Pentecost And The Mission Of The Church

“Luke’s first volume [The Gospel of Luke] opens and closes in or near Jerusalem, his second volume moves from Jerusalem to Rome – from heritage to mission.”—Craig Keener

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts 1:8

“The Spirit creates joining. The followers of Jesus are now being connected in a way that joins them to people in the most intimate space—of voice, memory, sound, body, land, and place. It is language that runs through all these matters. It is the sinew of existence of a people.”—Willie Jennings

Pentecost is invitational. The Spirit joins all types of people together into a new community and empowers the church to be Christ’s witnesses to the world.

Paul and The Gift

“…this gift too wonderful for words!”—2 Corinthians 9:15

Charis = Grace

Charis = Gift

Gifts create relationships. They connect people and groups to each other. 

Paul’s Reframing Of Grace

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”—Galatians 3:28

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”—Romans 5:6

God’s gift is given freely to all people regardless of worth, status, background, or achievement. Christ creates a new community that transcends every human boundary.

“God’s grace is unconditioned, but it’s not unconditional.”—John Barclay

“Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.”—Dallas Willard

Grace transforms those who receive it and reshapes them into Christlikeness.

Life Within The Gift

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”—1 Corinthians 12:7

The community of Christ is called to bear burdens, serve in love, forgive, live in faithful obedience, give generously, and bear fruit.

Pentecost Revisited

Grace is meant to be passed on. The gift forms a people whose identity rests on the worthiness of Christ.

“The West is based on a belief that as individuals are given freedom, we will flourish. There is truth in this idea…humans are happy when we are free, but we also need other things to flourish, such as meaning and deep relational connections.”—Mark Sayers

An abundance of freedom with a lack of meaning and community is a recipe for anxiety, loneliness, and nihilism.

“We are drowning in freedoms but thirsting for meaning.”—Mark Sayers

The community Christ forms is an antidote to hyper-individualism, creating love, joy, meaning, and mutual dependence.

Witness And Invitation

Invitation begins with prayer, meaningful relationships, and openness to opportunities to share the gift of Christ.

Sabbath Establishes Identity
Sabbath teaches God’s people to trust in His provision and remember who they belong to. Israel was no longer defined by Pharaoh’s system of endless production, but by covenant relationship with God. Sabbath became a weekly declaration: God will provide tomorrow too.

“Sabbath is an act of resistance against a culture of endless production and consumption.”—Walter Brueggemann

“See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.”—Exodus 16:29

"Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need"—Ephesians 4:28

“Rest is an act of trust that God is at work beyond our own efforts.”—N. T. Wright

Sabbath is not laziness or irresponsibility; it is trust. Christians are called to work faithfully and rest faithfully, remembering that identity is not rooted in productivity, achievement, or status, but in belonging to Christ.

“The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”—Exodus 31:16–17

“Sabbath is the space where we stop proving ourselves and remember we are already loved.”—Henri Nouwen

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”—Mark 2:27

“The Sabbath is God’s gift to us, a way to remember that we are not what we do.”—Peter Scazzero

Sabbath invites God’s people into communion, delight, worship, and rest in the love of God.

God’s Supremacy
Sabbath reminds us that God alone sustains creation. God rested not from exhaustion, but to establish a rhythm for humanity and reveal His rule over all things.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…”—Exodus 20:8–11

“To rest rightly is to acknowledge that God, not we, sustains the world.”—C. S. Lewis

Sabbath confronts the illusion of control and resists the demands of endless productivity, consumerism, and hurry.

“Sabbath is the most urgent form of resistance to the demands of a 24/7 culture.”—Walter Brueggemann

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."—Matthew 11:28–30 (MSG)

Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath, offering true rest and freedom from striving, performance, and self-salvation.

Spiritual Practice
Sabbath is a gift, not an obligation. It is an invitation to stop striving and remember we are beloved children of God.

“Sabbath is a weekly 24-hour period in which we stop work, enjoy rest, practice delight, and contemplate God.”—Peter Scazzero

Sabbath invites us to stop, rest, delight, and worship.

“Sabbath is the space where we stop proving ourselves and remember we are already loved.”—Henri Nouwen

Sabbath retrains the soul to trust the grace of God rather than endless striving.

Meals

The Kingdom of God is revealed through healing, gathering, serving, community, and the sharing of meals. Shared meals create spaces for relationship, vulnerability, and transformation.

The Anti-Social Century

“Day to day, hour to hour, we are choosing this way of life—its comforts, its ready entertainments. But convenience can be a curse. Our habits are creating what Enghin Atalay, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, has called a ‘century of solitude.’ This is the anti-social century.”—Derek Thompson

The solitary and individualistic patterns of modern culture stand in contrast to the life and ministry of Jesus.

Historical Context

“Not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”—Luke 5:32

Luke presents an orderly account of Jesus’ ministry and the upside-down nature of his Kingdom: the sick are healed, sinners are welcomed, and the lost are sought and saved.

Biblical Theology

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.”—Luke 19:1–2

“And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’”—Luke 19:3–5

Jesus sees Zacchaeus, calls him by name, and shares a meal with him. Through relationship, conversation, and hospitality, Zacchaeus is transformed and led to repentance.

“To stay in such a person’s home was tantamount to sharing in his sin.”—Howard Marshall

“So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”—Luke 19:6

“And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’”—Luke 19:7 

“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”—Luke 19:8–10

Time, conversation, care, and a meal. This is what softens the heart and leads to repentance.

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”—Titus 3:3–7

The ministry of Jesus consistently centers around tables, meals, fellowship, and communion. The early church devoted themselves to teaching, prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread together.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”—Acts 2:42–47

The way of Jesus calls believers into deep community with people who look, think, and live differently from themselves.

Spiritual Practice

Jesus uses the table as a place where people are welcomed, known, loved, and drawn into life with God.

“In a post-Christian community, words can only be as strong as your relationships. Your best weapon is an open door, a set table, a fresh pot of coffee, and a box of Kleenex.”—Rosaria Butterfield

Practice radical hospitality: Invite someone over for a meal, accept the invitation and make the time, and try to make a genuine connection.

As we gather together, breaking bread and bearing one another’s burdens, we partner with Jesus in making the world whole once again.

Relationships
Humanity trends toward isolation and frictionless living.

“Human well-being depends on the ability to navigate the social world, a skill acquired primarily through interactions with others. Such social learning depends on reliable feedback: recognizing when we are mistaken, when harm has been caused, and when others’ perspectives warrant consideration…. Social life is rarely frictionless because people are not perfectly attuned to one another. Yet it is precisely through such social friction that relationships deepen and moral understanding develops.”—Anat Perry

Biblical Theology

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God.”—John 1:1

“God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus. We have not always known what God is like—But now we do.”—Brian Zahnd

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”—John 13:34

Jesus And Judas
Jesus loves amid betrayal.

“When he had gone out, Jesus said…”—John 13:31

 Love includes enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”—Matthew 5:44

“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.”—Dorothy Day

Jesus And Peter
Sacrificial love is built on joyous love.

“Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.’”—John 13:36–38

Jesus not only enters into relationships with friction, with betrayal, with pain. He also enters into relationships with forgiveness, reconciliation, with grace, with love.  

Jesus And Us

“Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.’”—John 13:31–33, 35

“It is worth noting that Willard altered the Latin from the traditional singular (“naked one”) to the plural (“naked ones”)... This shift may have been a subtle but significant theological move on Willard’s part: a way of expressing the communal nature of discipleship. We follow the naked Christ not as isolated individuals but as a community of apprentices….

It becomes clear that the symbols on his business card and letterhead are more than decorative—they are declarative. Christian formation is cruciform; to follow the Lamb is to be poured out with him for the sake of others. And placing the image and phrase so plainly next to his credentials and contact details—almost as a personal coat of arms—amounts to a quiet confession of a deeper identity than scholar or philosopher: an apprentice of Jesus, nakedly following his naked Lord.”—Keas Keasler

The community Jesus calls us to is one of sacrifice, of nakedness. It is one that ultimately leads to humiliation, heartbreak, and pain.

Spiritual Practice
Love one another as Jesus loves.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”—John 13:35 

Relationships marked by friction, forgiveness, and sacrifice reveal a world made whole.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.”—John 3:16–17 (MSG)

Are you making the world whole through your relationships?

“To love is to be vulnerable.”—C.S. Lewis

Barriers To Serving
Subtle internal barriers shape our willingness and ability to serve others.

We may instinctively evaluate serving through personal benefit. We guard our time as our own, often using busyness as a reason to avoid serving. Distraction and inward focus cause us to miss opportunities to serve right in front of us.

The Disciples’ Misunderstanding
James and John reveal self-focused ambition even after Jesus predicts His suffering.

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’”—Mark 10:35–36

“Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”—Mark 10:37

“Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’”—Mark 10:38

The Cost Of Following Jesus
True discipleship involves sacrifice, suffering, and surrender—not status or recognition.

“The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”—Mark 10:39–40

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”—Matthew 16:24–25

Redefining Greatness
Jesus teaches that greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility and serving others.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”— C.S. Lewis

“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you.”—Mark 10:42–43

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”—Mark 10:44

The Model Of Jesus
Jesus embodies servanthood by giving His life, showing that serving is central to His mission.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Mark 10:45

“He who is King of kings became the servant of servants.”—Charles Spurgeon

Transformation Through Serving
We are invited to examine what shapes us and surrender our lives to follow Jesus’ example.

Surrender: Pray daily, asking God to reveal where you need to release your own desires and follow His leading.

Availability: Slow down and ask God to help you see the needs of people around you.

Presence: Pay attention to everyday moments with family, church members, and coworkers as opportunities to serve.

Consistency: Build rhythms of serving into your life, not just one-time efforts.

The Reality Of Gathering Today
We often overestimate how much we value gathering, revealing a gap between what we say matters and what we practice.

Letters to the Hebrews
Hebrews presents Jesus as supreme over all things, forming the basis for understanding our identity and hope in Him.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”—Hebrews 1:1-3

Community Of Jesus
Because of Jesus’ work, we are invited into a restored relationship with God as His gathered people.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”—Hebrews 10:19-22

Called To Gather And Encourage
We are commanded to hold onto hope by gathering together and encouraging one another toward love and good deeds.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:23–25

Following Jesus on my Own
Following Jesus is inherently communal; attempting to do it alone reshapes faith around ourselves instead of Christ.

Attendance Is Not Discipleship
Simply attending church does not equal transformation, as true discipleship requires obedience to Jesus.

“Consumption of Christian services replaces obedience to Christ.”—Dallas Willard

Toward Love & Good Deeds
We need one another to keep going in faith, just as encouragement strengthens us to finish the race.

“Every Christian needs the encouragement of every other Christian.”—Tom Wright

Why We Gather
The church gathers around three core purposes: worship, formation, and mission.

Worship
Worship is a whole-life response of love and awe toward God, not just singing but total devotion.

“Worship is the awed response to the saving acts and praiseworthy character of God.”—Esau McCaulley

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”—Matthew 22:37-39

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”—Romans 12:1.

Formation
Through repeated practices, God shapes us into people who love and live like Jesus.

“The practices of Christian worship train our love—they are practice for the coming kingdom, habituating us as citizens of the kingdom of God.”—James K. A. Smith

Our gathered rhythms intentionally form us through Scripture, prayer, worship, teaching, confession, and communion.

Mission
We are formed not for ourselves, but to participate in God’s renewal of the world. The church is a living example of what God can do in a community shaped by His kingdom.

“The task of the church is to serve as the best example of what God can do with the human community.”—Stanley Hauerwas

We practice the way of Jesus together so we can faithfully live it out in the world.

Intentional Gathering
We are called to actively create a community marked by love, encouragement, and anticipation of God’s coming kingdom.

Pray on your way to church
Initiate connection
Go beyond surface-level conversation
Respond to needs with prayer
Celebrate and encourage toward love and good deeds

Healing Is Problematic
Healing is both witnessed and questioned; both miraculous and disappointing.
Healing is a sign of a world made whole.

Biblical Theology
The Gospel of John builds toward Jesus’ greatest sign, leading to His death and resurrection.

The Wait
Jesus loves, yet delays. He waits and prays, seeking the Father’s will.
Prayer leads to clarity and walking in the light.

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”—John 11:1-4

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to [Bethany in] Judea again.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?’”—John 11:5-8

“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’” —John 11:41-42

“If you try to steer your course by your own understanding, you’ll trip up, because you’ll be in the dark. But if you stick close to him, and see the situation from his point of view, then, even if it means days and perhaps years of puzzlement, wondering why nothing seems to be happening, you will come out at the right place in the end.”—N.T. Wright

The Why
Jesus reveals resurrection life and shares in human grief.
Healing points beyond itself to resurrection.

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world…”—John 11:21-27

“Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?’”—John 11:32-35

“But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”—Isaiah 26:19

“The greatest thing Jesus did was to bring us the news of a God who cares.”—William Barclay

“When we look at Jesus, not least when we look at Jesus in tears, we are seeing not just a flesh-and-blood human being but the Word made flesh. The Word, through whom the worlds were made, weeps like a baby at the grave of his friend. Only when we put away our high-and-dry pictures of who God is and replace them with pictures in which the Word who is God can cry with the world’s crying will we discover what the word ‘God’ really means.”—N.T. Wright

The Work
Jesus prays simply and acts with authority.
Healing is temporary; resurrection is ultimate.

“‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’” —John 11:41-44

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them. For your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” —Matthew 6:7-8

Healing is a sign, not the source of hope.
Hope is in Jesus and the coming resurrection.

Spiritual Practice
God desires to heal and works through His people.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” —John 14:12

Hope remains central.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”—1 Peter 1:3

“What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.”—1 Peter 1:3-5 (MSG)

Saul’s Story

A young Jewish boy grows up in a deeply broken world, surrounded by injustice, suffering, and unanswered longing, yet shaped by ancient stories of God’s power and promise. Among those stories, the hope of a coming king quietly endures, fueling his pursuit of knowledge and devotion. 

As he studies and rises in religious achievement, begins to see that the problem runs deeper than oppression—it is an ancient sickness within humanity itself.

Would-be Messiahs

As various would-be messiahs rise and fall, the young man becomes increasingly convinced that true deliverance is a myth. So when rumors spread of a crucified teacher rising from the dead, he rejects them outright as dangerous lies. 

Certain that these claims dishonor God, he moves from skepticism to hostility, actively persecuting the followers of Jesus and attempting to silence the movement before it can spread.

Damascus Road

Everything changes on the road to Damascus, where the risen Jesus confronts Saul directly. 

“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”—Acts 9:4

“Who are you, Lord?”—Acts 9:5

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”—Acts 9:5

The crucified Messiah is revealed as the risen Lord, the first to conquer death and the beginning of a new creation. 

“God in Christ... has acted from outside the human sphere to topple Sin, Death, and the devil from their thrones.”—Flemming Rutledge

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus is not only restoring the world but also extending reconciliation to those like Saul, transforming him by grace. 

"For the power of God, by its contact with our nature, becomes the source of a new life for us, and the one who was formerly an enemy becomes a friend... through the mystery of reconciliation, the soul is transformed into that which it contemplates."—Gregory of Nyssa

This reality becomes the foundation of the message Saul—now Paul—will later proclaim: a sweeping vision of Jesus as supreme over all and the one making all things whole.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”—Colossians 1:15–23 (NIV)

Paul’s Story

Paul’s life becomes a living testimony to the truth of the resurrection. Once an enemy of Jesus, he abandons status, security, and success to follow the One he once opposed. 

Enduring suffering, rejection, and imprisonment, Paul’s transformation points to a powerful reality: he did not merely adopt a new belief system, he encountered a living Savior. 

A World Made Whole

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has begun the work of restoring the broken world, defeating sin and death and launching a new creation. Though that restoration is not yet fully complete, we now live in the tension between what has been accomplished and what is still to come. 

"The good news is that the one true God has now taken charge of the world, in and through Jesus and his death and resurrection... God’s plan to put the world right has finally been launched. The ancient sickness... has been cured at last... Life has come to life and is pouring out like a mighty river into the world, in the form of a new power, the power of love."—N.T. Wright

As followers of Jesus, we are invited to live as citizens of this new world—marked by love, justice, mercy, and hope—joining in the work God has already begun and trusting that one day, all things will be made fully whole.

Palm Sunday: Declaring a King

Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ royal entrance into Jerusalem, where His identity as King is revealed in a way that challenges our assumptions.

American Revolution

We live between rejecting authority altogether and misusing Jesus’ kingship as a political slogan—both misunderstand who He truly is.

Whether resisting Jesus or co-opting Him, both responses fail to recognize that His authority is good, trustworthy, and demands our surrender.

A Climactic Moment

Palm Sunday brings these tensions to a head as Jesus publicly reveals Himself as King in a decisive and symbolic moment.

“They approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives…”—Matthew 21:1 (NIV)

The Subversive King

Jesus intentionally contrasts earthly power by entering on a donkey, revealing a kingdom built on humility and peace, not force.

“Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.’ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.”—Matthew 21:1–7 (NIV)

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”—Zechariah 9:9–10 (NIV)

Where Rome establishes peace through violence, Jesus brings true peace through His own sacrifice and love.

“God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”—Colossians 1:19–20 (NIV)

Jesus’ kingship subverts worldly expectations, calling for allegiance not through force, but through faithful witness.

The Misunderstood King

The crowds honor Jesus as King but misunderstand His mission, expecting political revolution instead of spiritual redemption.

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”—Matthew 21:8-9

The people long for liberation from Rome, but Jesus comes to defeat sin, death, and evil itself.

“God in Christ, the God-man,  has acted from outside the human sphere to topple Sin, Death, and the devil from their thrones.”—Fleming Rutledge

“Christ conquered the devil as man had been conquered by the devil.”—Anselm of Canterbury

A Humble King

Seeing Jesus as only political king or only moral teacher falls short—He is Lord over all.

“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’”—Matthew 21:10-11

Jesus brings a “shalom-shaped” kingdom marked by wholeness, peace, justice, and restoration.

“One of his core teachings has been to redefine what this new community would look like. He has taught about this shalom-shaped kingdom in Galilee and in Judea, and now he must confront the corrupt Jewish and Roman leadership in Jerusalem. Jesus signals the different nature of this kingdom in his “triumphal entry.”—Danny Zacharias

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”—Isaiah 9:6–7

Jesus redefines kingship through humility—serving the lowly, transforming hearts, and choosing the cross over power.

Responding to the King

We are invited to stop ruling our own lives and instead submit to Jesus’ gentle and good leadership.

“Nero did not throw Christians to the lions because they confessed that ‘Jesus is Lord of my heart.’ It was rather because they confessed that ‘Jesus is Lord of all,’ meaning that Jesus was Lord even over the realm Caesar claimed as his domain of absolute authority.”—Michael Bird

In a divided world, we boldly and faithfully declare that Jesus alone is King through both word and action.

Silence And Solitude

Modern life resists silence and solitude through busyness, distraction, competition, and the pressure to build a life around achievement.

“They live with a sense that there is adequate time to do what needs to be done each day.”—Robert Banks

“…a lot of competition and a lot of emphasis on individual achievement—[i.e.] doing reasonably well in school, getting into the right college, landing the right job, moving toward success and status. This competitive pressure means that we all have to spend more time, energy, and attention on the external…. The self is less likely to be seen as the seat of the soul, or as the repository of some transcendent spirit. Instead, the self is a vessel of human capital. It is a series of talents to be cultivated efficiently and prudently. The self is defined by its tasks and accomplishments. The self is about talent, not character.”—David Brooks

The Gospel Of Self-Trust

A culture of self-sufficiency trains us to depend on performance and approval instead of cultivating an inner life with God.

“Not only am I able to do incredible things, but I also have a responsibility to be exceptional.”—David Brooks

“approval-seeking machines, [that] measure their lives by external praise.”—David Brooks

Jesus’ Rhythm Of Retreat

Jesus regularly withdrew to quiet places, showing that solitude was not optional but essential to sustaining His life and ministry.

“And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes. ‘Wherever you go,’ he said, ‘stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.’

So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.”—Mark 6:7–13, 30–32

Success Cannot Sustain The Soul

Jesus leads His disciples away from outward accomplishment to rest in God, teaching that achievement is not enough to sustain spiritual health.

“Jesus seems to have little time for their ministry reports. He is concerned about the bigger issue of how they will sustain their spiritual life rather than being distracted by outward successes. Without wasting any time at all, he invites them to experience solitude as a place of rest in God.”—Ruth Haley Barton

“But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”—Mark 6:33–34

What Happens In Solitude

In silence and solitude, God meets His people, reveals what is true beneath the surface, and renews them for what comes next.

“Silence helps us drop beneath the superficiality of our mental constructs to that place of the heart that is deeper in its reality than anything the mind can capture or express in words. In this wordless place the whole of our person turns itself toward God and waits to be addressed by God.”—Ruth Haley Barton

An Honest Heart Before God

Silence and solitude are not automatic formulas for transformation, but spaces where humility and honesty make renewal possible.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”—1 Kings 19:9

The Discipline Of Slowness

Choosing slower, more attentive rhythms in ordinary life can prepare our hearts to hear from God.

Resources:

Practicing The Way’s Solitude Practice

Invitation to Silence & Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton

Small Practices That Form Us

Brief moments of quiet in everyday routines can become “micro-disciplines” that strengthen our capacity for deeper solitude with God.

• Turn ordinary routines into brief moments of silence, prayer, or reflection.

• Set aside intentional time to be alone with God in a quiet place.

• Begin with a few minutes of silence and use a simple prayer phrase to refocus.

• End your time with gratitude, not self-evaluation.

• As the desire grows, plan for longer times of retreat and rest with God.

Faith Makes Room for Anguish

Faith does not require pretending everything is fine; Scripture shows that honesty before God—including grief, anger, and confusion—is part of a faithful life.

“Lament is pain brought to speech.”—Walther Brueggemann

“I am beginning to see that much of praying is grieving.”—Henri Nouwen

Refuse Numbness

Faithfulness to God means staying awake to suffering—our own and the world’s—rather than numbing ourselves to pain or ignoring God’s call to repentance.

“They dress the wounds of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”—Jeremiah 6:14

“Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and chief official in the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. So Pashhur had the prophet Jeremiah beaten and put him in the stocks at the Upper Benjamin Gate in the Lord’s temple. The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, ‘The Lord does not call you Pashhur, but Terror Is on Every Side, for this is what the Lord says: “I am about to make you a terror to both yourself and those you love. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will deport them to Babylon and put them to the sword. I will give away all the wealth of this city, all its products and valuables. Indeed, I will hand all the treasures of the kings of Judah over to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon. As for you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, you will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon. There you will die, and there you will be buried, you and all your friends to whom you prophesied lies.”’”—Jeremiah 20:1–6

Bring Pain to Speech

Lament teaches us to bring our suffering honestly before God, because pain that is spoken in prayer can lead to healing, truth, and transformation.

“Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived… I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.”—Jeremiah 20:7

“If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’…”—Jeremiah 20:9a

“…there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”—Jeremiah 20:9b

Lament Helps Us Hope

Lament keeps faith alive in suffering by holding grief and trust together, believing that God hears and is still at work.

“But the Lord is with me like a violent warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.”—Jeremiah 20:11

“Lament is when you assume God’s character and covenant attributes… you cannot lament and sin. The Biblical laments all assume that God can do something about this. Why else would you be lamenting? Never once does the Bible say just passively resign yourself to accept what happens. It never says that. Never.” —Pastor Mike Erre

“Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.”—Jeremiah 20:13

“Prayer, at the deepest level, is… understood as God calling to God through the created and groaning world, God calling to God from within the redeemed and groaning Church, God the Spirit, dwelling in the hearts of her people as they dwell in the midst of the broken world, and calling God the Father, the transcendent one, and being certainly heard.”—N.T. Wright

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.”—Romans 8:22–23

The Invitation to Lament

God invites us to bring our wounds honestly before Him, trusting that lament opens the door for deeper relationship, healing, and hope.

Cultural Resistance To Confession
Many of us carry stories that make confession feel threatening or shameful, causing us to avoid the very practice that leads to healing and true vulnerability.

“Something the whole church participated in together. But overtime, because of cultural shifts, theological developments, and even abuses of public discipline, and living in a western culture that is highly individualistic, confession moved from something shared to something hidden.”—Mark Joseph Turner

Biblical Context
John writes to believers facing false teachings about Jesus, grounding their faith again in the truth that he personally encountered the real, incarnate Christ.

“What we are telling you about is that which was from the beginning, that which we heard, that which we saw with our eyes, that which we gazed upon, and which our hands touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it.”—1 John 1:1–4 

“Wherever his conversation began it cut straight across the country to Jesus Christ.”—Saint John Vianney

God Is Light
Because God’s nature is perfectly holy and truthful, following Him means learning to live honestly in the light rather than hiding in darkness.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” —1 John 1:5

“A man’s own character will necessarily be determined by the character of the god whom he worships; and, therefore, John begins by laying down the nature of the God and Father of Jesus Christ whom Christians worship.”—William Barclay

“I am the light of the world.”—John 8:12

The Reality Of Darkness And Self-Deception
John warns that denying sin—whether our nature, actions, or need for God—cuts us off from the truth and from the healing Christ came to bring.

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth….If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us…. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”—1 John 1:6, 8, 10

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”—Mark 2:17

“Each of these claims denies the fundamental reality of the Christian faith, which is that God has come to us in Christ to redeem us from sin’s darkness. Denial of sin makes a person incapable of participating in the faith.”—N.T. Wright

“Sin is any state in which we act in ways that fray or sever the bonds of love between us and others, and between us and God present to me through those creatures.”—Nancy Mairs

Confession Restores Fellowship And Cleansing
Walking in the light through confession leads to restored relationships with God and others and to the ongoing cleansing made possible through Jesus.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin….If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:7, 9

“The things which are done in secret are things that people are ashamed even to speak of; but anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything turns into light.”—Ephesians 5:12–13

Confession Aligns Our Voice With God’s Truth
To confess is to “say the same thing” as God about our sin and His mercy—rejecting self-condemnation while embracing His forgiveness.

Confession To One Another Brings Healing
Sharing our sins with trusted believers creates space for grace, freedom, and healing that secrecy can never produce.

“Confess your sins to one another and you will be healed.” —James 5:16

“There is nothing to gain… by pretending [not to confess our sins] since God already knows the truth. But there is much to be gained by honest and repentant confession.”—Constantine Campbell

Regularly naming our sins before God and trusted community allows confession to become a source of freedom, renewal, and deeper fellowship with Christ.

Temptation

Temptation is a flickering impulse that invites us to contribute to the chaos. 

Jesus’ wilderness experience teaches us that temptations can be resisted. 

The Wilderness 

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:17 (NIV)

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” – Matthew 4:1 (NIV)

The Spirit is free to lead not only into good things, but bad things as well. 

“The central message of the NT is salvation: Christ saves us. What he saves us from is the power of the Devil. If the power of the Devil is dismissed, then Christ’s saving mission becomes meaningless”– Jeffery Burton Russell

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ”  –John 8:44.

“…After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” – Matthew 4:2

The prophet Moses spent forty day fasting on Mount Sinai before revealing the law of the Lord. 

Likewise, Jesus spends forty days fasting in the wilderness before revealing the Gospel. 

The Temptation to distrust God.

“The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:3-4 (NIV)

The Temptation to test God.

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels    concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” – Matthew 4:5-7 (NIV)

“When one Scripture is used to encourage behavior that most Scripture, or the heart of Scripture, discourages, we can tell we are in enemy territory.” – Dale Bruner

The Temptation to work without God.

 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. –Matthew 4:8–11 (NIV)

A Theology of Fasting

Fasting helps us respond to life’s sacred moments. 

“Fasting is a person’s whole-body, natural response to life’s sacred moments.” –Scot McKnight

Fasting puts us in solidarity with the hungry. 

Fasting helps us resist the flesh. 

“Fasting trains our bodies to not get what they want. At least, not all the time. This is yet another reason why, in a culture so run by feelings and desire, fasting is a bizarre idea even to Christians. We assume that we must get what we want to be happy, and by want, we often mean what our flesh wants.” – John Mark Comer

Fasting helps us rely on the Spirit. 

 “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” –John 4:31–34.

Fasting helps us express a unified hunger for God.

Naming Wrong Feels Wrong

Lent invites self-examination and repentance.

In an “Age of Authenticity,” calling something sin feels out of step. Rejecting sin language risks losing a key insight into the human condition.

The Wrongness

“It was because we rejected the doctrine of original sin that we on the Left were always being so disappointed; disappointed by the refusal of people to be reasonable . . . by the behavior of nations and politicians . . . above all, by the recurrent fact of war.” —C. E. M. Joad

The doctrine of sin explains both our capacity for good and for great evil.
Sin is not merely a judgment; it is a diagnosis.

A Great Cloud Of Sinners

We stand together as sinners in need of grace. No one is exempt; all share in brokenness.

A Thesis

We do not gather because we are virtuous, but because Jesus makes sinners into saints.

Lent invites renewed participation in Christ’s transforming work.

Romans And A New Humanity

Romans present the Gospel as God’s righteousness revealed, a new humanity created, promises fulfilled, and a unified people formed.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” —Romans 5:12 (NIV)
In Jesus, a new way of being human has begun.

Adam’s Inheritance

Sin is described as rebellion against God, a sickness of the soul, disordered desires, and corrupted culture.

Rebellion: failure to love God and neighbor.

“The most important one is this… Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” —Mark 12:30–31

Sickness: a deep, inherited soul-level brokenness.

“Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” —Psalm 51:5

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

Disordered desires: inner conflict and slavery to destructive impulses.

“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” —Romans 7:18–19

“…I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” —Romans 7:22–23

Corrupted culture: sin normalized and institutionalized.

“[Sin is] the Human Propensity to [m]uck things Up” —Francis Spufford

Sin is both personal and systemic, subtle and pervasive.

This is Adam’s inheritance: brokenness that breaks everything it touches.

Christ’s Inheritance

“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.” —Romans 5:15–16

God does not leave humanity enslaved. Jesus, the new Adam, lives in full obedience, resists temptation, and reverses failure. On the cross, he absorbs sin and defeats it.

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” –Romans 5:17

In Christ, the inheritance shifts from sin and death to grace and life.

“In Romans, righteousness is a transforming gift.”–Craig Keener

Lent And Spiritual Practice

"Sin wants to be alone with people. It takes them away from the community. The more lonely people become, the more destructive the power of sin over them. The more deeply the become entangled in it, the more unholy is their loneliness… Sin must be brought into the light. What is unspoken is said openly and confessed. All that is secret and hidden comes to light. It is a hard struggle until the sin crosses one’s lips in confession. But God breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The doctrine of sin produces humility and empathy, not weaponized judgment. Sin loses power in the light of confession and community.

We commit to being a forgiven and forgiving community. We go first in saying, “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong”. In the light of grace, brokenness is brought into the open and hope remains.

Prayers Of Contemplation

Constant noise, distraction, and digital saturation shape our attention and inner lives. If we cannot bear silence, we struggle to discern God’s voice.

Elijah’s story unfolds within Israel’s history of kings. After victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah flees in fear, overwhelmed and desiring death.

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’” —1 Kings 19:4

Encounter At Horeb

“There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’” —1 Kings 19:9–10

God invites Elijah into deeper awareness.

“And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” —1 Kings 19:11–13

God is not found in spectacle, but in sheer silence. Elijah’s internal narrative overwhelms his ability to hear. Even after profound encounters, we can forget God’s voice.

Hearing God

“Our failure to hear His voice when we want to is due to the fact that we do not in general want to hear it, that we want it only when we think we need it.” —Dallas Willard

“I say I want to hear God, but I arrive with a script. I bring the world with me. Headlines, moral urgency, the language of the moment. Group identities. Categories of blame and virtue. I don’t wait to hear God name things. I name them first, then ask Him to affirm or adjust… But whispers require attention. Elijah learned that God wasn’t in the spectacle. Not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire. God came in a low voice. That voice assumes something of me, that I am willing to be quiet long enough to hear it.” —Michael Boswel

God speaks on His terms, in quiet intimacy.
The question is whether we are listening.

Spiritual Practice

God is constantly speaking; we must cultivate attention.

“The world is crowded with him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always hard to penetrate. The real labour is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.” —C. S. Lewis

Begin with brief moments of stillness.
Ask God to speak.
Remain awake to His presence.

Prayers of Persistence

Persistent prayer is ongoing conversation with God about what matters most over time, leading to deeper intimacy and attunement to the Holy Spirit.

“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus”—Philippians 4:6-7

Persistent prayer is rooted in trust, not striving.

“God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding” —Ephesians 1:4-8

Jesus Teaches About Prayer

“Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

Jesus told them, ‘When you pray, say:
Father, uphold the holiness of your name.
Bring in your kingdom.
Give us the bread we need for today.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who has wronged us.
And don’t lead us into temptation.’

He also said to them, ‘Imagine that one of you has a friend and you go to that friend in the middle of the night. Imagine saying, “Friend, loan me three loaves of bread because a friend of mine on a journey has arrived and I have nothing to set before him.” Imagine further that he answers from within the house, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.” I assure you, even if he wouldn’t get up and help because of his friendship, he will get up and give his friend whatever he needs because of his friend’s brashness.

And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.

Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?’” —Luke 11:1-13 (CEB) 

Praying “Father” affirms relationship and inclusion in God’s family. Daily bread invites dependence and surrender. Forgiveness invites inner examination and reconciliation. Protection invites continual trust and reliance.

Persistence In Asking, Seeking, And Knocking

“Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.” —Luke 11:10

“Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” —Luke 11:11

Abiding In God’s Presence

Persistent prayer is remaining with God, listening as well as speaking, and growing in intimacy through ongoing fellowship with him.

Scripture on the Immigrant

“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. –Exodus 23:9  (NIV)

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God”. – Leviticus 19:33–34 (NIV)

“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him.” – Deuteronomy 10:19 (NIV).

‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’– Deuteronomy 27:19 (NIV)

The Lord sets prisoners free,  the Lord gives sight to the blind, 
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner 
 and sustains the fatherless and the widow, 
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. –Psalm 146:7–9 (NIV)

“I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. 
I was a father to the needy; 
I took up the case of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the wicked 
and snatched the victims from their teeth.” –Job 29:15–17 (NIV)

“​​If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.” –Jeremiah 7:5–8 (NIV)

“You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.” –Ezekiel 47:22–23.

“And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’” –Zechariah 7:8–10.

““So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.” – Malachi 3:5.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.– Matthew 5:43–45 (NIV)

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” –Matthew 25:35–36 (NIV)

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” –Matthew 25:45 (NIV)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” –Mark 12:29–31. (See also Matthew 22:37-39 and Luke 10:27)

“​​Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34–35 (NIV)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12–13. (NIV)

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:8–10 (NIV)

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” – Colossians 3:11 (NIV)

“...remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Ephesians 2:12–18 (NIV)

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”– Hebrews 13:1–3 (NIV)

“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.” –3 John 5–8 (NIV)

Imago Dei 

1. The doctrine asserts that all human beings are made in the image of God. See Genesis 1:27. 

Scripture's emphasis on the dignity of all humans and the treatment of immigrants provides a foundation for immigration policy but does not provide specifics. 

Stories of mistreatment in Minneapolis.

• tear-gassing of infants 

• arrest of peaceful clergy 

• smashing the windows of cars 

• spraying protesters in the face with pepper spray from four inches away. 

• And more.

The Christian & the State. 

Authority Is a Responsibility, Not an Excuse - Bonnie Kristian

Romans 13 is often a misquoted scripture used to justify government violence and civilian obedience.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” – Romans 13:1–2 (NIV)

“Romans 13 is most often invoked not when the state is acting justly but when Christians feel the urge to quiet their consciences ought to trouble us—not because this habit puts too much weight on biblical authority but because it attacks it.” –Russell Moore, Christians, Let’s Stop Abusing Romans 13

“[Paul] believes that Jesus is the true Lord of the world, that his followers should not pick unnecessary quarrels with the lesser lords.”–Tom Wright

“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.”– Martin Luther King Jr. 

"I maintain, then, that we read Romans 13:1-2 as a statement about the sovereignty of God and the limits of human discernment. We are allowed to discern and even condemn evil like the prophets did. We are allowed to resist like the Hebrew midwives, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… this does not place limits on our ability as Christians to call evil by its name, but it does obligate us to be willing to suffer the consequences of living in a fallen world.” –Esau McCaulley

Courage & Prayer

We must be a community of courage and action.

“To intercede for another means that in our prayer we stand between — or next to — them and God.” — Brian Taylor

If you have ideas on serving neighbors, please let us know: info@midtownkc.church.

Prayers of Confession

Confession is often avoided or misunderstood, yet it is a vital and life-giving practice for following Jesus.

“It was a communal practice – something the whole church participated in together. But overtime, because of cultural shifts, theological developments, and even abuses of public discipline, and living in a western culture that is highly individualistic, confession moved from something shared to something hidden.”—Mark Joseph Turner

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”—1 John 1:5-10

“Wherever his conversation began it cut straight across the country to Jesus Christ.”—Saint John Vianney

God is Light

God’s nature is revealed through Jesus as light: fully true, fully present, and wholly good.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” —1 John 1:5

“A man's own character will necessarily be determined by the character of the god whom he worships; and, therefore, John begins by laying down the nature of the God and Father of Jesus Christ whom Christians worship.”—William Barclay

“What we are telling you about is that which was from the beginning, that which we heard, that which we saw with our eyes, that which we gazed upon, and which our hands touched.”—1 John 1:1

The Darkness

Self-deception about sin fractures fellowship and obscures the truth of the gospel.

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth…If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us…If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”—1 John 1:6-10

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”—Mark 2:17

“Each of these claims denies the fundamental reality of the Christian faith, which is that God has come to us in Christ to redeem us from sin’s darkness. Denial of sin makes a person incapable of participating in the faith.”—N.T. Wright

“Sin is any state in which we act in ways that fray or sever the bonds of love between us and others, and between us and God present to me through those creatures.”—Nancy Mairs

Confession is Communal

Confession restores fellowship with God and one another and brings cleansing and forgiveness.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin…. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:7-9

“So that you too may have fellowship with us; indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”—1 John 1:3

Toxic Positivity

Gratitude can become harmful when it is forced or used to suppress real pain. Genuine gratitude does not deny suffering; forced gratitude silences it. God invites honesty, allowing thanksgiving and lament to coexist.

Prayers Of Thanksgiving

Prayers of thanksgiving do not erase pain but anchor us in God’s presence and faithfulness. Biblical thanksgiving names God’s goodness without denying hardship and trusts His guidance even when outcomes remain unclear.

“Christian thanksgiving is not a way of ignoring pain; it is a way of insisting that pain is not the final truth.”—Frederick Buechner

Jesus And The Ten Lepers

Jesus encounters ten men whose suffering is unresolved, yet thanksgiving becomes a pathway to wholeness.

“On the way to Jerusalem he, was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’”—Luke 17:11–13

“Those who have leprosy are treated as if they were dead.”—Josephus

 “When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.”—Luke 17:14

“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.”—Luke 17:15-16

Faith moves before outcomes are certain. Thanksgiving offered while walking in obedience reveals trust in God’s faithfulness. Gratitude is not merely acknowledgment of a gift but recognition of the Giver.

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”—Charles Spurgeon

“Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”—Luke 17:17-19

Thanksgiving expresses faith, returns to God, and leads to wholeness beyond physical healing.

Corrie’s Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving remains possible even in profound suffering.

“Thank you, God, for the fleas.”—Corrie ten Boom

Gratitude here does not celebrate suffering but acknowledges God’s presence and work within it. Thanksgiving becomes an act of faith that sustains and restores.

Spiritual Practice

“Is prayer your steering wheel or is it your spare tire?”—Corrie ten Boom

Thanksgiving offered before clarity, expressed rather than assumed, and rooted in salvation reveals the fullness of faith. Gratitude returns to God, names His faithfulness, and trusts that suffering does not have the final word.

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer is standing before God on behalf of others, rooted first in presence and proximity before it is expressed in words.

“To intercede for another means that in our prayer we stand between — or next to — them and God.” — Brian Taylor

Intercession In God’s Story

From the beginning, humanity was created to stand at the intersection of heaven and earth, representing God’s presence within creation.

“Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people.

Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’

So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. ” — Exodus 32:12-14

“Aristotle famously called God the ‘unmoved mover.’ The God Moses prayed to is more like the ‘moved mover.’ He’s moving heaven and earth, but he’s also movable. He hears us. He actually listens and actually cares. He responds. This idea of God may seem pretty radical, but that’s only because many of us have a concept of God formed more by Aristotle than by Moses.” — Tyler Staton

Intercession involves both prayer and nearness to suffering; it is not distant concern but embodied faithfulness.

Jesus, The Perfect Intercessor

All broken forms of mediation are fulfilled in Jesus, who perfectly represents God to humanity and humanity before God.

“It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. ” — Romans 8:34

Through Christ, humanity’s original vocation is restored.

The Spirit And The Church In Intercession

God’s people are called to share in the pain of the world while holding hope for its renewal.

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;

and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” — Romans 8:22-27

Christ intercedes for us.
The Spirit intercedes within us.
The church intercedes for the world.

“When Jesus breathed his spirit on his followers, he said, ‘As the father sent me, so I send you.’ And where had the father sent him? To the place where the world was in direst pain, so that he could take it upon himself. Our vocation, by the spirit, places us, right now, where the world is in pain, so that, as Paul is about to say, we can be in prayer right there.” — N. T. Wright

Intercession As Vocation

To intercede is to refuse separation between prayer and presence, standing faithfully in places of suffering with hope in God’s redemption.

“We are called to be people who stand at the place of pain — in the cancer ward, at the asylum-seeker’s court hearing, by the graveyard full of memorials to small children or to families whose homes have been bombed in war — so as to be those whose own painful perplexity the holy spirit will plead to the father on behalf of the whole creation. Indwelt by God’s spirit, we are to be right there in the chaos, so that God’s new creation may finally emerge…” — N. T. Wright

An Invitation To Begin

Prayer is never a solo act; God meets us in weakness and supplies what we lack.

“Pray as you can, not as you cannot.” — Jon Chapman