Phil. 1:1-11: God came to give us life abundantly - here, now. Loving God and loving our neighbors brings that wholeness to us. Do we abound in the experience of the love of Christ? Love that transforms us so that we will discern how to love others well.

Luke 10: "Love is the only door out of the dungeon of self." (George MacDonald).

Welcome & love of neighbor don't happen by accident, either does neglect or refusal of neighbor. We have to do the work of welcome & love of neighbor, and it takes intention, and it costs us something to be a neighbor.

Who is the least likely person/type of person you want to live, serve, befriend?

Jeremiah 29:1-14 - Seek the Shalom of the City God brought you to. There is no other, there is only neighbor.

The Church no longer has "home court advantage". Our mission field is right outside our door. God seeks and invites us to be a blessing to others. When we join Jesus in His mission, it's an adventure.

Matthew 12:9-23 - David had more missteps, disasters & failures than he had bright, shiny outcomes, yet he is described as a "man after God's own heart". It's a story of a real, complicated life & a real faith. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." David's story is a prefiguring of Jesus, who became flesh.

Son of David was a political title, hoping that Jesus would become king. Jesus came to redeem real sinners with real lives. It is the very nature of God to dispense grace!

Psalm 18 & 2 Samuel 22:17-28 - God reaches into the depths to rescue us. He delights in us because of who He is, not because of anything we have done.

2 Samuel 21: Who has not sought God more in need than in abundance?

Saul was zealous for Israel & Judah - he was a patriot. It brought distraction on their nation & others. David takes responsibility and listens for actions that were not his own - to bring healing to Israel. He asks the Ammonites, whose who were wronged by Saul, what it takes to make amends.

Prefiguring Jesus, who takes responsibility for sin that is not His own & shows an example for us.

2 Samuel 11-12: David had many opportunities to turn away from his poor choices. He had lost himself and was not following God any more. Uriah holds integrity and Nathan calls David out for what he did. They speak truth to power regardless of the consequences to themselves. David was forgiven when he repented, though the consequences continue for the remainder of his life.

There is nothing that can separate us from God's love & grace.

1 Samuel 30 - "They didn't earn that!" "They don't deserve that!" That's how we see things, especially in America. David understands God's radical generosity. Everything belongs to God. All will share. God has a soft spot for the lowest, the least, those without a voice. All is gift. We are saved by grace lest anyone boast.

1 Samuel 25 - David is not a role model for how to live but a story of a raw, human person who is open to returning to God when he has gone astray. Sometimes the wilderness will overtake us - but beauty interrupts! Abigail is of import & intelligence. She brings David back to his senses.