April 2015 Synchroblog – Bearing Fruit

Fruit … glorious fruit.  It’s mentioned several times and in various contexts in the New Testament.  We’re told we’ll know people by their “fruit.”  We’re told that we should tend the “fruits of the Spirit.”  But that supposes we have some idea of what “fruit” is.  What does it look like in the life of a Jesus follower?  What would the  term “bear fruit” look like?  How do we, as followers of Jesus, “bear fruit” in our ordinary lives?

That’s the theme of this month … fruit or bearing fruit.   In whatever ways those terms hit you, let us know.  As is usual, post your blog title and link in the comments section here and I’ll make the link list for inclusion at the bottom of your post.  Get those links in here by Tuesday, April 22 and I’ll post the link list on Wednesday, April 23.

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The Resurrection Hoax – Invitation to the April Synchroblog

We believe Jesus rose from the dead. But what if it was all a hoax? How would the world and our lives be different?

As Easter draws near and Christians around the world focus their thoughts on the resurrection of Jesus, it is sometimes helpful to consider how the world, our lives, and Christianity would be different if Jesus had not risen from the dead.

Make no mistake, we are not challenging the historical fact of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. We firmly believe in the historical reality of the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus.

But we also know that soon after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians were accused of inventing this story. Some critics claimed that Jesus never died. Others said that the apostles stole the body of Jesus from the grave. Today, there are countless millions of people who still believe that the resurrection is a hoax.

For the April Synchroblog, we want to explore this question in more detail. We want to ask, “What if the resurrection is a lie?”

This might be an uncomfortable question for some, but asking this question will help each of us understand our faith, provide insight to why we follow Jesus, and open up ways of interacting with people who do not believe in the resurrection.

April Synchroblog posts could also ask any of these related questions:

• If the resurrection did not happen, how would the world be different?
• If Jesus did not rise, would you still follow His teachings and example? Why or why not?
• If the resurrection did not occur, what religion (if any) would you be part of? Why would you choose this religion?
• Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that if Jesus did not rise, our faith is in vain, and we are still in our sins. Because of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection, this is undoubtedly true, but if Jesus did not rise, what other options are there regarding our sin? How would you deal with it?
• If Jesus did not rise from the dead, but the Scriptures say He did, how would this affect your view of Scripture? How would you now read and understand these passages that talk about His resurrection?
• If Jesus did not rise, how would this affect your view of Jesus? Could He still be God incarnate?

Add your post link in the comments section by 10:00 pm EST, Tuesday, April  10, 2012 to be included in this month’s Synchroblog. The link list will go up on Wednesday, April 11 so you can add it to your post.

We look forward to hearing from you.

April Synchroblog – Do You Live Under A Rock?



DO YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK? – April 13th (second Wednesday)

As Christians we say we believe in the resurrection but sometimes it seems like we are living under a rock instead of living a resurrected life. As Easter approaches take some time to reflect on what it means to live out the resurrection. Does the resurrection make a difference in the here and now? Have you seen evidence of the resurrection in the land of the living? Would/Could resurrection life change anything/everything in the world/your community? What does it mean to practice resurrection? Join this month’s synchroblog and share your thoughts, reflections, opinions and stories as you consider the question “Do You Live Under A Rock?”

Please plan to submit your name, name of blog, title of post and link in the comment section of the April announcement here on this blog by 6 p.m. EST 4/12/2011 if you would like to be included in this synchroblog. The list of participants will be compiled and posted on 4/13/2011.