world.

Learn how the darkness in the shadows of life don't have to be permanent, nor do they have to be scary, because Jesus will be the light to drown out the darkness amid many circumstances.

Institute for Discipleship

Southwestern College — home of the Mound Builders — is tucked away in Winfield, Kansas, a small school in a small town southeast of Wichita. And tucked away on one corner of this secluded campus is the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship.

A quick glance reveals nothing grand. It’s a fine building, but it’s relatively small, with three or four office spaces, one larger hall space for gatherings.

It looks like nothing special.

But looks are deceiving. God said as much to the prophet Samuel when the man was looking for the next king of Israel.

Just as King David started off small in stature, this small institute has blossomed. In fact, some mighty big things regarding relationships with Christ happen because of what takes place here.

There may be grander buildings, but what happens inside these walls reaches right to the hearts of people to help them meet Jesus Christ and to get to know Him better.

At the centerpiece is the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship.

Technology as an Evangelism Tool

The days of opening the church doors to find a waiting crowd eager to take their seats are long since gone.

Now, many other activities occupy people on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. So, how can you make a connection? 

In this episode, we look at three churches — two in Nebraska and one in Kansas — that use a variety of techno-tools to connect with their congregations outside of Sundays while also reaching new people, even folks who otherwise likely would not willingly set foot inside a church without first making these kinds of connections.

Premiere — Greensburg, Kansas — A Resurrection Story

In this premiere episode, I want to tell you a story about brokenness and resurrection of an entire town.

Back in March, the first of a series of devastating floods damaged hundreds of homes in Nebraska. In the spring, a massive tornado destroyed or damaged homes in several communities in northeast Kansas. And later this past summer, more floods ravaged parts of Kansas and Nebraska. The Great Plains Conference’s Disaster Response ministry has been going nonstop since around March 14, so leaders in the conference were concerned about pastors serving in these disaster areas.

We planned a workshop/retreat for these pastors, but only a very small number signed up, so we postponed the event. But we had prepared for it. And part of that preparation was an interview with the Rev. Terry Mayhew. His experiences are unlike any other in our conference. You see, Terry received the call from his district superintendent late the evening of May 4, 2007, that he was being moved from Plains and Kismet United Methodist Churches to the town of Greensburg. Less than an hour later, a tornado would nearly wipe Greensburg off the map.

Or at least the twister would have killed the town, if not for the hope provided by faith in Jesus, the determination of residents, and people from both near and far working together to serve as Christ’s hands and feet in a shattered community.