Belonging House Fellowship

The God of the Bible  is the Most Relational Being in the Universe.   Bishop Robert Barron, once talked about the uniqueness of the Christian God. God is Love. And then he paraphrased St. Augustine's Treatise on the Holy Trinity. The Father is the Lover. The Son is the Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is the bond of Love between them.   The Father is the Lover. The Son is the Beloved. And the Holy Spirit is the bond of Love between them.   And Jesus says this in this Gospel. Everything I have is from the Father. The Father gives it to me. And the Holy Spirit is going to give it to you.   And St. Athanasius said that out of this relationship between the members of the Godhead, there is creativity. It is like a nuclear reaction. The interaction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is by nature a creative force. ----- You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://mailchi.mp/44964233320d/friday-email-signup Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Genesis 11:1-9 Exodus 19:3-8, 16-20 Joel 2: 28-32 Acts 2:1-11 John 20:19-23   If you aren't paying attention, Pentecost seems to be the most random event in history. A group of people  praying in a room in Jerusalem suddenly  see fire on their heads and they begin to speak in various languages.   And many people and churches do not understand why Pentecost is important and they call it the birthday of the church. And for people who believe that the Holy Spirit  withdrew a generation later, they try to downplay this event and look at it as an anomaly.   This is why we read all these lessons each year to show that Pentecost  is part of a continuum in Scripture, and also a great restoration of God's original plan.   Pentecost is the fulfillment of everything the Messiah said he would do.   The Holy Spirit is the author of scripture, and the central character throughout. This is one of the interesting aspects of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always directs the attention to someone else. You can miss the Holy Spirit in the Bible if you are not looking.   The Bible begins with the Holy Spirit  hovering over the waters  and out of this chaos comes order. The Holy Spirit always brings order out of chaos. Normal Christianity is Charismatic. You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Simon Sinek once said that great leaders lead from their "why." I once worked for an art company that gave the staff random directions but never told us what we were doing or why we were doing it. And I recall the directions were always in bits, one task at a time. It was very frustrating, and the end goal always suffered because the staff did not know why they were doing it. Eventually I quit.   A lot of people think God is like this. That everything is on a need to know basis, and that we are given directions to obey. And if you miss it, well it sucks to be you. Back to being an unhappy Christian trying to make  the mean old man in the sky happy.   This is not Christianity. God is in relationship with you, and he wants you to know why. ------------ You can get the Belonging House Friday Email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

The Father Speaks. The Son does, the Holy Spirit manifests.   And so the Father  calls a new creation. He sends his Son. And what does the Son do? The son only does what He sees the Father doing. The Father initiates, and the Son administrates. The Son carries out the word of the Father. And so the Son becomes sin for us. The son empties himself and becomes a servant. The Son becomes the word made flesh. The son conquers death and rises from the dead. But these things are limited by the physical reality that Jesus is one person.   The Father has spoken, the Son has done his work, but the Holy Spirit must bring it into manifestation.   You cannot know God, or the Word without the Holy Spirit. You cannot love Jesus or keep his words without the Holy Spirit. ----- You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

This week we share a long form conversation with a member of the Belonging House Community, LaChé Heron.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

You are not a sinner. Sin is not what defines you. Sin is nothing more than static on your new identity, because Holies do not live in sin. And as you hear the Shepherds voice, and you present your body to the Shepherd, you are more and more transformed into the real you. Jesus tells you who you are. Jesus reminds you of his love. Jesus encourages you to become more and more your true identity in Christ. And everything that sticks to you, with the static cling of sin, will fall away.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us at https://www.zeffy.com/donation-form/raise-up-an-army-of-artists You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Revelation  This Kingdom is not one of outward appearances, but a kingdom of internal realities. As Jesus said, his body was the temple, and it would be destroyed, and on the third day it would be raised up. On the cross the veil of his temple was torn, his heart was pierced, and out of that temple of his body flowed blood and water. That water, was the Holy Spirit.   To be a Christian  is to be a little Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse  

Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion, but rather, he came to establish his Kingdom.   And on this eighth day of Easter, we look at the second half of John 20, and what Jesus did first after his victory over death. He gave the ability to forgive sin in the power of the Holy Spirit.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse    

Follow the Love in John's gospel. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

Today we have one of the gospel readings that has captured the imaginations of millions of people. This wild story, where a woman is in the act of adultery, and dragged into the temple precincts, and they are about to stone her. And of course, this episode is a test  to see what Jesus will do. They are trying to provoke him so that they have a pretext to claim he is a false prophet, so that they can stone him along with the woman.   Lots of people have talked about the obvious facts. No one commits adultery alone. Where is the other party? Was he the married one? And why were all these scribes and pharisees in the right place at the right time?   And of course, the real thing, the thing that everyone is confused about. Why did Jesus stop and write on the ground, and what did the writing say?   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse

This Sunday is about repentance. As it says in Hosea: Come, let us return to the Lord who has stricken us, and he will heal us, and on the third day he will raise us up. You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse  

We have to be reminded continually that Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion but rather he came to establish a Kingdom. Our religious grids sometimes keep us from the Kingdom. At the same time, a lot of people think that the Body of Christ is a jelly-fish. All that matters is my relationship with Jesus and everything else is up for grabs. Have you noticed that jellyfish never build anything? The Kingdom as it says in Revelation is taking the world from a wild garden to a city. And cities and kingdoms have order. We see this in Leviticus. There is a very clear order about God's plan for his people. They were first given holidays, then an order for the pattern of worship, and then rules for life. This was about creating a culture.     You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse Jay Ayliff's teaching on the word Leitourgeo: https://youtu.be/vWnKIq95M48?si=8O2B1mSm9GinsPH5 Nick Cave's blog: https://www.theredhandfiles.com/what-does-it-take-to-be-free/ My book Very God is here: https://a.co/d/07LeXYh

Legend tells us that Joseph of Arimathea a tin merchant, came to Glastonbury, and put his staff in the ground and it sprouted. This tree blooms twice a year in the spring and on Christmas. And this tree, the Glastonbury Thorn, is the root of Christianity in Britain. And by the way, this tree, genetically linked to the eastern mediterranean, survives through cuttings and still blooms at Christmas.   In the undercroft of the York Minster is a tile from the first century, and that tile is inscribed with the monogram of Christ, the Chi-Rho. So we have two bits of evidence that Christianity has been in Britain for two-thousand years. And it is the tree from which Belonging House springs. Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth.  In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/belonginghouse   We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co

Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth.  In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto You can view Belonging House Books here: https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto   We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co  

Belonging House International is a community of artists and creative people called to build Jesus a throne in the earth.  In other words, we make disciples who will disciple the nations in the world of creativity.   You can get our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.substack.com Christ John Otto writes at https://christjohnotto.substack.com You can support us  at buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto   We have a community for those who have made the Belonging House Commitment on Mighty Network. https://belonging-house.mn.co

From the beginning, I have tried to model a basic ethic of hospitality, and model the "Golden Rule." Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.   Put other people first.   Oddly, some of you have seen this in action, when we have had a few bad apples in our own mix. Folks have interpreted my kindness to the ungrateful as weakness, and sometimes folks try to take advantage of me.   These situations do not change reality. In the Kingdom  reality is Take up your cross and follow Jesus to his death, and your death. You become a disciple when you do this. And when you choose to be a disciple, you begin to become a master copy of the Icon of the Father, Jesus Christ. And we are promised, that if we share in his suffering we will share in his glory.   Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House.  We are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.   You can find him at https://x.com/ChristJohnOtto https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto  

Christ John Otto is the founder of Belonging House.  We are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.   You can find him at https://x.com/ChristJohnOtto https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto  

Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto  

Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 2:22-32   It's hard to believe, but Christmas was forty days ago. This year, the end of the Christmas cycle, The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple falls on a Sunday.     We have been talking about how the Kingdom of God is a symbolic Kingdom, and how this relates to the sacramental principle, and the means of grace: God uses physical things and actions to communicate his Presence, Person, and Power. Today we are going to look at the presentation of Jesus and in order to discover how to encounter the Holy Spirit when God is moving.   People miss what God is doing, because they are looking at the wrong things. ----- Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto  

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 _________________   When we talk about the means of grace, after the sacraments is the word of God. And the reading and proclamation of the word is a sacrament. It is an act that releases the power and grace of God. And so this week, we are given two readings where we actually see this happen, under the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah and Jesus in the Synagogue. This week I want to look at this passage in Luke from a slightly different angle, and talk about two things: the ancient pathway that never gets old; the way the church has encouraged us to read scripture. And the slippery slope, liberal theology and the authority of scripture. _____ Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto    

It is a bit shocking that God would use the most common of all elements to be the sign of birth into the Kingdom. And throughout scripture water will be linked to the Holy Spirit. Water is the sign of creation, rebirth of the world, the river of life from the Temple, rivers of living water out of our bellies, washing, cleansing, and blessing. And yes, Paul says water is a symbol of death and resurrection, but that reference is an outlier. Water is more often about life and birth. Jesus is the living water.   Water is the most powerful solvent on earth. All things can dissolve in water. Water can become steam and drive engines. Water can freeze and become ice. Water can move mountains through erosion. Up here in New England we have seen whole rock formations collapse because ice got in,  expanded and split the rock. Water can evaporate and become clouds. Water can come down as snow. Water is the most powerful force on earth Everything can be changed by water, but nothing changes water. Just like the Holy Spirit.   Belonging House is an international fellowship of artists and creative people.   Check out our Friday email at https://belonginghouse.org

The Kingdom of God is a symbolic kingdom. Symbols are God's primary language. This is why  if you focus too much on the Bible as a written word you miss so much. And this is why Christianity has produced so much visual art, and why this art is full of language and messages that we can read. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Matthew 2:1-10 This isn't about stars and kings and Christmas gifts. This is about the Kingdom of God, and  Matthew is showing us that outsiders, pagans, who are paying attention, recognize that the Kingdom of God is being manifested on earth, and those who are supposed to know miss it. He is pointing out what Jesus would say later on: beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Politics is not the Kingdom, and neither is religion. The Kingdom is about food. It is about being fed  by the good Shepherd, and he is bringing bread for the life of the world. He is bread  for the life of the world. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink #magi #epiphany 

  Turn in your Bible to Luke 2:15-21. The Christmas readings often stop at verse 20. And because this story is in Christmas specials sandwiched between Rudolph and ads for Coca-Cola, we think that this story, the one with shepherds and angels is fantastical. These angels are for many of us, just like Santa's elves at the North Pole. Even "evangelicals" have been so influenced by liberal theology that they have accepted that  this is in the mythical category. Classical, Catholic and Orthodox Christianity teaches us that these angels are not mythical and that at any moment you might have an encounter with an angel. Hebrews reminds us to welcome the stranger, because you might be meet an "angel unawares." Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

The Messiah is coming, and you are not ready. Get ready. We are back to the central theme of scripture: God is a Father looking for bride for his son. The bride is faithless, so the son lays down his life to redeem her, and then we all sit down at the Father's table forever.   Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

God is saying today, take the lid off. There are no limitations. With God all things are possible. There is something in you  that only you can do. God has given you unique abilities, callings, giftings, and experiences. There will never be another you. It's okay to celebrate that and embrace that. And when you do, when you discover that embrace, you can experience and walk in the flow of God for your life. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Jeremiah is being given a promise: the house of David, which seems to be at a very low point, is going to produce a Branch. Isaiah tells us a branch will come from the stump of Jesse. And Zechariah also gives us this image of a righteous branch.   In the ancient world, and especially among royalty, the idea of a branch always refers to a royal line. This is the Kingly line. This is the Messianic promise God made to David in II Samuel 7: You will not build me a house, but I will build you a house, and someone will sit on your throne forever.   We are looking back, and we are looking forward. Jeremiah in a hopeless situation is promised that a Branch will come forth, and by this branch, We will know the LORD is our righteousness. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Jim Leach, the "Rustic Mystic" shares insights on waiting with God from Isaiah 40.   Belonging House is an international fellowship of Christian artists called to build a throne for Jesus in the earth. Jim Leach is co-leader of the Spirit Wind Center in Stonington, Connecticut.  You can find out more at https://spiritwindcenter.org Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://missionofbezalel.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

If you have spent any time among  conservative types of churches, this topic can become a real turnoff, because there is a cottage industry around the rapture and end-times prophecy. And honestly, it seems like the second coming takes a back seat to the tribulation, and the whole thing is completely disconnected from reality.   Let's go back to our main thesis: Jesus Christ did not come to start a religion, he came to establish a Kingdom. The whole Bible from beginning to end is about this Kingdom. It is not about religion. And when you try to understand the second coming from a religious grid, things get weird. And it is really important for artists and creative people. Because if you try to fit your life into the religious grid, you produce bad art. If you are an artist for the Kingdom there is a lot of freedom. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://missionofbezalel.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

I Kings 17:9-16 If you have one take away today, it is this: We are characters in God's story, God is not a character in our story. When you get this right, your thinking will begin to change. The second important takeaway is this: you have to let go and release  if you are going to receive. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://christjohnotto.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink My new book is Artists at a Shift in Time. https:// tinyurl.com/3etazb6s

Matthew 5:1-9 The Kingdom is always advancing. This teaching is the heart of all that Jesus said. Go low, let the Holy Spirit fill you. Let your inner life determine your creative output. And as you do, the blessing of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom is going to manifest in you. And yes, that is going to result in resistance, but that resistance is the proof you are going in the right direction. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://missionofbezalel.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink My new book is Artists at a Shift in Time.   beatitudes blessing  

Jesus Christ, as it says in Galatians 3:13-14, became a curse for us on the cross. He took upon himself our curses.   And when he did, he made a way for us to be free.   The process of getting free from a curse, because Jesus did the hard part,  is relatively simple. Christ John Otto writes at https://Belonginghouse.org and https://missionofbezalel.substack.com If this encourages you, support my work at https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto Or become a Patron at https://patreon.com/belonginghousemedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink My new book is Artists at a Shift in Time.  The audio book comes out November 1.  

And finally, all spiritual warfare comes back down to basic discipleship. Listen to the Lord and do what he tells you. Pray. Know your Bible. Receive the Eucharist weekly. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. And be normal. Satan loves weird Christians who don't do these things and run from one trend to another. The slow steady walk with Jesus has so much power that Satan will do anything to keep you from it.   Belonging House is an international fellowship of artists and creative people, who since 2006, have been raising up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. You can receive Christ (rhymes with "wrist") John Otto's Friday email at https://belonginghouse.org If these messages encourage you, share them with your friends.

One of the topics that comes up in our community is the subject of spiritual warfare. It is very clear when you walk into the world of the arts that there is a spiritual battle going on for the cultures of the world. So for the next three weeks I am going to talk about spiritual warfare. This week will be a foundation, next week will be about the nature of witchcraft, and the last week will be on blessing and cursing. Each week Christ John Otto teaches at Beth Charashim, the House of Artisans, on Zoom. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://belonginghouse.org He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #belonginghouse #spiritualwarfare

A special message for the start of the new Hebrew calendar year.  Christ John Otto shares insights on God's prophetic rhythm, and the a teaching on II Kings 9, and the death of Jezebel You can find out more at belonginghouse.org

You cannot preach deny yourself, and leave an empty hole. And you cannot preach sanctity without the Power of the Holy Spirit. It's sham theology. We all have needs. If you don't fill the void with the Holy Spirit, you will go after money, sex, and power. That's a cheap imitation of Provision, Wholeness, and Anointing. And it costs a lot to get those things. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

You don't climb your way up in the Kingdom. That's the world's thinking. The Kingdom is built on the foundation of a Lamb who was slain. The law of the universe is the law of death and resurrection. You choose to die to something, and the greatest death is to your pride. And when you choose this, the resurrection life of Jesus the power of the Holy Spirit, cannot resist. The Holy Spirit loves the humble. The Holy Spirit loves those who choose to go low, and not advance themselves. This is what listening to God and doing what God says is all about. It is not my way, but yours Jesus. It is not my way, but yours Jesus. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto 

I once found the best description of discipleship, in all places, on Wikipedia. A disciple in the ancient world was a person who followed a master teacher and tried in every way to become like them, in dress, in speech, and in learning. As I put it a few years ago, A disciple is a master copy of the original. Jesus is the Icon of the Father, and a disciple is a copy of the Icon. A disciple is a walking work of conceptual art. A disciple is the ultimate method actor, playing the role of Jesus for all the world to see: responding like Jesus, motivated by the Father, just like Jesus. And as Jesus says in many places, and in this gospel lesson from Mark 8, if you want to be my disciple, you must take up your cross and follow me. This chapter is the heart of discipleship. 1. You must confess that Jesus is the Christ. 2. You must think like God, not humanity. 3. You must take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Jesus. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

This week Christ John Otto teaches from Isaiah 35:4-7. The phrase "Fear not" or it's variants "be not afraid" "do not be afraid' appears well over five hundred times in the Bible. "Be of good courage" appears 56 times. "Be strong and courageous" appears 49 times. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

You don't have to stop being artistic if you want to function as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher. God uses artistic people to release his glory in the earth. When we talk about the Five-fold ministry, the personality and unique qualities of the artist are going to manifest in particular ways. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

Of all the stories and miracles in the New Testament, there is only one that is repeated in all the gospels. There is only one miracle that Jesus stopped and explained. And there is only one miracle that is referenced again and again throughout the early church fathers. And this miracle is the feeding of the five thousand. And now, we are coming to the climax of this discussion. And if you read Greek, a number of threads in the teaching of Jesus, threads in the New Testament, and threads in our practical experience as Christians all come together. We are back to signs, and this massive conceptual art piece that we call the Incarnation, coming into sharp focus. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto 

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published In this week's reading, Jesus draws a connection between seeing him as the one who is revealing the Father, and seeing him as the bread of life. And most important of all, He connects eating the bread seeing him and receiving eternal life. You cannot receive eternal life unless you see correctly. Seeing correctly, and eternal life are related.

Of all the stories and miracles in the New Testament, there is only one that is repeated in all the gospels. There is only one miracle that Jesus stopped and explained. And there is only one miracle that is referenced again and again throughout the early church fathers. And this miracle is the feeding of the five thousand. This week we continue with an encounter in a synagogue about signs and bread. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto 

Of all the stories and miracles in the New Testament, there is only one  that is repeated in all the gospels. There is only one miracle that Jesus stopped and explained. And there is only one miracle  that is referenced again and again  throughout the early church fathers. And this miracle  is the feeding of the five thousand. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #pastor

Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #evangelists

The Evangelist serves a very important job, they expand and send out "tendrils" of growth in the body. They are the reproductive system, they cause the body to increase. They are the feet the go to new people and places. And they are the ones who get the message out. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #evangelists

In the Kingdom, everything is always personal. This is why a lot of theology is a mirage. When you bring it back to Jesus, and the Incarnation, and the fact that the Five-fold ministry is about the Incarnation, and that artistic apostles and prophets are Incarnations of Jesus, it is all very clear. If you reject a prophet and an apostle you are rejecting Jesus. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #propheticgifts

Prophets are called, tested, refined, and then released. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

The gift of prophecy is going to come from the Comforter, Advocate, and Giver of life. The New Covenant is about life. New Covenant Prophecy is a gift of life, not judgement and death. And Paul says this in I Corinthians 14. Prophecy first is for upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation. The gift of prophecy is going make people feel stronger, strengthened to go in the right direction, and be healed and restored. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

Paul says that the five-fold gifts are for the Body. And what is the Body? It is the physical presence of the spiritual reality of Jesus in the earth. It is not a group of people who have embraced some doctrine, it is the embodiment of Jesus in the earth. You and everyone else are supposed to be the body of Jesus on earth. This is Incarnational reality: As it says in Colossians: This is the mystery: Christ in You, the hope of Glory. Christ John Otto leads a community of Artists and Creative People called Belonging House. His most recent book is Artists at a Shift in Time (ISBN 979-8987409916), available wherever books are sold. https://bookshop.org/shop/christjohnotto You can find his Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com He writes longer essays at https://missionofbezalel.substack.com You can be part of the provision flow at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto #fivefoldministry #creative #belonginghouse #artists #faith

You don't have to stop being artistic if you want to function as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher. God uses artistic people to release his glory in the earth. When we talk about the Five-fold ministry, the personality and unique qualities of the artist are going to manifest in particular ways.