Guard the Good Deposit

Section III: How Do We Guard the Good Deposit? • 49

As we make the yearly journey through Christ’s story, his life becomes the pattern of our shared life. The story of God in Christ gives structure to our ongoing discipleship. In broad strokes, we learn hope in the Lord and we prepare ourselves for his arrival. We learn to praise him and to make room for him to dwell in our midst. We learn to have faith in Christ that he will destroy the works of the devil. We learn humility and we take up our cross to follow him. We see that the only path to new life is to die and be buried with him. We have confidence in the Lord who ascended to the right hand of the Father. We affirm the presence of the Holy Spirit and we keep in step with him. We rest in the certainty of the promise that Christ will return and reign forever. With his return in our mind, we return to hope in the Lord and we prepare ourselves for his arrival . . .

How Do We Retrieve the Church Year?

Commit yourself to be formed in the image of Jesus. It may sound basic, but this is the Christian life from beginning to end. 1. We were chosen and predestined in him (Eph. 1.4–5). 2. We are baptized into him (1 Cor. 12.13).