No matter who you are or where you’ve been Jesus has hope for you. The twists and turns of the story of His life ended up in a grave on Friday, but three days later Jesus walked out of the grave and the course of history changed forever. It was an unusual place to find hope for humanity, but if you look and if you listen, you’ll find that there’s hope for all of us.

Perhaps there is no greater example of self-less giving than God giving of himself. On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem, beginning what has come to be called Holy Week. As he rides in, he is fulfilling prophesy and ultimately, the reason for his coming. For God so loved the world that He gave...We are called to give, self-lessly, just like God. 

The widow put the least in the offering, but Jesus demonstrates through her that generosity is not just for those who are wealthy or have it all together. We will be generous even with our small gifts, talents, and acts of service.

The parable of the good Samaritan shows the importance of being generous with our time to serve others. We will take time to be generous and serve others in our church and community.

Generosity is a virtue that comes from the character of God and consists of giving to others without getting anything in return. Paul tells the church in Corinth to be generous in giving to others. God will take care of them. Giving generously represents God and is an example of our trust in Him.

Malachi speaks the words of God to the people of Israel revealing the promise of one who would come. This One would embody the fullness of God to humanity - the refiner who will purify the people. This was the great hope and expectation of God's people. This would be fulfilled in the Messiah - Jesus. Jesus came and revealed God's great salvation once and for all. 

The people struggled to survive in their homeland after the exile. Families and marriages felt the tension. Marriage covenants were broken and many started unholy relationships. Marriage serves an important role in the story of God as a reflection of God's relationship with the people. It is used as a representation of His love for the people and as Jesus' relationship to the church. God loves his covenant with his people, and believers are called to reflect this. 

The people have become lazy with their worship of God. They even complain about the worship becoming wearisome and are offering God tainted offerings. It's a reflection of their hearts. We tend to be people who worship based on what we can get out of the experience. When we treat God as a vending machine, we diminish the power of His name. God desires for his people to express their adoration and devotion to him with reverence and adoration. 

After returning from the exile, the people of God continually became indifferent and forgetful of how God had moved in their lives. Often, just like the Israelites, when tragedy or unmet expectations arise, it can cause us to question God's intentions and promises toward us. God loves his people with a fierce and jealous love that requires them to respond to him and to mirror that love to others.

Speaker: Robin Gough
Date: February 7, 2021

The fruit isn't for the branches but to grow more fruit. This Sunday, enter a conversation with our Discipleship, Family Life, and Outreach ministers on how you can Connect now and find your next step in becoming more like Jesus.