A Spiritual Feast To Satisfy The Deepest Hunger by The Reverend Dr. Thomas K. Tewell (NAPSA)—Jesus Christ said, “I am the breadof life. Anyone who comes to me will never hunger. Anyone whobelieves in me will neverthirst.” In the Bible, eat- ing and food are used as important meta- phors for the Kingdom of God. When Jesus described the kingdom, he so often described it in terms Dr. Tewell tewen— of a “feast” or “banquet,” in which those who had come weresatisfied. The above verse comes from the Gospel According to John, Chapter 6. In this section, Jesus engages in a profound dialogue: He is not the bread giver, but the bread itself. Your deepest needs, He is saying, are not physical or material; they are spiritual. “I am the basic nourishment of life,” says Jesus. There are three criteria that John gives us to evaluate whether or not a churchis really meeting the spiritual needsof people: 1. The church that is the “fivestar,” spiritually nourishing church will take seriously the diverse appetites of all who come. It’s a matter of “attitude alteration.”Ifa house of worship is truly nourishing those who pass throughits doors, then those people should leave with a new perspective. Fulfilled by faith and spiritual uplift. 2. The spiritually nourishing church will teach its parishioners to feed themselves. Worship and education are not enough unless they challenge people, teach people, equip people and whet people’s appetites to feed themselves. You can’t reap dividends off investments you never make, so in good times, it is crucial to make an in- vestment in Christ, so that you can draw on it when you haveto. 3. A great church must offer take-out service. Not everyoneis able (or willing) to come in for regular worship services, so we must bring spiritual teaching to them— not with rhetoric, but with noble deeds, kind words and pure thought. As Jesus commanded, “Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel.” For parents, part of this spiri- tual teaching—and nourishment a Child wasazine cue of the younger FEELING SAFE generation—can Talking to Children About War andTerrorism a eat j f you deal with your children. I Ja ’ be found in how address a Z this topic in a sec- tion of the book Feeling Safe: Talking to Children About War . “and Terrorism called “The Faith Factor”: Do not promise that you will always keep your children safe because you don’t know that you can, but assure them that you will try your best. Remember, a five-star church meets the attitudes and appetites of the people of the world. Jesus is the bread of life, and anyone who believes will never thirst. With worship, people may find a light snack or the ultimatesatisfaction—whatever they’re hungry for. The Reverend Dr. Thomas K. Tewell is Senior Pastor at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. For information about services, visit www.fapc.org.
