It takes courage to be a Canaanite woman who crosses the border of Tyre and Sidon and approach a rabbi to ask for mercy. The story of the Canaanite mother who demonstrates faith in Jesus is a compelling narrative of courage. She believes in the identity and authority of Jesus over demons and disease so she courageously asks him to heal her daughter. When Jesus sees her persistent faith, he does as she wishes. It takes courage to call out for mercy. it takes courage to have faith in God’s vision for wholeness, flourishing, and justice. It take courage put faith into action and approach God for what we need. When we do, we become conduits for mercy.

Prophecy is what God wants to say to people. It is not so much about the future as it is the here and now. It is more forth-telling, than it is fire-telling. Jesus not only spoke but acted prophetically. His arrival in Jerusalem, his cleansing of the temple and his cursing of a fig tree were all dramatic prophetic actions packed with meaning. Jesus declared to the people of Jerusalem that he had arrived as the king of his kingdom and so offered a choice between siding with the failed religious rule of the time or with his new world order- the kingdom of heaven. We’re all called to eagerly desire the gifts of the spirit especially the gift of prophecy. And when we prophesy we’re doing the same as Jesus did- speaking the words of God which encourage people to orientate their lives around Jesus, who is for them and loves them and wants them to thrive.

Jesus spent his whole ministry teaching his disciples and the crowds what it meant to follow him. In those day it was not uncommon to gather around a rabbi’s teaching, but what Jesus taught WAS uncommon. His kingdom doesn’t always sound like the solid ground we want to build our lives on, which is what the Wise and Foolish builder parable at the end of  Sermon on the Mount was supposed to illustrate. Do we want to believe that meekness, service, self-sacrificing and peacemaking are the key to following him? Loving our enemies? Not always our favorite, most easily applied parts of the gospel. And yet any path to unity that includes diversity must understand the real kingdom work of learning how to overcome our fallen, human, tribal conflict patterns, and find His path back to love. 

The term ‘pastor’ is Latin for poimén (poy-mane') meaning shepherd. The mixed imagery around Shepherds included symbolism for leaders and rulers. Moses is said to have led God’s people out of Egypt “like a flock”. Elsewhere, the Prophet Jeremiah attacks leaders who have mismanaged God’s flock and led the people astray. From writings in the Ancient Near East to Greek epics, shepherds were a common figure for rulers. But among God’s people, it wasn’t so much about ruling, it was about caring. When Jesus arrived he was moved with compassion for a helpless and troubled people who had no shepherd. He comes to be the good, perfectly ideal, and beautiful shepherd that we all need. He pastors us with personal care, intimate knowledge, and wise guidance. We belong to Jesus the Chief Shepherd from whom we learn how to exercise our pastoral calling. As we give ourselves over to God’s good shepherding, his care and compassion drive us into the fullness of life in him.

The word apostle derives from a greek word simply meaning ’sent out person’. In the first century Roman world it meant more than being a messenger, it connoted authority. An apostle was someone who spoke and acted on behalf of someone with power. As Christians we are all sent out, but those with an apostolic calling are those who tend to spend their lives breaking new ground, or planting churches, or starting fresh initiatives. They are the entrepreneurs of the church. Jesus was the archetypal sent one. His mission, as emphatically displayed at his Transfiguration, was to bring heaven and earth together. This is the mission of every apostle following Jesus. No less, no more. No less because the Christian faith is not about patiently waiting to escape this world and get to heaven. No more, because it is not about forcibly imposing God’s rule on the world. It is about continuing Jesus' mission to heal the sick, set the oppressed free, and proclaim the age of God’s goodness. To do this we need conviction - this comes from the assurance of our Father, our friends, and the Holy Spirit. In his power we can carry on, in part, the apostolic work of Jesus and see heaven come to earth.

The word evangelism derives from the greek word Evangelion - Good news. So an evangelist is someone who brings news. Evangelists are not primarily teaching, and they are not primarily prophesying, they are primarily announcing - that’s what you do with news. So if, for instance you tell someone who doesn’t yet believe that they are going to burn in the fiery fires of hell you are not evangelizing, because that is not good news. That’s bad news. If you teach someone who doesn’t yet believe about Christian sexual ethics that is also not evangelizing, because that is teaching. To evangelize is to announce something wonderful - Jesus. It’s as simple as that. Today we consider a couple of times Jesus does exactly that - announce himself to a world in need.