Our friend and co-founder Alice returned to us from London (not for long, but we’ll take what we can get) to speak about what peace and submission look like in Jesus-centered community. In Paul’s day, power imbalances between husband and wives, slaves and masters and parents and child may have looked a little different to how they do today, but the driving force behind them remain the same; we give up power we follow Jesus. And when we do so we always win.
Paul paints the vision of Christian community: God's children, citizens of heaven, turned outwards to face the brokenness of the world and revealing glimpses of heaven's glory, transformed through our relationship with Jesus. We remember that we don’t do this Kingdom-building in our own strength.. Empowered by his spirit, we do it together as a community (yes! even in these crazy, ongoing pandemic days)
The Lord’s prayer - along with this series - ends with a dramatic claim of God’s sovereignty and divinity. After petitioning for all that we need - our sustenance, our forgiveness and our protection - we reorient our eyes and hearts back upon the one who has already fulfilled it in Himself. But there’s more- Jesus is inviting us to relax in the closeness and safety of our Father's loving arms. We do not need to fear or worry because it is His Kingdom, His power and His glory and we can simply enjoy Him!
The gospel accounts are full to the brim with stories of Jesus healing people; the blind are given sight, the lepers are cleansed, and the paralyzed get up and walk. In each of these accounts we learn something perhaps obvious but very important nonetheless: sickness is anti-Kingdom and it is central to Jesus’ mission to bring healing and restoration. In light of our commission to do as Jesus did, what does praying for healing look like during a worldwide pandemic? Spoiler: in our weakness He is strong and in our openness He authorizes and empowers us to pray for healing by His Spirit- even over Zoom.
Alice finishes our mini-series on Micah’s call do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with a look at the final part of that. Jesus’ humility is not one of passivity but of radical boldness. He knew that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him, yet He took on the likeness of a Gentile slave to serve others, and challenges His followers do the same. How can we as Christians, embody this radical humility and how does God empower us, in our humility, to build His kingdom on earth?
Five weeks of ‘safer at home’. Our days may feel that they are merging into one, our emotions continue to be unexpected and there are daily developments in information. Amidst everything that comes with this worldwide experience, feeling a sense of peace can feel difficult. But, we know that God is here, that He is good and that He promises to provide rest for our weary souls. So- how do we experience His peace, that surpasses all human understanding, for ourselves?
The prophet Isaiah foretells that the birth of Jesus will be like a light dawning upon a world in deep darkness. In a single moment, all instances of darkness - destroyed. But, if that’s true, why does is so often feel like we are still living in the shadows? In celebration of the first week of advent, let us consider what Jesus’ light is actually like, how it first shows up, and what it is that He comes to do.
Jesus spent a lot of time praying. So, it seems clear - if we want to develop a devoted and dependent relationship on God, if we want to see the power of the Spirit bring forth signs and wonders similar to those we read about in Jesus’ ministry and in the ministry of the early church - we must also pray. But - prayer often feels a little more complex and mysterious than that, right? Prayer brings up a lot of questions - how do you do it? Does it actually change anything? What about unanswered prayer?
Throughout chapters one to three, Paul purposefully reminds us of all that God has already done. Now - he catapults the church into action. Paul urges the church in Ephesus (and us) to live a life worthy of our calling, and in true Paul fashion - he is unapologetically direct. Be who you now are. Identify and use your gifts for the Kingdom. Take off your old self. Unify with one another. Paul invites us into the freedom and maturity to be who we really are.
