provision

Matthew 14:13-21-"A Table in the Wild"

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Synopsis:

Psalm 78 asks, “Can God set a table in the wilderness?” Jesus does just that when he feeds a multitude with a few fish and loaves. The wilderness desert is a dangerous, inhospitable place, but God continues to show up in our wilderness and help us find our way back to the Table. Like in the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are” one child psychologist notes how the book is a story about a rambunctious little boy who is put in timeout, feels his feelings in a far away land of his imagination, and is draw back into the real world by the smell of supper and the warmth of his mother’s love. On this Sunday, we share Communion and are reminded how God sustains us and calls us home no matter how far into the wilderness we might be.

Luke 11:1-13 - "A Shameless Request"

Synopsis: Jesus challenges his disciples to pray and make requests to God in such a way that they would never to a Patron or King. The Lord’s Prayer becomes a model for intimate, honest, and frank communication with the Creator of Universe. While culturally in an honor/shame matrix, you would never ask without expectation to return the favor (quid pro quo), but in the economy of God, we are not just invited but challenged to shamelessly carry our needs, wants, desires, and dreams to God and boldly ask, search, and knock.

Keywords: Parables, generosity, prayer, honor/shame culture, patron/client relationship, intercessory prayer, providence, provision