Easter changes everything! Pastor John, using clips from Disney's "Ratatouille,"draws us back to the central truth that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee that all of God's promises are true and trustworthy. Then, using an illustration from "Cars 2," urges us to trust God's process for our lives by engaging regularly in worship, fellowship, discipleship and service.

In the scripture reading for this message, Jesus tells us that greatness in the kingdom of God is the exact opposite of greatness in the world. In the world, great people have many people under them... the more the better. In the kingdom of God, a great person serves others and the greatest person is the slave of all.

This does not mean that the greatest in the kingdom obey others. It means that great people in the kingdom are looking out for others. Love is the central force in the kingdom of God.

So how do we become the servant of all... not just the nice people, but the people who make it difficult to be kind to them?

First, remember what Christ has done for you. You are redeemed, adopted, reconciled, chosen, restored, renewed, cleansed, etc. You are right with God becuase of what Jesus has done. Unfathomable love has been shown to you. Loved people love people.

Second, remember who is important to Christ. Not just you, but the whole world... including those people who can be difficult to love and serve.

Third, remember that in the end, every situation is between you and God. The other people -- the difficult people -- are just "the current situation." How you treat other people -- whether you serve them or not -- is not between you and them. It is between you and God. It is always between you and God.

Receiving the Kingdom like a child does not mean turning our minds off and asking no questions. Nor does it mean that we think God is going to rescue us from our own foolishness. Receiving the kingdom like a little child means that we trust unquestioningly in God's boundless love for us demontrated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Secure in that foundation, we let our minds and spirits come alive, engaging this wondrous and mysterious life, understanding that we have been given freedom to learn, try, fail, succeed and grow.

In the reading for today, many people think Jesus might be Elijah or John the Baptist. When Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is, Peter responds, "You are the Christ." But what does this mean? Explore some predictions about the Messiah and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the long-predicted, identifiable Savior who is both the Conquering King and the Suffering Servant.

In this Psalm, David praises the God whose anger lasts but a moment, but whose love lasts forever, the God who lifts him up from the pit.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were far from perfect! Yet, they lived lives of faith and because of their faith were seen by God as righteous. Their faith-keeping as they awaited the fulfillment of God's promises is an inspiration to us to be faithful as we wait for the ultimate fulfillment of the promise of eternal life where there is no more sorry, sickness, suffering, pain or death because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were far from perfect! Yet, they lived lives of faith and because of their faith were seen by God as righteous. Their faith-keeping as they awaited the fulfillment of God's promises is an inspiration to us to be faithful as we wait for the ultimate fulfillment of the promise of eternal life where there is no more sorry, sickness, suffering, pain or death because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

People who think about the Reformation at all often think of a short timespan around AD1517 — the year Martin Luther posted his "95 Theses." The Reformation really began a couple hundred years earlier and only peaked during Martin Luther's time. This time in history also saw such luminaries as Copernicus, Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo. Walk with Pastor John through this fascinating and pivotal time in history and learn a few life-lessons for yourself along the way.

Everyone wants something. Power. Money. Prestige. Beauty. Whatever. But if you dig down deep enough, that something is really the Kingdom of God. The book of Hebrews tells us that the Kingdom of God is a matter of "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." Those are the things people really need in their core: Rightousness (to be right with God and right with the people around them), Peace (to have deep inner peace), and and Joy (engagement in a meaningful and enjoyable life).

message June 26, 2011 at Journey of Life Lutheran Church.