Journey Church

Jesus has a meal with a short gangster.  The man recognizes his abuse of power, repents, offers restitution, and becomes a follower of Jesus.  This story is a display of the power of humility.

A question is superimposed over two stories, “What do you want me to do for you?”  We are exposed to a very interesting contrast of motives and understanding.

When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, he went to Matthew’s house to celebrate with Mathew’s friends, other tax collectors.  Jesus welcomes these people, takes time with them, and loves them.  Who are we not loving that we could be?  Who is not in our village that could be?  Neighbors?  Co-workers?

An expectation of forgiveness and worship.

A woman with a bleeding disorder, out of options, possessing only despair reaches out for Jesus and is healed.  Her release from shame and suffering is discovered in her imperfect yet genuine faith.

What would you do if someone you loved were in desperate need? This local leader risks everything for his daughter. He meets Jesus who brings hope and healing. Don’t be afraid. Just believe.

What if there was a conversation already happening in the Trinity, and they were just waiting for you to show up?  James, the brother of Jesus, goes from disbelief to the pastor the first church in history.  He is known as a man of prayer.

God often sends us into the storms of life.  This can be confusing.  It often doesn’t seem loving or kind.  We discover, however, in life’s chaos that we are not in control and this discovery propels us to trust in someone other than ourselves.

What if our role in the story was to be in the background?  What if we don’t get to know what our future holds or how we will impact it?  What if we are just the set-up for the main event?  John famously tells his community, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”