Journey Church

Pentecost. The birth of the church. From an extraordinary event flows an ordinary living. In the routine rhythms of life, the love story of Jesus is exchanged and the world is never the same.

The power of God is not impersonal. God gives power through His Spirit. This power is not a worldly power, one of imposition and manipulation. It is a power of transcendent love and understanding. Jesus’ last words to His followers were to go and give this power of love to the world.

We seem to spend a great deal of time trying to convince ourselves that we are unique and significant. We long to be valued. We are looking for endorsement. In the midst of these struggles, Hannah pours out her pain before God. God responds to her prayers, and Hannah displays a deep mature love for God as she gives back to God that which is most precious.

Several fisherman who had followed the teachings of Jesus returned to their favorite fishing spot and were unsuccessful. A stranger guided them to fish on the other side of their boat. They scored a huge catch. They were invited to bring some of their catch and join the stranger on the beach for a breakfast cookout. Turns out the stranger was the resurrected Jesus. He asks “The Rock,” a fisherman named Simon Peter if he truly loves Him. He repeats the question ushering in restoration and a new commission. Peter, displays his desire and struggle repeatedly, giving hope to all of Jesus followers who live in the tension of the two.

A band of Jesus early followers visit His gravesite. This is followed by varied response to the revelation that His body was no longer there. Mary bumps into a gardener that turns out to be Jesus. He speaks her name and recognition follows. Jesus instructs and guides her regarding what to do next. Jesus reveals himself on sequential Sundays to His followers. That becomes a big deal. His followers have been meeting on Sunday’s ever since. Jesus offers some specific direction for a doubter, and then reminds everyone who trusts him without seeing His body, that they are blessed at a different level than those whose trust comes from living proof.

Jesus publically acknowledges his role as Messiah. He fulfills prophesy and stirs the imaginations of the Jews as they begin to recognize that Jesus is the coming King. Gentile truth seekers, enter the story curious to find answers about Jesus. Jesus summarizes what it means to follow him. He will set the example. To be where Jesus will be, to experience Him in an alternate reality, one must die.

At Jesus home away from home outside of Jerusalem his good friend Lazarus gets sick. His sisters send word to Jesus who intentionally does not come in time to save him. Lazarus dies. Jesus makes the point to his disciples that all of this is a set-up for God’s glory, which is the point in life anyway. When Jesus arrives, the emotion of the scene get to him. What is at play both in the physical dimension and in the spiritual dimension is dramatic and intense. Jesus overcomes death, and brings Lazarus back to life.

Jesus teaches about safety and faith revealed through a sheep pen and a pasture. He describes the gentleness, strength, and attentiveness of a good shepherd. Two months later Jesus references this teaching. He confronts the religious elite about their determination for certainty, while continuously displaying his messianic credentials and beautifully dismantling their arguments and theories.

Our Journey high school students share from there hearts about the people and experiences they encountered while serving in Florida over their spring break. These stories are inspiring our students to boldly live out the love story of Jesus.

Jesus comes across a blind beggar who has been embedded into the story by God. The man is sent away with specific instructions. He complies. He is healed, and is then questioned by everyone regarding the legitimacy of his story. As he tells his story he begins to see discover something about Jesus. He is eventually treated as an outcast and Jesus finds him yet again. This time he is given an entirely different kind of sight. All of this is set in contrast to fundamentalists who are obsessed with being right.