• Luke 12:1-12• What is hypocrisy here? “A person whose conduct is not determined by God but who claims it is.” DANGEROUS. Because you don’t realize it until it is too late – the bread has already baked and now you see – but your dough it ruined. • “…Jesus regards them as misdirected in their fundamental understanding of God’s purpose and, therefore, incapable of discerning the authentic meaning of the Scriptures and, therefore, unable to present anything other than the impression of piety. Important from a rhetorical point of view, Jesus does not regard the Pharisees as unique in their failure to live with integrity a life oriented around absolute love of God and neighbor. His followers, too, are susceptible; hence, he presents this warning lest they contract the same ingressive agent whose decay has already become evident among the Pharisees.” –Joel Green• “The real enemy is the one who longs to cast people into Gehenna. This cannot mean that one should fear God, though in some senses that is a good and right thing to do. It means that one should recognize who the ultimate enemy is. In this picture, God is not the enemy to be feared; God is the one to trust, the one who values his children more highly than a whole flock of sparrows, who has the very hairs of our head all numbered.” –NT Wright• What is blasphemy? Claiming that God’s work is not God’s work – or claiming what is not God’s work is.• “If you say that the Spirit’s work is in fact the work of the devil, you have begun to call evil good and good evil, a moral cul-de-sac without turning room. Here in Luke 12 the intention seems broader. Someone who sees Jesus at work and misunderstands what is going on may speak against him, only to discover the truth and repent. But if someone denounces the work of the Spirit, such a person is cut off by that very action from profiting from that work. Once you declare that the spring of fresh water is in fact polluted, you will never drink from it. The one sure thing about this saying is that if someone is anxious about having committee the sin against the Holy Spirit, their anxiety is a clear sign that they have not.” –NT Wright• “Loyalty, then, is required for disciples, not only when the Twelve were following Jesus on the road but when we, today, take it upon ourselves to enlist under his banner and follow where he leads. Luke 12 is a standing rebuke to all casual, half-hearted, relaxed Christianity. The warnings about dangerous foes, and the promise that our God knows and cares about the smallest details of our lives, combine to challenge us to dedicated, single-minded discipleship.” –NT Wright• Luke 15:1-10• Lost coin: dowry in a barter economy – 10% of lifetime worth.Avg salary - $50,000Over 40 years = $2 million10% = $200,000If you lost that you better be cleaning your house!

• Luke 12:1-12• What is hypocrisy here? “A person whose conduct is not determined by God but who claims it is.” DANGEROUS. Because you don’t realize it until it is too late – the bread has already baked and now you see – but your dough it ruined. • “…Jesus regards them as misdirected in their fundamental understanding of God’s purpose and, therefore, incapable of discerning the authentic meaning of the Scriptures and, therefore, unable to present anything other than the impression of piety. Important from a rhetorical point of view, Jesus does not regard the Pharisees as unique in their failure to live with integrity a life oriented around absolute love of God and neighbor. His followers, too, are susceptible; hence, he presents this warning lest they contract the same ingressive agent whose decay has already become evident among the Pharisees.” –Joel Green• “The real enemy is the one who longs to cast people into Gehenna. This cannot mean that one should fear God, though in some senses that is a good and right thing to do. It means that one should recognize who the ultimate enemy is. In this picture, God is not the enemy to be feared; God is the one to trust, the one who values his children more highly than a whole flock of sparrows, who has the very hairs of our head all numbered.” –NT Wright• What is blasphemy? Claiming that God’s work is not God’s work – or claiming what is not God’s work is.• “If you say that the Spirit’s work is in fact the work of the devil, you have begun to call evil good and good evil, a moral cul-de-sac without turning room. Here in Luke 12 the intention seems broader. Someone who sees Jesus at work and misunderstands what is going on may speak against him, only to discover the truth and repent. But if someone denounces the work of the Spirit, such a person is cut off by that very action from profiting from that work. Once you declare that the spring of fresh water is in fact polluted, you will never drink from it. The one sure thing about this saying is that if someone is anxious about having committee the sin against the Holy Spirit, their anxiety is a clear sign that they have not.” –NT Wright• “Loyalty, then, is required for disciples, not only when the Twelve were following Jesus on the road but when we, today, take it upon ourselves to enlist under his banner and follow where he leads. Luke 12 is a standing rebuke to all casual, half-hearted, relaxed Christianity. The warnings about dangerous foes, and the promise that our God knows and cares about the smallest details of our lives, combine to challenge us to dedicated, single-minded discipleship.” –NT Wright• Luke 15:1-10• Lost coin: dowry in a barter economy – 10% of lifetime worth.Avg salary - $50,000Over 40 years = $2 million10% = $200,000If you lost that you better be cleaning your house!

• Luke 12:1-12• What is hypocrisy here? “A person whose conduct is not determined by God but who claims it is.” DANGEROUS. Because you don’t realize it until it is too late – the bread has already baked and now you see – but your dough it ruined. • “…Jesus regards them as misdirected in their fundamental understanding of God’s purpose and, therefore, incapable of discerning the authentic meaning of the Scriptures and, therefore, unable to present anything other than the impression of piety. Important from a rhetorical point of view, Jesus does not regard the Pharisees as unique in their failure to live with integrity a life oriented around absolute love of God and neighbor. His followers, too, are susceptible; hence, he presents this warning lest they contract the same ingressive agent whose decay has already become evident among the Pharisees.” –Joel Green• “The real enemy is the one who longs to cast people into Gehenna. This cannot mean that one should fear God, though in some senses that is a good and right thing to do. It means that one should recognize who the ultimate enemy is. In this picture, God is not the enemy to be feared; God is the one to trust, the one who values his children more highly than a whole flock of sparrows, who has the very hairs of our head all numbered.” –NT Wright• What is blasphemy? Claiming that God’s work is not God’s work – or claiming what is not God’s work is.• “If you say that the Spirit’s work is in fact the work of the devil, you have begun to call evil good and good evil, a moral cul-de-sac without turning room. Here in Luke 12 the intention seems broader. Someone who sees Jesus at work and misunderstands what is going on may speak against him, only to discover the truth and repent. But if someone denounces the work of the Spirit, such a person is cut off by that very action from profiting from that work. Once you declare that the spring of fresh water is in fact polluted, you will never drink from it. The one sure thing about this saying is that if someone is anxious about having committee the sin against the Holy Spirit, their anxiety is a clear sign that they have not.” –NT Wright• “Loyalty, then, is required for disciples, not only when the Twelve were following Jesus on the road but when we, today, take it upon ourselves to enlist under his banner and follow where he leads. Luke 12 is a standing rebuke to all casual, half-hearted, relaxed Christianity. The warnings about dangerous foes, and the promise that our God knows and cares about the smallest details of our lives, combine to challenge us to dedicated, single-minded discipleship.” –NT Wright• Luke 15:1-10• Lost coin: dowry in a barter economy – 10% of lifetime worth.Avg salary - $50,000Over 40 years = $2 million10% = $200,000If you lost that you better be cleaning your house!

• Luke 12:1-12• What is hypocrisy here? “A person whose conduct is not determined by God but who claims it is.” DANGEROUS. Because you don’t realize it until it is too late – the bread has already baked and now you see – but your dough it ruined. • “…Jesus regards them as misdirected in their fundamental understanding of God’s purpose and, therefore, incapable of discerning the authentic meaning of the Scriptures and, therefore, unable to present anything other than the impression of piety. Important from a rhetorical point of view, Jesus does not regard the Pharisees as unique in their failure to live with integrity a life oriented around absolute love of God and neighbor. His followers, too, are susceptible; hence, he presents this warning lest they contract the same ingressive agent whose decay has already become evident among the Pharisees.” –Joel Green• “The real enemy is the one who longs to cast people into Gehenna. This cannot mean that one should fear God, though in some senses that is a good and right thing to do. It means that one should recognize who the ultimate enemy is. In this picture, God is not the enemy to be feared; God is the one to trust, the one who values his children more highly than a whole flock of sparrows, who has the very hairs of our head all numbered.” –NT Wright• What is blasphemy? Claiming that God’s work is not God’s work – or claiming what is not God’s work is.• “If you say that the Spirit’s work is in fact the work of the devil, you have begun to call evil good and good evil, a moral cul-de-sac without turning room. Here in Luke 12 the intention seems broader. Someone who sees Jesus at work and misunderstands what is going on may speak against him, only to discover the truth and repent. But if someone denounces the work of the Spirit, such a person is cut off by that very action from profiting from that work. Once you declare that the spring of fresh water is in fact polluted, you will never drink from it. The one sure thing about this saying is that if someone is anxious about having committee the sin against the Holy Spirit, their anxiety is a clear sign that they have not.” –NT Wright• “Loyalty, then, is required for disciples, not only when the Twelve were following Jesus on the road but when we, today, take it upon ourselves to enlist under his banner and follow where he leads. Luke 12 is a standing rebuke to all casual, half-hearted, relaxed Christianity. The warnings about dangerous foes, and the promise that our God knows and cares about the smallest details of our lives, combine to challenge us to dedicated, single-minded discipleship.” –NT Wright• Luke 15:1-10• Lost coin: dowry in a barter economy – 10% of lifetime worth.Avg salary - $50,000Over 40 years = $2 million10% = $200,000If you lost that you better be cleaning your house!

•Luke 11:37-54•Luke 14:15-24•1 Peter 4:8-10•“To really experience the Absolute – that life is radically good, that life courses through me, and that this life is the presence of God – is to experience the essential pattern. When we are reconnected at our core, we leap over years of problem-solving and years of asking questions about ourselves. No surprise that we call it salvation, from the Latin word salus for healing. We shouldn’t put down people who show great euphoria and excitement after a born again or religious experience. They’re right. Suddenly the world makes sense for them. Suddenly it’s okay, despite the absurdity, the injustice, the pain. Life is not so spacious that they can even absorb the contradictions. God is so great, so bottomless, so empty, that God can absorb even the contraries, even the collision of opposites. Thus salvation often feels like a kind of universal amnesty, a total forgiveness of ourselves and all other things.” –Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs•“Hospitality is the practice that keeps the church from becoming a club, a members-only society. Through hospitality an inclusive ideal of community life is affirmed, and we may suppose that implementing this ideal was no easier in the ancient world than in ours. In greeting, meeting, eating, and caring, the church acted as a community with its arms open, attracting inquirers through a practical demonstration of God’s love. “Observe, the hospitality here spoken of,” preached John Chrysostom, “is not merely a friendly reception, but one given with zeal and alacrity, with readiness, as going about it as if one were receiving Christ himself.” From what historians can gather, hospitality – not martyrdom – served as the main motivator for conversions. Early Christians found both spiritual and social power in such acts, for creating inclusive community, a community of radical welcome and love, can put one at odds with authorities.” – Diana Butler Bass, A People’s History of Christianity•“This is a purity manifest in social relations – explicitly, on a behavior, almsgiving, that collapses the distance between the social elite and the needy. Almsgiving, then, does not correspond well to modern-day notions of charity; rather, for Luke, almsgiving was an expressing of genuine social solidarity, of embracing those in need as if they were members of one’s own kin-group.” –Joel Green•“Who will eat bread in the kingdom? Those who, like the aristocratic host of Jesus’ story, take leave of deeply embedded social norms concerning status honor – norms that erect barricades between the rich and the poor and/or lead to power-ridden relationships of obligation – and embrace a new social order governed by the kingdom of God with its concern for the destitute and outcast.” Joel Green•Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "The church is the church only when it exists for others."•That’s the way we evangelize.•Compassion•Generosity•Eating together•Inclusion•Love•Grace•Conversations•Listening•Embracing•Hospitality•Creating circles of protection

•Luke 11:37-54•Luke 14:15-24•1 Peter 4:8-10•“To really experience the Absolute – that life is radically good, that life courses through me, and that this life is the presence of God – is to experience the essential pattern. When we are reconnected at our core, we leap over years of problem-solving and years of asking questions about ourselves. No surprise that we call it salvation, from the Latin word salus for healing. We shouldn’t put down people who show great euphoria and excitement after a born again or religious experience. They’re right. Suddenly the world makes sense for them. Suddenly it’s okay, despite the absurdity, the injustice, the pain. Life is not so spacious that they can even absorb the contradictions. God is so great, so bottomless, so empty, that God can absorb even the contraries, even the collision of opposites. Thus salvation often feels like a kind of universal amnesty, a total forgiveness of ourselves and all other things.” –Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs•“Hospitality is the practice that keeps the church from becoming a club, a members-only society. Through hospitality an inclusive ideal of community life is affirmed, and we may suppose that implementing this ideal was no easier in the ancient world than in ours. In greeting, meeting, eating, and caring, the church acted as a community with its arms open, attracting inquirers through a practical demonstration of God’s love. “Observe, the hospitality here spoken of,” preached John Chrysostom, “is not merely a friendly reception, but one given with zeal and alacrity, with readiness, as going about it as if one were receiving Christ himself.” From what historians can gather, hospitality – not martyrdom – served as the main motivator for conversions. Early Christians found both spiritual and social power in such acts, for creating inclusive community, a community of radical welcome and love, can put one at odds with authorities.” – Diana Butler Bass, A People’s History of Christianity•“This is a purity manifest in social relations – explicitly, on a behavior, almsgiving, that collapses the distance between the social elite and the needy. Almsgiving, then, does not correspond well to modern-day notions of charity; rather, for Luke, almsgiving was an expressing of genuine social solidarity, of embracing those in need as if they were members of one’s own kin-group.” –Joel Green•“Who will eat bread in the kingdom? Those who, like the aristocratic host of Jesus’ story, take leave of deeply embedded social norms concerning status honor – norms that erect barricades between the rich and the poor and/or lead to power-ridden relationships of obligation – and embrace a new social order governed by the kingdom of God with its concern for the destitute and outcast.” Joel Green•Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "The church is the church only when it exists for others."•That’s the way we evangelize.•Compassion•Generosity•Eating together•Inclusion•Love•Grace•Conversations•Listening•Embracing•Hospitality•Creating circles of protection

•Luke 11:37-54•Luke 14:15-24•1 Peter 4:8-10•“To really experience the Absolute – that life is radically good, that life courses through me, and that this life is the presence of God – is to experience the essential pattern. When we are reconnected at our core, we leap over years of problem-solving and years of asking questions about ourselves. No surprise that we call it salvation, from the Latin word salus for healing. We shouldn’t put down people who show great euphoria and excitement after a born again or religious experience. They’re right. Suddenly the world makes sense for them. Suddenly it’s okay, despite the absurdity, the injustice, the pain. Life is not so spacious that they can even absorb the contradictions. God is so great, so bottomless, so empty, that God can absorb even the contraries, even the collision of opposites. Thus salvation often feels like a kind of universal amnesty, a total forgiveness of ourselves and all other things.” –Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs•“Hospitality is the practice that keeps the church from becoming a club, a members-only society. Through hospitality an inclusive ideal of community life is affirmed, and we may suppose that implementing this ideal was no easier in the ancient world than in ours. In greeting, meeting, eating, and caring, the church acted as a community with its arms open, attracting inquirers through a practical demonstration of God’s love. “Observe, the hospitality here spoken of,” preached John Chrysostom, “is not merely a friendly reception, but one given with zeal and alacrity, with readiness, as going about it as if one were receiving Christ himself.” From what historians can gather, hospitality – not martyrdom – served as the main motivator for conversions. Early Christians found both spiritual and social power in such acts, for creating inclusive community, a community of radical welcome and love, can put one at odds with authorities.” – Diana Butler Bass, A People’s History of Christianity•“This is a purity manifest in social relations – explicitly, on a behavior, almsgiving, that collapses the distance between the social elite and the needy. Almsgiving, then, does not correspond well to modern-day notions of charity; rather, for Luke, almsgiving was an expressing of genuine social solidarity, of embracing those in need as if they were members of one’s own kin-group.” –Joel Green•“Who will eat bread in the kingdom? Those who, like the aristocratic host of Jesus’ story, take leave of deeply embedded social norms concerning status honor – norms that erect barricades between the rich and the poor and/or lead to power-ridden relationships of obligation – and embrace a new social order governed by the kingdom of God with its concern for the destitute and outcast.” Joel Green•Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "The church is the church only when it exists for others."•That’s the way we evangelize.•Compassion•Generosity•Eating together•Inclusion•Love•Grace•Conversations•Listening•Embracing•Hospitality•Creating circles of protection

•Luke 11:37-54•Luke 14:15-24•1 Peter 4:8-10•“To really experience the Absolute – that life is radically good, that life courses through me, and that this life is the presence of God – is to experience the essential pattern. When we are reconnected at our core, we leap over years of problem-solving and years of asking questions about ourselves. No surprise that we call it salvation, from the Latin word salus for healing. We shouldn’t put down people who show great euphoria and excitement after a born again or religious experience. They’re right. Suddenly the world makes sense for them. Suddenly it’s okay, despite the absurdity, the injustice, the pain. Life is not so spacious that they can even absorb the contradictions. God is so great, so bottomless, so empty, that God can absorb even the contraries, even the collision of opposites. Thus salvation often feels like a kind of universal amnesty, a total forgiveness of ourselves and all other things.” –Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs•“Hospitality is the practice that keeps the church from becoming a club, a members-only society. Through hospitality an inclusive ideal of community life is affirmed, and we may suppose that implementing this ideal was no easier in the ancient world than in ours. In greeting, meeting, eating, and caring, the church acted as a community with its arms open, attracting inquirers through a practical demonstration of God’s love. “Observe, the hospitality here spoken of,” preached John Chrysostom, “is not merely a friendly reception, but one given with zeal and alacrity, with readiness, as going about it as if one were receiving Christ himself.” From what historians can gather, hospitality – not martyrdom – served as the main motivator for conversions. Early Christians found both spiritual and social power in such acts, for creating inclusive community, a community of radical welcome and love, can put one at odds with authorities.” – Diana Butler Bass, A People’s History of Christianity•“This is a purity manifest in social relations – explicitly, on a behavior, almsgiving, that collapses the distance between the social elite and the needy. Almsgiving, then, does not correspond well to modern-day notions of charity; rather, for Luke, almsgiving was an expressing of genuine social solidarity, of embracing those in need as if they were members of one’s own kin-group.” –Joel Green•“Who will eat bread in the kingdom? Those who, like the aristocratic host of Jesus’ story, take leave of deeply embedded social norms concerning status honor – norms that erect barricades between the rich and the poor and/or lead to power-ridden relationships of obligation – and embrace a new social order governed by the kingdom of God with its concern for the destitute and outcast.” Joel Green•Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "The church is the church only when it exists for others."•That’s the way we evangelize.•Compassion•Generosity•Eating together•Inclusion•Love•Grace•Conversations•Listening•Embracing•Hospitality•Creating circles of protection

Fragrant offerings:Psalm 141:1-4Revelation 5:6-8Phil 4:17-192 Cor 2:14-17Luke 11:1-11, 33-36“I know that if I feel any deprivation or fear about money, the solution is to give. The solution is to go find some mothers on the streets of San Raphael and give them tens and twenties and mail off another $50 to Doctors Without Borders to use for the refugees in Kosovo. Because I know that giving is the way we can feel abundant. Giving is the way that we fill ourselves up…For me the way to fill up is through service and sharing and getting myself to give more than I feel comfortable giving.” Anne LamottGenerosity:-Increases oxytocin which alleviates stress-decreases fear-strengthens immune system which makes us healthier-releases endorphins which make us feel good-helps us to have a deeper sense of abundance -Increases life expectancy-connects us to other people (which has all sorts of benefits)-strengthens our spiritual livesHow do I become more generous?This takes practice – we have to practice being generous…1.Imagine yourself being more generous – imagine giving, being hospitable, volunteering2.Watch other people do it3.Give money generously When giving: i.Imagine where your money is going – how it is blessing others – be blessed by that ii.Pray when you give – “God, I pray that you would use my gift to bring hope, relieve suffering and bring life to this situation and these people – that people would know your love and compassion and follow you because of this gift and that your Kingdom would be increased and allow me to be a deeper part how you use this money for your glory”4.Volunteer. Do it – an hour or more a week and you’ll be happier, live longer and be generally healthier – not to mention, you’ll be serving God and bringing life to others! 5.Remember, this benefits you! It is what God is commanding us and it has incredible affects on our life, our emotions, our health, our relationships and our faith. This is the miracle drug!

Fragrant offerings:Psalm 141:1-4Revelation 5:6-8Phil 4:17-192 Cor 2:14-17Luke 11:1-11, 33-36“I know that if I feel any deprivation or fear about money, the solution is to give. The solution is to go find some mothers on the streets of San Raphael and give them tens and twenties and mail off another $50 to Doctors Without Borders to use for the refugees in Kosovo. Because I know that giving is the way we can feel abundant. Giving is the way that we fill ourselves up…For me the way to fill up is through service and sharing and getting myself to give more than I feel comfortable giving.” Anne LamottGenerosity:-Increases oxytocin which alleviates stress-decreases fear-strengthens immune system which makes us healthier-releases endorphins which make us feel good-helps us to have a deeper sense of abundance -Increases life expectancy-connects us to other people (which has all sorts of benefits)-strengthens our spiritual livesHow do I become more generous?This takes practice – we have to practice being generous…1.Imagine yourself being more generous – imagine giving, being hospitable, volunteering2.Watch other people do it3.Give money generously When giving: i.Imagine where your money is going – how it is blessing others – be blessed by that ii.Pray when you give – “God, I pray that you would use my gift to bring hope, relieve suffering and bring life to this situation and these people – that people would know your love and compassion and follow you because of this gift and that your Kingdom would be increased and allow me to be a deeper part how you use this money for your glory”4.Volunteer. Do it – an hour or more a week and you’ll be happier, live longer and be generally healthier – not to mention, you’ll be serving God and bringing life to others! 5.Remember, this benefits you! It is what God is commanding us and it has incredible affects on our life, our emotions, our health, our relationships and our faith. This is the miracle drug!