As we conclude our conversations on faith and politics, how might the Spirit be inviting us into deep joy for the sake of our neighborhood? Will we just mimic the doom and gloom and polarizing postures of our culture, or can we offer a deep joy that overflows from having found our joy in the Father?

Article referenced: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/6-ways-christians-wiser-political-engagement/

How do we move from cheap rhetoric and talking points to real reconciliation? Jesus invites us into the family business of reconciliation; to experience His reconciliation and then to extend that to the neighborhood.

In Part 2 of our Faith & Politics series we seek to see faith and politics through the framework of Jesus rather than attempt to fit Jesus into the polarizing frameworks of our day.

Every person in America is political in some way. We can choose not to engage with the duties of citizenship, but that does not mean we do not have them. This week we begin our conversations around faith and politics by taking some steps back and considering the role the church and state play in our lives. We process how should Christians think about politics? What does it look like to lean into love over fear? How do we begin to think from the Jesus framework focused on love for God and neighbor rather than preservation of ourselves?

Main points:

1. Government, order, is god-ordained. On the fundamental level, order is good. And politics is a means of how we organize ourselves, how we order ourselves as a society, and that we shouldn’t be afraid of that, even though it can be quite ugly and imperfect because of our broken world.

2. As followers of Jesus we have a responsibility to bring our values to the public square, to our political engagement. Because following Jesus impacts all of life, we bring those values with us to the political arena.

3. Our posture should be one of love, not violence and fear. And we need to see through to the deep fears that drive our motivations and actions under the surface. Fears that oppose the way of love.

4. The primary driving force behind a follower of Jesus’ engagement in politics is the love of neighbor.

In the midst of conflict, the early followers of Jesus multiplied and grew. They didn't run away or fight in the midst of their fears and conflict. They learned to see Jesus present in the midst of the conflict and grew as a result of it. All healthy things grow and multiply. But it's not always fast and pretty. If we commit to the words, works, and ways of Jesus - loving others in conflict - Jesus will cause us to grow and multiply.

Fear is the enemy of love. The voices of fear are great in life today. In the midst of COVID-19 and social unrest due to racial tensions, it's easy to back away in fear watching from the sidelines as things play out. The early followers of Jesus overcame their fears not by shrinking back, but with supernatural courage.

Today we talk about how fear began to creep into this new family God was forming and the importance of becoming a community of love, not fear.

We continue our series in the book of Acts on the Supernatural. If we're going to live out the words, works, and ways of Jesus, we need help from heaven, supernatural help beyond ourselves. Today we explore how we are all shaped by our culture and our nation. But have we every thought about the habits and liturgies we've been handed by these influences? Have we processed deeply how America is inviting us to be formed? Acts 4 represents this power struggle that followers of Jesus will face.

Continuing in our series on the Supernatural and the book of Acts, we look at Acts 3:1-10, and talk about how the Spirit is empowering us to see people differently, to invite them to look at us, to lock eyes with them, to behold them, to truly see them. In this ripe (beautiful) time, we have an opportunity to lean into Jesus and learn how He sees people. Join us!

Continuing in our series on the Supernatural and the book of Acts, we look at Acts 2 and what the new covenant family of God looks like. This is a family that breaks down cultural barriers and brings people together around the covenant love of God and each other.