Luke 1:1-4, Luke 3:10-22 // Jesus engages in strategic hospitality, over and over, using the common and beautiful tool of a table to pursue sinners. The fact that food was used as a literary device as well as the fact that Luke intentionally records these moments of eating shows us the earthy, gritty reality of how Jesus operated as well as showing us what the new kingdom is like. It is not about ideas and philosophy, it is as concrete and practical as the meal we are eating. Everywhere He went, he brought the table with Him—offering his Words and Himself as food and drink.

God reveals His majesty unexpectedly by establishing strength through babies. (Psalm 8:1-2) Firstly, through a blessed lineage of miraculous fertility. Secondly, through the unsuspecting war cries of babies. God also reveals His majesty unexpectedly by appointing humanity to rule creation. (Psalm 8:3-8)

The entire canon of Scripture sees the emergence of life as a threat to the principalities and powers… [It is no surprise then] that God’s enemies would seek to destroy. The devil’s chief strategy is always to ruin relationship. – Todd Chipman

God in His wisdom invites His creation into meaningful participation that has an impact! God is deeply concerned with the treatment of those who are lowly, orphans, poor, destitute, or needy. Through the incarnation, we see the ultimate act of participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

How does one encounter God in a way that causes them to proclaim His love and faithfulness to people within and outside the body of Christ? Individuals who have been transformed long to speak of their transformation. Altered people love to build altars that speak of what has led to their alteration. Psalm 40:5 – "Lord my God, no one can compare with You. You have done many wonderful things. You have planned to do these things for us. There are too many of them for me to speak completely about."

The way we pursue and offer forgiveness is a powerful demonstration of the mercy of God. This week we are looking at Psalm 51:1-19. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions."

Psalm 23 invites us to revel in God by reveling in His name, in His care for us, and in His house. In the Lord, we have all that we need, He restores our souls, and guides us on the right path. As sheep, our only job is to stay close to the Good Shepherd.

What is important about the book of Psalms? The psalms point to Jesus, were sung by Jesus, and help us connect to Jesus. Why should we pay attention to the psalms? They are a powerful devotional and prayer tool, they validate our human experience, and they connect our present to our past.

"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." The problem is we don’t love, nourish, attend to, and protect our body. When we don’t, it’s not neutral - it is opposite.

The Blessed: Abraham and Sarah show us that we inherit a relationship with a faithful God and access to the power of life.

The Bondservant: Through Hagar the bondservant, we see that we inherit a relationship with a present King and access to the well of life.

The Bridegroom: Ultimately, it is through relationship with the bridegroom that we inherit our true identity as blessed bondservants.

“For the natural man is wholly occupied about the things of this world, and he seeks felicity here … but Christ, by the preaching of the gospel … reforms all our earthly affections, and so having striped us out of the vices of our flesh, he separates us from the world.”

- John Calvin