Providence Church

Packages have become a normal part of our everyday life, but receiving a package is still an event that can generate some excitement. So much so, that one of the most popular genres of videos on YouTube are “unboxing” videos. These are videos that simply show people opening boxes of items and showing what is in the box. Why is it that something as simple as opening a box can generate so much excitement and interest? There are many reasons one can point to, but often it boils down to one fundamental issue…Awe. As Jesus begins to give the disciples a deeper look at who He is, awe is what begins to overtake them…but not everyone. What is the difference by those that are in awe of Jesus and those that simply miss him?

Did Jesus’s family think he was crazy? When Jesus dismisses his family’s concerns what does that tell us about what Jesus was trying to do? These questions are central to our understanding of Jesus and his mission. What we learn is that family is everything for Jesus, but his family is much, much bigger than his earthly bloodline.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is share our stories- to bear witness to God’s faithfulness in our own lives and in the midst of our trials. John McClellan graciously shares with us his history of fighting anxiety and mental health. In doing so, he shows us that even in the midst of dark days and an uncertain future, God was still with him. John’s testimony can be a help to anyone struggling to know if God is there or if you’re in this alone.

Soil, seed, lampstands, and jars. What do those simple objects have to do with God’s word? When Jesus uses parables, we would do well to listen and IF we do listen- he will speak. Time and time again we are told that if we seek God, we will find him. But the twin truth to that is that if we do not give our time and attention to him, then one day we’ll find we can hear him no more.

Reading the stories of Jesus in the Book of Luke is compelling. Who wouldn’t follow a man that taught with such power, healed the sick, and raised the dead? It’s not every day (or ever) that someone like that comes along. Yet time and time again we see people reject Jesus. They walk away and even turn against him. Jesus helps his disciples to understand why this happens and how they should respond.

The filter with which we view the world can tell us a lot about our theology. What do we see when we see people? What do we see when we see Jesus? Do we see problems? Do we see theological riddles? Do we see the world as one big exercise in theological theory and we wait to see if ours plays out? That’s how the Pharisees saw the world, others around them, and even Jesus. But how about us? What do we see when we see “sinners?” Ourselves? Jesus?

There are few people in history that had the confidence of John the Baptist. His belief in Jesus as the Messiah defined every action he took for his entire life. From his miraculous conception to his off-beat preaching and lifestyle, he knew his cousin was the One and he needed to prepare the way. However things didn’t unfold quite like John had imagined and when he stayed in a jail cell, his doubts took over and he needed to be reminded of who Jesus was. So he asked. And Jesus answered. Because that’s what Jesus does. He hears our cries and answers them. But how do we sustain when the answer is often very different from what we had hoped to hear? It’s all about living for the right kingdom.

Different people have different things that pop into their minds when they think of the person of Jesus. Some see kind and compassionate. Some see authority and power. The gospel writers didn’t have that dichotomy. For them, Jesus held and exercised all those characteristics and more. As Luke tells stories about who Jesus really is, he is quick to help us see that both authority and compassion are both essential to the character and nature of Jesus.

To judge or not to judge? That seems to be a popular question in our current cultural moment. When personal autonomy is the assumed right of every person, how are we to cast judgement on personal choices? Can we? Should we?

Take care how you build seems to be pretty straightforward advice. Yet that simple instruction contains a wealth of wisdom and implications. When the storms of life come (not if), how you began your building will determine it’s outcome.