Why is it that everyone longs for justice, but we can’t seem to achieve it?

Resources:

N.T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, (New York: HarperCollins, 2006).

Craig Greenfield, “Justice, Prayer and Outrage Fatigue,” Relevant, February 20, 2017, https://relevantmagazine.com/current/nation/justice-prayer-and-outrage-fatigue/.

David Lyle Jeffrey, Luke, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012).

Justo Gonzalez, Luke: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, (Louisville: Presbyterian Publishing, 2010).

This Sunday we explore the importance of gratefulness and the reality of God’s work in unlikely places.

Resources:

Rowan Williams, Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007).

Eugene Peterson, Run With the Horses: The Quest for Life at its Best, (Grand Rapids: Intervarsity, 2009).

Theodoret of Cyr, Interpretation of the Second Letter to Timothy.

This week, we explore the importance of lament in the Christian life, what to do with shame, and what it may look like to have faith the size of a mustard seed.

Resources:

Hasidic Tales, as quoted in Philip Yancey, Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006)

N.T. Wright, "Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It's Not Supposed To,” Time, March 29, 2020, https://time.com/5808495/coronavirus-christianity/

Glenn Packiam, “Five Things to Know About Lament,” NT Wright Online, https://www.ntwrightonline.org/five-things-to-know-about-lament/

Esau McCaulley, "Ahmaud Arbery and the America That Doesn’t Exist,” NewYork Times, May 10, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/opinion/ahmaud-arbery-justice.html

Augustine, “Sermon 246.3."

Resources:

Preston Sharpe

Walter Brueggemann

Robert Farrar Capon

Chris Green

Tim Mackie

Resources:

Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation As an Exercise in Hope (Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2019).

Robert Farrar Capon, Kingdom, Grace, Judgment: Paradox, Outrage, and Vindication in the Parables of Jesus (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985).

Fleming Rutledge, “We Will Be There,” Advent: the Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018).

Resources:

Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best (Downers Grove: IVP, 2009).

Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Pastoral Letters, (London: SPCK, 2003).

Peter Rollins, “The Payoff,” The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales, (Brewster: Paraclete Press, 2009).

Henri Nouwen, Can You Drink the Cup, (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1996).

If this podcast has been meaningful to you, we invite you to donate to the work of Sacrament Church at www.sacramentchurch.com/give

Our theme for this season is Desert People as we seek to live our lives in full dependence on the one who created us, sustains us, and has redeemed us.

Our church is literally in a "wandering" season right now as we seek out our new meeting space. Please pray for our building committee as we meet for the first time this week. Pray for wisdom and an ear attuned to the voice of God.

Also, as we approach Easter, please continue to pray for those in our city without a church home. Pray that Sacrament might continue to be a loving shelter for those who are wandering.

Next Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time when the Church has focused on repentance, prayer, and cultivating humility. It’s kind of like a “Spring cleaning for the soul.” This is a good time to lean in to faith by giving up some things (fasting) and taking on some things (prayer, worship, serving).

At Sacrament Church, we have several ways that we are orienting towards this season. Our theme is “Desert People” as we seek to walk with God through desert seasons.

This Sunday, we will hear the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This is the moment where Jesus is revealed in glory all while pointing us to the cross.

Most of you know that I have a 6 1/2 year old little girl named Lucy. As any parent knows, one of the important parts of parenting is setting boundaries, rules, guidelines for behavior. This is always one of the hardest parts for me. We are constantly asking ourselves, "Is it appropriate for her to be doing this?" I find myself vacillating back and forth between permissiveness and strictness.

Why do we have rules at all? Because we want what is best for our little girl. We want her to 1) hurt herself (pretty basic stuff here); 2) grow up to live in harmony with others and the world. 3) To be a blessing to the world! Our desire is not to oppress her or burden her, though she may feel oppressed and burdened in the moment (cleaning her room is SO HARD!). 

We understand this when it comes to parenting. But what if we understood God's laws this way? God sets the path of life before us. He calls us to walk that path because it is the way to life! The other paths won't do. They lead to emptiness and to death.

The reality is that we can never seem to keep our toes on the path of life. We are "prone to wander" as the old song says. The good news is that there is one who was fully faithful, even when we failed.

This week, we hear the part of Jesus' sermon about anger, lust, and lies. Each of these are dangerous and need to be squashed at the earliest opportunity. Even as we struggle, we trust in the one who pushed each of these aside for our sake.

Every week we are reminded of who we are as the people of God. By his grace, God has called us into something special.

In Matthew 5, Jesus says that we are salt. What does salt do? It adds flavor and it preserves. The Church is invited and called to join God is becoming the flavor of the world, keeping the world from the rot of sin. 

Jesus also says that we are light. What does that mean? In a polarized world of bickering camps, broken people and broken systems, the Church somehow stands apart, shining the light of Christ into the darkness.

Join us as we hear the good news of who God is and the kingdom he has invited us to join.