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

Teach Us to Pray

Prayer is learned, repeated, and practiced. The Church continues to ask, and Jesus continues to answer.

“Prayer is so difficult for me because it has been so bastardized or so simplified or so co-opted… we have followed the person with the loudest voice on the topic.”—Tim Stafford

“Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.”—Luke 11:1-4 MSG

Disappointment (Keep Us Alive With Three Square Meals)

 “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease… 

“When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”—Jeremiah 29:4-10

“God answers the prayers of the Israelites with both liberation and patience.”—Tyler Staton

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”—Luke 22:42

Prayer invites trust when answers are delayed and patience when liberation is slow.

Distraction (Keep Us Safe From Ourselves And The Devil)

“I don't know what the mantis is praying for,
but he probably just thanking the Lord
that he don't live in a home and he don't got a phone
and he don't sit around all angry and bored, he's just a bug.”—Jesse Welles

“They are trying to convince people they can’t do the things they’ve been doing easily for years – to write emails, to write a presentation. Your daughter wants you to make up a bedtime story about puppies – to write that for you. We will get to the point that you will essentially become just a skin bag of organs and bones, nothing else. You won’t know anything and you will be told repeatedly that you can’t do it, which is the opposite of what life has to offer. Capitulating all kinds of decisions like where to go on vacation, what to wear today, who to date, what to eat. People are already doing this. You won’t have to process grief, because you’ll have uploaded photos and voice messages from your mother who just died, and then she can talk to you via AI video call every day. One of the ways it’s going to destroy humans, long before there’s a nuclear disaster, is going to be the emotional hollowing-out of people.”—Justine Bateman

“Imagination is a powerful tool in the work of prayer.”—Richard Foster

Prayer requires attention, imagination, and safe spaces that guard communion with God.

Discipline (Set The World Right)

Prayer is both structured and flexible, habitual and responsive, disciplined and alive.

Prayer participates in God’s restoring work through faithful rhythm and open listening.

Conclusion

Prayer is not performance but relationship, not perfection but persistence.

“Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory
Forever and ever.
Amen.”—Luke 11 and Matthew 6

Prayer Books:

Prayer — Tim Keller

What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? — Skye Jethani

God on Mute — Pete Greig

Prayer in the Night — Tish Harrison Warren

The Book of Common Prayer (1979 OR 2019) — Anglican Liturgy press

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools — Tyler Staton

Spiritual Disciplines & Christian Practice

Celebration of Discipline — Richard Foster

The Spirit of the Disciplines — Dallas Willard

Practicing the Presence of God — Brother Lawrence

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry — John Mark Comer

God Refuses Distance

When suffering becomes distant or overwhelming, our capacity to care shrinks. Love fades not because we are cruel, but because distance makes it easier to disengage.

“The more who die, the less we care”—Paul Slovic

“If I look at the mass, I will never act.”—Paul Slovic

In Jesus, God chooses nearness over safety and presence over abstraction. The incarnation reveals a love that crosses every distance to be with us.

Joseph’s Obedience

Joseph models a quiet, courageous love shaped by obedience rather than recognition. His faithfulness creates space for God’s redemptive work to unfold.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”—Matthew 1:18-19

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)”—Matthew 1:20-23

“Through Joseph’s obedience, the Savior was preserved.”—St. Augustine

Mary’s Faithfulness

God’s love doesn’t simply enter the world through protection alone, but also through reception.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”—Luke 1:30-32

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”—Luke 1:38

Mary shows us that love is faithful.  It trusts the promises of God instead of the fears of the consequences.  A love that surrenders control and believes that whatever God is doing is worth whatever that he requires of us.

Immanuel: God with Us

“Think of it! The Infinite an infant, the Ancient of days a child, the Ever‑Blessed a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief! The idea is original, astounding, and divine. Oh, that this blending of the two natures should ever have taken place”—Charles H. Spurgeon

“The central claim of Christianity is that God became human. And that Christ is God.  So crudely put, what is God doing on a cross?  Well one thing it certainly shows me is that God has not remained distant from human suffering but has become part of it.”—John Lennox

Conclusion: Love Made Flesh

Every person carries eternal weight and deserves our attention and care. Love begins by seeing and honoring the people placed directly in front of us.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:8

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization…these are mortal, and their life is in the hands of men. But your neighbor, whom you meet every day, is immortal. And to be indifferent to him is the gravest injustice.”—C.S. Lewis

The incarnation calls us to live love, not just define it. As God has drawn near to us, we are invited to draw near to others with faithfulness and compassion.

The Age of Fear

Fear is increasingly shaping life, decisions, and community.

"Constant defense is not strength; it is a costly pattern that robs you of clarity and connection." — Caroline Leaf

Advent invites us to slow down, examine our hearts, and prepare for Christ’s arrival, where the theme of joy speaks directly into fear.

Biblical Theology

God announces Christ’s birth into a world marked by fear and political unrest.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." — Luke 2:8–9

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." — Luke 2:10–12

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." — Luke 2:13–14

God chooses humble shepherds as the first recipients of the good news, elevating the marginalized.

Angels—Messengers from God

Angels appear throughout Scripture as God’s messengers, pointing humanity back to Him.

Their message to the shepherds reflects the pattern seen in Hagar, Moses, Zechariah, Mary, and others: “Do not be afraid.”

God Enters the Real World

God meets humanity amid fear, unrest, and uncertainty.

"The Christmas story, like Isaiah’s prophecy, isn’t about an escape from the real world of politics and economics, of empires and taxes and bloodthirsty wars. It’s about God addressing these problems at last, from within, coming into our world – his world!...Christmas is about God acting in the real world." — N. T. Wright

The opposite of joy is fear, not sadness; joy is anchored in the eternal nature of God.

"To find joy in the midst of pain, we have to stop caring only about ourselves and to find our own purpose in the context of a large world…The good of someone else is our own good; the harm of someone else is our own harm. We are connected; we are one." — Anne Robertson

"Joy is the ultimate gift of God. We find this enduring joy when we commit our deepest fears, aches, and pains to God’s hands, trusting that every minute of it all can be used for God’s good." — Anne Robertson

Creative Proclamation

The shepherds respond with proclamation, worship, and praise.

"And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them." — Luke 2:16–20

Mary’s song, the angels’ praise, and the shepherds’ witness reveal joy expressed creatively in a fearful world.

Artists are Birth Givers

Humanity bears the image of God and carries a spark of divine creativity.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." — Ephesians 2

"Beauty is God’s goodness manifested to the senses." — Dallas Willard

"An act of art is an incarnational activity." — Madeleine L’Engle

“If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing - it doesn't matter. As long as we're creating, we're cultivating meaning.” - Brene Brown

“What other time or season can or will the church ever have but advent.” - Karl Barth

Those who create—write, sing, dance, act—participate in God’s ongoing work of bringing beauty into a fearful world.

A Weary World Rejoices

Make creation a priority as a practice of joy.

Cultivating creativity slows us down, opens us to God’s presence, and helps us anticipate Christ’s return.

Creating becomes a way of joining God in the continuation of His work on earth.

Peace

The peace of Christ is not sentimental nostalgia; it is revealing, discerning, and changing. Advent teaches us to remember Christ’s first coming so we may wait faithfully for his second.

The Nature of Christ’s Peace

Modern Christmas peace is shallow sentimentalism, but Scripture presents peace as wholeness, reconciliation, and the renewal of creation. Christ’s peace comes through truth-telling, justice, and transformation.

Preparing for Christ’s Peace

John the Baptist calls God’s people to repentance as the kingdom approaches.

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
  ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
  “Prepare the way for the Lord,
  make straight paths for him.” ’ ” —Matthew 3:1–3

His message disrupts sentimental expectations and prepares us for the true peace of Christ.

Revelation

Peace begins with truth coming to light.

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” —Matthew 3:7–10

Judgment

Jesus comes as the righteous judge who restores what is broken.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” —Matthew 3:11–12

His judgment is good news for the vulnerable.

“Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor…For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” —Psalm 72:1–7, 12–14

“God’s disciplines [or judgements] turn humans away from their idolatries and sins and toward allegiance to the Lamb [or Christ].” —Scot McKnight

Transformation

Jesus continues John’s call to repentance as the response to God’s nearness.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” —Matthew 3:1–2

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ” —Matthew 4:17

Repentance is the willingness to change and surrender.

“Repentance… means to think about your thinking… to ask who is currently king or queen in our lives… If I am running my life, I’m not going to serve other people.” —Dallas Willard

God makes us new through repentance.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” —Ezekiel 36:26–27

This transformation extends to the whole world.

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse… The wolf will live with the lamb… They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” —Isaiah 11:1–9

The Peace of Christ

Christ reconciles all things by his self-giving love. We prepare for his peace by allowing our sin to be revealed, judged, and transformed.

Prayer of Examen.

Saint Ignatius’ prayer for reviewing a day with GOd.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.

2. Review the day with gratitude.

3. Pay attention to your emotions.

4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. (A simple reflection is: where did I see Christ, and where did I miss Christ?)

5. Look toward tomorrow.

The Human Longing for Hope

The deep ache for hope persists across every era.

  "whether the world is anchored anywhere." —Herman Melville

American life felt unmoored; political conflict, violence, and global panic stirred uncertainty.

The Promise of a Coming King

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." —Isaiah 9:2–7

Israel longed for a ruler who could end oppression and restore peace.

The Failure of Human Kings

Israel’s leaders continually faltered, including Hezekiah, whose trust shifted from God to political alliances. The hope for a true King remained unmet.

The Servant Who Brings Justice

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth I tell you of them." —Isaiah 42:1–9

God promises a Servant who brings justice with gentleness and divine power.

The Unexpected Messiah

"For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed." —Isaiah 52:2–5

Jesus comes not with majesty but with suffering love, carrying the world’s sorrows.

Biblical Hope

"Optimism is about choosing to see, in any situation, how circumstances could work out for the best. But biblical hope isn’t focused on circumstances. In fact, hopeful people in the Bible often recognize there’s no evidence things will get better, but you choose hope anyway." —Tim Mackie

Hope is patient, expectant waiting; a binding-together toward God’s future.

Hope as Trust in God’s Character

Biblical hope remembers God’s proven faithfulness and trusts Him beyond visible outcomes.

“Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions. It is not compelled to work away at keeping up appearances with a bogus spirituality. It is the opposite of desperate and panicky manipulations, of scurrying and worrying.
And hoping is not dreaming. It is not spinning an illusion or fantasy to protect us from our boredom or our pain. It means a confident, alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do. It is imagination put in the harness of faith. It is a willingness to let God do it his way and in his time. It is the opposite of making plans that we demand that God put into effect, telling him both how and when to do it. That is not hoping in God but bullying God. "I pray to GOD-my life a prayer-and wait for what he'll say and do. My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.”—Eugene Peterson

Hope as Spiritual Practice

Hope remembers God’s unchanging character.
Hope trusts that the story is not yet finished.

God’s Unified Family

“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

“The ancient world, just like the modern, was an elaborate network of prejudice, suspicion, and arrogance, so ingrained as to be thought natural and normal…” —NT Wright

“Participation in Christ, who is all and in all, means that social barriers and ethnic distinctions cannot be allowed to separate the followers of Jesus from each other.” —Dennis R. Edwards

Committed to One Another

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” —Colossians 3:12–14

“To love the Lord your God… and to love your neighbor as yourself.” —Mark 12:30–31

“[Family is] a group that possesses and implements an irrational commitment to the well-being of each other.” —Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Participating in the Gospel

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” —Colossians 3:15

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” —Colossians 3:16–17 (NIV)

Generosity and the Heart

“Some of our ideas overlapped, but many of their suggestions were ones I had admittedly not entertained: passing out socks or hand-warmers, donating items like sleeping bags to local shelters, or giving office supplies and bus passes to nonprofits serving unhoused people.

The reporting left me uneasy. Why did I think only about structural change and disregard more immediate help? And why don’t I do more of those day-to-day charitable things, or know many people who do, either?”—Rachel Cohen Booth

Have we become so cynical that we have forsaken engaging in generosity entirely?

Are you hoarding resources from your neighbor out of fear, or simple apathy? Are your resources, like time, finances, or emotional energy only being spent on yourself?

As Jesus observes-where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:5-11

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”—Philippians 3:7-11

Sharing in Need

“Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.”—Philippians 4:14

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.”—Philippians 4:11-14

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:17-19

When we engage in generosity we allow ourselves to be shaped and molded into the image of our selfless Christ.

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19

Trust and Provision

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”—Luke 12:22-31

“Some of us try desperately to hold on to ourselves, to live for ourselves. We look so bedraggled and pathetic doing it, hanging on to the dead branch of a bank account for dear life, afraid to risk ourselves on the untried wings of giving. We don’t think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, and the longer we wait the less time we have for the soaring and swooping life of grace.”—Eugene Peterson

Spiritual Practice

1. Identify what area you may hold onto too tightly.

2. Choose one area to take a small, practical step of obedience in.

3. Commit to consistency.

Divine Strength for Contentment

Paul rejoices not because of what he received, but because of what generosity produced in others—a sign of spiritual life flourishing within the community. Their gift was “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God,” revealing worship through generosity.

Contentment Defined

Paul redefines autarkes—contentment—not as self-sufficiency but as sufficiency in Christ.

“A sweet, inward gracious spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition… It is the work of the Spirit indoors.” —Jeremiah Burroughs

Christian contentment is not independence, but trust.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” —2 Corinthians 4:7

Strength is not willpower but divine dependence. Our weakness becomes the place where God’s strength is revealed.

Contentment Is Learned

Paul learned to be content. The life of faith is a continual posture of humility and teachability. To be a disciple, a learner, is to grow in trusting Christ through every circumstance.

Learning contentment comes through relationship: remembering God’s past faithfulness, noticing His present presence, and trusting His future activity.

We learn to trust Christ through:
1. God’s Word
2. Gratitude
3. God’s Grace
4. Generous Community

God’s Word — Learning to Trust God’s Presence

“My peace I give to you; I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” —John 14:27

Scripture reminds us of God’s faithfulness throughout history. When our attention drifts to lesser comforts, the Word reorients us toward eternal reality and anchors our trust in Him.

Gratitude — Practicing Seeing God’s Faithfulness

Gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to sufficiency, from what we lack to the One who provides. It is a spiritual discipline that reveals beauty under the surface of our circumstances and reorients our hearts toward resurrection hope.

God’s Grace — God’s Empowering Presence

“For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” —John 1:17

Grace is not only unmerited favor but God’s empowering presence for daily life.

“My (empowering presence) is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” —2 Corinthians 12:8–10

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of (God’s empowering presence) in its various forms.” —1 Peter 4:10

Grace is both received and shared.

“You are all partakers with me of grace.” —Philippians 1:7

Generous Community — Practicing Contentment Together

We are not spiritual consumers but partakers in God’s empowering presence. Contentment grows in community as we share our lives, resources, and burdens, reminding one another of God’s faithfulness.

Generosity becomes worship, a fragrant offering to God, and a visible reminder that He has not forsaken us. Together we become embodied signs of His grace.

Spiritual Practice

“It is tempting to imagine that, given a different lot in life, circumstances other than those in which we find ourselves, we would make much greater strides in holiness. The truth is that the place where we are is God’s schoolroom, not somewhere else. Here we may be conformed to the likeness of Christ.” —Elisabeth Elliot

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” —Elisabeth Elliot

Hypocrisy

“There may not be a more commonly hurled criticism in today’s divided society than hypocrite… this is the human condition: We are a collection of aspirations and failings, from which we try to be who we think we should be but constantly fall short.” —Lydia Polgreen

“I like your Christ, not your Christians.” —Mahatma Gandhi

Hypocrisy is the chasm between who we are and who we want to be, the gap between us and Jesus. It is a human problem generally, but a Christian problem specifically. Far too often, hypocrisy becomes the barrier to others encountering the beauty of Jesus. Yet while we cannot escape inconsistency, we can close the gap through confession, humility, and a commitment to do better.

Paul uses the language of family in his address to the Philippians- like a loving parent to a child or a favorite teacher to a pupil.

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” —Philippians 4:1

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” —Philippians 4:9

Conflict

“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” —Philippians 4:2–3

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” —Philippians 4:9

Paul urges the Philippian church to reconcile, modeling humility and unity. Disagreement is not hypocrisy; hypocrisy is allowing pride to divide. The way Christians handle conflict—refusing to belittle, remembering our shared mission, and arguing humbly—reveals our witness to the world.

Anxiety

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:4–7

“It has been said that the way to stop worrying about anything is to pray about everything. Prayer with the attitude of thanksgiving is a stress-buster, or in a more formal vein as my spiritual forebear John Wesley put it, thanksgiving is the surest evidence of a soul free from anxiety.” - Ben Witherington III

“Prayer like that will mean that God’s peace—not a Stoic lack of concern, but a deep peace in the middle of life’s problems and storms—will keep guard around your heart and mind, like a squadron of soldiers looking after a treasure chest.” —N.T. Wright

“In a post-Christian, postmodern world… our privilege is to live out the gospel of true shalom, wholeness in every sense of that word, and to point others to its source.” —Gordon Fee

Prayer, both thankful and petitioning, transforms anxiety into peace. God’s nearness guards our hearts like a garrison. The world is longing for that kind of peace, a witness of true shalom.

Virtue

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” —Philippians 4:8

“Hardly anything shows more obviously that our world is out of joint than finding stunningly beautiful human beings who are incredibly unwise about their behavior and live anxiety-filled, miserable, immoral lives as a result… We hardly ever see most of these things in one human life, except that is, in the life of Jesus.” —Ben Witherington III

Paul calls us to dwell on whatever is true, beautiful, and good. Wherever truth and beauty are found, God is found. The call is to be cultural sifters, finding God’s goodness even in unexpected places and to recognize both beauty and brokenness within ourselves and the world.

Spiritual Practice: Confession

“Perhaps if we embrace our inevitable inconsistencies, we can have a more generous, less purity-focused politics of practical good aimed at actual persuasion and real change.” —Lydia Polgreen

The Christian response to hypocrisy is not denial but confession. Confession trains us to close the gap between who we are and who we long to be, both in worship and in everyday life.

We confess not just for our sake but for the world’s, to bear witness to the grace of God that meets us in our inconsistency and makes us whole again.

Paul’s Cruciform Example‍ ‍

“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters…” —Philippians 3:17

Paul invites the Philippians to imitate his life patterned after the cross.

“Paul’s mission in life was to seek to order the lives of Christian congregations by pulling everything into the tremendous gravitational field of the Cross.” —Michael Gorman

The Enemies of the Cross‍ ‍

“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” —Philippians 3:18–19

These are those who embrace victory without suffering, faith without the cross.

Heavenly Citizenship‍ ‍

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” —Philippians 3:20–21

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” —Matthew 6:10

“Live faithfully now as a colony of citizens of that heavenly imperial city, in the midst of this colony of Rome. Your lord and savior—your emperor—is Jesus, whose cruciform pattern of faith, love, power, and hope is the city charter of your colony.” —Michael Gorman

“If Roman citizenship required a lifestyle of honor and glory for Rome, then how much more is necessary for a heavenly citizenship to the Lord, Jesus Christ?” —Sydney Park

Book Recommendations:

1. Scandalous Witness by Lee Camp

2. Jesus and the Powers by NT Wright & Michael Bird

3. Compassion & Conviction by  Chris Butler, Justin Giboney, and Michael Wear

4. The Liturgy of Politics by Kaitlyn Schiess 

1. Christ Is Lord‍ ‍

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” —Abraham Kuyper

Jesus is our primary allegiance; all others are secondary. We approach the table not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Christians.

2. Christ Is Savior‍ ‍

He alone redeems, heals, and saves the world. Political parties cannot accomplish what only Christ can.

3. Citizens of a Different Kingdom‍ ‍

Our true homeland is the Kingdom of God.

We live now by its culture and values even as we await its fullness.

This citizenship may leave us politically homeless but not disengaged.

4. Christ Guides Our Political Engagement‍ ‍

litmus test for Christian faithfulness is the Cross; the cruciform life; the willingness to suffer for others. (Philippians 3:17–19 )

Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging in Politics by Eugene Cho

Cruelty and callousness are not Christian virtues. Our engagement seeks the good of all through humble service.

5. Christ Invites Us to Be an Example‍ ‍

“…follow my example, brothers and sisters…” —Philippians 3:17

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” —1 Corinthians 11:1

Each believer bears the responsibility of showing others the way of Christ through a life of self-sacrificial love.

A Stagnant Faith

“Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The contented soul is a stagnant soul.” —A.W. Tozer

Complacency halts spiritual growth. Busyness, comfort, and routine distract from the pursuit of Christ. Faith becomes a checklist rather than a relationship. The journey of following Jesus begins at salvation and continues daily as we deny ourselves and take up our cross.

Eyes on the Prize

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” —Philippians 3:12

Paul presses on—not from ambition, but in response to grace. Because Christ has made him His own, Paul runs the race with focus and gratitude.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3:13–14

Paul leaves the past behind, fixing his eyes on Christ. Freedom comes not from dwelling on failure, but from pressing forward in faith.

“After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfect.” —C.S. Lewis

Running the Race

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” —1 Corinthians 9:24–27

Paul uses athletic imagery to describe faith: disciplined, intentional, and persevering. Like an athlete training for a crown, believers pursue an eternal prize.

“Would you be a victor in the Olympic games? So would I, by the gods, and a fine thing it would be. But consider the price you must pay... You must live by rule, eat by measure, avoid delicacies... Then, in the contest, you may sprain your wrist, twist your ankle, swallow quantities of dust, be whipped... and after all that, lose.” —Epictetus

The Christian race requires endurance and focus. We must not grow complacent before the finish line, but press on with perseverance.

The Imperishable Crown

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” —2 Timothy 4:6–8

The victor’s crown given at ancient games was perishable, but the prize Christ offers is eternal. The stephanos of thorns placed on Jesus’ head became the true crown of victory. The Lord Himself will place the crown of righteousness upon those who remain faithful to the end.

Press On Toward Christ

“It is finished.” —John 19:30

Jesus finished His race victorious through the cross. Paul echoed that same faithfulness: “I have finished the race.” Like Paul, we press forward with endurance, surrendering our past and setting our eyes on Christ.

Spiritual Practice

What holds you back from running your race well?
Where have you grown complacent or distracted?
Christ still pursues you and invites you to run with Him.

The race is not over. Press on toward the prize—the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

No Confidence in the Flesh
Paul once placed his confidence in ancestry, achievement, and religious zeal, yet writes:

“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” —Philippians 3:7

Paul’s Audit
Paul reworks the balance sheet of his life: everything he once counted as gain is now loss compared to knowing Jesus. His life becomes Jesus on one side—and everything else on the other.

Is Jesus Worth It?
Jesus calls,

“Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me.”
“Sell everything and give it to the poor.”
“To lose your life is to gain your life.”
“Let the dead bury the dead.”
“Love your enemies.”

To follow Him risks comfort, reputation, and control. Yet Paul declares that Jesus is worth it.

Paul’s Loss

“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” —Philippians 3:7–8

Everything sacrificed or surrendered is nothing compared to life with Christ.

Paul’s Gain
Paul finds that knowing Christ gives significance, being in Christ gives cohesion, and becoming like Christ gives purpose.

To know Christ gives significance.

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” —Philippians 3:8

To know Christ is to enter an intimate friendship with Him—a love that surpasses knowledge.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.” —Ephesians 3:18–19

“To know God is to love God.” —A.W. Tozer

“God is family, God is community, God is shared existence, and whoever shares his or her existence inside community and friendship is participating in the very flow of life and love that is inside the Trinity.” —Ronald Rolheiser

To know Christ is to be loved as you are—wholly and completely. God loves you, and He likes you.

“To surrender to love is to allow yourself to be loved as you are—mistakes, regrets, flaws and all.” —David Brenner

To know Christ is to live daily out of this love, finding your true significance as His beloved.

To be found in Christ gives coherence.

“I consider [my accolades] garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” —Philippians 3:8–9

To be in Christ means His righteousness becomes ours. His story becomes our story.

“[Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant… Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” —Philippians 2:5–11

Being in Christ gives coherence to life—our joys and sufferings are drawn into His larger story.

To be Like Christ gives purpose.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11

“To live is Christ and to die is gain.” —Philippians 1:21

“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” —Philippians 2:12–13

To become like Christ is to join His mission to renew the world, beginning with our own transformation.

“Being a Christian doesn’t require any particular education because being a Christian is an education.” —Dallas Willard

Following Jesus is a lifelong learning of love—loving God fully and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Becoming like Jesus becomes our singular pursuit, shaping all other ambitions.

The Resurrection Hope
Easter was not a one-time event but a preview of what’s to come.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings… attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11

A Life Centered on Christ
In a world full of options, Paul’s answer remains clear: Jesus is worth it.

To know Christ gives significance.
To be in Christ gives cohesion.
To become like Christ gives purpose.

The life centered on Jesus is not the easiest—but it is the best and most joyful life available to us. It calls for a radical reorganization of our lives, saying one great “yes” to Christ that reorders everything else.

Rejoice in the Lord

"Legalism is believing or practicing rules that add something to the gospel." —Scot McKnight

"For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also." —Philippians 3

Worship by the Spirit of God

"But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code." —Romans 7

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father by the Spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." —John 4

"There are no wrappings and disguises which are proof against the gaze of Christ. It is his power to see into the depths of the human heart. It is not that he sees only the evil there; he sees also the sleeping hero in the soul of every man. He is like the surgeon who sees the diseased thing, but who also sees the health which will follow when the evil thing is taken away." —William Barclay

Glory in Christ Jesus

"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." —Romans 5

Put No Confidence in the Flesh

"If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." —Philippians 3

Spiritual Practice

Take Inventory: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where faith has become mechanical or routine.

1. Where have you followed a "Jesus-plus" faith?

2. Where have you been proud instead of humble?

3. Where have you put burdens on others or complicated the simplicity of Jesus’ invitation?