Rejecting or Receiving God’s Wisdom

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We live in an unprecedented time where incredible amounts of information are readily at our fingertips, and at the same time we are starving for wisdom. We know that information is not the same as wisdom, but the keen observer will also recognize that human wisdom will only take us so far. In fact, the whole mess the human race is in, according to the Bible, stems from humanity grasping for knowledge and forsaking the wisdom of Creator God.

Still – God offers us his wisdom, again and again, all through the biblical narrative.

Our response to God’s wisdom will effect the way life plays out, and never more so than when it comes to the wisdom revealed in Christ. How we respond to God’s kingdom closing in on this world will have varying results in accordance with our response. That is something Jesus will highlight in the section of Matthew we’ll be reading this Sunday, Matthew 11:20-30.

Jesus gives some of his harshest rebukes outside of the religious leaders in v20-24. What is the repeated reason for their looming judgement? Do you think Jesus is angry with these people? What do you believe is motivating his words? What appears to be the result of rejecting God’s kingdom?

In v25-27 we see that everyone didn’t reject Jesus’ presentation of the kingdom. Who does it say it was revealed to? What do you think is significant in the contrast between the “childlike” and the “wise and clever” ones? What implicit attitudinal response seems necessary for recognizing and embracing God’s wisdom revealed in Christ?

Some of Jesus’ most beautiful words are spoken in v28-30. Here’s the thing – read them. Read them again. Read them from the Message version. Read those words out loud and hear them coming from Jesus to you, personally. Tell me how those words make you feel. What is the result of surrendering to Jesus and the wisdom of God?

I can’t wait to dig into this passage together! Hope to see you Sunday!

The Anomalous Kingdom

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Anomalous: deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

We face a lot of disappointments in life, all of which extend from our own expectations. Have you ever been disappointed in how God’s plans seem to be working in your life? If we’re honest about it, there are probably a lot of times when God doesn’t seem to be responding or doing what we think he should be doing.

We’re going to be reading a section in Matthew’s gospel (chapter 11:1-19) where Jesus addresses some questions that John the Baptist has asked him from his jail.

Why do you think John is asking Jesus if he’s really the One they’re waiting for? Consider where John is, imprisoned by Herod, getting word that Jesus has been going to banquets with tax collectors…basically Herod’s employees. John had said Messiah would come the ax of God and an winnowing fork to separate the faithful from the unjust…which was sort of a different picture than feasting with oppressors.

John was waiting for Messiah to execute judgement on unfaithful Israel and Rome.  What does Jesus point to as the focus and evidence that God’s kingdom is indeed present and at work? How can that help us to understand the unexpected ways in which God works in our world? How can that shape our mission?

Jesus makes a few cryptic comparisons between John the Baptist and Herod and the rulers of Israel at that time. We’ll get deeper into the specifics of it on Sunday – but the comparison forces us to see the difference between people’s expectations about the force Messiah would use on his enemies…and what Jesus actually did.

Jesus then compares his critics to spoiled children who refuse to get on the same page and play the same game. They criticized John because he was too austere, they rejected Jesus because it looked like he was having too much fun. There was no pleasing them. So what does Jesus point to in answering his critics in v19? As Christians, we will always have people criticizing or questioning our faith. Following Jesus’ lead, what should we be pointing to as evidence that God is at work in our efforts?

I’m really looking forward to digging into this text on Sunday! Hope to see you there!

Preparing for the High Calling

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One time I came across a church’s advertisement for their Sunday morning service. The video showed someone walking into church carrying “100 problems.” As they experienced the service, the number of problems kept dropping until, by the time they left, they had “0 problems.”

I believe the ad was trying to communicate that we can bring our problems to church and trust that God will care for us. But I also wondered if the simplest takeaway could be misunderstood: “Come to church, and all your problems will disappear.”

The Jesus we meet in the gospels never pretends that following him will remove all our problems. What he does promise is this: we don’t have to live in fear, because he will take care of us. The troubles we face are real but temporary; his presence and protection are eternal.

How have you experienced God’s care—not by removing a problem, but by giving you strength or peace in the midst of it?

This week we’re continuing our study in the Gospel of Matthew, reading Ch 10:26-42. Jesus continues instructing his disciples about what to expect as they go out into the world. Even though large crowds were drawn to him, often amazed by his miracles, Jesus was careful to be honest with his followers about the challenges and opposition they would face.

Why do you think Jesus emphasized the hardships of discipleship, even when people were excited about his miracles?

As we prepare for Sunday, I encourage everyone to read Matthew 10, focusing on verses 26–42. We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we dive deeper into these teachings together.

Mission Briefing

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Learning to drive is a rite of passage in our culture and I still remember it well. It’s one thing to be along for the ride as a care-free kid, it’s another when the keys are in your hands and steering that metal box that’s flying down the road is up to you. It can be daunting at first, and it certainly isn’t something done lightly. That responsibility requires a lot of instruction.

Jesus’ disciples will experience something like that in our text for this Sunday, Matthew 10:1-25. Jesus will essentially be handing the keys of his ministry to his 12 disciples and send them out to do what he has been doing. We’ll be reading Jesus’ instructions for the mission.

In v 1-4, Jesus sends them out as “apostles” – it’s the first time this designation is used. It basically means someone sent…by Jesus, in this case. When you look at the list of apostles, what stories about them come to mind? We wouldn’t necessarily call them a dream team of spirituality. Does this tell you anything about who Jesus is willing to send?

When you read the instructions of v5-8a, we discover the tone of the mission. This is something that will demonstrate what the Good News is like. I would summarize their mission as “doing good”. How can we continue that practice today, as representatives of Jesus?

Jesus talks about finding people who are willing to listen to the message (worthy) and staying with them. The NLT says to bring “blessing” to the household – but the literal Greek is a word that is often translated as “peace” – the word used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament as “shalom”. Shalom is well-being and wholeness – that is what we are meant to bring into this world. If people reject the message, he instructs them to shake the dust from their feet. Why do you believe he gives that instruction instead of telling them to force the issue when the stakes are so high?

The last part of this section, v 16-25, is pretty dark. Jesus is realistic about how this world may respond to the news that Jesus is KING. Take some time to contemplate what it means to be a sheep in the midst of wolves, or a dove as opposed to a venomous snake. What should characterize our mission, even in the face of hostility and rejection.

These are some heavy ideas the think about – we’ll work through them as best we can. Hope to see you this Sunday!

Compassion For the Desperate

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One thing we as humans all have in common is that at one time or another, we have all felt desperate. Certainly, times of desperation come in varying degrees – but none of us escape moments where things seem so hopeless they seem impossible to deal with. In our times desperation, we will usually go all over the place looking for something or someone who can give us a glimmer of hope. That’s just the nature of desperation…and it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. One thing the Bible reveals, over and over again, is that God is fond of desperate people.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 9:18-38 and we’ll discover some desperate people who go to the right place in their time of crisis. As we read about these people, we’ll be looking at what it was that moved them to seek help from Jesus. We’ll look at the compassion Jesus had on them, and we’ll observe the faith that they expressed in Jesus’ compassionate power.

The synagogue ruler, the hemorrhaging woman and the two blind men all have their stories told in succession. Their expressions of faith are risky, scandalous and bold, but they are also desperate. How does Jesus respond to their desperation? Does Jesus demand anything but trust from those who approach him? It’s important to remember that God’s compassion comes before our need is ever known.

When Jesus casts out a demon and a man was able to communicate when he hadn’t been able to before – what are the two reactions recorded? If both groups of people saw the same miracle, what kept the Pharisees from believing Jesus’ power was from God?

The chapter culminates with a summary of what Jesus is up to with the Kingdom Project – and then we see his compassion for the multitudes who are oppressed by religion and not cared for by a Shepherd. He clearly is inviting us into the activity of harvesting a ripened field…but what does that metaphor mean to you? How do you believe we can be used in this “harvesting” activity?

I hope you can join us this Sunday as we dig deeply into these fascinating accounts of Christ’s power!

The Merciful Kingdom

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The Israelites in the time of Jesus lived under the heavy hand of Roman rule. That context shapes so much of what we read in the gospels, influencing the meaning of scripture and the dynamics we see in the stories.

This Sunday we’ll read Matthew 9:9-17, about Jesus calling Matthew to be His disciple. At first glance, “Matthew the tax collector” may not strike us as anything unusual, perhaps just a profession that isn’t well-liked. But for a first-century audience, those words would have been shocking.

Tax collectors were not simply disliked. They were despised. They worked with Rome to oppress their own people, betraying their families, neighbors, and community. By overcharging and exploiting others, they grew wealthy while their fellow Israelites suffered. To hear that Jesus would not only speak to a tax collector, but call him to follow, was nothing short of scandalous.

That is where the power of this passage lies. The betrayal and brokenness that Matthew represented highlights the radical nature of God’s kingdom: Jesus steps toward the outcast, the despised, and even the betrayer, offering grace and transformation.

Join us this Sunday as we study Matthew together, and discover how Jesus’ call to Matthew reveals the shocking depth of God’s mercy and how it continues to change our own lives today.

Trusting in Christ’s Authority

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How difficult or easy is it for you to trust someone? For many people, trust is a hard commodity to come by. A lot of factors go into that – past experiences and a host of other reasons can make us reticent with our trust…and those are people we can SEE and examine and evaluate on a regular basis.  What about a God who we can’t see and who sometimes feels like he’s hiding himself?

Still, that’s the whole thing when it comes to Scripture. We are continually called on to trust God – and in the Good News of the Gospel, to trust in the authority of Jesus.

This Sunday we’ll be reading chapter 8:23 through chapter 9:8  as we journey through the gospel of Matthew. The chapter break really shouldn’t be there, because this whole section belongs in a single grouping. Three areas where Jesus demonstrates his authority to encourage our trust in him, even as we follow him into potential hardships. They link us back to the creation story in Genesis as well as the Exodus; God bringing order to the chaotic waters, subduing spiritual evil and reconciling us to God.

In chapter 8:23-27 we have the famous account of Jesus calming the storm. Have you ever felt like Jesus was sleeping while you were going through severe and stressful times? What does he ask his disciples? In our own storms of life, how can asking ourselves the question “why are you afraid?” help to orient our thinking and perspective?

In v28-34 Jesus heals two men who were demon possessed. How comfortable are you with the idea that there are demons on the loose in this world, taking possession of people sometimes? Our western culture mostly dismisses that notion as primitivism – but I think we need to be cautious about adopting the hubris of our rationalistic culture and leave room for mystery. Jesus demonstrates his authority over evil. How does that develop our understanding of his words in the Lord’s Prayer “deliver us from evil” – and in what way can that inspire our trust? What should our response to evil be, in light of his authority over it?

Chapter 9:1-8 tells the story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man. Before he heals him, he forgives his sin. Then he demonstrates his authority to forgive sins by healing the man’s physical body. What does his authority to forgive sins inspire you to trust Him with? What did the paralyzed man do to deserve that declaration of forgiveness?

Troubles from without, in the natural world and the spiritual one, and troubles from within in the form of our own failures – Jesus has authority over them all. What will you trust Him with?

Hope to see you this Sunday!

The Road is Narrow

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Robert Frost ended his famous poem “The Road Not Taken” with the words:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

It just reminds me of the “two paths” motif we find in the biblical narrative, and the “Narrow Gate and difficult road” Jesus contrasted with the Broad and easy road most travel by. This Sunday, in our study of the Gospel of Matthew, we’ll be reading chapter 8:18-22, where the story will give us examples of why the road of following Jesus is considered “narrow”.

Jesus sure has an odd sense for how to achieve church-growth, doesn’t he? I love how v18 reads in the Message: “When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake.” Suddenly his ministry is becoming popular and attracting attention, and his response is to bail out immediately. Why do you think he did that?

When faced with sudden popularity, Jesus doesn’t begin the process of working the crowd and taking polls to see what will generate a greater favorability. He doesn’t try to drum up as many supporters as he can by offering give-aways or doing his best to present himself as culturally hip. Nope. He does his best to evade the masses who have only a surfaced curiosity, and when some do seek to commit themselves to him, he does his best to dissuade them!

Jesus was clearly not reading all the email articles that get sent to me. He’s doing it all wrong, at least according to the experts. And they are experts – they seem to represent gigantic, massive and wealthy churches.

v19-20 – Why do you think Jesus responds the way he does to the teacher of religious law who offers to join the cause? Jesus had places to sleep – he stayed with Lazarus in Bethany, he stayed at Peter’s house in Capernaum…and Peter had a house to stay at. There is some hyperbole in this, but there is a sharp, deeply cutting message in it, especially to 21st Century American Christians. What message does this speak to you?

V21-22 – On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being “not at all” and 11 being “this goes to 11”, how harsh does Jesus’ response to the man who wants to bury his father seem to you? Why do you think Jesus would say that? What do you think the phrase “let the dead bury their dead” means? We’ll take some time to gain a better understanding of his response by getting a clearer picture of the culture of that place and time, as well as some potential idioms that were in use.

While this section of Scripture is challenging, my hope is that it will encourage us as well – persuading us to commit our all to the Savior of our lives.

God’s Power in the Margins

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Every society on earth has always had groups of people in the social margins; people who are relegated to the edges of the larger community. It’s a tragic symptom of living in this broken world, the ease with which we dehumanize others by categorizing them as unwanted or undesirable, or unuseful.

Which is why Jesus’ ministry is so arresting, simply because the majority of his messianic work was done with and for those who were designated as the outcasts of his time. When the Kingdom of Heaven began its invasion of this world, it wasn’t focused in on the elites and powerful of Rome or even Israel. It was laser focused on the most vulnerable among us – revealing the heart of God and the nature of His healing work in this world.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 8:1-17 in our ongoing study of this Gospel. Chapters 8 and 9 of Matthew are arranged around two sets of three miracles, bridged by sayings of Jesus. This framework is meant to put the authority of Jesus on display after he had revealed his authority to teach in the Sermon on the Mount.

V1-4 is the account of Jesus healing a leper. The Torah had very specific instructions on identifying skin diseases, and what to do if one was diagnosed on a person. It’s clear that a person’s life would be miserable with that affliction, especially on a social level – they would be mandatorily outcast. Does the leper demand a healing from Jesus? Why do you think he phrased his inquiry the way he did? What is the first thing Matthew describes Jesus doing, even before declaring him healed? What might a human touch have meant to someone who had been labeled as “untouchable”? What do we learn about the nature of our mission, as Jesus’ representatives, from that?

V 5-13 tells us about a request from a Roman officer. Rome was the occupying force in Israel – they were seen as the enemy, the oppressors of the Jewish people. I can’t think of someone who would be more likely to be ostracized by the larger community than man who represented the Roman army. How resistant did Jesus seem to answer this man’s request? What might have been the thoughts of the people around Jesus when this gentile soldier made this request? The officer gives Jesus a way out of coming into his house, and Jesus commends his faith. Faith in what, do you suppose?

The last part of this section details Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever. Women rarely took center stage in recorded events in the ancient world. This is highlighted in the Gospels for a reason. What was her response when she was healed, what did she do (hint: the words “a meal” are not in the Greek – she got up and diakoneō him)?

I’m really excited to get into this text together – I hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM!

The Two Ways

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This Sunday we’ll be concluding Jesus’ most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, in our ongoing series studying the Gospel of Matthew. Well be reading ch 7:13-29.

Jesus wraps up his instructions with a series of contrasts between two choices. Only two. Two gates, two roads, two types of spiritual leaders, two types of disciples and two different foundations (as well as a sub-set of two fruits and two trees).

All of this is intended to emphasize an “either/or” proposition concerning how we live. We are either following Jesus by mirroring his values into the world, or we are not following him at all. There doesn’t appear to be a third way.

Some things to think about for Sunday: When you read about two trees and two kinds of fruit, what other famous Bible story has a choice between trees in it? Can that give us a clue as to the what doing God’s will might look like? According to Jesus, can a person be representing God’s purposes if they reject in their lifestyle his teachings about greed, forgiveness, love for our enemies, rejecting lust, and not judging others?

Jesus describes people doing some really powerful works and yet declares he never knew them. This clearly indicates that a relationship with Jesus is upmost importance. What might motivate a person to do spectacular things besides a desire to please God?

What would constitute a sandy foundation, that is, what would be something unsuitable to build our life and identity on? What, or who would be a rock-like foundation on which to establish our lives and priorities?

I hope you can join us as we dive into this text on Sunday!