Corbin White 10/29/23 Corbin White 10/29/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Luke

Luke is the third of the Synoptic Gospels, which means he follows the same general timeline as Matthew and Mark; whereas John’s Gospel is unique.

Of the synoptic Gospels, Luke has a particular interest in the Spirit; which is evident just by the number of times he mentions the Spirit.

Matthew – 10 references.
Mark– 5 references.
Luke – 17+ references.

“God’s Empowering Presence.” – Gordon Fee

The Spirit of God started Creation by reorganizing the raw materials of the planet Earth; The Spirit of God started the New Creation by reorganizing the raw materials of the human heart.

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.” – Isaiah 61:1-2

Jesus in the Power of the Spirit.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit(4:1)… led by the Spirit(4:1)... In the power of the Spirit(4:14)…

Baptized, Full, Led, Empowered.

And all four verbs operate metaphorically, and poetically to describe a holy experience– an interaction between the divine and human.

Peruvian bible translators – “the Holy Spirit permeates one”.

Jesus, an embodied human, is invited into a holy collaboration with the Spirit of God, for the sake of the world.

4. The Purpose of Jesus’ Spirit- Empowerment.

All of Jesus' life in the Spirit is pointing to something, the Kingdom of God.

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”–Luke 4:43.

Dallas Willard defines the Kingdom as the range of God’s effective will.

Jesus’ definition; “God’s will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.”

A ministry marked by Charisms

In biblical theology, these are called charisms or gifts of the Holy Spirit.

These are divinely energized acts that defy our understanding of reality and point to the goodness of the Kingdom of God.

Charism of Wisdom (Luke 2:27; 4:31-33)
Charism of Discernment (Luke 5:20-22;6:6-9;7:39-50;9:37-43)
Charism of Exercism (Luke 4:33-27, 41; 6:18; 8:2-3, 26-39)
Charism of Miracles (Luke 5:1-11; 8:22-25; 9:10-17, 28-36; 24:1-12)
Charism of Healing– (Luke 4:38-39, 40; 5:12-16, 25-26;6:10-11, 19;7:1-10, 11-17;8:43-48, 49-56; 13:10-13; 14:1-6;17:11-19; 18:35-43; 22:47-53)

A Power Shared

“he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” –Luke 9:1–2.

Luke-Acts; the story of Jesus’ ministry and the story of his followers continuing that ministry

Jesus, an embodied human, is invited into a holy collaboration with the Spirit of God, for the sake of the world.

And we, his followers, embodied humans, are also invited into that same holy collaboration with the Spirit of God, for the sake of the world.

“Those who are in truth [Christ’s] disciples, receive grace from Him, do in His name perform (miracles), so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift each one has received from Him.” – Irenaeus, Against Heresies.

“…forasmuch as he excelled in the possession of all virtues– in the Spirit of Prophesy; in the power of Miracles, in the gift of preaching given him from Heaven; in the obedience rendered him by creatures without reason; in the mighty change of hearts at the hearing of the word; in the learning imparted to him by the Holy Ghost…to declare the Gospel of Christ.”– Bonaventure, The Life of St. Francis of Assisi

“We have an explosion of miracles taking place, especially in conjunction with the spread of the gospel. Some things are outside the norm for most Westerners, whatever kind of church we are associated with. It's probably good for us, to shake us up. Extraordinary things are taking place around the world.” – Craig Keener

Spiritual Practice: Take a Risk.

I want my life to be a living laboratory; an experiment in what it means to love God, walk in the power of the Spirit, and do the Jesus stuff.

“Faith is spelled R.I.S.K.” – John Wimber

Corbin White 10/15/23 Corbin White 10/15/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Mark

Come, Holy Spirit

Knowledge of God that moves beyond information.
Foster ordinary encounters with the Spirit of God.
Become radically open to God.
To do the Jesus stuff.

Imposter Syndrome

“... to my surprise, the older I got, the more I realized the "big people" were often still "small people" hiding behind their roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments. They never got the talk either; they just got older. There is a name for this sense of lack as you try to navigate life without the tools you think you need: Imposter Syndrome.” – Jon Tyson

“People who struggle with imposter syndrome believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem in which they are, in fact, generally held. They feel that they aren’t as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them.” – Psychology Today

And so, we do all kinds of things to maintain the illusion that we are who people think we are.

One of the most striking things about the character of Jesus is detachment from external validation.

The Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ talk, and the Spirit’s role in communicating our identity.

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. – Mark 1:9-10 (NIV)

“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,” –Isaiah 64:1 (ESV)

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” –Mark 1:10 (NIV)

1. “You are my son”

“The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” –Psalm 2:7–8 (ESV)

2. “Whom I love.”
Jesus is the beloved son; language that is reminiscent of Abraham and Issac.

“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”– Genesis 22:2.

3. “With you, I am well pleased.”

“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.” –Isaiah 42:1 (ESV)

So in the waters of baptism, the Spirit rests on Jesus, and his identity is communicated to him; That he is the coming king, the beloved son, and the messianic servant.

It is with the knowledge of that identity that Jesus is propelled into the wilderness.

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. – Mark 1:12–13.

πειράζω peirazō - examine,to test, tempt

Mark writes this forty days in the wilderness in such a way that it brings to mind the story of Israel.

And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” – Deuteronomy 8:2–3 (ESV)

Jesus is not just showing us how to be a good Christian; he is demonstrating what it means to be fully human.

Jesus is right back in the Garden confronting the powers of evil, represented by one called ‘Satan’.

The Bible does not give us all the answers, but we do know that this evil figure is presented as

a personified creature
a being lesser than God
who exists in rebellion to God,
hellbent on destroying the good world God created.

Jesus is replaying humanity’s failure to resist the evil one and turning it into a victory.

Mark wants us to see that Jesus’ identity bestowed at the water is now revealed in the wilderness.

Marks’ purpose in this brief account is that we see ourselves in the life of Jesus.

“...In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)

“If you want to be like Jesus remember, he had a wilderness, a Gethsemane, and a Judas.”—Leonard Ravenhill

“The whole Christian gospel could be summed up in this point: that when the living God looks at us, at every baptized and believing Christian, he says to us what he said to Jesus on that day. He sees us, not as we are in ourselves, but as we are in Jesus Christ.” –N.T. Wright

We are marked by the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

"Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.”—Henri Nouwen

Listen to the voice of the Spirit.

The challenge of your life, and mine, is actually believing what was spoken over us in the water.

“ …when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” –Galatians 4:4–7.

Listen to the Spirit, who is continually testifying to our hearts the radical love of our God in Christ.

Corbin White 10/8/23 Corbin White 10/8/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Matthew

Holy Spirit in the OT:

In Genesis, the Holy Spirit, or Ruakh, is the very breath breathed into creation and into our lungs.

In the Pentateuch or the first three chapters of the Bible, we see the Holy Spirit empowering people for work, giving them divine resource.

In the History of Israel, we see God’s liquid Spirit, his anointing poured out on the person of David as he foreshadows the true anointed one, Christ.

In the Prophets, we see people rely on the Holy Spirit to speak truth and stand for justice. And we see God give us the Holy Spirit to discern true from false prophets even in our day.

Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life seen in three acts through the synoptic Gospels:

Act 1: His Birth (Matthew)

Act 2: His Baptism and Wilderness Journey (Mark)

Act 3: His Ministry (Luke)

Matthew’s Gospel works to answer two questions:

What is the origin story of Jesus?

And what is Jesus’ goal?

Colossians 1:15-20

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Jude 1:25 “to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Nicene Creed: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

18 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. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 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. -Matthew 18-20

“The office of the Holy Spirit from the very beginning of the Chrsitian story is to bring Jesus into human life…The Son is not the Son without the Spirit.”

Dale Bruner

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). - Matthew 1:23

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:21

Matthew 28:18-20

18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

“When Jesus Christ comes to anyone in history, even in his coming to Mary, it is always the work of the Spirit, not of human preparation or enterprise. Every conversion is a virgin birth. “With human beings this [new life] is impossible; but with God absolutely everything is possible” (Matt 19:26). The Holy Spirit, in other words, is the miraculous how of New Life.” - Dale Bruner

Spiritual Practice

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” - John 3:3-8

Receive the Holy Spirit’s gift of salvation.

Remember your salvation.

Corbin White 9/30/23 Corbin White 9/30/23

In Kansas City

A Displaced People

“Whether we are talking about the upwardly mobile who view each place as a rung in the ladder that goes up to who knows where, or the postmodern nomad with no roots in any place or any tradition of place, or the average consumer who doesn’t know anything about the place where she lives or the places her food comes from, the reality is the same– we are a culture of displacement.” – Steven Bouma-Prediger and Brain J. Walsh

“[The twentieth century is the] age of the… the refugee, the stateless, and the wanderer. Never before, have so many human beings fled from so many homes.” –Elie Wiesel

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” – Augustine of Hippo

“Cell refers to duty, vocation, and commitment. In essence, this is what’s being said: Go to your cell, and your cell will teach you everything you need to know: Stay inside your vocation, inside your commitments, inside your legitimate conscriptive duties, inside your church, inside your family, and they will teach you where life is found and what love means. Be faithful to your commitments, and what you are ultimately looking for will be found there.” – Ronald Rolheiser

What if in a culture of displacement, there is simple wisdom in making the best of wherever you find yourself?

In 587 BC, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was destroyed and the Israelites were taken into exile by the Babylonian Empire.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.– Jeremiah 29:4–7.

There is a play on words in the Hebrew text– welfare is a translation of the Hebrew word shalom.

“Seek the Shalom of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its Shalom you will find your Shalom..”

In its shalom you will find shalom.

“God’s wholeness where… nothing is missing and nothing is broken.” – Adam Gustine

Our calling, as exiles, is not to the extraordinary or the astonishing; it is to see the raw materials of life as opportunities for God’s grace, mercy, and goodness to flow.

“Christian spirituality means living in the mature wholeness of the gospel. It means taking all the elements of your life—children, spouse, job, weather, possessions, relationships—and experiencing them as an act of faith. God wants all the material of our lives.”– Eugene Peterson

“[T]hrough acts of imagination, ordering, planning, building and so on, all humans may participate in the hopeful renewal of our creation. …God’s presence can be found in arenas of local human placemaking, and that is this very locality that speaks to the abiding presence of God in all the world.” –Jennifer Craft

To reveal the Kingdom of Jesus, together, in Kansas City is to give everything we are to help life blossom in this city.

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…”– John 1:14 (The Message)

“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

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”–1 John 4:15–16.

To Seek God in Kansas City.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you” –Jeremiah 29:11–14.

Seek god by paying attention to where God at work in our city
Make your home in Kansas City.

Corbin White 9/24/23 Corbin White 9/24/23

Together 2023

Last week, we pushed pause on our Come, Holy Spirit Series and kicked off the first of our three week vision series. This series is something we will revisit every fall to remind us of what we as a church feel compelled by Jesus to do and it is centered on this statement:

“Revealing the kingdom of Jesus, together, in Kansas City.”

To reveal the kingdom of Jesus, we have to first understand what Jesus’ kingdom is, which is why Alex spent the first week of our sermon series unpacking the kingdom of Jesus. More on that in a few minutes.

But today, I have the seemingly simple assignment of tackling just one word- together. But as we will learn today, that word is not so easy.

When it comes to following Jesus together, we face a lot of challenges. There are a lot of reasons, both good and bad, to say I can reveal the kingdom of Jesus but I just can’t do it with other people.

And so briefly, before I dive into what it looks like to follow Jesus together in this church family, I want to look at a few of these challenges in the light of Jesus’ teaching.

CHALLENGE 1: CHURCH REPUTATION

I can do Jesus but not the church.

Does this phrase sound familiar to you? This phrase has become a popular way to sum up the legitimate and growing discontentment with the institutionalized church whether it be because of politics, theology, church hurt, failed leaders, mean Christians, you fill in the blank.

And as potentially destructive as this phrase is to my profession as a pastor, I get it.

I grew up in a family that helped plant three churches and one out of those three churches still exists today. I am well acquainted with dysfunction, moral failure, church hurt, and pain. I have every excuse to abandon the institution, to a more private religion, to wage war against the religious machine.

However, despite all that pain and hurt, the legitimate dysfunction of the organized church, I still believe in it.

Why? I believe in church, not because I have self-destructive tendency, or because I am a pastor, or because I started a church, but because Jesus believed in it.

As evident in the scriptures, Jesus believed in the institutional religion of his day.

In the words of Tyler Staton, “For Jesus the church was never optional. Jesus was not anti-institutional. He regularly led his disciples and himself into the church of the first century which was the synagogue and temple…. [Jesus] immersed himself in the relationships at the temple, he went to the temple for prayer, and he added his own voice to the teaching of that temple.”

This is not to say the temple or synagogue of Jesus’ day was perfect. Far from it. Jesus and his disciples did not turn a blind eye to the corruption of the religious leaders or of the institution. They call it out.

Jesus does this in the temple courts when he turns over tables.

He does this with the Pharisees as they rebuke his disciples for gathering wheat during the Sabbath.

Jesus was likely accused of being mean, rude, and hostile towards the Pharisees and Jewish elite of the day.

But notice, despite all Jesus’ woes against the synagogue and temple leaders, he doesn’t boycott the temple and the synagogue in protest, he shows up. Jesus continues to believe in and participate in institutionalized religion.

Eugene Peterson writes, “Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, gathered disciples in Galilee, worshiped in synagogues, ate meals in Bethany, went to a wedding in Canna, told stories in Jericho, prayed in Gethsemane, led a parade down the mount of olives, taught in the Jerusalem temple, was killed on the hill Golgotha, and three days later had supper with Cleopas and his friend at Emmaus, we are not free to make up our own private spiritualities.”

CHALLENGE 2: CHURCH CONFLICT

Not only does Jesus participate in the institutional religion of his day, but he also participates in an intimate Christian community. Jesus gathered twelve people around him, individuals who bridged every socio-economic, ideological, and political line that existed in ancient Israel. He called blue collar workers, tax collectors and zealots to the same inner circle and said let’s do life together, let’s become a family.

And as beautiful as that is for us to look back on, those who actually got called by Jesus, those twelve disciples, had to work through real conflict to do so. It is clear from scripture that the twelve disciples of Jesus were not perfect, they seldom all agreed or got along, but they did have one thing in common: their pledge to follow Jesus.

And this leads us to challenge 2, church conflict. Many decide to leave a church because of conflict that arose between them or another person in the church, a leader, or a pastor.

And although there are definitely moments where we confront abusive leadership, injustice, challenge the treatment of people, or theology, there should also be a lot of moments of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the ability to agree to disagree. Jesus instructs his disciples in Matthew 7 to watch out for false prophets and teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing, while also giving them the Matthew 18 principle for conflict resolution and arbitration.

When we dive even deeper into a study of the early church, we don’t just see a utopia where everyone held things in common, gave to those in need, opened their homes, and worshiped together. We also see a lot of dysfunction. Just to name a few-

Segregation

Incest

False teaching

Cultural colonization

And ignoring the poor

We think the modern day church is unique in its dysfunction and conflict and the simple truth is that it is not.

After translating the bible into the paraphrase, The Message, Eugene Peterson wrote this: “The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches.”

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

And I guess my question for you today is, are you looking for a successful or perfect church? Are you looking for a church where no conflict arises and you are always in harmonious agreement with those around you? And if this answer is yes, I am sorry to disappoint you, but that is not this church, that is not any church.

The fruit of the Spirit or our spiritual growth is not grown abstractly but rooted among a people and a place.

We grow in love by being in proximity to our enemies or people who are less than loving to us.

We grow in patience by being around people for whom patience is a requirement of us.

We grow in self control by taming the anger, annoyance, and frustration caused by the people around us.

Maturity is born from difference, diversity, and dare I even say church conflict. Jesus knew this when gathering a very diverse group of people together, calling them his disciples, and instructing them to work together on behalf of his name.

The dark side of abandoning the church or trying to do the Jesus stuff alone is this: when you have no one around you that is shaping you toward Christ, Christ ends up looking exactly like you. And you know and I know, that is not a Christ that anyone wants to follow.

This is why Jesus, without the Church, does not exist on the pages of scripture.

Could it be that Jesus still knows what he is doing as he calls all different kinds of people- rich, poor, young, old, conservative, liberal, Black, White, Asian, Hispanic- into the real community of his church- one that is not idyllic, handpicked, or perfect- but one that shapes us?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says this:

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

And this leads us to our last challenge for today, complacency.

CHALLENGE 3: COMPLACENCY

We cannot be shaped by others, if we do not show up. It is that simple.

National church statistics for which this community accurately represents, state that people on average attend church 1.7 times a month.

And here is the problem with this: you cannot be shaped by other people, you cannot grow in the fruits of the spirit, in spiritual maturity by coming to church 12 or 20 times a year.

You cannot become a concert pianist if you only practice 12 times a year.

You cannot be a master rock climber if you only climb 12 times a year.

You cannot be a good parent if you rarely see your children.

You cannot be a good boss if you only talk to your employees 1-2 times a month.

You cannot experience transformation if you rarely show up. And look I get it, there are a lot of competing things out there that are so fun like the Chiefs, Sunday brunch, weekend trips, you fill in the blank. But at the end of your life, will they bear eternal significance? Will those things have shaped you into the person of Jesus Christ?

We cannot be shaped by others, if we do not show up. If we are complacent. If we think, oh I will go next week. Spiritual growth has to be the priority and it almost always happens in the presence of others.

There are a lot of challenges we face, but I I still believe the church of Jesus Christ is worth fighting for. This thing that is rooted in history, grounded in the saints, practiced for centuries, the place in which miraculous healings, one-eighties, families restored, forgiveness extended, community transformation, and love exists, I believe it’s worth it.

HOW DO WE DO CHURCH TOGETHER

So, if you call this church your home or if you would like to call this church your home, we want you to know what that means.

Throughout the scriptures, specifically in the New Testament, we see Jesus followers associated with familial language. To name a few-

Matthew 12:49-50 “And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, [Jesus] said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:49-50).

Romans 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection.”

Galatians 6:10 “let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Ephesians 2:19 “So, then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

A quick note on family. Some of us had the privilege of belonging to wonderful biological families and others of us, not so much. Some of us have more family than we want and others have little to no family at all.

And if your experience is the latter of both of these statements, I am so sorry. And I hope that despite the pain and trauma you may carry with you regarding family, we can become the biological family you always wanted, a family that may not be perfect, but a family shaped by Christ.

And thus, Christ’s vision for the church is that we would learn to look like Him together. This is family. This is the church.

And so, with that said, what does it mean to be a part of this family? To belong to this church? To do this thing together? There are 5 commitments that we ask each participant in this community to make.

Reveal the Kingdom of Jesus

This is the first step in committing to following Jesus together which is why Alex spent all last week explaining the kingdom of Jesus. If you were not here, I would encourage you to go back and listen to it on YouTube or the podcast.

In summary, the kingdom of Jesus is not simply declaring Jesus as the king of my heart but the king of my life and that vision to bring God’s kingdom to earth is the good news, the gospel.

It is an upside-down Kingdom, a new world order– under the leadership of Jesus. It is a Kingdom that we were made to be a part of.

As Dallas Willard puts it – "We are built to live in the kingdom of God. It is our natural habitat."

So the first step to committing to this church is revealing the kingdom or as Jesus puts it in Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Belong to a Microchurch

We often get asked why we can’t just call Microchurches small groups and let me assure you the word Microchurch is very intentional. Every week we gather around the bare essentials of church- prayer, scripture, and mission. And as we do this, we are making a theological distinction that yes, even this very ordinary gathering is a church.

We are convinced that praying with one another and reading the scriptures can change the ways in which we live, and can help us reveal the kingdom of Jesus in a more powerful way.

And the beautiful thing about microchurch is when we commit to gathering around those three things, community naturally happens. But unlike other groups you may have been a part of in the past, similarity or how well everyone gets along, is not the thing that binds microchurch. Rather the mandate Jesus has given us, to be the church, to prayer, scripture, and mission, is the thing that binds and sustains us.

So just like the disciples, we may be a messy bunch of people with varying beliefs and backgrounds, but we come together time and time again, in the midst of laughter and of conflict, to shape one another.

So here is my encouragement to you today…

If you are not a part of a microchurch, consider joining one. The best place to start would be attending our newcomer lunch after church today or filling out the interest form on our website.

If you are already in a microchurch, re-evaluate and commit to being part of that community for it is practically impossible to be intentionally shaped by a community if you don’t regularly show up. So here is what we would ask of every microchurch member:

Regularly attend unless you’re out of town, sick, or there is an unforeseen, unavoidable circumstance outside of your control.

Give your wonderful mirochurch leader a 24 hours notice for any absence.

Actively participate: help with the meal, hosting, and clean up. Add to the conversation, prayer, and discussion.

Lead a microchurch. We need more microchurch leaders who are willing to open their homes and hearts to pastoring people. Alex and I would be fools if we thought we could intentionally pastor more than 20 people which is why we need people to share the load by caring, loving, and serving those around you. If you are interested in this, talk with your current microchurch leader or one of our pastoral team members.

Gather on Sunday

As much as we love and value microchurch, we still believe in the value of the Sunday rhythm. There is something about

gathering together,

letting the voices of those around you carry you,

hearing the stories of the people of God,

of being reminded of the teachings of Jesus,

of being challenged to commit to a spiritual practice every week,

of confessing with one another and

taking communion with one another that forms us and shapes us to be the sent people of God.

And thus, we invite you to prioritize this as a rhythm- we know life happens and you travel, believe me we want you to take intentional time away, to take care of your family. But, we ask that when you are in KC, you make this a committed rhythm because we really believe that showing up, shapes us.

The great missionary and Nobel Laureate Albert Schwitzer reportedly said, “Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan.”

And thus, would you prioritize gathering with us on Sunday?

Serve

Jesus’ teachings and the depictions of the early church in the New Testament are filled with instruction to us regarding service. To name a few…

Mark 10:44-45 says, “And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”

Galatians 5:13-14 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus and his disciples instructed in and demonstrated service to one another and to those in need. Thus, it is our desire to reclaim the full breath of the word service to include both those two things: serving one another and the community of Kansas City.

Serve one another on a Sunday. At Midtown Church, we desire to be a place where many do a few things instead of the few doing many.

However, for many of you, based on previous church experience, serving on a Sunday has equated to unsustainable practice. One that has come at a spiritual and relational loss.

With that in mind, here is our commitment to you. We promise to create an intentional but paired back Sunday gathering that is not unduly arduous or time consuming. We also promise to care more about you as a person than what you can do for church.

So, here is my request: please consider serving one another 1-2 times a month, to say I am going to contribute to serving this community of Jesus followers on a regular basis. Signups are available on our website.

Serve the community throughout the week. Service should always extend much farther and wider than these four walls to the people of Midtown and to Kansas City. At Midtown Church, we want to shift from a praxis that says only certain people or ministries are called to serve and love the poor, oppressed, and marginalized to a praxis that says all are called. Jesus’ teachings are pretty clear that serving the marginalized is a Gospel mandate.

And although this is a learned heart posture, we create monthly opportunities to serve our community and learn to love even the most vulnerable.

Past Serve days include…

An Agape Pamoja work day in which work on a house for a Congolese immigrant family in Kansas City.

An easter brunch at Synergy for at-risk teens.

The Juneteenth block party hosted by the Hope Center.

Teacher support and mentoring opportunities at Central High School, a local KCPS school just down the road.

So, if you are not regularly engaging in work where you are caring for and serving the poor, oppressed and marginalized, consider coming to our monthly serve days. Signups are online.

Be Generous.

We are a descendants of an ancient church that has historically practiced a 10% tithe. And as a participant in this community we ask that you work toward that 10%. Alex and I will never ask you to do something we do not do ourselves. We practice 10% and beyond in our personal finances.

So if you have never given before, 1% is a great place to start. If you have been giving 10% regularly for a long time, maybe it is time to consider going above and beyond.

I am fully aware that this is the stickiest thing to ask for in the 21st century and that it sounds extremely self-serving coming from a pastor whose salary is funded by your generosity. I am also aware that there is a lot of mistrust regarding finances and the church

But I am also fully committed to practicing, living, and instructing in the life of Jesus. And when you read the scriptures, there is no doubt that Jesus calls us to radical generosity, above and beyond even the 10% required in Jesus’ day. This is why Jesus commends the widow for her offering in Mark 12:41-44. It says,

“41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

This is why we pray our generosity prayer every week as we work to shape our hearts and minds toward the person of Jesus and not the idol of money. As we work to be more like the poor widow than the rich people in this story.

My invitation today is that you follow Jesus' call to live a radically generous life by just starting somewhere. Start with something, and continue working up to more significant measures of generosity.

Brief side note- we are on track to give $40,000 this year to church planting, missionaries, and community needs which is INCREDIBLE for a church of about 150. Thank you for your generosity as this deserves CELEBRATION!

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Worship team if you would join me.

In life I have learned that all great offers have unintended consequences. And the unintended consequence of following Jesus is that we have to do it with other people, we have to do it together.

I cannot promise you that this community will be perfect, in fact I can promise you that it will be messy. Alex and I will fail you, one of our leaders will fail you, you will experience conflict with others, you will not like everyone, and sometimes you just won’t have the energy for it.

BUT I can promise you that if you commit to revealing Jesus’ kingdom, belonging to a microchurch, gathering on Sunday, serving one another and KC, and to generosity, we will shape one another more towards the person of Christ every day.

Here is how Alex and I see these 5 commitments shaping us:

Running home to clean our house, getting something on the stove for dinner, and hosting people for a microchurch after a long Wednesday, sounds exhausting. BUT there has never been a microchurch where everyone has left, and we have regretted it. We always walk away refreshed, with tired bodies, but full hearts.

Getting to church at 8:00am on a Sunday is not my preferred sleeping schedule. BUT the moment you get here, I am filled with joy and reminded that I am not doing this life alone.

Spending a Saturday morning working on an Agape Pamoja house and getting dirty beyond recognition, is not easy. BUT the families it has changed and the friendships that have formed, make it all worth it.

The way Alex and I manage our finances does not make sense to most, we have given up the dream of the nicest car, the biggest house, and the vacation every month. BUT it challenges the idol of money that so often grips my heart and provides for someone in need.

Today, my offer is to join this community knowing full well that together does not mean perfect but it does mean transformation.

So if you are new today, there is absolutely no pressure to sign a dotted line. But if this vision compelled you, we would love for you to come and learn more at our newcomers lunch immediately following service today. And if not, we have some great church communities we can recommend as you search for a church family.

For those who have been a part of Midtown for a few months or a few years, I think it is easy to walk away from a teaching like this with guilt or condemnation. And although this is not my intended purpose, I do think this message will be a challenge to some of you to re-evaluate your commitment.

If you’re just looking for a good place to spend 90 minutes on Sunday, with friendly people, decent coffee— you are so welcome. There is no condemnation, no judgment.

But here is my warning to you- you will not discover the Church as Family that Jesus talks about with a half-hearted commitment. You will not discover the depths of rich relationship or the treasure that is life together. Observing a community by attending every month or so is not the same as being deeply committed to one another and the vision Jesus has for his people.

I want a community that knows the contours of my life because they’ve been close enough to observe it.

I want a community that has known suffering and victory with me. I want friendships that feel more like family,

that break into my refrigerator, sleep on my couch, and ask if I can take them to the airport at 6am.

I want a community that challenges me to follow Jesus more wholeheartedly, more sacrificially, and more faithfully.

This is the type of community I want. But I can’t want it for you. Our pastors can’t want it for you, our leadership team can’t want it for you. You have to make the commitment- you have to want it because Jesus wants it for you.

This teaching is an invitation to examine your commitment to Jesus’ church and this family and ask the question, Jesus, what step do I need to take as I reveal the kingdom of Jesus with others?

Corbin White 9/17/23 Corbin White 9/17/23

Revealing the Kingdom 23

Defining the Gospel

Four common definitions of the Gospel in American Christianity.

Gospel of Prosperity
Gospel of Evangelicalism
Gospel of Church Attendance
Gospel of Social Justice

The best place to begin is with the gospel Jesus preached.

Scot Mcknight says, If we don’t start with the Gospel Jesus preached, we may very well end up with a Gospel Jesus did not preach.

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” – Luke 4:43 (ESV)

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)

When Jesus preached the gospel, he preached of the Kingdom of God breaking into our reality.

The Kingdom of God throughout the biblical narrative:

Creation: A Kingdom Established.
Fall: A Kingdom Challenged.
Redemption: A Kingdom Revealed.
New Creation: A Kingdom Reigning.

The Kingdom Established at Creation

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:26-27

This is the work God has given humans to do.

“[work ] is rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular, thrive and flourish.” – Tim Keller

At Creation, humanity was given the delegated authority to create the culture of God’s Kingdom.

The Kingdom Challenged in the Fall.

"Did God actually say– ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1

God’s kingdom was and continues to be challenged by three forces; (1)Satan, (2)human sin, and (3) death.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” – 1 Jn 3:8–9.

Satan, an evil being hellbent on building his own kingdom. One who tricks humanity out of our delegated authority and responsibility to create culture.

“…the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. “ –1 Jn 5:19.

“Nobody believed he was real. . . . That was his power. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”—Keyser Söze

Satan’s aim is to take God’s authority from us; to create his own world and a people in his image.

Sin is our disordered desires passed down from generation to generation that become the weapons by which we harm ourselves and one another.

“[Sin ] is an unwillingness to trust that what God wants is our deepest happiness.” –Saint Ignatius

The biblical narrative suggests that every human, apart from Jesus Christ, has a rebellious instinct that consciously and unconsciously guides us.

The result of our pitiful insurrection is antilife, decreation; and death.

Our original task was to cultivate a world in such a way life flourishes, but humans have rejected that task opting to order the world in such a way death abounds.

Death is the final challenge to the Kingdom of God because it is the antithesis of the Paradise God imagined.

A Kingdom Revealed in Redemption

“...and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” –Daniel 7:13–14.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15.

Jesus’ interest is in restoring an ancient Kingdom– one marked by a plurality of royal sons and daughters, who cultivate the earth and walk in the cool of the day with their God.

“And [Jesus] was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And [Jesus] was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”–Mark 1:13.

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

The Gospel is the news that our true King has returned.

The Gospel is the announcement of something that has happened in Jesus, but it is also the announcement that is soon to come.

This is a theological theory known as Inaugurated Eschatology.

The Kingdom of has been started by Jesus but it hasn’t fully been realized.

A historical analogy to help us understand Inaugurated Eschatology is Juneteenth.

The Kingdom Come in New Creation.

Our God started his Kingdom in a Garden with collaborators he called humans, and he will complete his Kingdom in a garden city with collaborators, he calls sons and daughters.

"We are built to live in the kingdom of God. It is our natural habitat." – Dallas Willard

“Repent and Believe”.

Repentance as is used by Jesus is an invitation to ‘rethink everything.”

“When we see ourselves in the light of Jesus’ type of kingdom, and realize the extent to which we have been living by a different code altogether, we realize, perhaps for the first time, how far we have fallen short of what we were made to be. This realization is what we call ‘repentance’, a serious turning away from patterns of life which deface and distort our genuine humanness. It isn’t just a matter of feeling sorry for particular failings, though that will often be true as well. It is the recognition that the living God has made us humans to reflect his image into his world, and that we haven’t done so.” –Tom Wright

Belief in Christ is an act of allegiance; an allegiance that may lead us to do strange things to this culture for the sake of the Kingdom.

Corbin White 9/10/23 Corbin White 9/10/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Prophets

In a world that is confusing, disorienting, and complicated we need luminaries to show us the way. We need those who have explored the reservoirs of human knowledge and found a way to the good life. In the days of Moses, these luminaries were called “Prophets”.

The Prophets

In the biblical literature, the prophets of the Old Testament constitute 17 different books – Isaiah through Malachi.

Moses said to GOD, “Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, ‘Give us meat; we want meat.’ I can’t do this by myself—it’s too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I’ve seen enough; I’ve had enough. Let me out of here.” – Numbers 11:11–15 (Message Paraphrase)

God says he will fill 70 elders with his Spirit, and they will share the burden of leadership with Moses.

24 And [Moses] gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. – Numbers 11:24-25

The simplest definition for a prophet is “a messenger from God.”

Three characteristics of true prophets

1. True prophets of God depend on the Spirit of God, not their own charisma.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” –Zechariah 4:6.

2. Second, true Prophets are compelled to speak the truth.

“I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times….” 13 ‘If [the King] should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’?”–Numbers 24:12–14.

True Prophets moved by the Spirit are compelled to speak the truth, regardless of the consequences.

“[Know] this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” –2 Peter 1:20–21.

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! – Psalm 119:10–12

3. True Prophets have the Courage to Stand for Justice

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” – Luke 4:18-19

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” – Acts 2:44-45

“Justice [in the Christian tradition] is learning to live out what God has done in Christ amongst ourselves first. And in living out this justice in this community, it becomes possible to share this justice with the world.” – David French

Justice is the shape of the Christian community.

“We believe firmly in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. I can see no conflict between our devotion to Jesus Christ and our present action. In fact, I can see a necessary relationship. If one is truly devoted to the religion of Jesus he will seek to rid the earth of social evils. The gospel is social as well as personal."– Martin Luther King Jr.

26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” –Numbers 11:24–28.

Joshua’s Concern: False Prophets

It is dangerous to follow a false prophet.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” –Matthew 7:15–20.

1. A false prophet lacks personal integrity.

“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character.” –Matthew 7:15 (The Message)

False prophets have charisma but lack character.

2. A false prophet lacks Moral Courage.

“We cannot reinvent a Christianity that fits nicely on the ‘coexist’ bumper sticker, avoiding the disgrace and shame of the cross for a respectable religion that bows to the idols of our day: consumerism and sexual autonomy. This manipulation strategy relies on using biblical words in anti-biblical ways. It shares with biblical Christianity the same vocabulary, but not the same dictionary.” ~ Rosaria Butterfield

Moses’ Dream: A Prophetic People

29 “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”–Numbers 11:29.

“will pour out [his] Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” – Joel 2:28–29.

There is a Tension between Joshua’s Concern and Moses’ Dream.

We must be able to discern between the true and false prophets.

“19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.”– 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21.

Test everything.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”–1 John 4:1–3

Is this person’s teaching and life moving me toward greater obedience to Jesus?

Learn to trust God enough, to trust others.

Are you willing to let God use another person in your life?

Test everything, but also hold fast to what is good– that we might learn to hear the voice of God in surprising places. That we might be a people radically open to God.

Corbin White 9/9/23 Corbin White 9/9/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Numbers 11

The Prophets
In the biblical literature, the prophets of the Old Testament constitute 17 different books – Isaiah through Malachi.

“Moses said to GOD, “Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, ‘Give us meat; we want meat.’ I can’t do this by myself—it’s too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I’ve seen enough; I’ve had enough. Let me out of here.” – Numbers 11:11–15 (Message Paraphrase)

God says he will fill 70 elders with his Spirit, and they will share the burden of leadership with Moses.

The simplest definition for a prophet is “a messenger from God.”

Three characteristics of true prophets

1. True prophets of God depend on the Spirit of God, not their own charisma.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” –Zechariah 4:6.

2. Second, true Prophets are compelled to speak the truth.

3. True Prophets have the Courage to Stand for Justice

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” – Luke 4:18-19

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” – Acts 2:44-45

Justice is the shape of the Christian community.

“26 Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” –Numbers 11:24–28.

Joshua’s Concern: False Prophets
It is dangerous to follow a false prophet.

1. A false prophet lacks personal integrity.

False prophets have charisma but lack character.

2. A false prophet lacks Moral Courage.

Moses’ Dream: A Prophetic People

29 “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”–Numbers 11:29.

There is a Tension between Joshua’s Concern and Moses’ Dream.

We must be able to discern between the true and false prophets.

“19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.”– 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21.

1.Test everything.

Is this person’s teaching and life moving me toward greater obedience to Jesus?

2.Learn to trust God enough, to trust others.

Are you willing to let God use another person in your life?

Test everything, but also hold fast to what is good– that we might learn to hear the voice of God in surprising places. That we might be a people radically open to God.

Corbin White 9/3/23 Corbin White 9/3/23

Come, Holy Spirit-1 Samuel 16

“Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins

“I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem’s room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer than 7% of Americans polled in 2012 had read a work of poetry at least once in the past year.

“Poems are comprised of everyday material expertly arranged in ways that require a reader’s time and reflection. But the reward is great: a memorable insight into our humanity, a line that perfectly encapsulates a moment or a truth we want to remember, an experience with language that provokes new ideas and deeper understanding.” –Jen Benka

“The Christian gospel is rooted in language: God spoke a creation into being; our Savior was the Word made flesh. The poet is the person who uses words not primarily to convey information but to make a relationship, shape beauty, [and] form truth…” – Eugene Peterson

“Then the Lord said [to Samuel], “Rise and anoint [David]; this is the one. So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.” – 1 Samuel 16:12b-13 (ESV)

“The Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life.” – 1 Samuel 16:13 (The Message)

The first person anointed with oil in the Old Testament.
There are three kinds of people in the Old Testament who were anointed with oil- priests, kings, and prophets. The first person to be anointed is the first priest in Israelite history- Moses’ brother, Aaron.

The recipe for anointing oil is actually included in the Exodus account- Exodus 30:23-24. It has two main components-

Fragrant spices like cinnamon and myrrh
Olive oil

Anointing oil symbolizes a combination of liquid life and the smell of the perfect garden.

The Genesis account.

“[B]ut streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” – Genesis 2:6-7

Adam is the first anointed one brought about by liquid Spirit.

Humanity was created by God’s liquid Spirit, to bridge the gap between sky and land, heaven and earth, to be God’s image bearers or representatives to all of creation.

David as the anointed one.
David's story is the fullest story of anointing in the Old Testament.

David is unique in that he is the first person since the fall of creation to be given both liquid and Spirit at the same time. And although David messes up time and time again, he is the best example of what it looks like to repent and continue to seek the guidance of the Spirit even unto death.

Sufferer & Victor

David is so closely associated with the anointed one or God’s liquid Spirit; on his best day, he is a picture of the new Adam, the suffering servant, the anointed one that we eventually and fully see in the person of Jesus.

Jesus is the true anointed one.

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare[c] the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins…In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” – Mark 1:1-4,9-11

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” – Luke 4:18-19

In the History of Israel, we see God’s liquid Spirit, His anointing rest on the person of David. And David foreshadows the true anointed one, Jesus the Christ.

The anointed ones.

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” – John 20:21-22

You are now an anointed one bringing God’s spirit to earth through both suffering and victory.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” – 1 Peter 4:12-13.

Reflect on Your Identity as an Anointed One.
To be God’s anointed ones- those who bring the heavenly realms to land, who manifest God’s Spirit here on earth and change the world around us, we must understand our identity as such.

We are invited to reflect on, ponder, and to consider our identity as the anointed ones.

Corbin White 8/27/23 Corbin White 8/27/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Exodus 35

“[I]n the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” – David Foster Wallace

Workism is the belief that our job is not just for economic production or personal provision, but that a job can be – should be– the center of our identity.

“People … told me over and over that their careers are “spiritual journeys” and their work is a “calling.” Many said they had become more spiritual, whole and connected after working in tech. Their workplaces were communities where they found belonging, meaning, and purpose…But as I discovered during my research, the gospel of work is thin gruel, an ethically empty solution to meet our essential need for belonging and meaning. And it is starving us as individuals and communities.”– Carolyn Chen

“Our desks were never meant to be our altars.”– Derek Thompson

Set against this culture stands the biblical vision of work not as an identity, but as a collaboration with the Spirit of God.

“See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri” son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah – Exodus 35:30

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” –Genesis 2:15

“[Work] is rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular, thrive and flourish.” – Tim Keller

A Theology of Vocation
In workism, our day job becomes the means by which we produce an identity. In the Christian vocation, our identity is first rooted in being image-bearers, and our work, whether paid or unpaid, becomes how we can explore that identity.

All people are called to follow Jesus.
We are called to recognize our work as an act of discipleship.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” –Colossians 3:23-24
“The Church’s approach to an intelligent carpenter is usually confined to exhorting him not to be drunk and disorderly in his leisure hours, and to come to church on Sundays. What the Church should be telling him is this: that the very first demand that his religion makes upon him is that he should make good tables.” -Dorothy Sayers, “Why Work?”
We are all called to work for the good of all and the glory of God.

Filled with the Spirit: Collaboration with God.
Based on the example of the text to be “filled with the Spirit” is to be given access to divine resources.

“[God] has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship… and 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.” –Exodus 35:31,35.

They’ve honed their craft, but this passage suggests that the creating Spirit is furthering their natural ability.

Glory in their Midst.

In chapter 40, with the closing verses of Exodus, we are told about the product of Bezalel and Oholiab’s labor–

“… the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 36 Throughout all [Israel’s] journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” –Exodus 40:34–38.

The product of Bezalel and Oholiab’s work is a meeting space for God and humanity

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt [he pitched a tent] among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. –John 1:14.

The final two chapters of our bible, reimagine that garden transformed into a garden-like city.

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” – Revelation 21:2–3.

“What you do in the present—by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself—will last into God’s future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly, a little more bearable, until the day when we leave it behind altogether. They are part of what we may call building for God’s kingdom.” – NT Wright, Suprised by Hope

Spiritual Practice

Eugene Peterson puts it best when he says the primary location for spiritual formation is in the workplace (Living the Resurrection).

To practice the Jewish concept of Kavanah is to cultivate to holy intention: to bring the whole of yourself– mind, body, heart, and soul– to an activity as an act of worship to God.

May our simple practice be to repurpose a just few tasks this week as opportunities to invite the Spirit to work with us.

Corbin White 8/20/23 Corbin White 8/20/23

Come, Holy Spirit- Creation

Scripture

In the beginning, God created the heavens [better translation here is sky] and the earth [better translation here is land]. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Ge 1:1-3

When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. Ge 2:5–8.

“Come, Holy Spirit” Series Objectives

Moving Beyond Information

Ordinary Encounters

Radical Openness to God

Do the Jesus Stuff

“[Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.” – Matthew 4:23-24

You cannot escape the presence of God, for he is in your very breath.

Genesis Disclaimer: Genesis was not designed to be a scientific or abstract statement about the origins of the universe. Rather it is a theological and pastoral statement. Genesis reminds its readers that if God created the world, if he sustains the world, He can be trusted.

Part 1: The Spirit Defined

Part 2: The Spirit Creating and Sustaining

“And God said…” Ge 1:3a

“When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” Ge 2:5–8.

If it were [God’s] intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust. -Job 34:14-15

Where can I go from your presence, where can I flee from your Spirit? -Psalm 139:7

“God is everywhere present through his Spirit in the whole of creation. You can never get lost from God.” - Christopher Wright

You cannot escape the presence of God, for he is in your very breath.

PART 3: Lingering Questions

Question 1: If God’s breath is in all of creation, should we worship nature or even ourselves?

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. -Romans 11:36

Question 2: If God’s breath is sustaining and creating all of life, why are there natural disasters, invasive species, extinct species, global warming, disease, cancer, chronic illness, etc.

Question 3: If God’s Spirit is our very breath, why do we stop breathing? Or in other words, why do we die?

“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” -Job 1:21

“and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” -Ecclesiastes 12:7

“The paradox of the relationship between the Spirit of God and human life on earth in the Old Testament is this. On the one hand we have the breath of life—i.e. physical life, the gift of God, which we share with all other living creatures on the planet. But on the other hand we are spiritually dead in our rebellion against God and destined to die in the end when that life-giving Spirit leaves—as destined to die physically as we are already dead spiritually- breathing and leaving…Life and breath are the gift of God’s Spirit. But when the Spirit leaves, breathing stops and our mortality asserts itself.” - Christopher Wright

Spiritual Practice

As I inhale, I pray, “Come Holy Spirit.”

As I exhale, I pray, “I receive your wisdom.”

Come, Holy Spirit, I receive your strength.

Come, Holy Spirit, I receive your love.

Come, Holy Spirit. I receive the fullness of God.

Corbin White 8/6/23 Corbin White 8/6/23

Zechariah

“Waiting for you is like waiting for rain in this drought, useless and disappointing.” - A Cinderella Story

Like Israel we are left asking: How and why we can continue to have faith?

What is faith?

Mental affirmation is only the beginning of Faith, It ends with obedient action, or “Enacted Loyalty” - Salvation by Allegiance by Matthew Bates

“Faith is the substance, or reality, of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.” - Heb 11:1

Allegiance communicates who & what we are loyal to and obey.

Zechariah directs the people of Israel toward a Spirit-empowered Faith

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” -James 4:7-8

God’s promise is consistent that when his people repent and turn toward Him, He is faithful to draw near to them.

Bible Project Resource: https://bibleproject.com/view-resource/246/

Zechariah 3 & 4 offer us a vision of (1) the why of our faith and (2) the how of our faith.

Zechariah 3: Vision about High Priest, Joshua

Role of High Priest:

Act as representative and mediator

Responsible for enforcing the covenant & directing the hearts of the people.

Jesus is our new High Priest; Jesus is WHY we can have faith

“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

Doubt isn’t decreased faith, its matured faith

Studies have shown that for every 1 negative experience, you need 3 positive ones.

Give God the chance to give you 3 positive moments.

Faith begins with engaging your mind and ends with actions.

Zechariah 4: Vision about Governor, Zerubbabel

“Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit Says the Lord” - Zech 4:6

God is the source of Zerubbabel’s authority and power.

“Only if his Spirit governs every detail can service be glorifying to him.” -Scholar Joyce G. Baldwin

Spirit Empowerment is HOW we have faith.

“Obedience is about living in the present as if the future has already arrived. It’s not blind faith you’re doing it because you can point back to the resurrection of the risen Jesus.” - Theologian Tim Mackey

Faith is a leap but it’s not blind.

“...real biblical faith is not a general positive mindset or a blind optimism but is directed toward a defined object—and it is the trustworthiness of the object that sources and fixes faith’s genuineness. So if we want to grow in faith, we should study and contemplate God’s extraordinary reliability.” -Author Matthew Bates

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Encourage your soul with stories of FAITH
Posture yourself to receive
Love God & Love your Neighbor

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30

BE THE MOST INTERESTED PERSON IN THE ROOM!

Corbin White 7/30/23 Corbin White 7/30/23

Haggai

Timeline:

Haggai is one of the three minor prophets which prophesied post-exile, the other two are Zechariah and Malachi
The book was written in 520 B.C. which was 70 years after being exiled.
And because the Babylonian empire recently collapsed, the Persians were ruling and they allowed the return of a small group of Israelites to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, temple, and their lives.
The return back to Jerusalem was led by the High Priest Joshua the Son of Jozadak and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel the governor.
The returning people experienced extreme opposition and hardship building the temple which caused them to delay the rebuilding of God’s temple for nearly 20 years.
Haggai delivers a message of hope to the Israelite people and tells them their work will be blessed, God will rebuild a new Jerusalem, and His spirit will be in their midst.

4 Main Sections of the Book of Haggai:

Misplaced Priorities
Missed Expectations
A Call to Covenant Faithfulness
Future Kingdom

Together, we will journey through how God’s presence is revealed in each of these sections as well as in our own stories as God’s covenant people. In the book of Haggai, God is addressing two groups of people: the Distracted and the Discouraged.

1. Misplaced Priorities – Haggai 1:2-10

Haggai asks God’s people to consider what direction their lives were heading and if they really wanted it to continue that way. The Israelites were constructing their entire lives around the throne of Self instead of God’s Kingdom thus allowing their distractions to paralyze their obedience.

2. Missed Expectations – Haggai 2:1-9

The temple was destroyed nearly 70 years earlier and the Israelites knew this new temple was not going to compare in any shape or form to Solomon’s temple. This knowledge brought extreme sadness, comparison, and ultimately paralyzed them from obeying.

However, God pursues the discouraged and the distracted through Haggai reminding them God's presence will be in their midst to complete the work, to help them return their presence back to the neglected areas of their hearts, and to trust His plan.

3. A Call to Covenant Faithfulness – Haggai 2:10-19

God is giving an analogy of ritual holiness and uncleanness to force the priests to think about the spiritual status of the people. God is telling the people he not only cares about HOW they rebuild the temple but He also really cares about the priorities of their hearts.

4. A Future Kingdom – Haggai 2:20-22

God is preparing the people of God to live in His kingdom. As His people, we are asked to stop building our own castles, repent, and to be co-laborers in God’s kingdom reality. Our presence to God in our own realities plays a huge part as He works to restore the earth. God is too real to be met anywhere other than reality.

Spiritual Practices:

Take time this week and reflect on your priorities - have they brought you closer to God or farther away?
Take some space to honestly ask yourself if you trust God with your attention. Process this with a trusted friend or pastor.
Practice bringing your attention to God and seek what He is wanting to rebuild in your life.
Where do you need to be reminded of God’s presence?

Corbin White 7/23/23 Corbin White 7/23/23

Zephaniah

Zephaniah: Correction, Love, and Restoration

Timeline:

Zephaniah was the Great-Great Grandson of King Hezekiah

He would have the third most royal blood in his veins behind King David and Solomon.

Final decades of the southern kingdom (see 2 Kings 22-23)

Northern Kingdom is Samaria

Southern Kingdom is Judah

King Josiah wanted to bring real change to the land by removing idols and worshiping God alone.

Israel was too far gone and King Josiah’s pride led him to die a tragic death on the battlefield. (see 2 Chron. 35: 20-25)

Zephaniah saw all of this coming.

Three Main Parts of Zephaniah:

Judgment on Jerusalem (1-2:3)
Judgment on Other Nations and Jerusalem Again… (2:4-3:8)
Hope for the Nations and Jerusalem (3:9-20)

Judgment on Jerusalem

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.

“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord. Zephaniah 1:2-3

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:3-4

“Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.” Zephaniah 2:1-3

Even if there is chaos, destruction, and death around, be faithful because God is faithful. He will never leave or abandon you.

Judgment on Other Nations and Jerusalem Again… (2:4-3:8)

For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. Zephaniah 2:4-5

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

‘“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.” Zephaniah 3:8

Let our love for God match our character and actions in our home, our neighborhood, and place of work.

Hope for the Nations and Jerusalem (3:9-20)

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:17-20

Zephaniah contains very intense images of God's correction and Love.

Correction: A passion to rescue his world from human evil and violence.

He brings this correction to restore. In order to create a world where everyone can flourish in safety and peace because of his love.

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5

“While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Spiritual Practice:

Are you living separated from God?

Does God recognize you?

Accept his Correction, Love and restoration.

Make disciples.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Corbin White 7/16/23 Corbin White 7/16/23

Habakkuk

HABAKKUK & GOD

Habakkauk’s Complaint: Violence of Judah

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.” - Habakkuk‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God’s Response: Unbelievable Work

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” - Habakkuk‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint: Violence of Babylon

“Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?“ - Habakkuk‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV

“I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” - ‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God’s Second Response: Unshakeable Faith

“And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” - Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Babylon’s 5 Woe’s

1 & 2: Unjust Economics

3: Slave Labor

4: Abuse of Alcohol by Irresponsible Leaders

5: Idolatry

Spiritual Practice:

One: Set Your Eyes on What God Has Done

“O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” - Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV

Two: Find Joy in What God is Going to Do

« Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” - Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Corbin White 7/9/23 Corbin White 7/9/23

Nahum

Nahum 1 :

The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance

and is fierce in wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;

He is furious with His enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.

His path is in the whirlwind and storm,

and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,

and He makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither;

even the flower of Lebanon withers.

The mountains quake before Him,

and the hills melt;

the earth trembles at His presence –

the world and all who live in it.

Who can withstand His indignation?

Who can endure His burning anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire,

even rocks are shattered before Him.

The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

He cares for those who take refuge in Him.

But He will completely destroy Nineveh

with an overwhelming flood

and He will chase His enemies into darkness.

Whatever you plot against the Lord,

He will bring it to complete destruction;

oppression will not rise up a second time.

For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry.

One has gone out from you,

who plots evil against Yahweh,

and is a wicked counselor.

This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong and numerous,

they will still be mowed down,

and he will pass away.

Though I have afflicted you,

I will afflict you no longer.

For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name.

I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image

from the house of your gods;

I will prepare your grave,

for you are contemptible.

Look to the mountains –

the feet of one bringing good news

and proclaiming peace!

Celebrate your festivals, Judah;

fulfill your vows.

For the wicked one will never again

march through you;

he will be entirely wiped out.

Nahum’s 3 Chapters:

Nahum is comprised of three short chapters, and each chapter serves a purpose.

Chapter 1: A Message of Deliverance
Chapter 2: The Fall of Nineveh
Chapter 3: A Woe Oracle

When we look at the book of Nahum we realize that there isn’t just one audience, but two.

This is a message of hope and deliverance for the people of God.

Three reasons the people of God would struggle with believing a message of deliverance from the Ninevites:

Power
Extreme Brutality
History

God is bringing forth the promise that although his people have been afflicted, he is going to bring relief. He is going to show himself as the comforter to his people.

Nahum 3:1-7:

Woe to the city of blood

totally deceitful,

full of plunder,

never without prey.

The crack of the whip

and rumble of the wheel,

galloping horse

and jolting chariot!

Charging horseman,

flashing sword,

shining spear;

heaps of slain,

mounds of corpses,

dead bodies without end –

they stumble over their dead.

Because of the continual prostitution of the prostitute,

the attractive mistress of sorcery,

who betrays nations by her prostitution

and clans by her witchcraft

I am against you.

This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts

I will lift your skirts over your face

and display your nakedness to nations,

your shame to kingdoms.

I will throw filth on you

and treat you with contempt;

I will make a spectacle of you.

Then all who see you will recoil from you, saying,

“Nineveh is devastated;

who will show sympathy to her?”

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?

God is slow to anger, abounding in grace. But he will not let injustice and evil reign forever.

Nahum's prophetic message is that God is faithful in the midst of the brokenness.

God does not negate our experience just because he knows the ending, because he knows what it feels like to walk through the valley of death.

Psalm 34:15-22:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears are open to their cry for help.

The face of the Lord is set

against those who do what is evil

to erase all memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

and delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted;

He saves those crushed in spirit.

Many adversities come to the one who is righteous,

but the Lord delivers him from them all.

He protects all his bones;

not one of them is broken.

Evil brings death to the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

The Lord redeems the life of His servants,

and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE:

Experiencing Brokenness

Instead of withdrawing and isolating ourselves, lean in.
Instead of being hardened by our pain, be vulnerable.
Instead of being skeptical, be reminded.
Instead of running away, make space.

Being People Who Walk with Others Through Brokenness

Be present.
Listen with love.
Weep with those who weep.
Carry each other’s burdens.

Corbin White 6/25/23 Corbin White 6/25/23

Micah

Three Things to Remember:

A prophet is a messenger sent by God to call the People of God back to covenantal or relational faithfulness.
The Old Testament Covenant was an agreement between God and Israel. When a covenant is broken, the relationship is broken, and there is fallout from the broken relationship.
God does not just leave the people in their brokenness. He works to restore his relationship with them, the covenant through the prophets.

Image bearers have power that is meant for the flourishing of others, to be shared in community through justice, mercy, and humility.

Micah 6:8 “ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Idols of Judah:

Idol of Money

God cares about what we think about money, and how we steward it.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:7

Idol of Power (Resource: Playing God by Andy Crouch)

Power can be bolstered by a multitude of things.
- Privilege:
- It’s the responsibility of the privileged one to determine how their power will be stewarded
- “The exercise of true power always involves us in risk and requires creaturely dependence on God and other people.” - Andy Crouch
- Authority
- Hidden habits and hidden loves corrupt souls until they overpower us and lead to injustices

Idol of Pride

Pride can be summed as the idol of self.
Self-sufficiency is a lack of humble submission to God

Biblical Power

Biblical power is meant for creating space for thriving, collaboration, reconciliation, relationships, and multiplication of power.
God’s desire is for image bearers to practice their authority in a way that embodies the commitment to giving of yourself to God and giving of your power to and for others.

“Power is nothing without Love and Love without power is less than what it was meant to be.” - Andy Crouch

Acting justly is a lifestyle. When we love mercy, acts of justice will follow.

“True power that multiplies is on the other side of the choice to empty ourselves of power.” - Andy Crouch

Three Actions to Help Us Reclaim the Gift of Power:

1 Abide with the Lord

Resource: Invitation to a Journey by Robert Mulholland

2 Be Interruptible

Add one solitary discipline to your rhythm

3 Silence, Solitude, Fasting

*Disclaimer: if you’ve ever suffered from an eating disorder or live with a diagnosed medical condition, you should consult a doctor, therapist, or pastor prior to fasting.*

Corbin White 6/18/23 Corbin White 6/18/23

Jonah

Context:

No other book like this one in all of scripture. Jonah starts off similar to the other Minor Prophets but is actually about the prophet himself.

One of the few minor prophets of which we do not know who the author is, the other being Malachi.

A prophet is simply a messenger of the Lord to call the People of God back to covenant faith.

Theologians have two schools of thought when it comes to Jonah:

Historic Story
A Parable using real people. Jonah was mentioned in 2 Kings as a prophet that prophesied that Israel will expand its borders. Jesus also mentions Jonah displaying similarities of Jonah being in the belly of a fish for three days and himself being in the tomb for 3 days.

Jonah’s behavior is dramatic yet we can act like Jonah often. You will find that Jonah is really a story that is aimed at us, God’s believers.

Narrative:

Jonah 1:

Jonah means ‘Dove’. Amittai means ‘Faithfulness’. So Jonah begins with the line, “Now the word of the Lord came to Dove son of Faithfulness. This is ironic, as Jonah is the most faithless person in this story.

Jonah is tasked to go to Nineveh and to call out against their evil. Of which there is some historical context to understand here.

Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrian empire.
They were brutal people with ruthless practices.
Assyrians were responsible for near genocide of the Hebrew people, killing 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Jonah instead flees the presence of God to Tarshish, the farthest west city of the known world.

The Lord prepares a mighty tempest that nearly destroys the boat. As a result the sailors interrogate Jonah. Of which ends with him being thrown overboard and then swallowed by a great fish.

Jonah 2:

We see our son of Faithfulness in the belly of the fish. He ends his poem with this ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’

He then is vomited up onto dry land.

Jonah 3:

Jonah is commissioned once again to carry out the task that the Lord has for him.

He gets to Nineveh and preaches an eight word sermon. “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown”

He doesn’t mention what evil they have done or what they need to do to not be overthrown.
He doesn’t lie with this sermon. God does indeed overthrow the Ninevites, just not not the way that you would expect. He overthrows their hearts

Word even reaches the king of Nineveh and he issues a bizarre decree. No man nor beast can taste anything and that they all be covered in sackcloth.

God relents from sending destruction.

Jonah 4:

If we were to not have Jonah 4, Jonah would have a happy ending. But, Jonah 4 has the big reveal of why Jonah didn’t want to come to Nineveh to begin with.

We assume that Jonah doesn’t want to come to Nineveh because he was afraid of the Ninevites, but it is actually because he hated them. This begs the question, what do we do when God loves our enemy?

Jonah then laments to God and quotes God’s own words to him from Exodus 34:6.

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”
The Old Testament covenant was an agreement between God and Israel. Exodus 34:6 was God’s response to Israel after they made a golden calf and God still chooses to renew the covenant and to not leave his people in their brokenness. They ask God why would you do this? Exodus 34:6 is his response.

Jonah’s true worst enemy in this story is himself.

Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us. - Charles Spurgeon
Our hatred can blind us from part of what God has for us.

God asks a simple question, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah completely ignores this question. Then he goes outside of the city to watch what would become of it.

God then has a plant grow next to Jonah which gives him shade. This makes him exceedingly glad. Not too long after, God appoints a worm to attack the plant making it wither.

God is using this as a teaching moment for his prophet. God is still not finished with Jonah. He still has one more person to reach, Jonah.
Although Jonah messes up so many times, God is in fact gracious and compassionate. Slow to anger and abounding in love.
Jonah’s anger went from avoidance to anger to selfishness.

The Lord ends Jonah with this question, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

The Ninvevites didn’t know any better.
God is inviting us to all meditate on these questions. Should he not pity those who we call enemies as well?

Spiritual Practice

Forgiveness of our enemies is key.

“The first step towards enemy love is recognizing the common humanity, the common brokenness that we all share.” - Tim Mackey
Sit down and meditate with a pen an paper of a time where someone displayed a characteristic that made you upset or hurt you. Now meditate and think of a time where you displayed that same attribute.
Humble yourself. There is pride in our hatred. It can cause us to completely miss what God has for us.
Take joy in the small mundane day to day interactions. God could be using these small conversations to impact this person in a huge way.

Corbin White 6/11/23 Corbin White 6/11/23

Obadiah

Welcome to a community pride check.

Call them pride checks, or embarrassing moments; we have all had moments when our pride does not allow us to move forward well, and love others in the process.

What we do know about Obadiah and the minor prophets.

The prophets are messengers sent by God to call the People of God back to covenantal or relational faithfulness.
The Old Testament Covenant was an agreement between God and Israel. When a covenant is broken, the relationship is broken, and there is fallout from the broken relationship.
God does not just leave the people in their brokenness. He works to restore his relationship with them, the covenant through the prophets. He helps them learn to live in his new kingdom.

There is space for a good sense of pride.

Good pride is acknowledging accomplishments you (and others) have worked hard for.

Bad pride is any internal deliberation, or outward attitude that diminishes others.

(We should not resist vulnerability. We should resist the urge to use our past hardships or accomplishments to attempt to gain power in relationships.)

Bad pride is the hard truth of when it gets in the way of revealing the Kingdom of Jesus in Kansas City. (God hates this.)

Problem: The more we allow ourselves to abide by pride, the more we do it subconsciously. Pride is the root cause of all sin.

Historical Context:

Jacob’s line = Israel (God’s chosen nation).

Esau’s line = Edom (Systematically self-focused).

When Israel was being destroyed by Babylon, Edom chose to watch their brother nation come to ruin. Then, they looted the ruins.

Edom took pride in their physical security. Edom’s capital city, Petra, literally means “rock.” It was an impenetrable fortress high up in mountain clefts. This was Edom’s pride and joy; the centerpiece of their security. Their primary attitude existed as “Who could ever reach us from up here?” Which applied both to their geographic location, as well as their spiritual relationship with the Lord.

But hedges mean nothing to God.

Obadiah 6 says “Every nook and cranny of Edom will be searched and looted. Every treasure will be found and taken.”

Edom took pride in their strong alliances. They participated in the destruction of Israel by siding with wicked Babylon. They wanted to maintain connections to success, even if that meant evildoing.

Edom took pride in their own sense of wisdom. They assumed that because they were smart, they were also independent from God.

“The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and misleads `judgment. Pride is the main handle by which he has hold of Christian persons and the chief source of all the mischief that he introduces to clog and hinder the work of God.” - Johnathan Edwards

May spiritual wisdom not be used to gain leverage or power over others, as so many have done. May it not morph into a mode of pridefulness, taking place of humility.

Edom was prideful of:

their own sense of security;
their strong alliances;
and their perception of wisdom.

They were blinded by their pride, and they disobeyed God by aiding in the destruction of their brother/neighbor. (FOR THIS, GOD WAS ANGRY.)

He pride-checked them. God called them out for (at least) three things:

Verse 11. Edom! You should have helped Israel when strangers plundered Jerusalem. But because you stood back, you are as guilty as those who invaded (11).

Verse 12. Edom, you gloated over their brothers in the days of their misfortune. You took pleasure in the harm that came to Israel (12).

Verses 13-14. Edom, you exploited Jerusalem by looting the city. When you stood at the crossroads while people fled. And when you captured Israelites to traffic (13-14).

Verse 15. Obadiah reminds Edom that the day of the Lord is coming. What they have done will be done to them.

“Those who are high and powerful today should not be so overconfident in themselves, whether they are a nation, a corporation, a church, or a family. Just as Edom was destroyed for its pride, so will anyone who lives in defiance of God” (What Ticks God Off, Jantz).

To start the pride-checking process we must acknowledge where it is occurring.

Where are the patterns of pride in your life?

Does it get in the way of having genuine relationships with people?

What are the messy closets you’re trying to hide away, making sure no one can see?

Is the pride of your home a hindrance to enjoying your family?

Is the pride of your friend group excluding people you know you need to support?

Is the pride of your education or your accolades coming into conversations more than your ability to listen to someone else’s ordinary life?

Are you paying more attention to protecting your pride or allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you?

Solution: Take the cue from the Son of God.

When Edom, a spiteful nation was destroyed, it was rubble. When Jesus, a holy man was destroyed, there was resurrection. Out of His destruction came life.

Luke 14:11 “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

God’s solution to pride based on our idea of independence and self-sufficiency is to humble ourselves. Humility is not weakness. It is not solving our problems alone. It is not holding superiority over others. It is a radical, subversive way of life that Jesus has taught us.

1 Chronicles 7:14 "My people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.”

Defending against pride according to the Father:

Prayer
Seek His face
Turn from wicked ways

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:9 (NLT)

Just as Edom was responsible for taking care of its brother nation, we are responsible for taking care of the brother/sisterhood of humanity. God has not called us to always be waiting to do the right thing. In our doing, may we not be so inwardly focused, overwhelmed by the big picture of everything, that we forget about our own neighborhoods and apartment complexes

The beginning of Obadiah is a somber declaration of God’s impending judgment upon a prideful nation. The ending contains a joyful noise of “the Lord himself will be King.”

Blessed by God, for we have realized our need for Him. For the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to us.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 5:3

Corbin White 6/4/23 Corbin White 6/4/23

Amos

Now Dylan has a song called “God On Our Side” where he traces some of the moments from America’s history and speaks about how he was taught that we won wars and had a right to manifest our destiny because God Was On Our Side. And one of the verses goes like this:

Through many a dark hour

I've been thinkin' about this

That Jesus Christ was

Betrayed by a kiss

But I can't think for you

You'll have to decide

Whether Judas Iscariot

Had God on his side.

Am I a part of the problem? Am I contributing to ecological disasters? Am I caught up in the extreme consumerist attitude of the culture? Am I doing anything to help my city and my neighbors suffering from injustice? Do I have implicit or explicit prejudice? Does the change I want to see in the world need to start with me?

Amos, like all prophets, is a messenger sent by God to call the people of God back to covenantal or relational faithfulness.

Amos is advocating on behalf of the covenant God established with the Israelite people. Which is consistently broken by their sin, rebellion, and unjust treatment of one another resulting in a broken relationship between the people and God..."

“Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye,” (Matthew 7:3-5).

Justice and Righteousness is THE key theme for the book of Amos.

God has called us to change our hearts, not just our clothes. To be people who go through both outward AND inward change. Israel, however, thought changing their clothes was enough.

Amos 5:21-24, I hate, I despise your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even if you offer Me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle. Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

“What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not!” Romans 6:1

The prophets never separated themselves from the people of Israel.

They led through their EMBODIMENT, not through political or social power.

“Forgive US our debts,” Matthew 6:12

“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

“Seek God and live.” Amos 5:4

Spiritual Practice:

Grieve/Lament
Personal inventory
Energization/Hope

Luke 19:41-44, “41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

“Faith without works is dead.” James 2:17