Mars Hill Sunday Teachings - A Jesus people for the sake of the world.
This familiar parable offers up a strong moral challenge. And yet, the church fathers read this parable in a slightly different way, encouraging readers to see Jesus as their neighbor. Luke 10:25-29Questions to consider—Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?
This complex story of Abraham and Sarah journeying in partnership with God is full of humanity stumbling forward in ways that showcase God's patience, honesty, and faithfulness. Genesis 18: 1-2, 9-15Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?
In a very dramatic moment, Peter took action and caused real harm to another person. The Bible tells the story in four versions, but we are left to imagine Peter's motivations. This episode serves as a helpful examination of stumbling forward as a disciple and some of the ways Jesus meets us in our imperfections. Mark 14:43-47Questions to consider—Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?
We can't be the 'hands and feet of Jesus'—he has them attached to his resurrection and ascended body. Christ, in the flesh, now rules and reigns at the right hand of the Father. This is amazing, good news for us! Jesus in his body, bears our wounds and scars before the Father. We are seen, known, and loved. Luke 24:50-53Questions to consider—Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?,Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?
How are we formed as people who give thanks at all times? Can gratitude be our default posture as Christians? Allow Scripture to point us to the gifts of this life that draw us into deeper union with God, the giver of all good things. Luke 22:14-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?
Jesus appears to Mary as a gardener after his resurrection. God and humanity are seen as gardeners in Genesis 1 and Revelation 21. In our spaces of work and service, God speaks to us "I am with you," "peace be with you," and "I am sending you."John 20:11-18Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?
We wrap up this series focused on the Parable of the Prodigal Son by getting a glimpse of the feast thrown by the father. The celebration is an external picture of the heart of God, desiring a "full house" engagement with this demonstration of extravagant love. Luke 15:1-3, 11-32Questions to consider—Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
God is love - love beyond our capacity to grasp or communicate. This love includes more people than we would anticipate and invites us to consider who is invited to participate in the Church as a response to this generous love. 1 John 4:16aQuestions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?
At the end of this magisterial Teaching, Jesus emphasizes one final point: wise disciples hear and do what Jesus said. Matthew 7:21-27Questions to consider—Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
It's such a straightforward command - but not a simple one to obey. This teaching offers a few practical ways we can step toward being wise disciples and following the way of Jesus. Matthew 7:1-5Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?
Jesus is inviting us to consider how trust might be the key to living out a generous and non-anxious life. Matthew 6:19-34Questions to consider—Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?
As Jesus turns to the three main pillars of Jewish piety, the Sermon on the Mount challenges everyone [not simply the Pharisees of the day] to pay attention to how they do what they do. Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18Questions to consider—Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?
One significant anticipatory image of the coming Messiah that captured the religious imaginations of God's people was the Branch that would sprout from the dead stump of Jesse's line. Jeremiah confidently proclaimed the promises of God that would be fulfilled, inspiring us to boldly believe in God's faithfulness and promise-keeping while we wait for life to come out of death. Jeremiah 33:14-16Questions to consider—Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
Wrapping up the Teaching series on the Sermon on the Mount, we focus on Jesus' call to love our enemies. This Teaching challenges us to recognize the Church's perceived enemies, understand our role in response, and pray faithfully for them with hearts aligned to Christ's love.Matthew 5: 43-47Questions to consider—Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
What might it look like to not seek to get even? Is it even possible to travel a third way? Jesus invites us to a different way of engaging with those who do us harm - moving past "an eye for an eye" and toward a posture that transforms the relationship.Matthew 5:38-42Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
Wise Disciples resist the temptation to make God an object for their use but instead embrace the mystery of God, protect the reputation of God, and live lives with radical integrity. Matthew 5:33-37Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?
Jesus calls his disciples to choose the path that leads to life through reconciliation rather than fueling the fire of anger. Matthew 5:21-26Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?
The sermon on the Mount invites us to think, feel, and act in radical ways as Wise Disciples in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:1-13Questions to consider—Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
In the midst of persecution and suffering, the letter of 1 Peter encourages the believers to arm themselves with the same attitude as Christ, one who also suffered in the body.1 Peter 4:1-11Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?
Embrace a radical posture of surrender—loving God, loving our neighbors, and even honoring political leaders we may oppose. To do this, we must live as exiles in our own nations, with our sole allegiance to Christ.1 Peter 2:11-17Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering? Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
Peter begins his letter with a phrase of praise, which he builds on for the next handful of verses. We kick off this new Teaching series in the same way by focusing on this opening praise and recounting four reasons to celebrate and thank God. 1 Peter 1:3-5Questions to consider—Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?
Among other things, the Samaritan woman gives us a paradigm for the spiritual journey as she comes to recognize who Jesus is and, ultimately, believe in him. Her conversation with Jesus reveals a progression that encourages all of us as we consider our own journey and how to be in loving relationships with others as they journey. John 4:7-15Questions to consider—Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
Hannah's story is [among other things] one of being "in-between." Her story of liminality is the story of God's people at large and each of us individually. As we listen to her, we are encouraged to lament this liminality and look for God's faithfulness in the middle of it.1 Samuel 1:1-20Questions to consider—Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
Josiah sought the advice of a prophet and received the Word of the Lord. Huldah is more than a woman. She is rooted in the Torah, gifted, not just skilled, and impartial to the either or false dichotomy. 2 Kings 22:14-20Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?
When we listen to Ruth, we hear the voice of one who invites us into friendship - being one that others can count on when the going gets tough.Ruth 1:8-18Questions to consider—Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?
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