Providence Church

Once Jesus had set his course toward Jerusalem, He had plenty of chances to quit. A death threat from a conniving, dangerous ruler would deter most people, but Jesus doesn’t flinch. In fact, His resolve to move forward on his journey only seems to deepen. What is it that motivated Him to walk a path that He knew would likely end in His death? It’s the same thing that motivated Him to lament those who would not hear His voice and come to Him to sit under His wing of protection- His love.

What happens when our expectations don’t follow along with God’s plans? Can we adjust to the truth that God is teaching us when we’ve always believed something else? This was the situation some questioners of Jesus found themselves in as Jesus taught about the nature of the Kingdom of God. For all that the Jews believed about the Kingdom of God, yeast and a mustard seed would’ve been one of the last things they’d use to teach about the nature of the kingdom. Yet Jesus tells them that the kingdom, and those that will be in it, are likely very different than you might imagine.

Our culture rewards hustle. Hard work is seen as an essential quality in the people we want leading us and working for us. Busyness is the default mode for most. Yet the Bible teaches us of the need to slow down, stop, and rest. It’s even built into the structure of our weeks. So why do we find it so hard? And why do we do it so infrequently? The Jews had so misunderstood the purpose of the sabbath that they had turned the keeping of the sabbath into a job to do- exactly the opposite of it’s purpose. So what about us? Have we missed out on the sabbath? Do we still need it? Is it still commanded? Understanding the role of the sabbath teaches us much greater truths about the law, ourselves, and Jesus.

There are countless ways that we feel the brokenness of this world. Personal and heartbreaking, widespread and tragic- sin will always bring suffering and pain with it. So what do we do when we feel the effects of that sin- when the brokenness just keeps showing up? When Jesus is asked a question about this reality, his response is not one of consolation, but one of warning. What does his warning teach us about our own hearts and the eternity that stands before us?

Not all hospitality is created equal. Sometimes it’s about finger sandwiches and impeccable taste. Biblical hospitality, however, calls us to something much greater. When practiced faithfully, it becomes a soul-shaping practice that God uses to change us and sustain others…and it isn’t optional. (Note: Some elements of the message have been edited for privacy purposes).

The common paradigm for Christian living in this world is that we should “in, but not of” the world. Surely this is good advice; after all, Jesus used those very words when He prayed for his disciples in John 17. However, when you see that advice in action it often looks more like “us vs. them.” Is there a better way to describe our “way of being” in a culture that does not share our values or our God? A tweak in terminology may get us closer to what Jesus had in mind in John 17.

Peter Pan was convinced that the worst thing that could happen to you is that you would grow up. Walt Disney said that the trouble with the world is that people grow up. Jesus said that if you weren’t like a little child, you would never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet Peter, Paul, and others are insistent that we mature and grow and stop acting like little children. Who did Jesus agree wit- Peter Pan and Walt Disney or His apostles? The paradox of following Jesus is that he seems to agree with both. How is that possible?

Contentment or restlessness? Which one does God call us to? The answer seems simple. Paul even tells us the secret to contentment and exhorts us to embrace that along with him. But is it really that simple? Was Paul really content? Or was he driven by something within him- a restlessness that sent him out on missionary journeys and enabled him to endure much suffering and persecution? The answer is in the rhythm between the two. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.

Throughout the Bible, we are called to many things that seem to contradict each other- two callings that seem to tell us to do things that are exactly opposite. Fasting is a common religious practice for many and one that Jesus assumes his followers will do. Yet when asked about the practice, Jesus makes it clear that feasting is also expected for us in response to the joy of the presence of Jesus. So which is appropriate? Which is called for? The answer is, in rhythm, both are appropriate- even necessary responses to following a crucified messiah in a broken world.

The Christian life is full of paradoxes. In following Jesus, we can find instructions that tell us to do things that seem to be in complete contradiction to one another. So how do we do that? Is it about finding balance or is there another way forward for us as we follow Jesus? As we end the Advent season, we ask the question: Do we keep waiting on Jesus or do we pursue him? The answer is all about finding rhythm.