The Rule of Life at a Glance 

Communion

RECONCILING to God through Sharing the Eucharist

CREATING SPACE to be Shaped by Scripture and Prayer

SUBMITTING our time by Gathering for Worship and Sabbath Rest

Community

RECONCILING to one another by Speaking With Integrity (Matthew 18 Communication)

CREATING SPACE for Spiritual Investment (Discipleship)

SUBMITTING to one another by Listening in Humility (Communal Discernment and Mutual Submission)

 Co-Mission

Joining in God’s RECONCILING acts of Justice and Mercy by Testifying as Witnesses

CREATING SPACE for Family on Mission (Neighborhood Churches and People of Peace)

SUBMITTING our abundance by Giving our Resources

This past Sunday we spent time unpacking some of what God has done in our community over the past two years and where we are looking to go. If you are interested in the comings-and-goings of Kairos this update is for you.

15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,

    and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,

    and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” - Matthew 11:15-19

Jesus tells people who he is by WHAT HE DOES...He declares that John the Baptist is, in fact, ELIJAH reincarnate. He then goes on to describe the Kingdom of God in very confusing sounding terms...that it is VIOLENT and VIOLENT PEOPLE RAID IT? What does he mean by this?

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.9 Then what did you go out to see? A PROPHET Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 FROM THE DAYS OF JOHN the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been SUBJECTED TO VIOLENCE, and violent people have been RAIDING IT. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied UNTIL JOHN. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the ELIJAH who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. - Matthew 11:6-15

In Matthew 11:1-6, John the Baptist asks if Jesus is the one. But last time we saw John, he seemed rather sure that his cousin Jesus was the Messiah. We dig into the text to find out why and how Jesus gives a multilayered response that's both looking back and looking forward, to help John, and us, find peace for the present and hope for the future.

Jesus calls ALL followers to live into the kind of life he lead…LOVING EVERYONE, Standing against EVIL, Identifying as the WEAK and VULNERABLE, Speaking TRUTH. His followers are PROPHETS, SERVANTS, MISSIONARIES, MARTYRS…CHILDREN! These are NOT OPTIONAL subcategories of discipleship the same way the BEATITUDES are for all of us.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” - Matthew 10:40-42

We are always looking for SHORTCUTS to the EASY LIFE; Jesus is always inviting us into the CHALLENGE of following him, of losing our comfort to find the GOOD LIFE! We do that by COMMITTING to living by HIS PRIORITIES and PRINCIPLES: Loving Our Enemies, Peacemaking that disrupts the Status Quo, and ultimately through Scorn, Stigma and Martyrdom.

The COST of following Jesus is imensense, but the reward is a LIFE FULL OF GOODNESS. He REQUIRES LOYALTY from us that transcends all other relationships, including (and maybe especially) our FAMILIES…if we withhold areas of our lives from Jesus we will never find the fullness of life he offers and ultimately will be unable to walk through the challenging doors of discipleship that come with alienation and persecution, we will never be able to stand up to our friends or family, let alone the POWERS and PRINCIPALITIES that are opposed to the Rule of The KING…JESUS!

"To agree to follow Jesus is to sign away all rights to a quiet life of self-determination…But the way to peace is not the way of avoidance of conflict, and Jesus will be continuously engaged in robust controversy…their mission to establish God's peaceful rule can be accomplished only by sharing his experience of conflict." - R T France

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law

36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not WORTHY of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 Whoever does not take up their CROSS and follow me is not WORTHY of me.

39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. - Matthew 10:32-39

Following Jesus in the face of persecution causes us to examine our motivations and our "planks".

Jesus initially sends just 12 of his disciples out with the job of proclaiming the KINGDOM OF GOD...the "GOOD NEWS". Before they begin their MISSION as his WITNESSES, Jesus warns them that:

JESUS unsettles everyone who encounters him, be prepared DIVISION...this division will cause PERSECUTION (which also comes from WITHIN the religious community).

There Are TWO BAPTISMS

The BAPTISM of RITUAL relies on DISCIPLINE and SELF-MADE-RIGHTEOUSNESS

The BAPTISM of the SPIRIT relies on the RELATIONAL INTIMACY to FOLLOW WELL

There Are TWO KINGDOMS

The KINGDOM of Israel relies on WORLDLY POWER and FORMAL STRUCTURES – it is NATIONALISM

The KINGDOM of GOD is built on the POWER of the SPIRIT and our ability to HEAR and FOLLOW

When Jesus gives us his SPIRIT he also UPDATES the BOUNDARIES to the MISSION

The GOOD NEWS is the KINGDOM of GOD, we are EMPOWERED to live into that REALITY by the SPIRIT OF GOD

FORGIVENESS of sins EMPOWERS US to choose the “PATHS OF LIFE"

SALVATION is RECEIVING THE SPIRIT

THE GOOD NEWS is the arrival of THE KINGDOM OF GOD

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.

18 On my account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,

20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. - Matthew 10:16-23

The GOOD NEWS is the KINGDOM of GOD, we are EMPOWERED to live into that REALITY by the SPIRIT OF GOD

FORGIVENESS of sins EMPOWERS US to choose the “PATHS OF LIFE"

SALVATION is RECEIVING THE SPIRIT

THE GOOD NEWS is the arrival of THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Disciples PREACH THE SAME MESSAGE as John and Jesus

The Disciples TEACH WITH THE SAME AUTHORITY as Jesus

We are called to excercise greate DISCERNMENT and WISDOM

The POWER of our WORDS creates WORLDS

REJECTING God's MESSENGER is a rejection of GOD

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

...

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

6 GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF ISRAEL.

7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

...

15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

- Matthew 10:1-16