Manhattan Church of Christ Podcast

Carl Garrison leads the community in reflecting on Luke 6:36. Complimented with testimonies from Kylie Kelder and Raphael Oettl. This service is a powerful testimony to the struggle and call of forgiveness.

Matthew 22:1-14 A church, illuminated by the power of the Resurrection, does not cower in fear of being misunderstood by other religious leaders or institutions who stand from afar and criticize or chastise an openness to those whom God brings. Instead, A Church in Light of the Resurrection only fears that its actions explicitly or implicitly hinders those who God has called into His presence.

The journey of God with broken people from creation to the Babylonian exile and beyond. Despite human shortcomings, God speaks through limited individuals such as Abraham, Moses, David, and Isaiah to offer hope and renewal. The return from exile is slow and faces opposition, but the promise of God's kingdom remains. Isaiah introduces the mysterious figure of God's servant who ultimately carries the load of humanity's pain and wrongdoing to death. Jesus embodies this servant and brings new dimensions to the story through the foolish, weak Cross as God's power and wisdom in a broken world.

2 Samuel 7:1-29 explores the desires of God and humans as seen through the story of David and the building of the Temple. Despite David's desire to build a fixed Temple, God rejects this idea and instead creates a covenant with David's line of successors. The story highlights the importance of God's ever-moving intervention in the lives of his people and the dangers of centering worship on a fixed location. Ultimately, the passage emphasizes the importance of God's grace and love in the unfolding story of humanity's relationship with God, which is embodied in Jesus as the moving Tabernacle and his disciples as the spreading Temple of God's Holy Spirit.

The book of Deuteronomy highlights the history of the Israelites and their relationship with God. Through the accounts of Abraham, Moses, and the exodus from Egypt, it emphasizes the importance of seeking God and living by His commandments. The core teaching of Deuteronomy is the belief in one God, the creator, and instructor of all existence. God's covenant with His people is always present, providing guidance and protection in daily life. Moses delivers the Ten Words to focus on the heart's training to know and love God, emphasizing the importance of trust and relationships in society. Ultimately, Deuteronomy teaches that a life dedicated to God's love is a life-giving reality.

Testimonies in celebration of Black History and the impact of that history on faith and the church.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1-9 God calls Abram to leave his settled life and journey to a land that can't be known. Before Abram does anything, God promises new life, new flourishing, and new blessing for all of humanity. The promise is a call to trust and build a life based on a deeper reality of God as the creator of life. The journey of trust begins as Abram departs, losing his life for the good news of the promise, and Yahweh becomes the center and giver of everything. The promise to give the earth to Abram's seed opens the whole earth to the journey of faith. All of Abram's offspring struggle to live on the land dominated by limited vision without the promise, but God's grace will fulfill his promise for the world.

Genesis 4:1-26 4:1 Now Adam knew is wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. And she said, “I have produced a man with Yahweh’s help!” 2 And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel was a herder of sheep, and Cain worked the ground. 3 After some time passed, Cain brought from the fruit of the ground a gift to Yahweh. 4 And Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock, and their fat portions. And Yahweh took notice of Abel and of his gift, 5 but he took no notice of Cain and his gift. This kindled fierce anger in Cain, and his face fell into a scowl. 6 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you enflamed, and why is your face scowling? 7 Isn’t it true that if you do what’s good, you’ll be lifted up? But if you don’t do what’s good, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is to have you, and you must gain mastery over it.” 8 Then Cain spoke to his brother Abel, and when they were in the field, Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him. 9 Then Yahweh said to Cain, “Where’s your brother Abel?” “I don’t know!” he replied, “Am I my brother’s protector?” 10 But God responded, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 So now, you’re being cursed from the very ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer give its strength to you. You’ll be tossed about and wandering in the earth.” 13 Then Cain said to Yahweh, “My guilt is too great to bear! 14 Look! You’re expelling me today from the face of the ground, and I’ll also be hidden from your face. I’ll be tossed about and wandering in the earth, and anyone who meets me will kill me.” 15 But Yahweh said to him, “No! That’s why I say that anyone who kills Cain will suffer seven-fold vengeance.” Then Yahweh put a sign on Cain so that no one who met him would strike him down. 16 Then Cain went out from before the face of Yahweh and lived in the land of Wandering, east of Eden. 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was father of Mehujael, and he was father of Methushael, and he was father of Lamech. 19 Now Lamech took for himself two wives, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal, who was father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22 Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice; | wives of Lamech, hear my words. | For I’ve killed a man for wounding me, | a young man for striking me. | 24 So if Cain is avenged seven-fold, | then Lamech seventy-seven- fold.” 25 Adam again knew his wife, and she gave birth to a son and called his name Seth, saying, “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of Yahweh.

Reflecting on and understanding what it means to be a Christian, a Christ Follower, in the age of artificial intelligence. Genesis 2:4-8 & John 20:20-22. How can we be countercultural as a church, in the midst of a technical age which mimics human care, knowledge, or concern, but is ultimately as hollow as the golden calf that sat at the foot of Mount Sinai. We must start asking ourselves these questions before blindly accepting the rapidly advancing technology that will shape the future of our world. We must remain committed to a church community that centers itself around the physical table of Lord Jesus. Where we come together to serve each other, pray, worship God, and serve the poor and the forgotten. Don’t you see how important belonging and welcome is going to be? Social Media has shown us to be all “Alone Together” and in the next technical age this feeling of isolation is going to either magnify or be glossed over by software code.

God, Creator of Everything The Bible is a narrative of God and us humans. It shows our grandeur and our brokenness, sin. It shows God’s work to free us from our self-destruction and bring us to share God’s life. But all that is within a recognition of God as creator. Highly disputed today in a physicalist orthodoxy that asserts a world of chance, without mind, meaning, direction. Within two colorful narratives are affirmations of the why behind all the particulars of existing things. Why is there something rather than nothing? All things we see are dependent, changing. What’s their source? God! Being itself, uncreated. God gives existence! All always depends on God. Why are humans so different? With personal consciousness, directed, expansive, through which we know and do all else. The image of God: we’re responsible in a complex, abundant world. Much more in Gn 1: God without conflict. Very good! Things are things. Discover order, rationality. God’s Word & Spirit pervade all. World participates in creation. God orders time & rest. Everyday Life within the Reality of God Gn 1 & 2 both see human life within the wonderfully complex world flowing from God’s being, intention, & character. No division of religious & secular. Every element of our everyday life is enfolded. They begin a vast parable of Gn 1-11 and tell the challenging, broken, and hopeful nature of human life. Challenges of loneliness, relationships, danger & death emerge in Gn 2. Old stories finally written in the time of exile. Isaiah of the exile especially calls people to think of creation’s meaning. God’s creation ranges from stars to grieving hopeless people. When we look at every experience within that great reality, God’s power & hope pierce through even deep despair. Isaiah wants broken Israel to see themselves renewed within God’s strength. Paul in Athens is called to speak to philosophers. He starts from their defensive pagan piety toward gods within the world. He challenges them to envision the Existence-giving God beyond all religion & piety. God is inescapable because he is in every breath we take. On our own, humans only feel after God as one outside us, though we live & exist within God. Seeing the reality of God elevates our vision of all humans including ourselves as his offspring. The narratives of God as creator were never intended as statements of scientific analysis. The creation itself fulfills that role. God made it discoverable and usable. Even fusion energy. But they know that all physical existence is within the more fundamental reality that God is. That deep being of God in love, relationship, power & purpose encounters us as God’s image in our own consciousness, love, mind, creativity, freedom, will, etc. A call to the life of God.

Meeting God in Everyday Life Jesus vividly taught the reality of life and how we live in response to that reality. “Everyday life” is not in contrast with spiritual life. It’s life that knows that everything we experience from ravens & lilies to our most disturbing anxieties & fears and our highest aspirations are always within the active, creative presence of God. It’s distorted when our sense of the “everyday” gets cramped. God is pushed into a “religious” portion of life – special, limited. Jesus wants to elevate our sense of “everyday,” of ourselves, to know unified reality of God. Jesus teaches how to live not by a set of ethical rules, but by helping us see the deep reality & beauty of everything in God (Truth) and by calling us to live in accord with that great Truth. We want to compress our ‘reality’ to things we control, including our gods. We get smaller! He challenges us beyond our own vision of the possible – to see and live in God’s reality. Mt 28:16-20 opens our eyes to God’s reality in Jesus and the Spirit. We share in God’s quest. Yes, it’s a challenge. We all become learners of Jesus. We’re given a plunge, participation in God’s identity, depth, community, unity – learning reality from the inside. We hold on to Jesus’ instructions in live into them. Father, Son, & Spirit are with us every step of the way. God’s Invitation for Us to Share in God’s Life In the history of Christianity, so much emphasis has been placed on guilt and the threat of punishment, that we miss the heart of Jesus’ invitation. Sin carries its own destructive power by distorting our lives and making us petty, cut off from reality of God. The very nature of God welcomes us into a new vision of ourselves, even in our limitations. John 14:15-23. Jesus calls disciples to take his instructions as a challenge. God will give an Advocate/Paraclete/the Spirit of True Reality. He’s with you, in you. Jesus comes to you. “You share my life.” I’m in the Father. You’re in me. I’m in you. All woven in love. We love God as God, creator of all life, center of reality/truth. Jesus is the face of God. He defines God’s nature, instructions, love. Holding on to his message is the transforming adventure of free devotion. Father, Jesus, & Spirit all make their dwelling in disciples. True life. Ephesians 3:14-19. Paul in prison has learned this great vision and lifts believers up to see it. Jesus gives an open door to the eternal, universal in God. This world is powerful, and it takes strength to enter. That strength is from God’s Spirit within us. We respond by trust in God’s faithfulness in Jesus. That faithfulness is God’s powerful, solid reality of Love. That love is the life-give soil that nourishes the roots of our life, the bedrock foundation that makes our very vulnerable lives unshakable. As we’re opened to this reality of love, we begin to see its vast dimensions and its delight. It’s always beyond us but calling us always further into new experiences. This is the pearl of great price that Jesus tells of. We hang on to Jesus’ extravagant teaching that calls us into this world of love. We explore and learn, always as disciples. This is how God fills us up. It’s not by mastering rules or good advice for doing things right in our closed-in world of our control. It’s realizing reality is so much bigger and living into that Truth. You are so much bigger! Our life is now alive with God’s life/Spirit, living every day in our everyday life.

Luke 12:22-34 22 Jesus said to his disciples, “I’m telling you, therefore, refuse to be anxious about life, what you should eat, or about the body, what you should wear. 23 For life itself is something more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Just think about the ravens. They’re neither sowing nor reaping; they own neither storehouse nor barn. And God is feeding them! Think how much more significant you are than these birds! 25 And which one of you by getting anxious gains the power to add even one foot to the length of your life? 26 If then you can’t even do something so small, why are you getting anxious about all the rest? 27 Think about the lilies, how they’re growing. They’re not laboring or spinning, but I’m telling you, not even Solomon in all his glory dressed himself so well as one of these. 28 Now if out in a field God is clothing the grass in this way, even though it’s here today and tomorrow gets thrown into a furnace, how much more will he care for you! You’re just beginning to learn faith! 29 So especially you – don’t keep focusing on what you’re going to eat and what you’ll drink, and don’t always be up in the air. 30 For the nations of the world are focusing on all these things, but for you, your own Father knows that you need these things. 31 Instead, focus on his kingdom, and these other things will be added for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father chose with delight to give you that kingdom! 33 Sell the things at your disposal and give with generous mercy. Make purses for yourselves that don’t get old, an inexhaustible treasure in God’s realms, where no thief sneaks in and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be.

On Christmas day, we meditate on the coming of Jesus as the incarnation of God.

The Surprise and Challenge of “God with Us” Mt gives Jes’ genealogy but incredible birth with challenging choices. What you already know and what God makes possible. What kind of world do we live in? What’s possible? Luke: Mary’s faith. Matthew: Joseph. “With child of the Holy Spirit” – “just man,” “end betrothal.” In few words Mt. encapsulates the disruption and challenge of Jesus’ birth. Joseph could withdraw – fear. Like Mary he had to be open to having his own life marked in ways he couldn’t control. He believes, acts. He doesn’t get to name this child. The name is common – Joshua, Yehoshua, “Yahweh saves.” Jesus fills the meaning: He saves his people, deals with sin, the brokenness of humanity – all shown in the, deceit, violence, injustice. In Jesus, Joseph is shares in what God’s doing – his salvation! Mt takes us deeper pointing to Isaiah 7 and the sign God gives through a maiden giving birth. Not a prediction but a parallel / resonance. In both, kingdoms clash. God acts. Birth is sign. Ahaz’ faith fails; he sells out. God’s challenge & grace continue. Can faith now be different? One Change: Lifting Up the Meaning of “With” Matthew emphasizes “God with Us.” He wants us to think about Jesus filling that meaning. God had been “with” his people. But now the “with” becomes direct, incarnation, God’s face. It reaches back to God’s loving choice to create, to plant something of himself in us, his Image. God chooses to interact with us in time and history with its changes, shares with us. God chooses to deal with us in love rather than perfection, immutability. He acts in grace. So God come in flesh, human, us. So vulnerable. So beautifully God. Impossibles unite. Human is not enough. Teaching & morality won’t save. God must intervene. As God, what Jesus does for us transforms who we are, to bring us to truly be children of God. Jesus brings God’s transforming reality of holiness, self-giving love, & grace into the middle of human self-focus, self-deception. On Sinai God appeared in thunder, fire, trumpets, earthquake – as needed. Only in Jesus can the face of God be seen. The complex oneness of God who makes us for relationship, trust, and love, who wants our maturity, wholeness. God with Us ... Us with God! Jesus brings our ordinary life into God. The day by day existence he teaches in the Sermon on the Mount: anger, truth-telling, desires, honesty, anxiety, judgment of others, serving money & stuff, being peacemakers, etc. This narrow way of love is the excellent way! God risks to be with us. Jesus is Lord, creator, judge. He serves but isn’t our servant. He loves, transforms, challenges, changes us, saves us. We want control, but he won’t be controlled. He wants to be with us, not at a distance. Go into the adventure. Into our true identity.

Jason Isbell brings a sermon centered around Joy. Joy as discipline, joy as resistance, and joy as an expression of being fully human.

Advent and the Coming of GodAdvent means ‘arrival,’ coming. It’s a season in the Christian calendar, traditionally focused on Jesus coming into the world, the beginning of the great event, the turning point of history. No one knows Jesus’ birthday. A date was chosen. Traditions of all kinds grew up around it.The Gospels tell of his ‘Advent’ because of its core: ‘incarnation.’ Human nature is united to God’s reality in Jesus. Jesus is both us and God. The event continues through Jesus’ growth, ministry, teaching, crucifixion, resurrection and beyond! In Jesus, the God beyond all imagination seeks us human creatures and creates a way for us to be united to God’s own life – the ongoing climax to all of scripture. Advent continues till God renews creation.God’s Purpose to Bless HumanityThe idea of incarnation seems radically new, unexpected. But the Gospels, and Jesus himself, show its deep roots in the whole, complex story of scripture. God’s relation with humanity unfolds, interacting with human brokenness, through law, kings, prophets, poets, temple, priests, national destruction, exile, renewal, etc. Jesus himself weaves together scripture with new images to help us see where God had been going through that circuitous story.Humans are created in God’s image; God comes in that image. Human exile. Abraham: God’s promise of Grace for all. Paths of covenant in Law, Wisdom, Poetry, Worship. Promise to David of an Anointed King. National failure, exile. God is coming! God is King! His Arm, his presence, a Suffering Servant. Against little human gods, God comes as “Son of the human.”People thought the gulf between God & human could not be crossed. Death ended human hope. Human effort always ends in failure. But in Jesus, God does the impossible. God the creator become a creature sharing human suffering and death to create new life.Jesus and the Father – Embodying God’s Love.The unity of Jesus’ story from birth to death is crucial. Some popular forms of talking about Jesus’ crucifixion & atonement seem almost to set Jesus over against God: God’s righteous wrath requires that all people as sinners be punished. Jesus intervenes to stop God’s wrath by taking it on himself. No! Jesus on the cross is the very embodiment of God’s Love! In Jesus, God comes seeking us. Jesus dies for us by taking into God’s self all our sin, brokenness, & death, so that we can realize God’s love and live as God’s beloved children. Jesus’ Advent is God’s Advent and Our Advent, new hope, truly the turning of the Ages!

Kyle Swann preaches Luke 16:19-31, The Rich Man and Lazarus parable.

Luke 11:14-32

A sermon oriented around Matthew 18:1-4, 10-14. The central idea is that Jesus has the most complete yet challenging answer to the question "Who is Worthy?" Let's look at Jesus’ incarnation, Jesus’ actions, Jesus’ teachings, and Jesus’ death and resurrection. We can only conclude that Jesus has the authority from God to deem us all worthy. Not because of our works, but because of Jesus’ faith.

Carl opens the service with "Lift Every Voice" the Black National Anthem. After a few testimonies (not included in the podcast) Carl speaks on Hebrews 11 and the great cloud of witnesses.

Exodus 16:1-31 Common English Bible 16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Sin desert, which is located between Elim and Sinai. They set out on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt. 2 The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the desert. 3 The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the Lord had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I’m going to make bread rain down from the sky for you. The people will go out each day and gather just enough for that day. In this way, I’ll test them to see whether or not they follow my Instruction. 5 On the sixth day, when they measure out what they have collected, it will be twice as much as they collected on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 And in the morning you will see the Lord’s glorious presence, because your complaints against the Lord have been heard. Who are we? Why blame us?” 8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning because the Lord heard the complaints you made against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against us but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole Israelite community, ‘Come near to the Lord, because he’s heard your complaints.’” 10 As Aaron spoke to the whole Israelite community, they turned to look toward the desert, and just then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 The Lord spoke to Moses, 12 “I’ve heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat. And in the morning you will have your fill of bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” 13 In the evening a flock of quail flew down and covered the camp. And in the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the desert surface were thin flakes, as thin as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” They didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them, “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Collect as much of it as each of you can eat, one omer per person. You may collect for the number of people in your household.’” 17 The Israelites did as Moses said, some collecting more, some less. 18 But when they measured it out by the omer, the ones who had collected more had nothing left over, and the ones who had collected less had no shortage. Everyone collected just as much as they could eat. 19 Moses said to them, “Don’t keep any of it until morning.” 20 But they didn’t listen to Moses. Some kept part of it until morning, but it became infested with worms and stank. Moses got angry with them. 21 Every morning they gathered it, as much as each person could eat. But when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day the people collected twice as much food as usual, two omers per person. All the chiefs of the community came and told Moses. 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘Tomorrow is a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. But you can set aside and keep all the leftovers until the next morning.’” 24 So they set the leftovers aside until morning, as Moses had commanded. They didn’t stink or become infested with worms. 25 The next day Moses said, “Eat it today, because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you won’t find it out in the field. 26 Six days you will gather it. But on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be nothing to gather.” 27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather bread, but they found nothing. 28 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to obey my commandments and instructions? 29 Look! The Lord has given you the Sabbath. Therefore, on the sixth day he gives you enough food for two days. Each of you should stay where you are and not leave your place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 The Israelite people called it manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and tasted like honey wafers.

The Big Question! Lk leads us with crowds through Nazareth, Capernaum, Opposition, Calling, Sermon. Centurion’s faith, Widow’s son: “Great prophet, God visiting his people.” Leads to John’s question with revealing reflections. John is in prison for courage against Herod Antipas. He is training his own disciples. He’s loves the desert, fasting. Jesus is at banquets, not fasting, etc. John told of him with fire and judgment. John knows Jesus, but he’s disconcerting. Jn sends his question directly to Jesus: ‘Are you the one who is coming?’ Israel’s story & scripture throb in its words. An Answer in Deeds that Challenge Us to Recognize God Jes could say, ‘Yes, I am.’ ‘How could you ask?’ But Jes understands the question & knows the answer changes the world. He answers with actions. But even marvels must be a language to be an answer. Jes enacts words of Isaiah, Malachi. etc. Jes’ deeds say God’s ancient promises are here. Only the Messiah/God could do it. God’s image comes to new, surprising clarity. Very disconcerting. Don’t stumble! Looking for a King in the Wilderness Jes knows the crowds carry the same question/quest. They went out to John looking for a Messiah, an anointed King. Jesus pushes them to think deeply. They went into the wilderness seeking... What? A reed (Herod)? King? A prophet! John’s own identity partly answered his question. He was gateway to a new era. He welcomed ordinary people, soldiers, tax collectors. Last prophet of the old, pointing to new. Pharisees rejecting John led to rejecting Jesus, refusing God’s good purpose for them. John and Jesus, Different, Caricatured – Both Come from God People want God to be tidy with short clear answers. Who is coming? John came. Jesus came. Very different look, sharing the same great event, different roles. People had ready boxes for them. But what God is doing is vast, complex, real, beautiful, life-giving. You have to see it, live inside it. Wisdom & justice shine.

The authority and power that is embodied in your word is something I can recognize as authority, but it is of a wholly greater realm than the hierarchy I know and live. It gives life and health. It creates life. I see it. I recognize it. I know it’s real. Simply say a word. That word will carry the gift of life across any distance, up and down any human hierarchy. That word gives life. That recognition of the reality of God’s creative, life-giving authority and power in Jesus, the very presence of God in Jesus, that recognition, Jesus say, is “such a great Faith.” It is not defined by grasping details of doctrine or imposing rigorous practices useful though those may be. It is seeing, recognizing, knowing – in heart and mind and body, philosophically, emotionally, aesthetically, analytically, musically, with every part of my being – that here among us is the God who created us, sustains our life, who has loved and will love us forever. That’s where Jesus is leading his disciples and every one of us. Notice, Luke doesn’t even tell us that Jesus spoke a word. Those who’d been sent, Jewish elders and friends, simply returned. God had intervened, health and life had broken out. That slave was alive, thriving. A Great Prophet has risen among us. God has visited his people. Amen.

Scripture Reading 01.23.22 Exodus 1:1-14; 2:23-25 1 These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and sisters and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the children of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of service in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves... ...Ex. 2:23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Now that he is safely dead, Let us praise him. Build monuments to his glory. Sing Hosannas to his name. Dead men make such convenient heroes. For they cannot rise to challenge the images That we might fashion from their lives. It is easier to build monuments Than to build a better world. So now that he is safely dead, We, with eased consciences will Teach our children that he was a great man, Knowing that the cause for which he Lived is still a cause And the dream for which he died is still a dream. A dead man’s dream. By: Carl Wendell Hines Jr.

Extraordinary Teaching for Ordinary People We join Luke again as he lead us to see Jesus in the Sermon on the Plain (Lk 6). Crowds of people in need, hopeful, hurting, expecting, but what? healing, glory, Remember how amazing Jesus’ teaching is in this sermon: love of enemies, rejection of possessiveness; generosity without expectation, etc. But these words are for ordinary people of all kinds. Jesus knows well that his hearers, even apostles, are sinful – “blind.” But still he sees them as growing, learning as disciples, coming to full formation so that they are like Jesus himself.

Use life for what matters – today, this year. As you learn the reality of this God of love, seek his kingdom in this world and as far as you can reach. It’s beyond you or any of us. God will bring it about, but we can align ourselves with that grace and love. Practice God’s faithfulness and justice in all the relationships you touch or can influence. You are a beloved child of God. Use your life to let that love you’ve received flow to others. That’s how to make a year and a life.

The presence of the Spirit does not take away the suffering or it power. But it changes it. The Spirit is the beginning, the “first-fruit” as Paul calls it, of that surprising, new creation, new life. The suffering in all its excruciating variety is part of death, part of mortality, part of “the slavery of being corrupted” that all of creation experiences. It is a crucial part of the whole story, but not the end of the story. That is the Good News of the Gospel. Jesus ultimately conquers death. We’re allowed by God’s grace to share in him and in that way to share in his victory. But now it’s in the midst of a suffering world that we bear witness to his incarnation, bear witness to his cross, and bear witness to his resurrection. The Spirit is the first experience, as much as we can bear in this body, to the full experience of being God’s children as God will ultimately reveal. Then the surprise! The great “Not Yet” that we can’t even fully imagine. Evidently this body, so vulnerable that we sit in this room wearing masks even fully vaccinated, can be recreated by our Abba to truly share in his glorious life with all the self-giving love we see in Jesus. This is the hope that carries us through that bears the weight of our lives. We journey with God into the future. God gives us his Spirit now. We still endure suffering but we live joyfully by that Spirit.

Associate Minister, Kyle Swann brings us a message on John 1:1-4, 14; Hebrews 1:1-5a, 2:5-10 for this first Sunday of Advent.

hildren of the Merciful Father Thomas Robinson, Luke: Anointed with God’s Spirit 17, November 21, 2021

An Open Call for Training in God’s Real World In Luke, the Sermon on the Plain is the substantial beginning of Jesus’ teaching of the Kingdom of God in a way that challenges the minds, imaginations, hearts, hopes, life aims, ambitions, ethical relations, and self-identity of his disciples. The great reward is the we gain ourselves as the children of God that God created us to be. Not shortsighted and distorted. It helps us begin to envision how God can do the grace-filled, loving things God does in Jesus and how we fit into that. Jesus is beginning to lead his disciples including us into the central mystery, the meeting place of God and us in Jesus. It follows the event of healing the withered hand on the Sabbath, which becomes a clear break with those recognized as the primary teachers in most of Israel – the Pharisees and instructors in the Law called scribes. They were calling Israel to a rigorous commitment to obedience to the Law. They argued that all Jews following practices that were originally intended for the priests, because the Jews were supposed to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Ex 19:6).

Sabbath and the People of God Thomas Robinson, Luke: Anointed with God’s Spirit 15, November 7, 2021 Luke6:1-16 Trans.TR Jesus’ Disciples Pick Grain on the Sabbath 1 And it happened one Sabbath, that Jesus was walking through the standing grain, and his disciples started plucking and eating the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 Now, some of the Pharisees asked them, “Why are you doing what’s not lawful on the Sabbath?” 3 Then in response Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read what David did when he himself was hungry, along with those with him? 4 How he entered into the house of God, and then taking the Loaves of the Presentation, he ate them and gave to those with him [1 Sam 21:1-6]. And it’s not lawful for any to eat those loaves, except only the priests?” 5 And he used to say to them, “The Son of the Human is Lord of the Sabbath.” Jesus Restores a Man’s Crippled Hand on the Sabbath 6 And it happened on another Sabbath, that he entered the synagogue and was teaching. Now a man was there, and his right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees were closely watching Jesus, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, because they wanted to find a reason to accuse him. 8 Now he himself understood their ways of reasoning, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand in the center.” And he rose and stood. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I’m asking all of you, whether it’s lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But these men were filled with mindless fury and they began talking intensely with each other what they might do to Jesus. Jesus Names Twelve Disciples as Emissaries 12 And it happened during these days that he went out onto the mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in that prayer with God. 13 Then, when day came, he called together his disciples and selected twelve of them, and these he designated “apostles”: 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter (“Rock”), and Andrew his brother, and James (Jacob) and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called a zealot, 16 and Judas (Judah) the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a betrayer. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Exodus 20:8-11 From the Ten Commandments 8 Remember the Sabbath day, and consecrate it. 9 Six days you shall serve and do all your labor/occupation. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God; you shall not do any of your labor – you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day. Therefore, Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. [Gn 1:1 – 2:3]

As Jesus followers, we are to be known as people who love others. But, we have to be honest with ourselves; outside of these walls, there is a lot of doubt as to whether Jesus' followers are, in fact, people who love others. Christians are being conformed to the patterns of our world rather than transformed by the sacrificial love of Jesus.Today we will spend some time reading Paul's thoughts on this (because church people not living into their identities as Christ-followers is nothing new). By meditating on this powerful song, I want to share with you how I am challenged to let go of "Cheap Unity" and embrace an identity that pulls me into unity with each of you in the shape of Jesus and the Cross.

Thomas Robinson, Luke: Anointed with God’s Spirit 13, October 10, 2021 Jesus Heals Leprosy and Paralysis and More We’re in the early days of Jesus Galilee ministry. Lk told us about Nazareth, positive response turns bad when Jesus talks about a Gentile widow and leper, Naaman. In Capernaum he casts out an “unclean being of power” (demon). He calls Simon as a disciple with no training, declaring himself a “sinful man.” Now two amazing healings. It’s good to “hear a text for the first time.” Note how Lk makes the settings general. These are side by side for meaning. Lk leads us toward Jesus’ ultimate meaning. Lk is using Mk with events that shaped controversy and clarify Jesus’ distinction. Lk shows how Jesus sees varied human problems together. He heals fever like a “demon.” Gentiles, lepers, demons, paralyzed, sinful – all show human brokenness. Freedom from Exclusion First, the “leper.” (5:12-14) [Remember Naaman. In Lk 17, ten lepers, one Samaritan.] “Leprosy” a horrific disease: Mother Teresa, Father Damien, Dr. Paul Brand, Gift of Pain. But this is the “leprosy” law of Lev. 13-14 – long, strange. Not about the disease we call leprosy, but forms of skin scaliness, flaking (eczema, psoriasis), after burns or boils; leprosy in clothes, in walls of houses, etc. A visible sign of ritual uncleanness, impurity, like touching the dead, bodily emission, etc. But devastating result. Not sick or contagious, but excluded from human contact. This is an archetypal purity boundary. Jesus says it’s now over. Jesus intentionally breaks the law, the boundary. Jesus touches and impurity doesn’t flow to him, but the man is cleansed. We’ve had such boundaries! W.E.B. Du Bois, “the color line” (1903); a girl pregnant out of wedlock; a divorced person; a person who grows up with same-sex attraction and discovers that they’re gay; sometimes a person who disagrees with “us” about church organization or worship practice. People didn’t cheer when Jesus touched him. Jesus knows the assumptions are deep. Don’t talk. Go offer the sacrifice. Let the priest certify you. Free your life. Freedom from Bondage Next, Lk really emphasizes the unity of human brokenness and Jes’ power/authority to heal. It a teaching situation: Pharisees, law experts & God’s power to heal. A man is disabled, can’t walk, but maybe quite vocal and engaged. Lk & Jes both call him “human”/anthropos to show all of us in him. He & friends break open roof to get to Jesus. Wow, What a scene! Jesus sees faith in breaking roof boundaries. Jesus breaks back – through physical disability to human brokenness of sin, like Peter. Teachers are disabled; can’t see how God heals the whole person – “blasphemy.” Jesus, son of the human (Dan 7:13-14), lives out God’s authority to renew humans. Jesus raises the human to new life – to walk in freedom, whole, released, at home. This is the Gospel in anticipation. Jesus will take on our suffering, sin, & give life! A kind of ecstasy breaks out – even some Pharisees? But it’s also scary. God engages not just mighty rulers but ordinary broken, bold humans like us. “Incredible things”!

Habakkuk 3:17-19, Luke 5:12-13