Defiant Joy

The renewal of the church’s reputation begins with a posture of humility and service, not with image management or self-promotion. Paul introduces himself to the Philippians not as an apostle, but as a servant—a “slave of Christ”—modeling the self-emptying humility of Jesus. Our identity must be rooted in serving others, not in status or recognition.

Community is not just a program or a preference, it is the very method God uses to shape and transform us. The early church, as described in Acts 2, models a way of life that is both beautiful and challenging. Rather than gathering around shared interests or life stages, the people of God gather around a shared need for the gospel and a new identity in Christ. This kind of community is not easy; it requires courage to be known, to depend on others, and to allow ourselves to be changed. Fear often keeps us from opening up, but the life we long for in Jesus is rooted in courage, not fear.

Our weekly gathering on Sunday is not a random tradition, but a deeply symbolic act rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, the first day of new creation. This day is a living reminder that God is not distant or apathetic, but present and active among us, just as He was with Israel in the wilderness. The story of Exodus reveals a God who delivers, provides, and dwells with His people, even as they struggle to leave behind the mindsets and idols of their former bondage.

Sin is fundamentally a disordering of our loves—loving the wrong things, or loving good things in the wrong order. Jesus comes not only to forgive our sins, but to re-center our hearts, teaching us to love God first and our neighbors as ourselves. The cross is the ultimate act of love, where God’s self-giving overcomes our self-centeredness and opens the way for us to live rightly ordered lives.

For many, the word “family” is loaded with pain, disappointment, or loss, whether from biological relatives or even chosen communities that have let us down. Yet, the New Testament insists that the church is not just a gathering or an organization, but a new family, one that God himself has established through Christ. This is not a metaphor to be discarded, but a reality to be reclaimed and lived out, even in all its messiness and challenge.

When we fixate on the outcomes or gifts of others, we lose sight of the unique calling God has placed on our lives. Comparison turns neighbors into competitors and blinds us to the needs and opportunities right in front of us. The story of Peter and John in John 21 offers a powerful corrective: Jesus calls each of us uniquely, and our focus must remain on Him, not on the outcomes or callings of those around us.

Confession is not about shame, but about stepping into the light of God’s love. When we honestly acknowledge our brokenness, we are met not with condemnation, but with an invitation to follow Jesus and participate in his work. This honest reckoning with our flaws is the starting point for true transformation.