Jesus tells some crazy stories... In a chapter, Luke 16, all about money & our relationship to it, Jesus tells a story about a rich guy who is blind to his greed and the poor man, Lazarus (which means Whom God Has Helped) and the Reversal that happens after they die. One more Great Reversal story, one more chance to see our neighbor, one more opportunity to repent and receive God's grace!

Wrapping up Galatians - Freedom is meaningless and destructive if it is not put into the service of neighbor. As we think about bearing each other's burdens, what does that mean today? Sometimes we need to carry our own junk, sometimes we need to ask for help. Why is it hard for us to know when to do which? We put on our individualism to the extreme when we should be asking for help yet sometimes dump on others' what we should be handling ourselves. 

Lost coins, lost sheep, lost sons. Jesus not only seeks after the lost but he chooses to spend time with them, regardless of what "the right people" think or say. We’re all lost and we’re all in need of that restoration that Jesus offers. That is, friends, the Good News. That is why Jesus invites us to the table. He invited us to the table and he says, Welcome to the feast.

More of Galatians: Love Your Neighbor is a main theme of everything Jesus taught & that his followers continued to teach. We are all connected and live in an intertwining of community, so what we do effects everyone and everything. Our fruit isn't just about us. Are you bearing good fruit from your beliefs or do your beliefs need some pruning? What effects does your fruit have on how you live in the world?

Seemingly random stories, Jesus?!? Slaughter of the Galileans? Tower of Siloam falling? A Fig Tree needing manure.... We're all gonna die and need repentance. They really do make sense! (This is not a burn or die repentance sermon! LOL)

Paul changes his tone - Listen up.... What are you zealous about? A message about how God shows up for us in powerful ways - in our brokenness. Will we be authentic enough to be real? 

The NBA, the Tour de France, a guardian... The Law. Christ, the fulfillment, the completion... Grace.  The Both/& of Law & Grace. 

As we start a series on Galatians, we will look at our origin stories - any Marvel fans out there? We all have a story, a first experience of Jesus and that becomes the beginning of our new reality.

This sermon follows the killing of George Floyd. We discuss the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the importance of seeing the image of God in every person. To Jesus, there is no Other. 

This ends the 4 part series on living together in community and reflecting on what it means to serve our neighbors.