Central West End Church

Modern culture is deeply committed to the idea of progress: that history is a story headed someplace good. But often, no matter how much progress we make, it feels like we’re stuck in a doom loop. This famous prophecy from Micah shows us how Jesus helps us in the midst of our stuck places.

One of the biggest realities we are wrestling with this past year is the reality that we are not in control. We desperately want control over the world, yet are constantly crushed when our attempts fail. This is an admittedly bleak picture. But it is precisely into the bleakness of this reality that this passage about a coming King speaks most powerfully.

One of the biggest realities we are wrestling with this past year is the reality that we are not in control. We desperately want control over the world, yet are constantly crushed when our attempts fail. This is an admittedly bleak picture. But it is precisely into the bleakness of this reality that this passage about a coming King speaks most powerfully.

Many people are spiritually curious, but suspicious of traditional religion. How would Jesus speak into this? What is authentic spirituality? Jesus shows us in this passage, which is about his relationship to God’s word.

Many people are spiritually curious, but suspicious of traditional religion. How would Jesus speak into this? What is authentic spirituality? Jesus shows us in this passage, which is about his relationship to God’s word.

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In the beatitudes, Jesus offers us an “aspirational identity.” The challenge is, much of it isn’t anything we would aspire to. Especially persecution. But what if Jesus sees more of reality than we do? What if persecution is part of a greater life, and a deeper joy, he offers?

In the beatitudes, Jesus offers us an “aspirational identity.” The challenge is, much of it isn’t anything we would aspire to. Especially persecution. But what if Jesus sees more of reality than we do? What if persecution is part of a greater life, and a deeper joy, he offers?

We live in a world that is being torn apart by division, polarization, tribalism, demonization, and violence. Our world desperately needs people to bridge the division and begin the work of reweaving a world that’s tearing apart. Jesus shows us how in the seventh beatitude.