Scripture Talk by Grace Church

Jesus came into the world to blow wide the doors on God's love and grace. We are super used to that idea. The early disciples were not. They grew up in a much more closed down religious environment, and it wasn't clear how they were going to adjust. In Acts 10, Peter sees what God is doing - using Gentiles, Roman Legion Gentiles, and Peter leads the church in welcoming them in. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, and Pastor Scott look at Christianity at its best and most open and worst - at its most closed off.

Acts 8 describes what must have been an extremely strange day for Philip. He’s going about his business, and boom, now he’s ministering to an Ethiopian high official. As soon as that’s over, boom, he’s off to an entire other place. It’s one wild ride. But even in the crazy, he takes time to journey with a man that he didn’t know and help him come to Christ. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, and Pastor Scott look at this story as a good example of modern evangelism - not street corner yelling but intentional journeying.

Picture this: you're being held prisoner by a deadly enemy. That enemy has killed before. They will kill again. All they need you to do is to stop doing one thing. What do you do? Well, in Peter's case, the one thing that the Temple leadership wanted him to stop doing was preaching the Gospel. He chose not to stop - telling them so to their face. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, Pastor Scott, and Stacy wonder aloud how many would do the same?

People like the idea of telling like it is - until it's directed at them. Still, some times, people really do need to hear it like it is. This is what Peter does to an assembled crowd at the Temple in Acts. He shows them their role in what happened to Christ. He, also, doesn't leave them there. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, and Pastor Scott dive into the balanced view of mercy and justice, caring and conviction that Peter sets up.

We once again return to John 20:19-31 for its balance of the joy of Resurrection and its realistic depiction of Christian life. Jesus appears out of nowhere into a locked room, but one disciple misses the joyous appearance. Thomas struggles with belief, and Jesus meets him where he is. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, Pastor Scott, and Stacy focus on how we are all Thomas. We didn't get to see Christ first appearance. We doubt sometimes. Christ meets us too - where ever we are.

Jesus is risen! Roll credits! Mark is already the shortest Gospel, but through historical research, we've found that it's probably even shorter than originally thought. The story ends at 16:8, not 16:20. This short ending of Mark ends jarringly abrupt. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, Pastor Scott, and Stacy work through this sudden and uncertain feeling ending passes the torch to us in our Christian walks.

Did you ever know one of those kids who marched to beat of their own drummer? The whole class was making volcanos, but this kid was drawing unicorns. Maybe, you were one of those kids. Well, in Mark’s telling of Jesus entering Jerusalem, he, too, focuses on what he cares about whether you agree or not. He’s interested in the donkey, where it came from, how it’s going back, how they didn’t steal it. Why, this donkey obsession , you may ask. It makes clear that Jesus is the Messiah, and that’s all that Mark really care about. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, Pastor Scott, and Stacy look at the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem and how it sets up the true nature of who Christ is.

Jesus knew what he faced - painful death. Some Greeks approach him, wanting to hear something, and they certainly get an earful. Christ gives them his steely resolve to do what he was sent to do, and in doing some, he call us all to do the same. He was just as human as we are. He knew that he would feel ever bit of it. He did it anyways and paved the way for us to receive eternal life. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, Pastor Scott, and Stacy gather back together in the studio for the first time in a year to explore the depth of Christ’s humanity.

We had some serious Internet and technical issues, when this episode was supposed to air. So, here in its entirety is Pastor Scott, Sister Brandy, and Stacy running through John 2. It's an opportunity to see Jesus put on his angry eyes and be reminded of God's justice for those who defile God's house.

Jesus gets lifted up, so that he may be lifted up. Then, he gets lifted up. Clear? John 3 is famous for containing the a window deep into the core of Christian faith, and this Greek pun sits right there at that core. Jesus gets lifted up on a cross, so that he may be exalted - making a way for us into eternal life. He then ascends into heaven. All of these are the same word in Greek that roughly translates to being lifted up. Pastor Trey, Sister Brandy, Pastor Scott, and Stacy talk about living our lifted up life now and forever.