In a crazy, and somewhat spooky vision, God shows Ezekiel that He is still at work in spite of Israel’s failures. He will be restoring Israel to what they were meant to be. And yet, this vision has a double meaning — one that is more applicable for us today. God is not only reviving Israel, but He is in fact restoring life to our dry bones. As we continue through Lent we see the promise of resurrection given long ago.
The people of God wanted a king. Not the King they had -- the one who rescued them out of slavery from Egypt, the one who brought them safely through the sea and the wilderness, the one who time and time again protected them from their enemies and brought them into a good land he promised to them. No, they wanted a human king to be like all the other nations. The person they saw fit to be king was much different than what God saw they needed, and eventually, God would show them how to look for the true king. What is it we're looking for?
As we continue our journey through Lent, we find the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness without water. God provides miraculously, but as we look closer we see God is at work in so many more ways than we can even fathom. Most importantly, God is present with them in the wilderness. This is still true for us in the wilderness places of our lives -- God is at work and He is with us.
We begin our Lent journey toward joy at the beginning.
The first humans were placed in a garden called ‘Delight’ and it lived up to its’ name. Yet, they were deceived into seeing and desiring something else. That desire set in and gave birth to sin (rebellion), which ultimately resulted in death. How can we fix our eyes on the delight we have in Jesus and ultimately find life?
What does it look like to live as followers of Jesus in a culture that is so counter to that? Titus 2 has a couple things that may be difficult to swallow in our culture, but when we understand the culture it was written to and the heart behind living as a display people of God, we may gain a better understanding of how we live counter-culturally today.
As the Church, we are called to not only form tight-knit communities being formed in discipleship together, but to extend that as we make disciples of all nations. How are we moving beyond the boundaries typically drawn by society, culture, and even our own prejudices in order to bring the good news of Jesus to all the people it is meant for?
This first week of Advent we look at how Jesus brings peace to the world. Peace is not merely quiet, calm, nor inner tranquility. It is all things working together as they should, so that the world flourishes. It is wholeness. It is Shalom. Jesus rights all wrongs, brings justice and healing, and invites us to experience true peace.
The book of Acts comes to an anti-climactic end in chapter 28. We never hear about Paul standing before Caesar. There is little conflict from the Jewish leaders there. We never hear whether he made it to Spain afterward. It ends with him living in his own rented home for two years, continuing to share the Good News. The Story does not end here, because the Story is not over. It continues with you and I.
In a sense, Acts ends as it started. It was a continuation of all Jesus began to do through the Spirit — which he now continues through His Spirit at work in his followers.
One of our Missio Community leaders, John Looney, preaches on Acts 27. Paul, on his way to Rome, along with many other prisoners, guards, and crew members, face a violent storm and end up shipwrecked on the island of Malta. How do we see God still at work even in what seems to be chaotic and uncertain moments like this?
Paul didn't exactly get the warmest welcome in Jerusalem. The very people he used to be one with turn against him and vow to kill him. He appeals to Caesar, his right as a Roman citizen, which sends him on a long and tumultuous journey leaving him shipwrecked. And yet, this is all in God's plan for many people to see and hear the good news and power of Jesus.
