Own Your Faith

Pastor Byron Davis shares his personal experience of just missing the Olympics in swimming by .2 seconds in the Olympic trials and how the community of brothers accelerated his growth. There are some things in that community that a biblical idea of community is affirmed. The mission of God being effective through the church is dependent upon the people of God being one. Matthew 22:17-20 | John 13:34-35

Taking a look at 1 Corinthians 11 we see Paul rebuking the church for misrepresenting what it means to be the body of Christ. They allowed the culture to influence how they were being in community. They allowed their own selfishness to marginalize some in the community. When we come together we are supposed to come together. We are called to "consider others as more important than ourselves" (Philippians 2:3-5). 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

We begin this short series understanding that God calls us to community. From the very beginning it was not good that a person should be alone. That's not just for marriage, but for all persons. We image God more in community than we do individually. Let's change our perspective from 'I" to "Us." Genesis 1:27 | Genesis 2:18 | Proverbs 18:1

Many people say they want racial reconciliation, but there must be work done to get there. i would even say we ought to use a stronger word that encapsulates diversity, unity, and reconciliation; that word is solidarity. Solidarity mimics between people (groups) what God did when taking on flesh and dwelling with humanity, suffering with and for humanity. Solidarity is about being with and standing with your neighbor in the face of injustice towards your neighbor. Solidarity is the end goal! Ephesians 2:11-22

In light of an anti-social justice movement within the American church seeking to catch momentum and influence the church's engagement in social (racial) injustice, this message affirms the truth that God is a God of justice. God has called the church to participate by doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8). We take a look at the Egyptian housewives who defied Pharaoh's command to kill the Hebrew boys to see what we can learn from them about resistance to unjust people and systems (Exodus 1-3)

It is easy to see racism as a current issue in our society when it is in the form of bigotry. It is not so easy, unless one is adversely impacted, when racism is systemic/structural/institutional. When it is perpetuated by laws, policies, and practices that form a grid in which people live their lives and see people of color. After the man who was helped in the parable of the good Samaritan is healed and well the next person who takes this road may experience the same thing if nothing is done about the conditions that make the road dangerous. The road is analogous to systemic racism that can be passed on to the next generation to have to navigate. Isaiah 10:1,2 | Luke 10:29-37

In the story of the Samaritan man we see the priest and the Levite saw a man that was robbed and left for dead and they intentionally walked to the other side of the road leaving him to die in his injury. The Samaritan man saw the man and entered his space to bring healing and restoration. This parable is not about race or racism, but as a moral analogy, it can speak to how racism has robbed, stripped and beaten people of color, how passive racist see what's happening and do nothing to engage and bring healing, and how we, particularly white bothers and sisters, ought to respond like the Samaritan man by entering the space of the wounded and getting close enough to feel compassion and act as allies and advocates for those who must endure racism in various forms. Luke 10:25-37

The idea of race is as the title suggests, a lie. A white lie is usually told when one thinks that the lie is not significant at all. For hundreds of years humanity, especially in the U.S., has been shaped by the idea of race and the subsequent "system" of racism. The gospel reveals the righteousness of God (Romans 1:17). God is righteous or just by nature and in actions. The gospel should speak to racism too. This series will take a look at what we can learn from the parable of the Samaritan man in Luke 10:25-37.

As we close out the series we take a look at the woman with the issue of blood and her healing encounter with Jesus. Jesus, on his way to heal the daughter of a man of status (Jairus) takes time to give attention to a woman who was considered unclean and without community, the lowest of the low in their society. He makes space for her! He elevates her, as Teesha preaches in this sermon. Mark 5:21-34

A scholar takes a look at the moment when Mary was chosen and declared to be favored by God to bear the Son of God. Just like Mary, a far-fetched, highly unlikely choice for this kingdom assignment of giving birth to Jesus (God in flesh), we too are favored by God with kingdom purposes. God sometimes waits until we are in our most vulnerable space before he calls us to greatness! (Luke 1:26-56)