Jesus did not come to be the ultimate sacrifice that would appease God, but to show us, once and for all, that God does not want sacrifices at all, but lives of love, mercy and compassion.
Jesus did not come to be the ultimate sacrifice that would appease God, but to show us, once and for all, that God does not want sacrifices at all, but lives of love, mercy and compassion.
Jesus’s agenda, which we are called to follow, is about healing, liberating and gathering in the excluded, not purifying the community by excluding anyone.
It is as members of the body that you are given the gifts that are needed for this body to serve in this time and this place.
Jesus calls us to model a pattern of love and generous inclusion, and to avoid the demonic temptations of exclusion and pride.
Jesus leads us into a joyous and healthy way of living that avoids both constricting legalism and destructive libertarianism.
Jesus calls us to model ourselves on him to embrace a new pattern of full humanity rather than just constrain the worst excesses of an old failed humanity.
The “fishing for people” to which we are called is not about being pushy and manipulative marketers, but being open and generous in our sharing of the light that has brought us life and healing.
Although the Church and our nation might be stronger if they were more inclusive, the real call to inclusion is simply part of the call to faithfully reflect Christ.
Becoming Christlike takes discipline and commitment and practice, but the goal of fullness of life in Christ is worth whatever it takes.
In Christ we are set free from all that would oppress us in order that we might be free to live in gracious and life-giving service of God and others.
A sermon on 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 by Michael Hardin Tonight we were again blessed to have as our guest preacher, Michael Hardin of Preaching Peace, visiting from the USA. There is no manuscript for the sermon, but you can listen to it here.
As difficult as it is to imagine, God is shockingly present with us in Jesus.
The Spirit is there for us where ever we gather in the one place for that one purpose.
God has given us all we need to live out our calling with integrity.
In the growth of children, God reveals to us much of how we all should be growing and developing.
God speaks prophetically through the Church and through some individuals, and the prophetic task is inseparable from humility, constructiveness, graciousness, love, patience and generosity.
The message of the cross cuts against everything that would divide us from one another, and so cuts against everything that would drive us out.
The encounter with the resurrected crucified Jesus enables us to see the absolute love, mercy and non-vengefulness of God.
God is love, and so love is the only real measure of spiritual maturity or accomplishment.
Recognising Jesus as Lord requires such a reversal of conventional values that it cannot but dangerously transform us.