Podcasts about sure jesus

With so many different religious paths, how can someone believe Jesus is the only way to the Father?Aren't there other good people of other religions?These are important questions.Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn how the Bible answers them.Scripture Used in Today's MessageJohn 14:6Romans 3:23Romans 6:231 Peter 3:181 Corinthians 15:3-5John 1:12-13Who do you know that needs to hear today's message? Go ahead and forward this to them along with a prayer that God will use it in their life.To become a TSCM Ministry Partner, click herehttps://www.tomthepreacher.com/supportTo find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TicTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher Have you read my book, "Takin' it to Their Turf"?If not, you may request a copy on my website, www.TomthePreacher.comWe send a copy to anyone who donates to our ministry, but if you can't do so, simply request a copy by sending us an email.************ Do you want to have all your sins forgiven and know God personally? *********Check out my video "The Bridge Diagram" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Kjwrlind8&t=1sCheck out my website, www.TomthePreacher.com, to learn more about my ministry and sign up for my daily email. And make sure to request a copy of my book, Takin' it to Their Turf, when you visit my website.Check out my videos on this channel to learn how to answer tough questions challenging our faith.

Hello WORDup Podcast community, glad to have you back and if you're new here, we're excited you've joined us. Today we will look at  meaning of Easter and answer a few burning questions about Christianity. Please send all responses and tasks to worduppodcast21@gmail.comBlessings !

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0365AB recorded on June 10, 1981 teaching from 2 Peter 3:3-4 – Why Are We Sure Jesus is Coming Again.

Intro: Heresy! In a world where everything is right and nothing is wrong, labeling something heresy causes most people to choke: How dare you call what they believe heresy? Who are you to determine whether someone is a heretic or not? I thought you religious people were supposed to be loving. How judgmental! Exactly. And apparently, judgment is what is required when confronted with the myriad of viewpoints and opinions and teachings in Ancient Roman Society, and in our society today.  Listen to the writers of the NT: Mt. 7:15; Acts 20:29-30; 2Pet. 2:1 •The word heresy in its purest meaning, means just [something different from what is true, a departure from what is accepted]. If you think there is no truth, no right or wrong, then I suppose you can deny that anything is heretical. But if you believe in truth, in right/wrong, then identifying what isn't the truth is important, even critical.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't allow for differences of opinions, or that we should go around and label people that disagree with us in the smallest detail as heretics; but some things are clearly wrong. Writers of the New Testament took that seriously.  We should too. •The year was AD 60––about three decades since the Christian movement began. Christians in the city of Colossae were exposed to the Covid of Heresies: and if infected, it threatened to spread and destroy what made them uniquely Christian. The question they were confronted with, the question that tests us as well is a simple one: “Is Jesus enough?” You say, “enough for what?”  Enough to forgive us? Enough to bring us into a right relationship with God? Enough to get us started following Jesus on the path of life?  OK. “Yes...but...” •And that's the problem: “but...” But introduces doubt that Jesus is enough to deal with life. You need something more.  Sure––Jesus died on a cross for our sins and was raised from the dead.  And we have to believe in Him, to trust what he did to forgive us.  But that isn't enough.  You need more. Really? One writer said it this way: [Tchavidian quote] •So, is Jesus enough? Or do you need more?  It would be easy for us to answer with the right answer: “Oh yes. He's enough.” And then live like He isn't.  As if it's no big deal one way or the other.  You see, too often, it is not that we do not know the truth, but that we do not understand the implications of the truth we know. And so, Paul took pen in hand, and wrote furiously.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let me introduce you to this short letter in the NT we call, “Colossians.” I.    The Background       A.  The Valley of Three Cities [map] Three cities grew up near each other nestled in a spacious area called the Lycus Valley in the Roman province of Asia minor, what now is modern Turkey.  The largest and most prosperous of the three cities was Laodicea, which became an economic powerhouse (Think Boise.)  It was pretty impressive: NB a gate/a boulevard. The second city was Hieropolis, which was built near a number of hotsprings (see pics); it became a popular vacation spot and health resort.  It's hot baths and wide streets drew tourist from all over.  (Think Couer d'Alene.) In the same valley, 10 miles to the east, at the opening of the pass through the mountains and on the southern banks of the Lycus River was the town of Colossae. Once as prominent as the other two, it fell into insignificance because as Rome constructed its system of roads and highways, it bypassed the city––not by much, but by enough that if you were going to Colossae, you had to go out of your way.  It was easier to stop in Laodicea, where the roads went right through that city. You could get anything in Laodicea that you could get in Colossae, except more and better.  Of all the cities mentioned in the New Testament, Colossae was the smallest, and least significant.  (Think Kuna.)  Then how did a church get started there and why did Paul write to them?       B.   The Church's Beginning: During Paul's third missionary journey, he settled in Ephesus, a strategic city in the region, and rented a school, and from there met with anyone interested, and taught about Christ: (Acts 19:8-10). Apparently, one of those living in Asia, in Colossae specifically, who had come to Ephesus, was a man by the name of Epaphras. Somehow, he heard Paul preach and was intrigued with this Jesus he proclaimed. He listened to this ex-Pharisee, now Christian teacher and soon believed in Jesus. It changed everything for him, so much so that when he returned to Colossae, he spoke up and shared about Christ with everyone he knew: (Col. 1:3-8).  The fact is, Paul had never been to Colossae, though it was only 100 miles from Ephesus: (2:1-2).  Yet, the church took root, and grew, and apparently was quite healthy for a number of years.  They clearly evidence the three traits that mark healthy believers (1:4-5)––a solid faith/trust in the Lord Jesus, a sacrificial love for one another, and a certain hope of heaven. But, less than a decade later, around 60 AD, the church was in trouble:       C.  The Church in Trouble: Heresy! •Epaphras saw Christian brothers and sisters wavering in their faith. A popular teaching was sweeping the area and it was based in Colossae. It attacked the notion that just because someone believed in Jesus, that was enough. These teachers were smart, they espoused an inclusive philosophy that took from all sorts of religions and melded them into one. They were cooking the books—taking a little from Judaism, a little from Greek mythology, a little from Christianity, spiced up with superstitions and a healthy dose of religious passion; but what they ended up with was not Christianity, though it at times resembled it, and sounded a bit like it, but wasn't at all—it. People espousing this new faith claimed to have visions and dreams and angelic visitations, which the average Christian normally didn't experience. They had secret knowledge that they offered to share with the initiated, the insiders––knowledge that went beyond simple faith in Christ, and allowed the person to see and know things that would lift him to a higher sphere of existence. More power. More knowledge. More experience. More.  More than Jesus. •Epaphras in his bones knew something was really wrong with their teaching, but didn't know how to answer them, but he knew who could.  Paul.  But Paul was sitting in a Roman prison awaiting trial before Caesar. So Epaphras packed his bags and set out for Rome––1000 miles away––to find Paul and ask for his help. That far, and requiring that much time and travel meant that Epaphras was really troubled. And when Paul heard the news, he took pen in hand, and went right to work.  What we have in our hands is that letter: II.  The Letter       A.  The Author: Paul (1:1) Like all letters in NT times, you began by identifying yourself, rather than by simply addressing the reader (e.g. “Dear Bob...” and you have to look at the end to find out who's writing: “love, Steve.”) But notice this isn't just any letter from just anyone: Paul claims to be an “apostle of the Christ, Jesus Himself.” Apostle is literally, “a sent one”––someone entrusted with a mission and the authority of the one sending him.  Paul is claiming to speak and teach on behalf of Jesus, a mission that is God's will for him to pursue; and this authoritative letter is part of that mission/ministry.       B.   The Recipients: Colossians (1:2) The designation saints doesn't mean that they're perfect, or unusually good people; every believer in Christ is, according to the NT, a saint––someone set apart for God.  In other words, you belong to God.  You're his. You're a saint. AND, he calls them, “faithful”–-not just believers, but those who continue to believe in Christ. •Paul then reminds them of what they have already received in Christ––and it's his favorite way of starting letters: (1:2b)  Because of God's grace, we experience peace with God. We didn't earn or deserve this. If anything we earned the opposite–-his anger and judgment. But because of Christ taking our judgment and paying for our guilt, God graciously forgives us and claims us, and loves us, and includes us; we experience peace with God in our souls.  God will never be at war with us again. •Looking through the letter, we can piece together what this once popular heresy taught: III. The Message             A.  The Heresy: Christ + Something Else = Spirituality                   1.  It diminished the person and work of Christ •Because Paul so strongly affirms the deity of Christ, you can infer that they denied that Jesus was God. And because Paul insists that Jesus was a real person with a real body, you get the idea that they downplayed the humanity of Christ.  In other words, these teachers attacked the notion that Jesus was really anyone special––perhaps a good teacher, but not the final word from God, and certainly not God come in human form. There's some indication that they taught that the physical universe was evil, something you tried to rid yourself of; so if Jesus was someone special, he couldn't have had a human body–-he was likely an angel who simply appeared human.                   2. It focused on external rituals rather than internal character. •It was all about looking good, appearing spiritual. You don't just believe in Jesus and that's it. You've got to do things, religious things, things that make you better, deeper, more in touch with unseen world.  Like what? √You need to restrict your diet (2:16a) There are certain things that make you dirty, that are therefore off the menu for spiritual people.  And: √You need to observe certain  days/holidays (2:16b) This isn't like observing Christmas or Easter; these are required observances with exacting rules about what you do and can't do––rituals that you must perform at certain times in certain ways. And if you don't comply the way they say you should, then they say you are less spiritual, even not acceptable to God. (We'll learn a lot more about them later...) √You should punish your body (it is bad and leads you to do bad things) (2:23) •The fact is, these teachers turned a blind eye to the more ugly and internal sins (3:5, 8-9); all the while simply whitewashing the outside of the person through keeping religious rituals making the person appear wise when the real problem never was addressed (2:23)–the human heart.             3. It taught a philosophy of fate and superstitions (2:8) •Elemental spirits were those things or spirit beings that controlled events—we might call it fate or the stars.  So, according to these teachers, you needed to do certain things in certain ways to control fate. Otherwise bad things might happen to you, or good things might not. Why do ball players wear lucky socks, or people say they don't want to jinx an event, so they do everything the same way they did it before, when a good outcome resulted? That's the same thing. Then:             4. It confused spiritual experiences with spiritual maturity (2:18) •If you have these experiences, it means that you are spiritually mature. Actually, nothing is further from the truth. Even today, in the church at large, people talk about special experiences that give them status––being slain in the spirit (an event that has no precedence in the Bible), or laughing uncontrollably, or even legitimate experiences like speaking in tongues–-and thinking that having the experience means I'm on a higher spiritual plane than others who haven't.  As we'll see, not so.  Further:             5.  It was judgmental (NB: 2:8a, 16a, 18a) •They looked down on, and even criticized and condemned people who didn't submit to their teaching and expectations. It feels bad when someone pronounces that you are deficient, second-rate, or flawed. Especially spiritually. The pressure to be a part of the happening thing was heavy.  Finally:             6.  It promoted spiritual snobbery It created haves and have-nots, a spiritual snobbery of innies and outies, of people who were spiritual and part of the chosen few and people who weren't and wouldn't ever be.  To that, Paul makes his purpose plain: everyone  (1:28). So what's the remedy?       B.   The Remedy: Seeing that Jesus is Enough for All of Life This in fact is the message of the whole letter: (See Chart) Conclusion: [Quote WTB (p. 411)] It is a testimony to the effectiveness of Paul's letter that this heresy is lost to the trashcan of history. Whatever hold it had initially on Christians in Colossae was loosened and destroyed by Paul's teaching.  From what we know, the church there grew and thrived, not only in Colossae but also in Laodicea and Hieropolis.  What they didn't know then, what they couldn't have known was what was coming: two years later, an earthquake decimated the city and it never recovered.  Today, it is simply a mound of ground that hasn't even been excavated.  [See pic.] Yet, Paul's letter to that church there survives and still speaks volumes to us today. We very much need to hear and heed its message: Jesus is enough. So we need to be rooted in Him. And in the coming weeks, during this summer of simplicity, I pray we will. •Challenge: Memorize 2:6-7!

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0365AB recorded on June 10, 1981 teaching from 2 Peter 3:3-4 – Why Are We Sure Jesus is Coming Again.

Hebrews 11:1 is a very challenging scripture, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." How many of us are really strong in believing in things we cannot see? Sure Jesus, many of us believe in Him without seeing Him, but what about His promises? Much more challenging. Today listen in for insight on the evidence we are to look for. Follow along in the guide prayer exercise. What are you standing by faith for that you can't see in the natural? Please share us with a friend and please leave a review so more people can find us in search engines.

Take these things to heart--really. They will change your life.

Are you going through difficult times right now? Like a building, our lives need the right cornerstone to resist crumbling when trials come our way. We will look at how Jesus is the only one qualified to be our cornerstone, and how we can find security in Him.

Bill and Mike talk about Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, and the great Father's plans for the first Christmas. In a country where almost half of the children are growing up without their fathers in the home, the guys talk about how important Jesus having a father was to God. May all of us be inspired to see God's hand in our marriages and our children. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/legacyleadership/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/legacyleadership/support

Weekly sermons and study guides.

Weekly sermons and study guides.

Weekly sermons and study guides.

Weekly sermons and study guides.

Since we're a Christian podcast, you know the answer we'll give, but how can we be so sure of it? How can we KNOW Jesus is the Christ? Today's episode goes over several reasons why we have that assurance. Other show highlights: Allen has trouble cutting grass and where is Daniel?

Sermon given via Zoom on Jan 31, 2021 by Frances Kitson at Knox United Church, Lanigan

Acts 10 introduces a church that has yet to fully grasp the scope and range of the gospel message.  Sure Jesus said to go into all the world, but until Acts 10 the disciples did not understand that meant going beyond the Jewish people.   Join us as we discus this critical event that changed the church forever and what it still means for you and me.

Today we look at why it is clear Jesus is for sure the divine Messiah prohesied in the Old Testament scriptures. Leave us a voice message in the anchor app OR shoot Bob a message on socials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BobLove70 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Robert_Love70 LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-l-88561ab6/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert_love70/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boblove/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boblove/support

1 John: 1:1-4

1 John: 1:1-4

Jesus was immeasurably the most successful person in human history. In every way. Yet, if we were to measure his lifetime effectiveness using today's Church benchmarks of success, Jesus would probably find it hard to get hired on at most churches. What are you measuring? This week on the Lifeschool Podcast, we look at why some of the traditional ways we've been measuring church success are not producing kingdom growth and mature disciples. Here are the new benchmarks of a successful church. Your church or community really can shift toward missional engagement. By changing what you measure, you'll begin to change your focus to accomplishing the Church's true mission and its ultimate purpose. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why what your church is measuring may actually be toxic. How our current standards of success are very different than Jesus'. What happens when we begin to measure and fund different goals. 10 new benchmarks of a successful, missional church. http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1209249450 (Get started here…) http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1209249450 () From this episode: “Sure Jesus could draw a crowd, usually around healings and massive meal times, yet he primarily spent the bulk of his leadership energy and time with only a dozen people. In our modern church, Jesus would not get great marks here and would probably not get that promotion up the ladder… Senior leadership usually relegates discipleship to lower team members or ‘directors.' Sorry, Jesus.”   Each week the Big 3 will give you immediate action steps to get you started.https://caesarkalinowski.lpages.co/leadbox/1459e40f3f72a2%3A134ffec37346dc/5713430174498816/ ( )https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/big-3-download ()Download today's https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/big-3-download (BIG 3 right now). Read and think over them again later. You might even want to share them with others…Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining us again this week. Have some feedback you'd like to share? Join us on Facebook and take part in the discussion! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of this page or right below. Also, please leave an honest review for http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1209249450 (The Lifeschool Podcast on iTunes.) Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and we read each and every one of them.   Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/big-3-download (Free Download of the Big 3 For Episode #240) https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/optin_box/ddtt8gk7ine9uoa (10 Missional Benchmarks Guide, Test and Assessment ) Everyday Disciple Workshop in North Carolina – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/everyday-discipleship-simple-rhythms-of-life-in-community-tickets-71069834789?fbclid=IwAR0x06DgK5uT8ftZk3G63OHRrssVtsjCJ7Lm3zdlZtRoWbJUf7p3ngEvmZ0 (Register Here) http://www.caesarkalinowski.com/ (Caesar Kalinowski's Website and Blog with Loads of Resources) http://www.missiopublishing.com/ (Missio Publishing – More Missional Books and Resources) In light of today's topic, you might find this helpful: https://www.caesarkalinowski.com/gospel-tipping-why-overtipping-should-be-our-norm/ (Why Overtipping Should Be Our Norm) https://www.facebook.com/groups/lspodcast/ ( )  

Jesus was immeasurably the most successful person in human history. In every way. Yet, if we were to measure his lifetime effectiveness using today’s Church benchmarks of success, Jesus would probably find it hard to get hired on at most churches. What are you measuring? This week on the Lifeschool Podcast, we look at why some of the traditional ways we’ve been measuring church success are not producing kingdom growth and mature disciples. Here are the new benchmarks of a successful church. Your church or community really can shift toward missional engagement. By changing what you measure, you’ll begin to change your focus to accomplishing the Church’s true mission and its ultimate purpose. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why what your church is measuring may actually be toxic. How our current standards of success are very different than Jesus’. What happens when we begin to measure and fund different goals. 10 new benchmarks of a successful, missional church. (http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1209249450) (http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1209249450) From this episode: “Sure Jesus could draw a crowd, usually around healings and massive meal times, yet he primarily spent the bulk of his leadership energy and time with only a dozen people. In our modern church, Jesus would not get great marks here and would probably not get that promotion up the ladder… Senior leadership usually relegates discipleship to lower team members or ‘directors.’ Sorry, Jesus.”   Each week the Big 3 will give you immediate action steps to get you started. (https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/big-3-download) . Read and think over them again later. You might even want to share them with others…Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for joining us again this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Join us on Facebook and take part in the discussion! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of this page or right below. Also, please leave an honest review for  (http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1209249450)  Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and we read each and every one of them.   Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:  For Episode #240 (https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/big-3-download) 10 Missional Benchmarks Guide, Test and Assessment  (https://123lifeschool.clickfunnels.com/optin_box/ddtt8gk7ine9uoa) Everyday Disciple Workshop in North Carolina – (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/everyday-discipleship-simple-rhythms-of-life-in-community-tickets-71069834789?fbclid=IwAR0x06DgK5uT8ftZk3G63OHRrssVtsjCJ7Lm3zdlZtRoWbJUf7p3ngEvmZ0) Caesar Kalinowski’s Website and Blog with Loads of Resources (http://www.caesarkalinowski.com/) Missio Publishing – More Missional Books and Resources (http://www.missiopublishing.com/) In light of today’s topic, you might find this helpful: (https://www.caesarkalinowski.com/gospel-tipping-why-overtipping-should-be-our-norm/) (https://www.facebook.com/groups/lspodcast/)  

Of all the "upside-down" ways of The Kingdom, Jesus' command to "love your enemies" may be the most unconventional.  Important content note: While Jesus calls his followers to be abundantly forgiving, even to their enemies, we do not believe this is a command to  tolerate abusive situations. If you need help dealing with an abusive or unhealthy relationship situation, please contact Pastors@newlifedetroit.org.   (Today's sermon is a lower quality recording than usual, our apologies for the technical error) October 6th, 2019

Pastor Victor J. Lewis delivers a sermon on - Luke 19:45-48. http://fbcroslyn.org

Amid all the last minute preparations - don't forget Jesus!

In today's Gospel reading Jesus appears to his disciples for the third time after His resurrection at the Sea of Tiberias, where they are found attempting to fish. Simon Peter and a few other disciples were present. It was evening. Peter went fishing and the other disciples followed. It so happened that they caught no fish. When the morning had come, unbeknownst to the disciples, Jesus stood by the shores and told the disappointed disciples to go back into the sea and fish again, this time casting their nets to the right side of the boat. The result was amazing! They not only caught enough fish, but more than they needed.

Brad Sullivan Proper 20, Year A September 24, 2017 Emmanuel, Houston Jonah 3:10-4:11 Matthew 20:1-16 But Jesus, That’s Not Fair! “But Jesus, that’s not fair!” That pretty well sums up the response of the laborers at the end of Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard. They had agreed to work for the day for the usual daily wage. They negotiated those terms with the landowner. Then, when they found out that those who worked for only an hour also made the usual daily wage, they felt cheated. “That’s not fair!” Well, as a friend of mine was thinking of titling her sermon for today, “Suck it up, Buttercup.” Clarence Jordan of Koinonia Farms once said, “Whenever Jesus told a parable, he lit a stick of dynamite and covered it with a story.” At first glance many of us, myself included, look at this parable and think, “Well that’s not fair, Jesus.” Then we look a little deeper into the story, and “boom”. The dynamite goes off. Our notions of fairness and deservedness, our shoulds and aught tos get blown up. True enough, it isn’t exactly fair to pay those who worked only an hour the same as those who worked all day, but look at the alternative. If the landowner was being fair it, would seem that the laborers who worked all day would have had the landowner pay for only an hours’ worth of work to those who worked an hour for only. That would be fair, but that was 1/8th of what they needed each day to get by. So, ultimately the attitude of the laborers who worked all day was, “in order to be fair, you should let those other people starve. Ultimately, the laborers who worked all day were saying that those who were only able to work for an hour should die. “Boom.” The dynamite goes off. “Well wait, no, Jesus didn’t mean it like that.” “I thought it was unfair, but I didn’t want the other laborers to die.” We hear Jesus’ parables, the dynamite goes off, and then while the dust is still settling, we often try to rebuild our world just like it was before Jesus’ pesky meddling. “No, he didn’t mean it like that.” “Sure Jesus is the messiah, but he didn’t really mean what he said in this parable.” “Something in this story got lost in translation.” It’s easy to try to rebuild too quickly, wanting the security of our previous notions of what is right, without first looking at what Jesus has revealed in his pesky parable dynamite demolition thing. We often want this parable not to be about money, and it isn’t only about money. This parable may not be Jesus’ instruction manual for economists, may not be, but the response is often to see the economic flaws in Jesus’ notion of generosity over deservedness. “This wouldn’t work as an economic system. You know what people are like. No one would work more than an hour a day.” Probably true, and that’s a fair point, but before we rebuild what Jesus demolished over that one security keeping argument, what lessons might there be for us as we consider this parable? Looking at how people tend to get compensated for their work, we tend to look at averages. What do others make on average for this same type of work? That seems fair enough, but in the light of Jesus’ parable, a more appropriate question would be “Is this compensation enough? While others might make “X” for this job, I know that “X” isn’t really enough in today’s world. It may be fair in comparison with what others make, but it isn’t really enough.” For a modern example of choosing to pay what is enough, rather than seems fair by comparison, Dan Price, the CEO of Gravity Payments cut his own salary by 90% back in 2015 so that all of his employees could earn $70,000. I don’t know that Mr. Price was inspired by Jesus; I’ve read nothing to indicate that he was, but his example shows the possibility of living into the kingdom way that Jesus taught, even in our modern economy. The company is still going strong, or was as of January of this year when the article I read about it was written. There were some negative consequences. Some clients pulled out of the company, fearing their fees would increase. They didn’t. Other clients liked what the CEO had done and began giving him their business. Some of the employees didn’t like the new arrangement and quit because they didn’t think it was fair for those who had been earning less than they to receive the same as they. These employees felt diminished by their boss’ generosity. I tend to go with the title of my friend’s sermon on that one. “Suck it up, buttercup.” Like the laborers in the vineyard who worked all day, they felt it wasn’t fair to earn the same as those whom they felt didn’t deserve as much. Jesus again takes dynamite to our notions of fairness and to the comparisons we so often draw. “Am I making as much as compared to others?” “Should those people earn as much as I do when I compare the amount or kind of work I do with the work they do?” “Do they really deserve to have enough for the work they do?” “Don’t I deserve more than enough for the work I do?” Boom. Such comparison is something else Jesus dynamites in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, along with our notions of fairness and deservedness. When the dust settles, we might just learn from Jesus that comparison may seem like wisdom, but it doesn’t tend to lead to a good place. Comparison leads to jealousy and envy. Comparison leads to being bitter about what someone else has rather than being happy about what I have. Comparison leads to always wanting more. Comparison leads to feelings of inadequacy and never being good enough. Comparison leads to us being deaf to Jesus’ teaching not to worry; his teaching that we are enough as we have been made to be; his teaching not to put our faith in stuff, but to put our faith in him, to trust in our beloved-ness, and to love others as we are loved. Theodore Roosevelt, Brené Brown, and others have said variations of the following concerning the supposed wisdom of comparison. “Comparison is the thief of happiness, and jealousy is usually it’s partner in crime.” The laborers in the vineyard and the employees of Gravity Payments were happy with what they had, until they started comparing what they had to others. Then comparison and jealousy stole their happiness away and did absolutely nothing to help them or anyone else. To the cry that this story isn’t fair, I’d simply say, God isn’t fair, and thank God for that. God’s Kingdom doesn’t deal all that much in fairness and deservedness. God’s kingdom doesn’t deal in our jealous comparisons. God isn’t interested in our hierarchies. He’s not interested in us raising ourselves up above others because we feel that our greater efforts make us deserving of greater benefits. In God’s Kingdom, Jesus dynamites or concepts of deservedness, fairness, and comparison. Then in the crater and debris that is left, Jesus teaches us, and God builds up in us his love, his selflessness, and his generosity toward others.

Brad Sullivan Proper 20, Year A September 24, 2017 Emmanuel, Houston Jonah 3:10-4:11 Matthew 20:1-16 But Jesus, That’s Not Fair! “But Jesus, that’s not fair!” That pretty well sums up the response of the laborers at the end of Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard. They had agreed to work for the day for the usual daily wage. They negotiated those terms with the landowner. Then, when they found out that those who worked for only an hour also made the usual daily wage, they felt cheated. “That’s not fair!” Well, as a friend of mine was thinking of titling her sermon for today, “Suck it up, Buttercup.” Clarence Jordan of Koinonia Farms once said, “Whenever Jesus told a parable, he lit a stick of dynamite and covered it with a story.” At first glance many of us, myself included, look at this parable and think, “Well that’s not fair, Jesus.” Then we look a little deeper into the story, and “boom”. The dynamite goes off. Our notions of fairness and deservedness, our shoulds and aught tos get blown up. True enough, it isn’t exactly fair to pay those who worked only an hour the same as those who worked all day, but look at the alternative. If the landowner was being fair it, would seem that the laborers who worked all day would have had the landowner pay for only an hours’ worth of work to those who worked an hour for only. That would be fair, but that was 1/8th of what they needed each day to get by. So, ultimately the attitude of the laborers who worked all day was, “in order to be fair, you should let those other people starve. Ultimately, the laborers who worked all day were saying that those who were only able to work for an hour should die. “Boom.” The dynamite goes off. “Well wait, no, Jesus didn’t mean it like that.” “I thought it was unfair, but I didn’t want the other laborers to die.” We hear Jesus’ parables, the dynamite goes off, and then while the dust is still settling, we often try to rebuild our world just like it was before Jesus’ pesky meddling. “No, he didn’t mean it like that.” “Sure Jesus is the messiah, but he didn’t really mean what he said in this parable.” “Something in this story got lost in translation.” It’s easy to try to rebuild too quickly, wanting the security of our previous notions of what is right, without first looking at what Jesus has revealed in his pesky parable dynamite demolition thing. We often want this parable not to be about money, and it isn’t only about money. This parable may not be Jesus’ instruction manual for economists, may not be, but the response is often to see the economic flaws in Jesus’ notion of generosity over deservedness. “This wouldn’t work as an economic system. You know what people are like. No one would work more than an hour a day.” Probably true, and that’s a fair point, but before we rebuild what Jesus demolished over that one security keeping argument, what lessons might there be for us as we consider this parable? Looking at how people tend to get compensated for their work, we tend to look at averages. What do others make on average for this same type of work? That seems fair enough, but in the light of Jesus’ parable, a more appropriate question would be “Is this compensation enough? While others might make “X” for this job, I know that “X” isn’t really enough in today’s world. It may be fair in comparison with what others make, but it isn’t really enough.” For a modern example of choosing to pay what is enough, rather than seems fair by comparison, Dan Price, the CEO of Gravity Payments cut his own salary by 90% back in 2015 so that all of his employees could earn $70,000. I don’t know that Mr. Price was inspired by Jesus; I’ve read nothing to indicate that he was, but his example shows the possibility of living into the kingdom way that Jesus taught, even in our modern economy. The company is still going strong, or was as of January of this year when the article I read about it was written. There were some negative consequences. Some clients pulled out of the company, fearing their fees would increase. They didn’t. Other clients liked what the CEO had done and began giving him their business. Some of the employees didn’t like the new arrangement and quit because they didn’t think it was fair for those who had been earning less than they to receive the same as they. These employees felt diminished by their boss’ generosity. I tend to go with the title of my friend’s sermon on that one. “Suck it up, buttercup.” Like the laborers in the vineyard who worked all day, they felt it wasn’t fair to earn the same as those whom they felt didn’t deserve as much. Jesus again takes dynamite to our notions of fairness and to the comparisons we so often draw. “Am I making as much as compared to others?” “Should those people earn as much as I do when I compare the amount or kind of work I do with the work they do?” “Do they really deserve to have enough for the work they do?” “Don’t I deserve more than enough for the work I do?” Boom. Such comparison is something else Jesus dynamites in the parable of the workers in the vineyard, along with our notions of fairness and deservedness. When the dust settles, we might just learn from Jesus that comparison may seem like wisdom, but it doesn’t tend to lead to a good place. Comparison leads to jealousy and envy. Comparison leads to being bitter about what someone else has rather than being happy about what I have. Comparison leads to always wanting more. Comparison leads to feelings of inadequacy and never being good enough. Comparison leads to us being deaf to Jesus’ teaching not to worry; his teaching that we are enough as we have been made to be; his teaching not to put our faith in stuff, but to put our faith in him, to trust in our beloved-ness, and to love others as we are loved. Theodore Roosevelt, Brené Brown, and others have said variations of the following concerning the supposed wisdom of comparison. “Comparison is the thief of happiness, and jealousy is usually it’s partner in crime.” The laborers in the vineyard and the employees of Gravity Payments were happy with what they had, until they started comparing what they had to others. Then comparison and jealousy stole their happiness away and did absolutely nothing to help them or anyone else. To the cry that this story isn’t fair, I’d simply say, God isn’t fair, and thank God for that. God’s Kingdom doesn’t deal all that much in fairness and deservedness. God’s kingdom doesn’t deal in our jealous comparisons. God isn’t interested in our hierarchies. He’s not interested in us raising ourselves up above others because we feel that our greater efforts make us deserving of greater benefits. In God’s Kingdom, Jesus dynamites or concepts of deservedness, fairness, and comparison. Then in the crater and debris that is left, Jesus teaches us, and God builds up in us his love, his selflessness, and his generosity toward others.

15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, […]

Tupac said, "Only God can Judge me." Was he right? We've all heard someone say in response to some criticism of them by another person, "The Bible says don't judge. Sure Jesus said that, but is that really what He meant? And why doesn't anyone ever define what they mean by "judge" We're going to identify three possible judgements that Jesus could have referred to & select the one that best fits the passage. Question for Jesus: "Was Tupac right"

Ever feel like you are entering the freak out zone? The tightening in your chest, the feeling like you're falling behind, the wondering of what God actually wants you to do next and the dream you see in your heart is weighing on you as if it as all up to you.Me too.Anxiety and striving can rush in when we have forgotten who it's all about. Sure Jesus uses us, He equips us and He loved us so much that He died for us, but that does not make this story ours, its His.This episode is a moment into my life, my heart, my relationship with the Lord and where He shows up once again through our surrendered hearts that proclaim, "I am not the King and this is not my Kingdom."When we lift Jesus high, know Jesus' truth, remember how big He is and all that He is capable of our peace can return because it was never about us in the first place.We lift you high Lord, let your kingdom come and your will be done.We want to support all you are called to do, here are some ways to connect…Follow the podcast on Instagram:CALLED TO BUILD Free Workbook:WHAT AM I CALLED TO?Follow Ashley on Instagram:Interested in taking your social media images to the next level?Check out the course hereSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/called-to-build/donations