The political system in Jesus' day was a mess. It was worse than a mess, it was horrific. And yet Jesus and his followers changed the world. How? By building a different kingdom.
A man named Zacchaeus was living in a pretty comfortable box, until a disruptive encounter with Jesus led him to discover life better than he ever imagined
Two women encounter Jesus in a decisive moment that leads them to do things differently, following Jesus out of the box they become disciples, a role usually reserved for only men.
When disruption happens, the proper response isn't to fix it, or escape it, or try to get back to normal as quickly as possibe. The proper response to disruption, is to stop in our tracks, and turn to God.
Jesus often meets us in the middle of our trouble. What it takes of us is to lean in, to look and listen, and maybe invite a few friends to join us along the way.
Jesus couldn't seem to resist shaking things up - like when he returned to his hometown for a visit. Why is disruption so pivotal, and how can it lead us to better things?
Forgiving someone who has wronged us, and receiving forgiveness when we have been in the wrong, can be one of the most difficult things to do. How is God "with us" in times like that?