Historical and cultural context. Paul's use of phrases and images is loaded with political ramifications.

What began as a ragtag community of Jesus-followers begins to pick up size and speed as it spreads throughout the region and foreshadows the establishment of a global community united in Christ.

After Jesus' ascension, he "made good" on his promise to give the Holy Spirit. Jesus' followers immediately formed unprecedented COMMUNITIES that both subverted the status quo while inviting the entire world.

God's original covenant with Abraham was based on his grace to build a COMMUNITY for himself; his covenant with Moses was based on Law for that COMMUNITY, (which failed to keep them close) and God's new covenant reestablished a COMMUNITY of grace

God keeps God's promises. God's COMMUNITY, on the other hand, don't always follow suit. What leads our communities to go astray? What warnings does God give? And what will lead us back, as a COMMUNITY, to the arms of our Savior?

God made a promise to Abraham and remembered it when Abraham's descendents were enslaved. Having rescued them, God created a COMMUNITY defined by God's covenant, to be passed on for generations. They passed it on -- will we?

Two times in his relationship with disciples, Jesus challenged them to do their jobs in a new way. The first time was an invitation to be with him. The second time, however, he was getting them ready for his departure. What would this mean for them and their fledgling COMMUNITY?

The disciples rejected the idea of extravagant offering or the idea that suffering was the path to their own salvation. But later it would prove to be essential for the church to spread. What comes from suffering is the treasure of endurance, patience, experience and hope.

Suffering and God are not contradictions, but go hand in hand. The idea that God suffers with and for us is one of the most persuasive teachings for Christianity. I believe that God is closer to suffering than to happiness and that finding God in our pain brings greater peace and lasting joy than any earthly happiness. “We have found peace with God” is something achieved through the Cross. At the Cross we die to ourselves and surrender our will for God’s. This means every trial and suffering is redeemed for God’s glory.

God has reconciled all things. All means all. Under the Cross of Christ we know that we all belong to one another, that we are brothers and sisters in the same need and the same hope. We are bound together in the body of Christ which means we have the same destiny and purpose. We share the same suffering and joys, the same sorrows and successes, but most importantly the same condition of sin and guilt. Under the Cross we are no longer rich or poor, good or bad, Americans or Foreigners… we are one large congregation. What great love of Christ that binds us all together.