The Sin of Partiality

"I have often been embarrassed in church, but one of the worst moments was on Easter morning many years ago. I had arrived at the service in what I thought was good time, but there was already a large queue outside and it wasn’t moving. Clearly the place was already packed. I was wondering what to do when a familiar voice greeted me. I turned round and saw a man I knew a bit, a very senior and distinguished person in the city. I was flattered to be recognized and singled out. But then came the moment. ‘Come with me,’ he said conspiratorially. He led me forward, past the queue, to one of the ushers. ‘I am Lord Smith,’ he said to the man (I use ‘Smith,’ of course, as a pseudonym). ‘I would be grateful if you could find my friend and myself somewhere to sit.’ Before I had time to think, the two of us were escorted right to the front of the church, where we were given excellent seats with a full view of the service. But I didn’t enjoy it. I was thinking of James chapter 2, and wondering if either my acquaintance or the usher had read it recently."—N.T. Wright

“The world is always assessing people, sizing them up, putting them down, establishing a pecking order. And God, who sees and loves all alike, wants the church to reflect that generous, universal love in how it behaves.”—N.T. Wright

Jesus establishes a new order through the royal law: love your neighbor as yourself. Following Jesus requires rejecting the world's favoritism and embracing God's impartial love.

Reject Favoritism

“My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.  If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor’—well,  doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?”—James 2:1–4

Faith in Jesus is incompatible with showing favoritism. Every person bears God's image and deserves equal dignity, welcome, and honor.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.”—Leviticus 19:15

“So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions.”—Malachi 2:9

“It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.”—Proverbs 24:23

Favoring the rich creates barriers that keep others from experiencing the love of Christ. God's welcome is extended to all, and the church is called to reflect that same welcome.

Honor Those the World Overlooks

“Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?  Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?”—James 2:5–7

God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom. The values of God's Kingdom overturn the world's pursuit of power, wealth, and status.

"It is not that Christ and the Church do not want the great and the rich and the mighty; we must beware of an inverted snobbery, as we have already seen. But it was the simple fact that the gospel offered so much to the poor, and demanded so much from the rich, that it was the poor who were swept into the Church. It was, in fact, the ordinary people who heard Jesus gladly and the rich young ruler who went sorrowfully away because he had great possessions. James is not shutting the door on the rich - far from it. He is saying that the Gospel of Christ is especially dear to the poor and that in it there is a welcome for those who have no one to welcome them, and that through it there is a value set on those whom the world regards as valueless."—William Barclay

If the Gospel is especially dear to the poor, then the poor should be especially dear to us. Loving our neighbors must move from the church's shared values to our personal lives.

Mercy Triumphs

“There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when God judges you.”—James 2:8–13

Those who receive God's mercy are called to extend mercy to others. Mercy, compassion, and empathy are marks of God's Kingdom and reflect the heart of Jesus.

“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’”—Luke 19:8-10

Zacchaeus demonstrates that God's mercy transforms lives, restores relationships, and leads to justice. Following Jesus means becoming a neighbor and making things right where we can.

The Kingdom Way

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’—Matthew 25:31–40

Jesus identifies himself with "the least of these." We bear the name of Jesus by serving, welcoming, and loving those the world overlooks.

The world elevates power and wealth, but the Kingdom elevates mercy.

Public Witness

“You know what? F–this speech. Hey, shout out to Trump for having the [courage] to put some s– like this on. And if I'm going to say anything, there's only one person more incredible than the Incredible Hulk, and that's my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [He then insults another fighter’s mother, and then says–]. And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man.”—Josh Hokit

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F-n’ Strait, you crazy b–, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”—Donald Trump

Our neighbors need living examples of God’s goodness and love put on display. 

True Religion

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” —James 1:19-20

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt.”—Nursey Rhyme 

Be quick to listen. Slow to speak. Slow to become angry. 

“...the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”—Exodus 34:6 (NIV)

“Human anger is not a legitimate instrument for effecting those right relationships God desires for creatures.”—Luke Timothy Johnson

We need wisdom as we listen, speak, and interact with one another. Because speech is the primary means by which we build connections and bridges between one another. 

Moral Discernment

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”—James 1:21

“put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness”—James 1:21 (ESV)

“throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage”—James 1:21 (MSG)

 “lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness…”—James 1:21 (KJV)

James is calling us to discern that which is compromising and that which is good. 

“…humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”—James 1:21

Following Jesus is about our lives being drawn into the drama of God’s redemption of all Creation.

A Warning

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”—James 1:22-24

James encourages his audience to listen carefully to the message of salvation and to put it into action.

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”—James 1:26

If we are undisciplined in our speech, we will find ourselves passing on harm to others and ultimately hurting ourselves. 

Renovated Character

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”—James 1:24-25

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah… This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” —Jeremiah 31:31,33 (NIV)

James writes that our public witness includes wise speech, moral discernment, renovated character, and finally compassionate action. 

Compassionate Action

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”—James 1:27

True religion, James argues, is always moving toward the margins in compassionate action. 

“James asks, in essence, ‘Did you in fact realize that the meeting of needs is not peripheral, nor optional, but central and obligatory to your faith?’”—Craig Blomberg

“In caring for them, we imitate the character of our heavenly Father and show ourselves to be followers of Christ…”—Daniel Eng

It is our responsibility to look out for anyone in tribulation or in pain, including those who make us uncomfortable.

True Religion: Poverty, Wealth, and the Economy of the Upside-Down Kingdom

Our relationship with money has a strange ability to reveal our deepest allegiances and presuppositions. 

"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on."—Mark 12:41–44

A Word for the Poor

 "The believer of humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.”—James 1:9

James is not romanticizing poverty. He is not saying poverty is good. He is saying that God's kingdom evaluates people differently than the world does.

"The world may see poverty only in negative terms, but from the side of God, it is a sign of election."—Luke Timothy Johnson

 "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom?"—James 2:5

“Blessed are the poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.”—Luke 6:20

The forms of poverty vary, but the biblical response remains remarkably consistent: blessed are they. Not forgotten. Not disposable. Not burdens. Blessed.

"The church… seeks to urge all Christians to live their faith in such a way that they also make it a factor for transforming society in the direction of greater justice and fellowship. All need to make the option for the poor: the rich with generosity and no regard for reward, and the poor for their fellow poor and those who are even poorer than they."—Leonardo and Clodovis Boff

"God's Word teaches a very hard, disturbing truth. Those who neglect the poor and the oppressed are really not God's people at all."—Ronald Sider

James is not interested in a faith that exists only in our heads. He wants a faith that takes on flesh. 

A Word for the Rich

“But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”—James 1:10–12

Riches, status, and possessions are temporary. Wealth is a tool entrusted by God, not a source of ultimate security.

The poor face the trial of scarcity; the rich face the trial of abundance. Both are confronted with the same question: Where does your confidence ultimately rest?

A Call to Generosity

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”—James 1:13–18

God is not the source of temptation or evil. Human beings are drawn away by disordered desires that ultimately produce death.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matthew 6:21

"God is defined in terms of complete and generous goodness."—Luke Timothy Johnson

Generosity is not a capitalist virtue or a socialist virtue; it is a kingdom virtue rooted in the character of God.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”—1 John 3:17–18

The world celebrates accumulation. The Kingdom of God celebrates generosity.

"Sharing with others is the way to real joy."—Ronald Sider

Spiritual Practice

"Now I'm looking for the lilies
Who neither toil nor spin
Father, plant one in my heart
And make it grow to be a garden
Where your treasure is
There your heart will be also"—Jon Guerra

Solidarity is not formed through opinions. Solidarity is formed through presence.

Intentional generosity trains the heart to trust God rather than possessions.

Proximity to the poor cultivates solidarity, compassion, and love for neighbors.

True Religion

“Today, prosperity theology often sounds less like a late-night religious infomercial and more like Christian self-help: Trust God and doors will open. Stay faithful and your breakthrough will come. Obey God and watch Him bless your future….Prosperity theology is easiest to mock when it promises mansions. It’s much harder to confront when it lives quietly inside the belief that enough faith should protect us from the worst parts of being human.”—John Taylor

And in order to love God, we must have an understanding of who he is, even in the midst of trials, in the midst of things not working out. 

Difficulties

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”—James 1:2–3

Trials of various kinds are a normal part of following Jesus and become opportunities for spiritual growth, steadfastness, and maturity.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”—Matthew 5:11

“A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”—John 15:20

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”—John 16:33

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”—2 Timothy 3:12

Difficulty is required for spiritual growth. Trials test and refine faith, producing maturity and steadfastness.

“The historic church talks so much about the idea of fortitude or resilience, of patience and perseverance. Not because we have to do these things because the world is hard. But because these are actually the key ingredients of maturation- of humans becoming who they are meant to become.”—Tish Harrison Warren

Trials are not caused by God, but God uses them to shape believers into mature and faithful people.

Wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”—James 1:5–8

In times of suffering and confusion, believers are invited to ask God for wisdom, trusting that He gives generously and impartially.

“Choosing to believe that God is good despite any circumstances.”—Tim Mackie

“Wisdom grabs information, sorts it out into knowledge, and then discerns the ways of God.”—Scot McKnight

Wisdom enables believers to recognize God's work in the midst of hardship and remain faithful through trials.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Without wisdom, faith becomes unstable and dependent upon circumstances rather than trust in God’s character.

Mature Faith

“For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”—James 1:3–4

Steadfastness leads to wholeness, integrity, and a life increasingly shaped by the teachings of Jesus

“In this context, it means living a completely integrated life in which your actions are consistent with the values and beliefs you learned from Jesus. [James] knows that most of us live as fractured people with large inconsistencies in our character. All of us are more compromised than we’d like to admit, but God is on a mission to restore fractured people and make them whole.”—Tim Mackie

Mature faith develops through difficulty and wisdom, producing wholeness and deeper trust in God.

Many desire mature faith, but maturity is formed through the trials and wisdom that accompany suffering.

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” — Eugene Peterson, James 1:2–4 (MSG)

Spiritual Practice

Look for ways God may be growing you in the midst of life’s difficulties.

Ask God for wisdom to recognize His work even when circumstances are hard.

Pray that difficulty would produce steadfastness, wisdom, and mature faith.

Hope & Despair

“Americans’ hope for their future has fallen to a new low…”—Lily Sanders

“I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.”—Charles Schulz

Despair is reinforced by romanticizing the past, constant exposure to bad news, and a cyclical view of history that assumes decline is inevitable. Cynicism often becomes a shield against disappointment and hopelessness.

A Summary of Romans

Romans presents the Gospel as God’s righteousness, the creation of a new humanity, the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, and the unification of God’s people.

Present Sufferings

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”—Romans 8:18

Present suffering is real, but it must be understood in light of the glory God will reveal.

Creation

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” —Romans 8:19

The created world belongs to God, is intrinsically good, and was entrusted to humanity to cultivate, protect, and help flourish.

Subjection

“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it…”—Romans 8:20

Human rebellion subjected creation to frustration and bondage. Creation now suffers under the powers of Satan, sin, and death.

“for all have sinned [a verb] and fall short of the glory of God..”—Romans 3:23

“sin [noun] entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned [verb].” —Romans 5:12

Liberation

“…creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”—Romans 8:21

God’s response to creation’s bondage is liberation through Jesus Christ.

“To paraphrase Fleming Rutledge, Easter isn’t a peaceful gesture; it is a cosmic coup meant to topple Satan, Sin, and Death from their thrones.”—Fleming Rutledge

“He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.”—Eugene Peterson, Colossians 2:15 (MSG)

God is at war with evil and death. Easter declares Christ’s victory and the beginning of creation’s liberation.

The Time of Waiting

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”—Romans 8:22

Creation groans like a woman in childbirth, awaiting the full realization of God’s victory.

New Creation

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”—Romans 8:22–23

The return of Christ is good news for those who suffer under evil because God’s justice will finally put all things right.

The Renewal of Creation

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven…”—Matthew 6:10

The Christian hope is not escape from creation but the renewal of creation.

The resurrection of Jesus is the prototype and promise of the resurrection of His people.

Christian Hope

“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 that had crippled the whole world, and humans with it, has been cured at last, so that new life can rise up in its place. 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

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”—Romans 8:24-25

Christian hope is not wishful thinking but confidence in God’s future restoration of all things.

Cultivate Hope

“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.” — J.R.R. Tolkien

Let go of what you cannot control, focus on the present moment, and cultivate long-term good through ordinary acts of faithfulness.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”—Romans 12:21

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.