Ah…Leviticus. It’s hard to make sense of it all. It can come across as archaic, even barbaric, an often unrelatable. It can be natural for us to skim through Leviticus or avoid it altogether because it’s hard to interpret. How are we supposed to glean anything from a book that seemingly doesn’t apply to us?

Yet the core concern of Leviticus is one we recognize: How can human beings connect with God? In this sermon from guest preacher, Pastor Gene Park we explore the kinds of sacrifice that connect us to our Creator.

What if there is a better way to solve conflict than fight or flight? A way for us to “pass the peace” to and from each other.

And not just peace in the sense that we often think of it - a peace that resolves conflicts - but a peace that more fully resembles God’s shalom. A peace that establishes wholeness to what was once broken. A peace that restores relationships, and seeks the flourishing of life, purpose, and joy.

In the letter the Philemon, Paul asks a slave owner to do something that doesn’t make sense by societal norms. But it makes sense in light of the gospel.

We can all feel like imposters - that we’re not the right person, that others are better or more qualified. In this sermon, we look at how the Lord encourages Gideon to step forward even though he doesn't think he’s the right person for job.

As we conclude our series on the book of Ruth, we retell the story of God’s love as we’ve experienced it in our own lives. Each chapter of Ruth is accompanied by art and a LifeStory shared by a member of our community and a song that responds to each theme.

Our prayer is that as we sing these songs, hear these passages, and share these stories, we are each reminded of the ways that we have seen God’s hesed love in our own lives. In our hardest moments. As we cling to faith. As we take bold steps. As we trust God in our day to day.

In the story of Ruth, Boaz, a man of wealth and privilege, sacrificed his time, money, and reputation to take care of the Moabite in his field.

This is a picture for us of how God uses power. In God’s hands, power is never used to take advantage of someone or gain more power for God. God always uses power for others.

Admittedly, the example is pretty extreme. Boaz married Ruth. That’s a giant commitment. However, when you look closer, Boaz’s story show us that generosity starts with the next right small thing.

You've wrestled and you've prayed and you did the thing. You left your job. You decided you’re going to tell our small group about your addiction. You moved your family across the country. You went through foster care training. You went to counseling. You asked that person out. You got up and you exercised.

And now, you're waiting…waiting to see what, if anything, God will do.

What do you do when there’s no easy answer, but you need an answer, a solution, a direction, something, because where you are isn’t working anymore?

Where do we find seeds of hope when our path feels like a long uphill slog, when things aren’t working out, when we feel obscured, neglected, unseen?