Calling: Jesus the teacher.
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.
By Hannah Flint
Advent: Peace.
We don’t always do the church calendar thing, but sometimes it does seem to know a thing or two. Advent is all about allow ourselves to enter into the time of waiting that was the Hebrews existence for hundreds and hundreds of years. They know the messiah was coming to be the Prince of Peace, but they weren’t expecting the way he came to do it. We are not promised a peaceful life (ie - a life free of violence, persecution, conflict of tribulation) but we are promised the peace of his presence, that surpasses all understanding.
By Hannah Flint
If Jesus is supreme, you'll be free.
The rules of human wisdom lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence, says Paul at the end of Colossians 2. Only Jesus, and what he has done, can solve the problem of your flesh. This weeks talk examines how mystics and aesthetics have, throughout the ages, gone to great lengths to receive more of god, which raises the question, why is it that when we are weakest, we are strong? This one is for those of us who feel stuck and backed into corners right now. Be encouraged.
By Hannah Flint
Jesus with sinners.
Sin is everyone’s favorite word, but i’m not always sure we have the right spin on it. Sin is all the ways in which we’re not orientated towards the loving ways of God’s kingdom. We’re all caught up in those all the time, but ‘obedience’ to his ways changes its meaning entirely when we learn to come back to the love.
By Hannah Flint
Jesus With Gentiles
New series alert! We always want to understand Jesus better, so what better way than a series on how he interacted with people in Luke’s gospel? Right from the start, Jesus spoke about how he came to bring a new day for jews and gentiles alike. We might not always relate to how offensive this message was. But we are all wired for groups!
We think this is one of the most important pastoral words we can share in our divided era (but be warned - it’s never been an easy one to hear.)
By Hannah Flint