Grafted Movement Church: Recent Episodes
Matt Lewis
Listen here to our message from our Sunday night worship service.
We are and we are striving to become a diverse community of people united by Jesus who are growing in love together.
We are taking three weeks to soak in large sections of scripture through the gospel of Luke. To experience much of what the early Church experienced of orally listening to scriptures, wading in Truth together and eagerly listening in context to the scrolls.
This section was Luke 1-3
In this concluding text we are comissioned by Jesus, , not just the ones that have "perfect" faith, as wholehearted disciples, but as people who worship Him AND people while in their doubs. We are commissioned to tell of all that He has done, and all of who He is to others. We are told to go forth and tell, just like the many times in Old and New Testament scripture. Such as in garden mountain (Eden) in the creation narrative, God meeting Moses on the mountain for the commandments, and Peter, James and John with Jesus on the mountainside when he revealed His glory in part.
We are told that we are never alone in it all. That HE is with us, always-- all of the days.
What will we decide to do with this beautiful, good, and important Message?
We pick up again in the gospel of Matthew looking at Jesus' resurrection and the two stories that go out from this event. What will we choose to believe?
The humble, lowly people of the world often are those who receive and who believe and obey the word of God.
The prideful, supposed faithful people of the world often lie, cover up, and try to control their word and squash the word of God.
What do you believe?
Matt preaches on the exact same passage of 1st Corinthians, but from a different prospective. This is the call to engaging ourselves with patience, kindness and receiving of Love from God first, and foremost to be able to love other people.
Combined, killing our ego, and engaging in receiving God's love by gentle kindness from the Spirit is the powerful naunce to Life in Christ!
We take a detour of our study in the gospel of Matthew to look at 1st Corinthians 13 and the call to love requires us to kill our ego. We must die to our selves, to our pride in order to truly love other people. Will we pick up that cross and kill our ego?
This week we look at various passages of Matthew to draw out how people reacted to the cross. We discussed triggers and how everyone responds differently when triggered or disturbed, and how the worst place isn't despair or being disrupted. The worst place to be is undisturbed. How do you respond? How do you want to respond now?
As we journey in the darkness of Jesus' last moments before his death, we see him utterly mocked. Mocked by all parties. It's easy to point the finger at others, but have courage to identify with a mocker yourself.
And here we see the biggest Mocker of them all- and it is surprising who is the mocker and what is being mocked!
In this dark section, there is much opportunity to life, joy, and goodness!
The sobering backdrop: The same people who are excited for, and praising "Hosana" are the same ones that are now here to kill him. Sometimes, like the disciples, we do these things all the while thinking that we love Him and are for Him. Jesus rises up to tell them that even though he will all fall away, He is still preparing a good place for them.
Peter then states that he is "the ride or die" with Jesus. God confronts us with the truth of who we really are. He does so without shame or attack, so we can see who we really are- so that we will depend on Him
Jesus' heart is breaking and he wants his closest friends to be with Him in the "dark night of the soul". We think we can depend on our committedness, rather than God's grace. We can't rely on that (Peter couldn't even stay up with Jesus for one hour). It's not about your committedness, it's about the humility you possess to know that you are a needy child.
Jesus is here, in the garden of abandonment, choosing the tree of "Death"- whereas we as humans, in the garden of paradise, choose the tree of "Life" because we thought we could do it on our own.
Peter cuts off the servants ear- he is trying to prove his commitment to Jesus (that he JUST failed), maybe because he was trying to prove His commitment to himself (his own kingdom).
Jesus is highlighting the fulfillment of the scriptures, and not coming down on his disciples or the crowds and their evil. He has a posture of love. When he needs people the most, they fled him. Guess that they all fled because they realized and didn't like the direction that this whole thing with Jesus was going.
You are not necessarily who you think you are, and sometimes that is the thing that makes you the most stuck. You can try to convince yourself and others who you are. It crushes your ability to have real relationships. Jesus willing dies on the cross to get us "unstuck". He wants something better for us. You need to just LET HIM sacrifice Himself for you (do what you can't do for yourself).
The disciples had an open posture to ask Jesus what he wanted and how they could serve him. They partnered with God to each so their part to prepare the Passover. Posture of intimacy, comfort, and peace when reclining at table. Joy kill with Jesus saying that someone will betray him. All of the disciples say “Lord” but Judas calls him “Rabbi”. If it hurts your heart and makes you sad that you hurt Jesus- you are not like Judas. Judas treated him just as a teacher- not as Lord. At the moment of the worst act of betrayal in human history, Jesus is getting ready to forgive. Jesus is about to go to the cross to forgive all of those betrayers. His grace is bigger than any evil you have ever encountered or tasted. The strong arm of the Lord, is actually the stretched out arm of sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. In this moment, he is convicting and foretelling. Speaks to peoples heart, and also protecting and concealing Judas from others because it’s not the right time. His immense kindness and care. He uses the third cup of the Passover and says this is my blood, his body is the afikokem (unleavened bread, broken and hidden) for the forgiveness of sins. There is now freedom from true slavery. From the slavery of our hearts, not of empires or other people. Our own slavery(sin) does enslave others. He wants to give his life and put it inside of you to free you. The first thing you do is admit that it’s inside of you! We are all invited to be healed and made well. We are called to be a warrior to see evil and fight against it. Be of good heart, Jesus has already won the war.
The section starts the beginning of the story of the end of Jesus' life. Jesus is connecting the PassOVER of what happened in history, and he enters in to passUNDER the judgment and death that we deserve- to then PassOVER death by His resurrection. The religious leaders are fearful of what the others may think or do. When we are fearfull, we are self-protective, and self-protection leads to justifying our behavior. We lose prospective, we can't be present, love others well, or recieve love very well in that state.
Matthew then goes back in time to recount a situation that happened in Bethany. He is around people who He has healed, people who trust Him, and they still don't get Him. Jesus chooses to be coronated as a King with oil by a prostitute in a backwater town, on purpose. Matthew may be getting at the idea that this was the moment that Judas decided that this isn't for him when Jesus didn't hold up/value his idol the way that Judas did.
There is a deep richness found in the reality of Judas getting betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Listen in to hear more on that.
Let us ponder on how Jesus wants us to receive His sacrifice to us. He choose to be betrayed and rejected, because He wants you to know how much He WANTS to love and sacrifice for you.
This section of text is the last teaching recorded in Matthew before recounting Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and sending of disciples. It is important to look at the last thing Jesus teaches us about. What are some of his parting words?
The text can be confused as harsh judgment, but he is saying the most important thing to "not bury" (follow up from last weeks message) is your soft-hearted compassion for others.
Listen in for the beauty of who Jesus says is the least of these.
Do you identify as a sheep who trusts Jesus as the Good Shephard?
This text is the parable of the talents which shows two examples of joyful risking. Faithful action reveals faith. Faith isn't a head knowledge, it is a lived out reality. What we do with our lives matters a lot to God.
God's desire is to celebrate (share the joy) of every aspect of your life with you, He is not trying to get you to do all of the things in your life well.
When you risk to share who you are, He develops and grows you (through repentence) to be able to share of all that He has made you to be for the purpose of joyful celebration.
The last man reveals his closed mindedness and using his fear to justify himself when he says "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow ect." What we believe about God will shape our behavior (he burried the treasure). We don't need to get better or try harder, most of the time, we just need to see God differently and then our behavior would change.
Think about why you bury things in your life. We need to unbury them. Anything you bury actually has more power and control over you because Jesus' light and healing hasn't been able to touch them. Jesus was wiling to be burried, to resurrect the things in life that you have burried.
What do you keep trying to bury in your life? Invite the Goodness and Life, the death and resurrection into your life.
Riddler Jesus doesn't answer the question about the end of times staightup, but He gets to the heart of the matter rather than a 1:1 answer. He first tells people to not be led astray by others claiming false hope (political dominance, close relationship). He wants people to not be captive by fear, but to be ready for the real, brokem world. He calls this world the beginning of birth pains.
He is the one who brings new life. From death into new birth. This brokenness is the death state leading us to life with Jesus. He is pre[aring his followers to hold onto hope to get through the suffering of the world (not hope that everything will be amazing).
He is warning us that our hearts can grow cold to love and encourages us to remain soft.
We can have true hope and joy because of Jesus- we live in a different story- In the Kingdom of God.
Jesus wants to equip us to live moment to moment, with the mindset that it could be last days to prepare us to live faithfully among the broken world.
Jesus has harsh words, but His harsness is for those who are hyocrites in heart (Pharisees--> ourselves) who have authority over other people and are leading His kids away.
Are you so concerned about _________ that you miss God?
Jesus reveals His heart of tenderness and care after calling them out. He grieves, is heart-broken, and compassionate to those hypocrites. He does not want pain, death, harm to come to you. It is a loving warning.
Jesus is not rejecting anyone completely, it is like a separation in marriage. There is hope, that we will see Him someday. But for now, He gives us what we have chosen. You have to fully accept, AND fully bring yourself for a flourishing and mutual relationship in life-- and with God.
What do you prioritize in life? How do you chose to respond to Him?
This section in scripture contains some hard words from Jesus to the Pharisees. These words should not be read as those guys "over there" are bad, but should come as welcome conviction to ourselves and our tendencies. We have to let these things confront us.
I want a special place of honor. I want people to owe me for what I give them. I strive to get things from other people what I should be getting from God (accolades, identity, instruction).
I am a hypocrite (blind and unaware). I bring other people into the wrong Gospel (Scriptures + the things I think is best).
I have misaligned (and ludicrious) priorities. I want a list of rules rather than principles to adhere by (rather than principles leading to the details).
I see everyone else's hypcracy but distance myself from my own.
Good news, if these woes hits your heart, He is inviting you into this. Jesus has died for you. He died for the hypocrite.
Call to meditate on Micah 6:8, and Matthew9: 13 to take a longer look at yourself.
This time it is Jesus' turn to ask a question. He does not ask ludicrous questions like the Pharisees/Saduccees nor a question to try to trap anyone, but a question that He is actually asking all of us today.
Who is the Messiah? Do you believe that Jesus is He? Do you live like He is actually the King of your life? Do you submit to Him?
The Sadducees were a group of people who believed in the first 5 books of the bible (Torah), but didn't believe in the other scriptures, nor did they believe in resurrection. So why were they asking Jesus such a ridiculous a question about resurrection?
Jesus illuminates that even the text they do believe to be scripture, they don't really understand it because it is based on the concept of resurrection (resurrection is also a key theme within the Old Testament!!). God uses present tense language to talk about people who had passed away, as if they are currently alive.
Then the Pharisees try to trap him again by asking him about the greatest commandment in scripture. This is a trap because they hold to over 600 laws, so they want to pin against him which one is the most important. Jesus answers them which one is the greatest which means the foundation of all other laws- To love your Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength. And the second is built upon the first, to love your neighbor as yourself.
Can you think of a single law of the Bible that is not founded on these two principles?
Jesus tells the parable of the King hosting a wedding feast, The King is Jesus/God. The people invited first is Israel/Pharisee but they reject the invite. The servants are the prophets who they also rejected/killed. And then the wedding was open to everyone! Including you and me!
The text states that they "gathered all whom they found, both good and bad." We don't earn or prove our way to the wedding/ AKA Kingdom of God. The text shows that the only thing required for entrance is the DESIRE to want to be there in the first place.
Do you want to go to the party?
Jesus talks with the religious leaders in parable fashion about His own rejection from Isreal. Isreal is the people whom He has chosen, loved, and protected. Israel is whom He has given His presence. He finds that there isn't fruit (aka righteousness and justice) and there is bloodcry instead.
The religious leaders condemn themselves saying "those wretches deserve death". Does Jesus kill the leaders? No, Jesus continues to pour out His life to continue to draw all of us back to himself.
Jesus does not come into our life to finally give you your "just desserts", that's not who He is or how He works. He comes to die on your behalf because He loves you.
How does this picture of God change your view of Him? How do you want to respond to that?
Jesus' authority is again challenged by the religious leaders and then Jesus shares two related parables.
Jesus makes the bold claim that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before the religious leaders, and that even after they have "seen" they did not change their minds to believe. These are harsh yet such kind words from Jesus.
Our desperation leads to inclusion in the kingdom, not knowing all of the answers or looking like we have it together. Let us find ourselves desperate for Jesus.
What are you going to do with the insight/when you see your desperation? Are you going to change your mind (AKA repent) and go to Jesus or try to cover it up and live outside of the Kingdom of God?
Unfortunately the audio quality did not work well when Robbie was preaching, but it did work well for the few minutes that Matt shared at the end of our time together. So this message is quite short for that reason.
In the section prior (which we didn't record due to guest speaker), Jesus comes in and turns over the tables in the Temple particularly to those selling pigeons. Pigeons were used by those who are poor and can't afford goats/lambs as acceptable offerings.
Jesus takes special status away from Israel (old religous system), and gives special status and relationship (the gospel) to everyone!
Matt Dieson shares the message while Matt Lewis is on paternity leave. He relates the two blind men to us and our personal, curent struggles with blindness. We desperately need God to come and set things right again. These two blind men on the road are able to SEE that, declare of it, (are shunned by others, but shout all the louder) and are healed by Jesus.
What is your response to Jesus? Will you allow your eyes to be opened and to cry out in desperation to Him?
We begin our journey with Jesus to Jerusalem in this section of scripture. Jesus predicts his death, then the disciples mother (likely with the disciples present and not saying anything) asks for special honor for her sons. Jesus then helps illuminate the idea that the first is last, and the last shall be first, an image that he continues to speak to over and over again throughout this gospel (and especially in this time leading up to and when in Jerusalem with the Pharisees).
This section of scripture contains the passage of the rich young ruler asking Jesus what he is to do to have eternal life. Entering the Kingdom of Heaven requires not that you complete a list of activities, but that you surrender your entire heart to God and following Jesus. It is incredibly costly, without costing money. And it is evident that it is all the more difficult to do for people who are whealthy- whealthy in money, in resources, in intellect, in security, in social status.
What is God calling you to give up that is hindering your full fledged devotion to Him?
In this section in Matthew the Pharisees are testing/trying to trap Jesus by asking Him about marital divorce. Jesus has surprising things to say as a response. He had allowed Moses/the people to divorce, not because he was giving his stamp of approval on it, but because it would be less harmful overall, particularly for the women in that time period.
Listen in for the full story, and to encounter the Heart of the Father which contains immense compassion and conviction, understanding of the human heart, and pushing against religious "morals" to get to the heart of the matter.
"He or she who is forgiven much, loves much."
How do you keep from becoming an entitled "Christian" who does not take sin and evil seriously? Deep and regular experiences of forgiveness. How do you stay soft-hearted and compassionate and not turn into a self-righteous religious person who looks down on others? Constant and significant experiences of forgiveness. How do you become a person whose life is marked clearly by a deep and abiding love of Jesus? Knowing that you have been forgiven MUCH. A grace-filled, compassionate, dedicated to truth and justice community- a community of people submitted to the authority of Jesus who are giving away their lives to follow Him, is crafted through deep experiences of FORGIVENESS.