Gracepoint Church of Oroville - Gracepoint Church

The Kingdom of Heaven isn't a random assemblage of moral maxims and rules. The Kingdom of Heaven is about setting the world to right — the reconciliation of Creator and all creation. Today our scriptural passage reminds us that if we want to fully enter into that reality, then we must be willing to be active participants in God’s ongoing work of righteousness.

Our scripture today reminds us that Jesus is present wherever two or three gather in his name. Our hope and strength do not rest in programs, buildings, crowds, music or charismatic speakers; we rest secure in the unshakeable promise that Jesus himself is present among us. Let us walk therefore in that confidence!

Today we conclude our journey through the Psalms of Ascent. In this adult Bible study series, we have explored the Songs of Ascents that were sung by pilgrims on their way up to worship in Jerusalem. In these songs (Psalms 120-134) we find encouragement for modern pilgrims as we learn to grow in worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community and blessing.

What a relief to know that I am not the Christ! What a liberating revelation! This scriptural passage challenges us to take seriously our call to be friends of the bridegroom. May the Lord deliver us from messiah complexes and help us truly and honestly find joy in His increase.

"Lift your praising hands!" - Psalm 134 reminds the pilgrim that the way of discipleship that begins in an act of repentance concludes in a life of praise/blessing. Our destination is a blessed one.

Psalm 133 reminds us that whether we like it or not, from the moment we begin to walk on this pilgrim pathway, our lives are joined to that of other pilgrims. God never makes private, secret salvation deals with people. His relationships with us are personal, true; intimate, yes; but private, no. No Christian is an only child.

The story of Zacchaeus challenges us to see both ourselves and one another, first and foremost, as humans noticed and loved by God. Even when we are so very far from being the people who God created us to be, this story reminds us that God still sees us as sons and daughters of Abraham.

As disciples, we want a Christian faith that has stability but is not petrified, that has vision but is not hallucinatory. Psalm 132 is a psalm of David’s obedience. The psalm shows obedience as a lively, adventurous response of faith that is rooted in historical fact and reaches into a promised hope.

Today as we celebrate and honor our mothers, we are reminded by our scriptural passage from Luke’s gospel that Jesus is a true friend and help to mothers. In Jesus, we see the reflection of a God who is moved with compassion at the struggles and challenges faced by mothers.

Christian faith need continuous maintenance. It requires attending to. Psalm 131 is a maintenance psalm. It is functional to the person of faith as pruning is functional to the gardener: it gets ride of that which looks good to those who don’t know any better, and reduces the distance between our hearts and their roots in God. We are always, it seems, reeling from one side of the road to the other as we travel the way of faith. We are, alternately, rebellious runaways and whining babies. Psalm 131 calls us to another way, the plain way of quiet Christian humility. It calls us to rediscover the quietness of the weaned child, the tranquility of maturing trust.