relationships

John 1:29-42- "The Light Has Changed: A Five-Star Recommendation"

Synopsis:

John is the latest Gospel to be written, and by the time it is written the Christian community is so expansive beyond being a small Jewish sect that the writer translates common Jewish words three times for the Gentile audience. How does the movement spread so quickly? From an executed Jewish Rabbi to being a global religious movement? The text shows us. One person uses their relationships to point people to Jesus (John and his disciples; Andrew and Peter), and because they have trust in each other it makes it easier for them to hear Jesus. Once they arrive though Jesus invites them to come and see for themselves. So, did you trust who pointed you to Jesus?

Keywords:

Epiphany, outreach, relationships, evangelism, mission

Luke 13:10-17 - "Closed 'Til Sunday"

Synopsis: Jesus gets in a dispute over whether or not it was ethical to heal this woman on the Sabbath. The leader in the synagogue chimes in, angry and worried about the precedent set by Jesus’ violation of sabbath rules. Jesus dresses the crowd down by saying they are more compassionate with their pets than their own sister in the family of God through Abraham. Jesus always chooses rules over relationships even when we want every issue and situation to be cut and dry.

Keywords: Jesus, compassion, sabbath, rules vs. relationships, law, grace, love, legalism, ambiguity

Luke 12:32-40 - “Stories Jesus Tells: Fight to Keep the Fire Burning”

Synopsis: Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and then tells a parable of servants waiting for the master to return from a wedding feast. Weddings were sometimes multiple days and in an era before cellphones, a watchman had to keep the fires burning to welcome the master home at any time day or night. This watchfulness is like a fire burning inside, too, where we keep focused on our heart’s deepest desire and duty. According to Jürgen Moltmann, at the core Christianity is a religion on promise. There is a hopefulness to our faith which challenges the despair or numbness of our culture. We are called to keep the fire of hope and love burning through the night time of our fears.

Watch Christian Picciolini’s story on TED.com

(The sermon title comes from the song, “Fight to Keep,” by the band Korean-American Indie Rock band Run River North)

Keywords: Parables, Jesus, Kingdom of God, hope, promise, despair, violence, evil, white supremacy, racism, justice, peace, peacemaking, relationship, transformation, salvation, longing, belonging