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LIFE IN ARTISAN

How we got our name

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Months ago, a colleague and I were discussing God-oriented names that had to do with action. I asked myself, 'What is the most important, central, compelling verb in terms of my understanding of who God is and what God does?' Because of how I’m wired, I was drawn to notions of creation, restoration and the arts. Two scriptures sprang to mind. One was Rev 21:5, where Jesus, ‘the one sitting on the throne,’ says 'Look, I am making everything new!' The other was Colossians 1:19-20, where Paul writes: 'For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.'

Restoring everything that has been broken is how I like to think of God’s primary mission in the world -- the mission we, too, are invited to participate in. I began to look for names having to do with making new, redemption, renewal, the creativity and artistry of God, things like that. Eventually ARTISAN hit us, and it just seemed to fit.

An artisan is defined as 'someone who does skilled work with their hands; a craftsperson.' In short, one way to understand God is as the Supreme Artist, constantly 'making things new' and 'reconciling all things to himself' through Jesus Christ. And as his church, we are 'co-artisans'; called to participate alongside him in creatively living and proclaiming the news of redemption in our city. The meaning of ARTISAN is summed up well in Ephesians 2:10: 'We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.' Praise God for his faithful inspiration!

NB

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