Jesus' encounters with people weren’t about him and communicating his purpose; they were about the people he was encountering. These people were the living embodiment of his purpose. Whenever he entered into a conversation with someone he just met, he did so with one motive: to identify their agenda, and meet them in it with Spirit-powered love. He never used his words to mask a hidden motive because he didn’t have one. Instead, he was a servant listening to identify and understand the need of the person so he could meet it. Jesus talked with people without personal agenda. He was sincere, and those who encountered him remarked on his ‘authority,’ his command of the situation, his substantiality. They found him intriguing, refreshing, irresistible . . . authentic. He stood apart.

Jesus' encounters with people weren’t about him and communicating his purpose; they were about the people he was encountering. These people were the living embodiment of his purpose. Whenever he entered into a conversation with someone he just met, he did so with one motive: to identify their agenda, and meet them in it with Spirit-powered love. He never used his words to mask a hidden motive because he didn’t have one. Instead, he was a servant listening to identify and understand the need of the person so he could meet it. Jesus talked with people without personal agenda. He was sincere, and those who encountered him remarked on his ‘authority,’ his command of the situation, his substantiality. They found him intriguing, refreshing, irresistible . . . authentic. He stood apart.

Jesus had tremendous posture toward others, which is not to say that he didn’t slump and was careful to hold his shoulders back—though that very well may have been the case. He went through his day with a posture, a perspective that was grounded in concern and sensitivity toward others. Jesus, who owned next to nothing and often didn’t know where he would sleep from night to night, knew that he had riches to share—an abundance that nothing on earth could take from him and a Heavenly Father who attended to all his needs. He had hope—a living hope—and this freed him up to be very available. He was present.

Jesus had tremendous posture toward others, which is not to say that he didn’t slump and was careful to hold his shoulders back—though that very well may have been the case. He went through his day with a posture, a perspective that was grounded in concern and sensitivity toward others. Jesus, who owned next to nothing and often didn’t know where he would sleep from night to night, knew that he had riches to share—an abundance that nothing on earth could take from him and a Heavenly Father who attended to all his needs. He had hope—a living hope—and this freed him up to be very available. He was present.

Jesus had tremendous posture toward others, which is not to say that he didn’t slump and was careful to hold his shoulders back—though that very well may have been the case. He went through his day with a posture, a perspective that was grounded in concern and sensitivity toward others. Jesus, who owned next to nothing and often didn’t know where he would sleep from night to night, knew that he had riches to share—an abundance that nothing on earth could take from him and a Heavenly Father who attended to all his needs. He had hope—a living hope—and this freed him up to be very available. He was present.

This week we finish the series focusing on how we “relate as friends.” Our text teaches us that no one is disenfranchised when we are in Christ. We have been called to live with a new family.

This week we finish the series focusing on how we “relate as friends.” Our text teaches us that no one is disenfranchised when we are in Christ. We have been called to live with a new family.

This week we finish the series focusing on how we “relate as friends.” Our text teaches us that no one is disenfranchised when we are in Christ. We have been called to live with a new family.

This week we continue in the arena of “Love Our Neighbor” as a discipline of Christian Community. Our text uses the metaphor of a human body to describe the community. Your gift needs the body and the body needs your gift.

This week we continue in the arena of “Love Our Neighbor” as a discipline of Christian Community. Our text uses the metaphor of a human body to describe the community. Your gift needs the body and the body needs your gift.