Kairos Community Mesages: Recent Episodes

Kairos Community

Joining God in the rewal of all things through a network of neighborhood churches in the Antelope Valley

Looking throughout history and our current times to see God providing a way for what he has called of us, even when it seems impossible or unlikely.

Mary is chosen. John the Baptist is chosen. The Shepherds in the field are chosen. Focus on what it means to be “the elect” or chosen by God. Abel’s offering chosen. Abraham chosen. Jacob chosen. This has nothing to do with who gets in to Heaven, but those blessed by God to bring his generosity and goodness to everyone around them.

This week, we focus on the forgiveness of God, restoration, and redemption. Zechariah doesn’t believe and loses the ability to talk. Mary isn’t believed and nearly divorce and publicly shamed. They are both given a restoration and sing a poetic song of praise. Throughout the Bible, God’s generous with forgiveness and restoration. We talk about the coming of the Messiah is to renew all things, restore humanity and the planet toward the Eden ideal.

In this message, we focus on Jesus teaching on looking toward birds and flowers, not anxious and worrying. God has an abundance and takes care of his creation. (Why do people then go hungry? Other people hoarding resources, unfortunately). But Jesus gives life more abundantly, drink of him for living water. John 3:16 everlasting life. But what does that mean? To the Jewish culture of the time, eternal life wasn’t beginning after death, but in the present. The picture is after the fall, we are living death, like zombies. The everlasting life, abundant life, well spring of life, in Jesus and his resurrection power here and now is new life in the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.

Moving from Thanksgiving to Advent Season at the end of 2020... it's a tough season globally. Here we discuss being honest and real with God, about unmet expectations, and seeking his help to balance gratitude with grief.

Jesus has taught the first will be last and the last will be first, the greatest in his kingdom are the servants, and has responded to his disciples bickering about who is the greatest by telling them to be like children. He's also foretold his death three times now. But still, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus and asks for her boys to sit at his right and left hands when his kingdom comes in glory.

' “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” '

Matthew 20:1-16

'Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.'

Matthew 19:13-30 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.19.13-30

'When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” '

Matthew 19:1-12 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.19.1-12

Kairos 10 - 18 Imagine Jesus Flipping Revenge Into Forgiveness (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

'“If another believer#18:15a Greek If your brother. sins against you,#18:15b Some manuscripts do not include against you. go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid#18:18a Or bind, or lock. on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit#18:18b Or loose, or open. on earth will be permitted in heaven. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers,#18:20 Greek gather together in my name. I am there among them.”'

Matthew 18:15-20 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.18.15-20

'About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf#18:5 Greek in my name. is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.#18:9 Greek the Gehenna of fire. “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.#18:10 Some manuscripts add verse 11, And the Son of Man came to save those who are lost. Compare Luke 19:10. “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.'

Matthew 18:1-10,12-14 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.18.1-10,12-14

Jesus uses Family language Last time Jesus spoke about brothers or sisters was Matthew 12:48-50 'For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” After this chapter, Jesus has a massive thread of family language! ' “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ' Matthew 18:15 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 'And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ' Matthew 19:29 In there, Jesus talks about a husband and wife and being a child in God’s kingdom. Why all this family language? Because he’s the Son, and so sure of his identity in the father!

Kairos 9 - 20 Imagine Jesus Preferring Children Over Adults (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

'When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. '

Matthew 17:14-23 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.17.14-23

Exodus 34:4-9 1 Kings 19:9-13 Matthew 17:1-13

There’s a note of time there. Many translations note it as “after 6 days.” Implying this event is on the seventh day. Reminder what seven and a seventh day is supposed to trigger in our minds. It should take us back to the beginning of the Bible and this story of God’s work to pull the world out of darkness and chaos into light, life, and peace. God does this by trying to partner with mankind, but humanity keeps blowing it over and over, so God is constantly picking up the slack for us.

Jesus has always been present and active! John 1:2, “He was in the beginning with God.”

What would make someone look like a son of the gods? Could it be a similar description of how the gospels record Jesus during his transfiguration?

Deut. 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

Revelation 1:12

The transfiguration seems to strongly point to Jesus’ divinity in many ways. Peter just professed him as the Christ, the messiah, the anointed one and as the son of God. People call Jesus the Christ over and over. Jesus doesn’t say those aren’t right words to call him, but what does Jesus call himself? Son of Man. Is he quoting something? Referring to something?

Daniel 7.

In this scene, out of a stirring great sea (waters of darkness and chaos) rise beasts, mutant beasts. Like a nightmarish version of the creation story, twisted and distorted. We find out these beasts signify kings or empires of kings, corrupt, evil, violent. There’s even a beast so mutated it doesn’t get real animals compared to it and it makes war on God’s people and boasts proudfully.

9“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. 10A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.

Now, notice thrones, verse 9. Doesn’t say how many,but it is plural. Maybe it’s two? Why would there be two thrones? Well, one is for the Son of Man.

Verse 13-14 And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Genesis 1:26-31 What stands out here?

Man appointed to rule. Makes me have to ask, what does it look like for humans to rule like this? Well, Deuteronomy actually has a section that prescribes how an Israelite King is supposed to live.

Deut. 17:14-20 Chosen by God A member of the covenant people Do not amass a mighty army. Don’t go to Egypt (which often signifies the land of slavery) Don’t make a harem. Implies no political marriages that lead the heart astray. Don’t amass wealth. Study God’s law, teach God’s law, embody God’s law. Be humble, not boasting or thinking himself better than any other human being. Lead the people toward the heart of God.

Kairos 8 - 30 Imagine Jesus Telling You Who You Are (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

Kairos 8 - 21 Imagine Jesus Asking You To Trust Him (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

Kairos 8 - 16 Imagine Jesus Hovering Over The Waters Of Darkness (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

Kairos 8 - 9 Imagine Jesus As Your Bread (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

Kairos 8 - 2 Imagine Jesus Taking A Break (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

Kairos 7 - 26 Imagine Jesus During Political Injustice (Zoom Recording) Copy 01 by Kairos Community

Kairos 7 - 19 Imagine Jesus Rejected By His Hometown (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

If we keep in mind that the parables are not simply just universal teachings, but are a way of Jesus to explain what he was doing right then and there, we can realize knew deeper truths from the parables. With a better scope on what Jesus was saying about himself at that point in time, and as our lives change through seasons, we can find new relevancy in the parables.

Blood is thicker than water, but do we make an idol out of family? Jesus talked about bringing a sword, pitting father against son. He also says his mother, and brother, and sister, are those who do the will of his Father. In this conversation we discuss the family of God.

If we keep in mind that the parables are not simply just universal teachings, but are a way of Jesus to explain what he was doing right then and there, we can realize knew deeper truths from the parables. With a better scope on what Jesus was saying about himself at that point in time, and as our lives change through seasons, we can find new relevancy in the parables. Who are the weeds? What encouragement can we take from the parables nearest the parable of the weeds?

Kairos 6 - 21 Is Nationalism A Sin- Conversational Sermon (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

Kairos 6 - 21 Is Nationalism A Sin- Conversational Sermon (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community

"Beware the level on the Pharisees" is a warning that spans the generations, spiritually speaking, when having discernment of the spirit behind leadership, particularly religious leadership.

Following the "thread of bread" in Matthew 15, looking closely at Jesus, and following him in how we can break bread with others, sewing love and God's goodness to the hungry and hurting.

Comparing modern America with the time Jesus walked the Earth and finding parallels helps us determine our King's will for our responses and actions here and now. And while answers are hard to find among mankind, let us not trust in earthly wisdom or treasure, but boast only in knowing the Lord.

Jubilee and the number seven transcend the Bible like a literary theme from the beginning 7-day creation story to the Revelation. We take a look at Jubilee past, present, and the ultimate jubilee that is to come.

We break down the cloud of debt held over the heads of people groups living right here in America, suffering the oppression of varying levels and forms. How can we bring the Jubilee of Jesus and set captives free and cancel debts?

We look at the 613 commandments of the old testament law and get lost in legalism and thinking of God as rigid, when really the laws show his heart of compassion and equity for the vulnerable people who bear his sacred image.

There are multiple opportunities to be found if we look at this COVID season as a Biblical Jubilee.

We look deeper into the idea of jubilee and God's character.

Can this quarantine time actually be a jubilee?

Wrapping a three-part series on "What is the Gospel?" We arrive at the answer that Jesus is the Gospel. We also talk about how he as king brings jubilee and that our world may very well be in a time of jubilee even in the sad circumstances currounding COVID-19.

After a weekend where Chris spoke on "What is the Gospel" comparing Punitive substitutionary atonement with Medicinal Substitutionary atonement. This message is led by Cody on What is the Gospel and how it's so much more than Jesus saving mankind from God sending them to hell. Here we break down some myths and misunderstandings on hell as we deconstruct and reconstruct a Christ-centered gospel.

Recording of our first zoom-based worship gathering right after the stay at home orders were put into effect.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.

Luke 10 1-11 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’

Matthew 18 serves as a good chapter for modeling our behavior within the Kingdom of God and more particularly or pockets of community within the kingdom.

On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work. […]On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. . . . You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. - Leviticus 23:39–43

6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. 7 And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light. 8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. 9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and this name one. … 16 Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. - Zechariah 14:1-21

And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. - Nehemiah 8:17–18

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. - John 7:37–39

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. - John 8:12

Jesus' actions and words in Matthew 15 when he encounters a Canaanite Woman are VERY CONFUSING...He appears to ignore and dismiss her and eventually calls her a DOG after she begs him to heal her daughter. In one of the most miraculous scenes in the entire Bible, SHE CORRECTS JESUS, telling him to heal her daughter. Jesus' Response? He declares her to have greater faith than any Israelite of the day...including his OWN DISCIPLES!

This scene shows us that Jesus is looking for THIS TYPE OF FAITH and RESPONSE from us:

• Faith that ASKS FOR MERCY • Faith that ASKS IN HUMILITY • Faith that ASKS WITHOUT EXCUSE • Faith that ASKS FOR SOMEONE ELSE

WARNING: Spoiler Alert for Avengers Endgame (and 24 Season 1:) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:4-6

FAITH IS WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT REALITY REFUSING TO FACE REALITY TEACHING "TRUTH" IS UNCOMFORTABLE GOD'S PLAN IS ALWAYS A LONGSHOT THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF YHWH'S CONTINUED REDEMPTION NARRATIVE: ISRAEL, THE ONLY APPLICANT THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THE LIFE AND MERCY OF JESUS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD DESPITE PERSECUTION AND RELIGIOUS CORRUPTION: A COMMUNITY CALLED GRACE GOD'S PLAN IS ALWAYS A LONGPLAY

They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, PROPHESY ILLUSIONS." - Isaiah 30:10

THE FOOL ON THE HILL Day after day Alone on a hill The man with the foolish grin Is keeping perfectly still But nobody wants to know him They can see that he's just a fool And he never gives an answer But the fool on the hill Sees the sun going down And the eyes in his head See the world spinning 'round

Well on the way Head in a cloud The man of a thousand voices Talking perfectly loud But nobody ever hears him Or the sound he appears to make And he never seems to notice But the fool on the hill Sees the sun going down And the eyes in his head See the world spinning 'round

And nobody seems to like him They can tell what he wants to do And he never shows his feelings But the fool on the hill Sees the sun going down And the eyes in his head See the world spinning 'round' He never listens to them He knows that they're the fools They don't like him The fool on the hill Sees the sun going down And the eyes in his head See the world spinning 'round Oh, 'round 'round 'round 'round, oh

In Matthew 15:1-11, the Pharisees accuse Jesus and his disciples of breaking the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. Jesus contradicts them both by showing how they treat vain tradition as though it were religion, demonstrates his heart for all people, and shows them and us how he seeks after our hearts, not an empty show of fake worship.

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. - Matthew 14:22-36

A TALE OF TWO FEASTS John and Jesus are both executed for: Challenging the CORRUPTION and DEBAUCHERY of their POLITICAL LEADERS Questioning the AUTHENTICITY and SINCERITY of their RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Peter is HEADSTRONG in his BELIEFS - He alone steps out on faith IN HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING of who God is. Jesus MEETS our WEAKEST FAITH

Peter is COURAGEOUS in his FEAR - He alone takes CRITIQUE and CORRECTION. God DISCIPLINES the ones he LOVES.

Peter is SAFE in his VULNERABILITY - He alone recognized Jesus’ VOICE, allowing him to PARTICIPATE with UNIQUE EXPERIENCES Jesus RESCUES anyone who is desperate enough to CALL ON HIM

Peter is FAITHFUL in his DOUBT - He alone confesses Jesus as KING by embracing a new VISION OF WHAT THE KINGDOM IS. Jesus SAVES us from OUR FAITHLESSNESS

IS JESUS GOD? If Jesus is LORD of the LORD OF THE MOLECULES in our BODIES, then he is also LORD of those same MOLECULES in NATURE!

In this sermon, we will look at what Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of Heaven through the parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet.

Almost EVERYONE...including the religiously pious and devout, the learned and powerful...misunderstands who Jesus is, because of our PRECONCEPTIONS of WHO he is...usually fashioned in OUR OWN IMAGE....leaving us WITHOUT EARS TO HEAR.

The scientific term for this is the Dunning-Kruger Effect: A FEELING of CONVICTION (not necessarily based on all the facts) leads to a REJECTION of NEW information and ways of THINKING...Sadly, this process not only cuts off critical thinking but INNOCULATES the very people who NEED NEW IDEAS THE MOST!

The theological term for this is BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! Assuming we KNOW GOD'S THOUGHTS...REFUSING to see the "SIN" in our OWN. Jesus NEVER meets our first expectations, but he ALWAYS surpasses what we can understand. We can get to KNOW HIM, or we can try to MASTER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIM...One leads to a dynamic life of purpose and grace, freedom and growth...the other leads to an existence of rules, judgementalism, measuring ourselves against others, as well as by their opinions.

The UNFORGIVEVABLE SIN is simply the inability to HEAR GOD SPEAKING TRUTH...and the truth can be painful if we are not used to hearing it...or telling it. LET US HAVE EARS TO HEAR!

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I KNOW HOW CONCEITED YOU AND HOW WICKED YOUR HEART IS; you came down only to watch the battle." - 1 Samuel 17:28

The prophets PROPHESY LIES, the priests rule by their OWN AUTHORITY, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? - Jeremiah 5:31

To whom shall I speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed And they cannot listen Behold, the word of the LORD HAS BECOME A REPROACH TO THEM; They have no delight in it. - Jeremiah 6:10

Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are PROPHESYING LIES IN MY NAME. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you FALSE VISIONS, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. - Jeremiah 14:14

16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; THEY FILL YOU WITH FALSE HOPE. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. - Jeremiah 23:16

They see FALSE VISIONS and speak lying divinations. They claim, "Thus declares the LORD," when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. - Ezekiel 13:6

They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, PROPHESY ILLUSIONS." - Isaiah 30:10

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. 52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law (SCRIBE) who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom NEW treasures as well as OLD.” 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, HE MOVED ON FROM THERE.

54 Coming to his HOMETOWN, he began teaching the people in their (HIS) synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 AND THEY TOOK OFFENSE AT HIM. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. - Matthew 13:53-58

Jesus begins speaking more cryptically once we come to the middle of the Gospel of Matthew.

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise (CONFESS) you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have HIDDEN THESE THINGS from the WISE and LEARNED, and REVEALED THEM TO LITTLE CHILDREN. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “ALL THINGS have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my YOKE upon you and LEARN from me, for I am GENTLE and (KIND) humble in heart, and you will find REST for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:25-30

Draw near to me, you who are uneducated, and lodge in the house of instruction. 24 Why do you say you are lacking in these things, and why do you endure such great thirst? 25 I opened my mouth and said, Acquire wisdom[h] for yourselves without money.

26 Put your neck under her yoke, and let your souls receive instruction; it is to be found close by.

27 See with your own eyes that I have laboured but little and found for myself much serenity. - SIRACH 51:23-27

The Rule of Life at a Glance Communion RECONCILING to God through Sharing the Eucharist CREATING SPACE to be Shaped by Scripture and Prayer SUBMITTING our time by Gathering for Worship and Sabbath Rest Community RECONCILING to one another by Speaking With Integrity (Matthew 18 Communication) CREATING SPACE for Spiritual Investment (Discipleship) SUBMITTING to one another by Listening in Humility (Communal Discernment and Mutual Submission) Co-Mission Joining in God’s RECONCILING acts of Justice and Mercy by Testifying as Witnesses CREATING SPACE for Family on Mission (Neighborhood Churches and People of Peace) SUBMITTING our abundance by Giving our Resources

This past Sunday we spent time unpacking some of what God has done in our community over the past two years and where we are looking to go. If you are interested in the comings-and-goings of Kairos this update is for you.

15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” - Matthew 11:15-19

Jesus tells people who he is by WHAT HE DOES...He declares that John the Baptist is, in fact, ELIJAH reincarnate. He then goes on to describe the Kingdom of God in very confusing sounding terms...that it is VIOLENT and VIOLENT PEOPLE RAID IT? What does he mean by this?

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.9 Then what did you go out to see? A PROPHET Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 FROM THE DAYS OF JOHN the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been SUBJECTED TO VIOLENCE, and violent people have been RAIDING IT. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied UNTIL JOHN. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the ELIJAH who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. - Matthew 11:6-15

In Matthew 11:1-6, John the Baptist asks if Jesus is the one. But last time we saw John, he seemed rather sure that his cousin Jesus was the Messiah. We dig into the text to find out why and how Jesus gives a multilayered response that's both looking back and looking forward, to help John, and us, find peace for the present and hope for the future.

Jesus calls ALL followers to live into the kind of life he lead…LOVING EVERYONE, Standing against EVIL, Identifying as the WEAK and VULNERABLE, Speaking TRUTH. His followers are PROPHETS, SERVANTS, MISSIONARIES, MARTYRS…CHILDREN! These are NOT OPTIONAL subcategories of discipleship the same way the BEATITUDES are for all of us.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” - Matthew 10:40-42

We are always looking for SHORTCUTS to the EASY LIFE; Jesus is always inviting us into the CHALLENGE of following him, of losing our comfort to find the GOOD LIFE! We do that by COMMITTING to living by HIS PRIORITIES and PRINCIPLES: Loving Our Enemies, Peacemaking that disrupts the Status Quo, and ultimately through Scorn, Stigma and Martyrdom. The COST of following Jesus is imensense, but the reward is a LIFE FULL OF GOODNESS. He REQUIRES LOYALTY from us that transcends all other relationships, including (and maybe especially) our FAMILIES…if we withhold areas of our lives from Jesus we will never find the fullness of life he offers and ultimately will be unable to walk through the challenging doors of discipleship that come with alienation and persecution, we will never be able to stand up to our friends or family, let alone the POWERS and PRINCIPALITIES that are opposed to the Rule of The KING…JESUS!

"To agree to follow Jesus is to sign away all rights to a quiet life of self-determination…But the way to peace is not the way of avoidance of conflict, and Jesus will be continuously engaged in robust controversy…their mission to establish God's peaceful rule can be accomplished only by sharing his experience of conflict." - R T France

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not WORTHY of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their CROSS and follow me is not WORTHY of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. - Matthew 10:32-39

Following Jesus in the face of persecution causes us to examine our motivations and our "planks".

Jesus initially sends just 12 of his disciples out with the job of proclaiming the KINGDOM OF GOD...the "GOOD NEWS". Before they begin their MISSION as his WITNESSES, Jesus warns them that: JESUS unsettles everyone who encounters him, be prepared DIVISION...this division will cause PERSECUTION (which also comes from WITHIN the religious community).

There Are TWO BAPTISMS The BAPTISM of RITUAL relies on DISCIPLINE and SELF-MADE-RIGHTEOUSNESS The BAPTISM of the SPIRIT relies on the RELATIONAL INTIMACY to FOLLOW WELL

There Are TWO KINGDOMS The KINGDOM of Israel relies on WORLDLY POWER and FORMAL STRUCTURES – it is NATIONALISM The KINGDOM of GOD is built on the POWER of the SPIRIT and our ability to HEAR and FOLLOW

When Jesus gives us his SPIRIT he also UPDATES the BOUNDARIES to the MISSION The GOOD NEWS is the KINGDOM of GOD, we are EMPOWERED to live into that REALITY by the SPIRIT OF GOD FORGIVENESS of sins EMPOWERS US to choose the “PATHS OF LIFE" SALVATION is RECEIVING THE SPIRIT THE GOOD NEWS is the arrival of THE KINGDOM OF GOD

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. - Matthew 10:16-23

The GOOD NEWS is the KINGDOM of GOD, we are EMPOWERED to live into that REALITY by the SPIRIT OF GOD FORGIVENESS of sins EMPOWERS US to choose the “PATHS OF LIFE" SALVATION is RECEIVING THE SPIRIT THE GOOD NEWS is the arrival of THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Disciples PREACH THE SAME MESSAGE as John and Jesus The Disciples TEACH WITH THE SAME AUTHORITY as Jesus We are called to excercise greate DISCERNMENT and WISDOM The POWER of our WORDS creates WORLDS REJECTING God's MESSENGER is a rejection of GOD

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. ... 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF ISRAEL. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. ... 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:1-16

We talk about FAITH and POLITICS because, according to the Bible, faith that doesn't radically shape every area of our lives is weak faith. We want EYES TO SEE and EARS TO HEAR, but we cannot see or hear is we are DECEIVED.

Scripture warns over and over again that ANTICHRISTS will be HIGHLY DECEPTIVE because they appear as ANGELS OF LIGHT, claiming to do good, claiming to be Christians, or even Christ himself.

The ISRAELITES REJECTED GOD and desired to have a king because they, like us, worshipped the idea that "the right government" promised SAFETY, SECURITY and ABSOLUTION. They IDOLIZED THEIR GOVERNMENT by following it instead of God. Even their BEST KINGS did unspeakable evil in the sight of the Lord...and ALL brought the same kind of OPPRESSION they had experienced in Egypt. The people CHOSE and IDOLIZED SAUL because he was "as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.” - ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭9:2

After Saul turns away from FOLLOWING GOD'S way and chose to establish his OWN KINGDOM, God rejected him. When Samuel looks for the kings replacement God gives us very clear instructions for how to scrutinize and evaluate EVERYTHING... “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” - ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16:6-7‬

How can we tell a counterfeit from the authentic? How can we trust claims to be a follower of Jesus, when ALL OF US fall short of living like him?

In an age of "fake news" and individualized realities, STANDING FIRM ON TRUTH is one of the most critically important roles of the people of God, the Kingdom Community for the 21st Century. If we cannot call EVIL "wrong", then we will NEVER be able to call GOD "good" or "father". When power and famous people claim to be a follower of Christ and then live in ANTAGONISM to everything he loved and stood for, it is the job and duty of his real followers to say "That doesn't represent us"...our concern should always be with loving and serving others, not getting rights for ourselves above all else.

We are NOT looking to condemn Trump, we are not advocating for one political party or politician over the other. We feel an URGENT CALL to highlight JESUS and call his followers to cling to and be formed around HIS WORDS, not the promises or praises of others. By simply holding up the words of Trump to the words of Christ we are hoping that Christians can see the disparity and choose between the two...for on this conviction we feel certain: No man can serve two masters: for either he. will hate the one, and love the other; or else. he will hold to the one, and despise the other...

Jesus: Blessed are the poor, for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Trump: “My entire life, I’ve watched politicians bragging about how poor they are, how they came from nothing, how poor their parents and grandparents were. And I said to myself, if they can stay so poor for so many generations, maybe this isn’t the kind of person we want to be electing to higher office. How smart can they be? They’re morons.”- DJT, 1999 Maureen Dowd, The New York Times

Jesus: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Trump: “He was captured…Does being captured make you a hero? I don’t know. I’m not sure. I like people that weren't captured" - December 1999 interview with Dan Rather

Jesus: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. "For us here in Washington, we must never ever stop asking God for the wisdom to serve the public according to His will. But we had tremendous success on The Apprentice and, when I ran for President, I had to leave the show, that's when I knew for sure I was doing it, and they hired a big, big movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to take my place, and we know how that turned out. The ratings went right down the tubes, it's been a total disaster, and Mark [Burnett] will never, ever bet against Trump again, and I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those rating, OK?" - Trump's "National Prayer Breakfast" - 2/2/17

Jesus: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Trump: “When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I always get even.” - Interview, Cal Thomas - 6/8/16

Jesus: Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy. Trump: “Why do I have to repent, why do I have to ask for forgiveness if [I’m] not making mistakes?” - DJT, CNN 360 Anderson Cooper Interview - 7/23/15

Jesus: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Trump: “I did try and fuck her. She was married.” “I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything…Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.” - DJT, Access Hollywood tape - 2005

Jesus: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Trump: “When you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about their lives, don’t kid yourself. When they say they don’t care about their lives, you have to take out their families” - DJT, FOX News Fox and Friends - 12/3/15

The Antichrist will be exactly that, ANTI CHRIST. The "man of lawlessness" appears over and over again throughout our history, claiming "PEACE, PEACE! WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE!"...can we recognize this in our own midst right now?

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by SPIRIT or by WORD or by LETTER, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU IN ANY WAY; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He OPPOSES and EXALTS HIMSELF above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. — 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 NRSV (1989)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, TEACHING in their SYNAGOGUES, proclaiming the GOOD NEWS of the KINGDOM and HEALING EVERY DISEASE and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Matthew 9:35-38

SHEPHERDING Is PROTECTIVE and AGGRESSIVE PERSECUTION WILL COME FROM WITHIN! I Am Sending You PROPHETS, SAGES and TEACHERS There are MANY people following MANY different ANTI-CHRISTS IMPOSTERS Deceive Many Through FEAR-MONGERING LAWLESSNESS Will Grow STRONG, LOVE will GROW COLD

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us, " they said, "when will this happen, and what will be a SIGN of your coming and of the END OF THE AGE?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that NO ONE DECEIVES YOU. For MANY will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will DECEIVE MANY. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of BIRTH PAINS. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. It Is POSSIBLE to LOSE YOUR "SALVATION", Because salvation IS JESUS At that time MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH and will betray and hate each other, and MANY FALSE PROPHETS will appear and DECEIVE MANY PEOPLE. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:1-14

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”- Matthew 27-34

Following Jesus Requires PERSISTENCE and DESIRE Faith in Jesus Requires HONESTY and TRUTH THE FIRST TIME JESUS IS IDENTIFIED AS THE MESSIAH ("Son Of David") JESUS Silences The Blind and Leper in Matthew Because he WANTS TO AVOID TITLES This is all about WHO JESUS IS Jesus Saw No Difference Between the PHYSICAL and the "SPIRITUAL" Healing is a PHYSICAL sign of God's (SPIRITUAL) REALITY Jesus Saw HUGE Differences Between Types of DEMONS and AILMENTS HUMANS Misjudge WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CROWD Is Amazed by Jesus THE RELIGIOUS Are BLINDED by Jesus

ne ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” – C.S. Lewis 18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.26 News of this spread through all that region. Matthew 9:18-25

We have drugs for people with diseases like leprosy. But these drugs do not treat the main problem, the disease of being unwanted…. The sick and poor suffer even more from rejection than material want. Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” – Mother Teresa

“Listen to God with a broken heart. He is not only the doctor who mends it, but also the father who wipes away the tears.” ― Criss Jami

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18

Be Aware Of Those Who Have A Broken Heart.
Expect God To Act. Jesus Has Authority Over Death & Disease.
See Interruptions As Divine Appointments To Dispense God’s Grace.
Refuse To Listen To Words of Disbelief. “Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.” – Rick Warren Be Available To Reach Out In Compassion.

16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16, 17

Some Closing Questions To Consider: 1. Have you ever felt isolated or found yourself in a desperate situation? Did it cause you to seek God, cause you to give up or cause you to be a scoffer? Why did you react that way? 2. In today’s Scripture reading, we read: Jesus turned and “SAW” her. What does it mean to you that Jesus “saw her”? How do you see Jesus “seeing” you? 3. Do you see interruptions in your day as an annoyance or as an invitation to have a Divine Appointment? How does making yourself available grow your faith? 4. In which ways have words of disbelief (internal or external) affected your faith journey? What are some ways you can overturn these “voices”?

CHILD-LIKE REPENTANCE CHILD-LIKE FAITH is ALL IN!

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ” - Matthew 4:17 NLT

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” - Mark 1:14-15

BELIEF always proceeds REPENTANCE

The Calling of Matthew As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Matthew 9:9-13

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. - Matthew 21:32

GROWN-UP RELIGION is always built on our OWN STRENGTH CHILD-LIKE REPENTANCE is always initiated by GOD'S MERCY CHILD-LIKE BELIEF always leads to ACTION

THE SCANDAL OF FEASTING Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” - Matthew 9:14-17

Following Jesus is never STATIC or STATIONARY Following Jesus never LOOKS LIKE RELIGION Following Jesus is THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS

CHILD-LIKE FORGIVENESS – Noah Stepro CHILD-LIKE FAITH is FORGIVING in nature DESIRE and SIN are directly related to FORGIVENESS and HEALING…RELATIONALLY, rather than MAGICALLY "CONFESS your sins (desires, motives, fears) so you MAY be HEALED" - James 5:16

CONFESSION, FORGIVENESS and HEALING are all three about: RELATIONSHIP: What is RELATIONAL about the way we talk about FORGIVENESS? RELEASE: Without RELEASE we cannot RECEIVE Truly I tell you, whatever you BIND on EARTH will be BOUND in HEAVEN, and whatever you LOOSE on EARTH will be LOOSED in HEAVEN. - Matthew 18:15-18 RECEIVING: When Jesus gave us HIS SPIRIT he immediately told us to RECEIVE PEACE by GIVING PEACE Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” - John 20:19-23

THE LORD’S PRAYER – Melody Bowes This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:5-15‬ ‬‬‬

The very best of the RELIGIOUS people ENCOUNTERED JESUS but did not KNOW HIM because they were concerned with their own IMAGE and POWER.

Knowing Jesus vs Knowing ABOUT Jesus - Salvation IS knowing Jesus

The TRUSTINGNESS of a child is what's required to join THE KINGDOM

We cannot TRUST what we do not KNOW, SUSPECT or BLAME

What do the people of the BIBLE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD?

DOCTRINES DON'T SAVE YOU, and neither do your

JESUS is SIMPLE and DIFFICULT

RELIGION is COMPLICATED and EASY

Matthew (9:1–8), Mark (2:1–12), and Luke (5:17–26) Matthew: Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to HIS OWN TOWN. Mark: A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Luke: Jesus was teaching, and PHARISEES and TEACHERS OF THE LAW were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. Mark: And the POWER OF THE LORD was with Jesus to HEAL THE SICK. Matthew: Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. Luke: When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Matthew: When Jesus saw their FAITH, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is BLASPHEMING!” Luke: Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to KNOW that the Son of Man has AUTHORITY on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Mark: He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Luke: Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Matthew: Then the man GOT UP and went HOME. When the crowd saw this, they were FILLED WITH AWE; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. - Titus 1:15‭-‬16 NIV

But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you. - Luke 11:41

CHILD-LIKE FAITH HAS PURE MOTIVES SELF AWARENESS and HUMILITY When we DO KNOW OURSELVES we stop JOCKEYING FOR POWER and POSITIONS When we DON'T KNOW our own MOTIVATIONS we often PROJECT them on others WITHOUT REALIZING IT HONESTY and BOLDNESS When we DO KNOW our DESIRES we can PRAY BOLDLY When we DON'T we SUSPECT OTHERS of our level of DISHONESTY TRUST and CONFIDENCE When we speak from a PURE HEART we can BELIEVE OTHERS and OURSELVES When we speak from a DIVIDE HEART we can BELIEVE OUR OWN ABILITY to PURIFY OURSELVES

There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth. - Proverbs 30:12

Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness will spring up to cause trouble and defile many. - Hebrews 12:15

CHILD-LIKE Jesus Tells us the ONLY real FAITH is faith that is LIKE A CHILD Jesus is RECKLESS We are FEARFUL · The LEPER KNELT before Jesus and DECLARES his NEED · The CENTURION RAN before Jesus and RECOGNIZED his PLACE. · Peter’s MOTHER-IN-LAW is BROUGHT before Jesus and ASKED for his HELP

JESUS IS A REVOLUTIONARY, any version of him that looks like a MIDDLE CLASS RULE FOLLOWER is a IDOLATROUS LIE · The CROWD · The STORM · The DEMONS

KIDS ARE IDEALISTIC - They dream big and demand perfection KIDS ARE FEARLESS - not afraid to DISRUPT LIFE If you are honest, what SCARES YOU about what you BELIEVE? 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake ad died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. – Matthew 8:28-34

What does it mean to have "KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL"? "9In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” - Genesis 9:-17

What IS CHILDLIKE FAITH? HONEST, not IGNORANT HUMBLE, not SELF-RIGHTEOUS INNOCENT, not NAÏVE SIMPLE, not SIMPLISTIC CURIOUS, not COCKY "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3

The promise of Christmas is the promise of LIGHT. When God dwells on earth, it is to establish justice and bring light. God's salvation rarely looks like what we are expecting.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” 5 This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

What RULES do you have in your life? Who put them there? Are they producing LOVE in your life? God's voice is calling us to REPENT of our SINS...INCLUDING THE SIN OF OUR RULES. God CHANGES HIS OWN RULES when he encounters a sincere heart.

How often do we sacrifice love for our own rules? We are called to protect and free our brothers and sisters, not condemn them with rules

Do we rely on our own rules so much we can't hear God's VOICE? "I thought I couldn't hear God, but then I realized he was there through all my life...I just didn't recognize his voice" - Heather Urban

Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Language Is Not As Precise As We Like To Think It Is...here are quite a few sayings we still use, that have long since lost their original meaning (do you know any of these origins?)": "Straight from the Horse's Mouth", "Horsepower", "Roll up the windows", "Drop of a hat", "Pulling out all the stops", "Dress to the nines", "Get the ball rolling", "Carbon copy"

If we only apply a "LITERAL" flat interpretation to the Bible (or any text), we are oversimplifying what God WAS saying to the people and will miss what he IS speaking to us through it. Isaiah sees a vision of a world that is void the danger of lions and "ravenous beasts"...WHY? Because that was a genuine concern to the people of Judea when this was written. When we realize that, a few themes emerge:

We aren't concerned with all the things that concerned ancient Hebrews...many of our concerns are new and much more complicated.
The ravenous beasts that threaten our welfare look much more like corporate officers, politicians, etc., than an ACTUAL lion.
If we are so comfortable and self-sufficient how can we know the "God who saves"? A major reason for this Book is to force Israel to BE HONEST with who they are, their limitations and their needs.
Isaiah paints a vision of a Kingdom where God's Righteousness and Justice rule over everything...but he describes this place not exclusively as a destination, but as a JOURNEY...wherever we are on the Way of Holiness...God meets us IN OUR NEED.

Just as God grafts in new branches into the main vine, The Spirit creates "on ramps" for this "highway" right where we need them, right in front of us. The faith of Jesus doesn't require you to jump through hoops, recite prayers or preform religious rites...it only requires a sincere heart...THIS IS GOOD NEWS TO THOSE OF US WHO NEED A RESCUER. (and it is repugnant to religious people who have saved themselves)

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. - Isaiah 35:1-10 NIV

The Kings of Isaiah's day were supposed to be the keepers of all things right and holy in Israel…instead we see a pattern that God rejects through prophets like Isaiah…a theme of pride, self-reliance, compromise, folly. Many of the kings made "treaties" with neighboring countries to protect themselves, even after God has proven his faithfulness in times of fear and scarcity.

Isaiah 9 talks of the "time of Midian's defeat"…that time was in the past…WAY IN THE PAST. In the Book of Judges we see a narrative of a hero names Gideon who listened to God's seemingly crazy advice to whittle his army down from thousands to just 300 to defend against and defeat the Midian's…a growing superpower coming to invade from the East (if this sounds familiar it is because it shares quite a few similarities with the Spartan 300 and the battle of Thermopile). God went before Gideon in his obedience and wiped out the entire oppressing army without the Israelites raising a single sword!

We can not experience the fullness of God's goodness, power and provision if we never need God to fight our (seemingly) impossible battles. If we are completely self-sufficient, if we assume God always wants us to follow the safe, simple way, will we ever come to know God as a rescuer? A Messiah?

Here is a great quote from a recent, very relevant book, followed by our passage from Isaiah:

"Have evangelicals over the past fifty years been so busy fighting the culture wars and pursuing political power that they have failed to bring more white men and women into the fold through evangelization? Have they invested so much time in politics that they have not cultivated the spiritual and moral lives of young people in a way that keeps them in the church?" - The End Of White Christian America

9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. - Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV)

What is your foundation?

Karen Herman brings a timely message of hope and truth after a week of national heartbreak and tragedy.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a] 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. - Isaiah 63:1-3

Is there life after death? Do we have souls? What does Resurrection look like? What separates humans from animals? WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

These are some of the questions that plagued King Solomon, and they are some of the most important questions we can ask right now? Beyond simply asking the questions, we ask WHY they matter TO US? How do we live in light of this? How does Jesus differ from the hopelessness we see in Ecclesiastes?

Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them. Ecclesiastes 1:10-11

Why was Solomon wise? What makes his wisdom different from that of his father David?

I’m Convinced THE Most Important Tool For Growing In Our Faith Is QUESTION ASKING?

Jesus Asked 339 Questions; Jesus Was Asked 183 Questions and Answered on 3 of them.

Paying Taxes: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?" . . . "Bring me a denarius and let me see it." And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" - Mark 12:13-17 Blind Man: 1 Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" 3 Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. - John 9:1-3

The Good Samaritan: 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”…29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” … 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” - Luke 10-25-37

We often ask the wrong questions

Healing a Quadriplegic: Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? - Mark 2:8-9

Pool of Bethesda: Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days.2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” - John 5:1-6

Beggar at the Temple: Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. - Acts 3:1-3

Where do we see questions being VERY important in the Scripture? We can ask all the questions in the world and it won't matter is we don't ask THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE: "WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?" - Jesus

What do you envision when you hear or read about people being "amazed at Jesus' teaching"? He had "authority", but it wasn't like that of the religious leaders, based on memorizing and obeying laws....His was different because it was built on a SOLID foundation of HIS IDENTITY AS A (PERFECT) CHILD OF GOD. THAT is the narrow road, narrow because EVERY OTHER FOUNDATION DOESN'T HOLD UP IN THE STORMS OF LIFE.

The Wise and Foolish Builders 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

True and False Disciples 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - Matthew 7:20-23

Watchout for False Prophets! They are everywhere according to Jesus, and they vie for our attention and affection by sounding A LOT LIKE JESUS, but not quite right. The only way we can guard against this kind of deception isn't through legalistic rule following, but by MEETING, KNOWING and FOLLOWING JESUS.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. - Matthew 7:15-20

For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. 10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” § Isaiah 30:9-11

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves… 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. - 2 Timothy 3:1-9

The road is narrow, the gate is small...but that doesn't mean it is a slippery, legalistic path where Jesus is waiting for you to mess up so he can send you on your way towards destruction. The narrow path is the way of Jesus, it is the path to the good life...because it is narrow, it is the path often less traveled by the majority of folks. It is the path of forgiveness, mercy, justice, truth, humility, grace, creativity, vulnerability, vision. The GOOD LIFE Jesus is offering us is only found by ACTUALLY FOLLOWING the good life Jesus lead and taught, it is only gained by intentionally allowing God to develop our interior life through prayer and practice. It is also only gained when we ACTUALLY DESIRE the Kingdom of Heaven.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

If you IMAGINE JESUS Judging you and it is bleak...re-Imagine Jesus...Re-Introduce yourself to the Jesus of the Bible...His Mercy TRIUMPHS over JUDGEMENT Every time.

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. - Matthew 7:1-6

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act JUSTLY and to love MERCY and to walk HUMBLY with your God. - Micah 6:8

Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. - James 2:13

What do you desire? This is THE ULTIMATE QUESTION we are confronted with when we encounter Jesus. Jesus never tells us to not WANT anything...Jesus never tells us not to invest or store up "treasure"...he says "Don't store up EARTHLY treasures for YOURSELF"

How do we value the things Jesus valued? How do we DESIRE the things of the Kingdom of Heaven? We ask God to change our hearts, our desires!

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:19-34

“You're one election away from losing everything that you've got" -DJT

Imagine that Jesus sees EVERYTHING! He isn't impressed by "shows" of spirituality...rather he wants us to live in the freedom of letting our YES be YES, being ourselves all the time.

What we do in secret, will be paid out in public...our current LEADERSHIP CRISIS is seeing this coming to life as the shameful things done in private are coming to light.

“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:5-18

Jesus isn't a conservative or a liberal - He is a radical MESSIAH who shows us a DIFFERENT way of living! Jesus isn't condemning or supporting divorce, but (with a broken heart) pointing out our own hypocrisy and freeing us from it!

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. Divorce 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. - Matthew 5:24-32

How do we treat our enemies? Who are our "enemies"? What does it mean to "love" someone who hates you?

Imagine Jesus saying exactly what he meant… Imagine everyone saying exactly what they meant. The reality would be hard to swallow but eventually would bring earth into better alignment with heaven. Our tendencies or weaknesses toward people pleasing, gossiping and hyper-individualism (where we tend to think of “church” primarily in terms of MY spiritual needs and desires), often create a major disconnect between what we MEAN and what we SAY. This eventually results in a greater disconnect between who we ARE and who people THINK WE ARE.

Jesus hands his followers the "keys" to the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN…to "bind and loose" things in life…his instructions around VOWS and OATHS let us know these KEYS have to do with our LANGUAGE and our INTENT. When we speak plainly, honestly and in love…we have to power to END CYCLES OF POVERTY AND ABUSE.

This is GOOD NEWS!

Matthew 5 says Jesus came to fulfill the law, but what does it mean to ”fulfill” the Law?

"Don't suppose that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy them; I came to fulfill them! I'm telling you the truth: until heaven and earth disappear, not one stroke, not one dot, is going to disappear from the law until it's all come true. So anyone who relaxes a single one of these commandments, even the little ones, and teaches that to people, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. "Yes, let me tell you: unless your covenant behavior is far superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven." "You hear that it was said to the ancient people, "You shall not murder; and anyone who commits murder shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; anyone who uses foul and abusive language will be liable to the law court; and anyone who says, 'You fool.' will be liable to the fires of Gehenna.

So, if you are coming to the altar with your gift, and there you remember that your brother has a grievance against you. Leaver your gift right there in front of the altar, and go first and be reconciled to your brother. Then come back and offer your gift. Make friends with your opponent quickly, while you are with him in the street, in case your opponent hands you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you find yourself being thrown into jail. I'm telling you the truth: you won't get out until you've paid every last copper coin." - Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus is not THE LAW, nor a set of laws and rules!

Rules have never granted SALVATION, Yet Jesus never criticized “the law” – rather: Jesus criticized "the developing oral Law for its focus on a casuistic literalness that denied the very heart and purpose of the Law. It is in the dual command to love God and neighbor that Jesus found the heart of the Law"

Jesus FULFILLS the LAW by: a. Confirming its Validity b. Adding to It c. Embodied the Intention of It d. Extending Its Demands e. Teaching the Eschatological Will of God Jesus SURPASSES the Law For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. - Romans 10:4

Ken Gardner, pastor of our host church Christ Our Savior United Methodist Church, shares a transparent, beautiful message on Jesus, Grace and Things Coming Full-Circle

What are your expectations for "Spirituality"? What do you knowingly, or unknowingly, expect from God? Or expectations wind up determining our realities. When we begin following Jesus we expect a new life. Ted Dekker puts it another way in the pretext to his excellent novel "A.D.30":

"Yeshua's Way is letting go of one world system to see and experience another - on that is closer than our own breath. It is surrendering what we think we know about the Father so we can truly know him. It is the great reversal of all that we think we will give us significance and meaning in this life so we can live with more peace and power than we have yet imagined."

In other words, when we embrace a new "worldview" called #TheKingdomOfGod we reset ALL of our EXPECTATIONS across our lives. That kind of #Integration is what Jesus was talking about when he called people to practice #SecretSpirituality - it creates and calls us to a life of #Integrity and #Humility

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father WHO IS IN heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you OPENLY." - Matthew 6:1-4

Jesus told his disciples in order to have a "witness" (a reputation worth listening to), they have to do "good deeds". But Jesus then later tells his followers to do their "good deeds" in private. The "good deeds" Jesus did and was telling his followers to practice were BOTH private and Public...they lived by the same standard/conviction everywhere they went. The "good deeds" Jesus did were also unpopular...angering people to the point they attempted several times to kill him,...and eventually did...this should tell us something about what Matthew intends with the words "Good Deeds".

Jesus calls "Peacemakers" and "Persecuted" people blessed...but we will ALWAYS be confused by that if we ASSUME we know what "PEACE" and "PERSECUTION" look like. When we look at who Jesus ACTUALLY was, what his version of peace looked like and the reasons for his persecution...they can often look very different than our flattened, naive visions of these vital words/concepts.

Jesus tells us the secrets of the Kingdom of God in plain, simple language. We miss these truths often because we skip the FIRST step in the equation...You MUST reckon with the fact that you were LOST (not as a sinner, but as a kid) and then I was FOND (and nothing I try to add to that changes my worth or value). When we remember our PRIMARIY IDENTITY IS A CHILD (of God), we remember that everyone is a child. If we are all the same in our need and helplessness, then we are all the same in our sin and need of rescue. #TheresNoSuchThingAsARighteousPerson #TheresNoSuchThingAsAGrownUp

What do you want? What does your heart desire? If we are honest, most of us don't know what we really truly want...what we desire. Have you ever gotten something you wanted, only to be surprised at how disappointing aspects of it are?

Jesus says that when we are hungry for HIS Justice and Righteousness we will have our fill. But do we even know what that means? Do we ask what God's justice looks like in our neighborhood and families today? Could we handle it? This is what Jesus means when he says "Judge how you want to be judged". The parable of the Unmerciful Servant is alive all around us today...take the warning, show GRACE and MERCY. After all, Jesus says they TRIUMPH over JUSICE!

If we want to live under the "right-ness" (righteousness) of Jesus, but long for other things or ways of living...we are simply to ask him to shape our heart where we feel powerless to do so.

What do you WANT? Your desires determine who, or what, you worship...who you worship will shape who you will become. If you are struggling with desiring a life shaped by Jesus vs. a life shaped by everything else in the world...We are to take note of the Centurion and pray the way he did..."Lord, I believe (desire), help me with my unbelief (divided heart)?

“According to Jerry Falwell Jr., evangelicals have “found their dream president,” which says something about the current quality of evangelical dreams.”

This is one of the best, sadly, articles I’ve read in a long time. You know you’re really old when “treat yo self“ looks like you’re buying a physical copy of the Atlantic instead of reading it online. Whether you currently are a Trump fan, supported Trump and no longer do, or never voted for him to begin with…if you consider yourself an 'evangelical' or have an interest in us, this is an must read. Mind you this is from a Christian, evangelical author, who was a speech writer for George W. Bush… THE evangelical president of recent days.

If you’ve been confused by the political landscape of our country and the way the word 'evangelical' gets used today, this is very illuminating. It goes in to everything from Catholic immigration, the scientific and industrial revolutions to abortion, gay marriage and public prayer in schools.

It’s a bit long, but please don’t comment without reading the ENTIRE article. If there is a lot in here that flies over your head or sounds like Greek, I would encourage you to ask your pastor or a faith leader to go over it with you. If they can’t wrestle out some understanding from this article, or don't understand enough about their own faith and it’s history to address things brought up here… Well, I’d find a new person;)

I’ve been on about a month hiatus from speaking, taking time to get some personal things in order. I’m excited to announce I'm speaking again tomorrow… At 10 AM I’m speaking at Christ Our Savior United Methodist church in Quartz Hill and then again at 5 PM at Kairos. We share the same location, and I’m giving the same message…if you don't have plans today at either 10 or 5 I'd love to see you. Today I'm speaking on the beatitudes. This set of “blessings” that Jesus describes in the book of Matthew that seem to invert all of our conventional notions of "blessing" and "wisdom". It just so happened that this article has a mock beatitudes in it…an antithesis to Jesus‘s words:

“Trump’s strength-worship and contempt for “losers” smack more of the Nietzsche than of Christ. “Blessed are the proud. Blessed are the ruthless. Blessed are the shameless. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after fame.”

We (Kairos Community) got to join with our friends at Christ Our Savior United Methodist for a joint Easter worship celebration. Here is the second half of a "tag-team" message with Ken Gardner and Noah Stepro...Is God calling you to BETTER LIFE than the one you have now?

Jesus was the embodiment of HUMILITY and MEEKNESS...Yet he did things that are WILDLY outside of our conventional understandings about humility and meekness (criticizing public leaders, claiming God was his father, whipping church (Temple) leaders, claiming he could rip down and rebuild the Temple in a matter of days). What should that tell us about "meekness" and "humility"?

Jesus says audacious things...like "blessed" or, "you are fortunate when..." YOU MOURN (Grieve)?!?! What could that possibly mean? Jesus knew that when we experience heartache, hopelessness and loss, we are much more receptive to the kind of life Jesus is inviting us into. You are truly fortunate when you've lost it all...then you are free to inherit the Kingdom of God.

IMAGINE JESUS...Being Poor by Kairos Community

IMAGINE JESUS...Preaching, Teaching and Healing...EVERYONE by Kairos Community

IMAGINE JESUS...Is An Immagrant by Kairos Community

Here what God is doing in the life of our friend George Ratcliff.

Jesus was tempted as a real, physical human...just like us. When he faced some of his greatest temptations (in the wilderness after his baptism) the same way we do. He relied on the voice of God, his and our Father, the power of God's Spirit and the truth of God's word to remember who was and what he was supposed to be doing.

Amidst a slurry of voices calling for his attention, telling who he should be, what others wanted from him, what "success" is supposed to look like...Jesus was able to focus on who God told him he was, despite what everyone else was saying..."You are my Son, I'm so happy who you are"

From our special New Year's Eve service, Cody sharing how Jesus has shaped his life!

Jesus doesn't model "obediance" for us when he is baptized...he emphasized the importance of hearing his Father (God's) voice above all others!

Jesus was a REAL PERSON...He lived the most amazing life anyone has ever lived.

Find out why his locality is important...it is because it comes in places like the Antelope Valley.

The Escape to Egypt 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[c] 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”[d] The Return to Nazareth 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. - Matthew 2

Jesus was a REAL person...his life was the most amazing life ever lived.

The Magi Visit the Messiah 2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Children typcially have more energy than adults, that might explain why the average kid laughs 100xs a day...while the average adult only laughs about 6:(

One of the reasons kids are able to laugh so freely is because they are filled with LIFE. Cody outlines the 7 vital signs for life to exist in a organism and how we can live into the life of the Spirit of Jesus: M - Movement. R - Reproduction. S - Sensitivity. G - Growth. R - Respiration. E - Excretion. N - Nutrition.

James Greene talks about the reality of suicide and what that means when Jesus is present. Please share this personal, powerful message with ANYONE you think could use a word of solidarity and hope.

"Who Do You Say I Am?" - Easily the most important question Jesus ever asked, and certainly the most important question we will ever answer. The problem is, our understanding of Jesus as a REAL PERSON is too limited by religious language, images of a perfectly manicured, white Jesus with a British accent, cartoon representations of power, faith and love and a SERIOUS LACK OF IMAGINATION!

JESUS WAS A REAL PERSON, WHO LIVED AN ACTUAL LIFE! This is Great News...it means his faith and life are an actual source for our life and faith. All of us want instructions for different parts of life, but few of us have DIRECTION...and instructions without directions are USELESS. Study, meditating on and wrestling with who Jesus actually is, is the only we will have spiritual lives that are not simply based on instruction, but direction.

Join us this season and discover the amazing reality of who Jesus is...

The Protestant Reformation started 100 years ago when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of his home church in Wittenburg, Germany...calling out the Christian world on the hypocrisy of selling people God's forgiveness. Today we (Christians) are facing a similar crisis...we are putting moral boundaries on who can follow Jesus and who can't. Are we putting up rules and boundaries to Jesus that he never put up? Similarly, Luther challenged the authority of the church (mainly the Pope). The Reformation diffused the power the church and liberated the Spirit of Jesus to move more freely amongst his people. The Reformation didn't go far enough in that liberation of ministry from the few to the many. We have replaced the Pope with the local pastor and given him or her special responsibilities that we don't expect of "regular" Christians...Jesus wants EVERYONE to experience the fullness of his Kingdom!

Jaimie Stepro delivers one of the most powerful messages we've ever had at one of our worship gatherings. Whether you are part of our community or a friend of ours staying up to date with us...this is a MUST HEAR MESSAGE that lays out where we've been, where we are amd where we are going.

Jesus feels FEIRCE ANGER! But it isn't anger at you and me...it is anger at SIN...or our DECISION TO BE SELFISH. Our selfishness is simple...we want what we can't have so we take from others or shouldn't have because it is destructive to us...and act against our own self interests.

We are like little, little children...and real relationship with God hinges on us recognizing this fact, and the fact that God is our FATHER and that our father (who is the exact same nature/character of JESUS) is GOOD!

God's desire is for us to be filled with joy at the fact that we are part of his family...One of Jesus' most joyous moments comes when his followers came back after stepping out into the world to live the way he was living and heard them report back on how great it was. JESUS IS JOY!

Jesus came to deliver us from evil...not teach us how to deliver ourselves. He shows us over and over again how to follow him: believe and then ask for help with your unbelief. Pray and watch, keep your eyes open to what is happening around you.

God loves recklessly and unfairly...his goodness overcomes any conception of love we can come up with. While we squander and waste what we are given, God prepares a lavish party for us as he anticipates and advocates for our return home. God isn't waiting until you are "better" to celebrate your life with you...God is waiting to throw you a party EVERYDAY you choose to come inside.

We are all immigrants...every human. Jesus loves every one of us equally. Jesus doesn't love you because of your nationalism. Jesus doesn't love you more than an immigrant. Jesus told us to love immigrants (i.e. everyone). Jesus told us to love everyone. Jesus told us to bless our enemies and give to those who take from us.

Jesus saves us by his grace...not our government or our economy or our morality:)

Jesus even saves us from our self-righteousness

What does it mean to worship a grieving God?

“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you. ”" - Luke‬ ‭19:41-44‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Wisdom Of Gideon - Cody Urban by Kairos Community

Karen Herman delivers a heartfelt message on rest and the SABBATH

Cody Urban (Kairos Community Pastor) speaks on overhauling our spiritual lives by looking at generational curses

We are clay: God is a potter. When we stop resisting, God can form and shape all the character of Jesus in us. When we (the pottery) gets cracked or broken, God grace and mercy repairs us...making us whole.

We stick with outdated, unhealthy or unhelpful practices and perspectives because they are comfortable and used to work well? But God is always on the move...like a river...you can not step in the same river twice; you cannot have an identical experience with God over and over again. Trying to recreate the same experience quickly turns into dead religion...but the GREAT news is that Jesus invites us into his MERCY...which is new everyday!

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

When we love the world, we squeeze God out by putting other things in our lives...Jesus was very clear...we are to make God the ONLY THING and the rest will fall in place.

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” - ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-16

We are designed to be in a unique, individual relationship with God our father…we then become redesigned to be in a unique, collective relationship with the whole Body of Christ - it is about individualism and collectivism

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. - Philippians 3:10-14

To follow Jesus means to leave behind our own personal agendas, preferences and habits and take on an entirely new identity…a new name even.

Have you ever wondered if demons are real? Or if a Christian can be possessed or oppressed by the demonic? Our greatest need for healing isn't physical, mental or relational…it is SPIRITUAL. Deliverance from spiritual sickness allows for the possibility of healing in all other areas.

Our spiritual health can never surpass our relational health…there is no aspect of the spiritual that isn't relational

Mental and psychological healing is a pressing need in our world. We spend billions a year seeking help. God wants to bring healing to the mind through supernatural and natural means.

According to the Gospels, Jesus was most busy with healing people while on earth. He gave his followers authority and told them to lead the same way...we are trying to be faithful to those instructions.

A "trophic cascade" is the effect of one change that causes a ripple effect of change all around it. When we introduce Jesus to one part of our lives, his presence causes a trophic cascade in which every part of us is made new.

The incarnation of Jesus changed the boundary marker between us and God - the sacrifice of Jesus solidified this new age of returning to closeness with the creator.

What are you feeding your soul with? A diet of lust produces more lust and more disconnect between us and those around us...trapping us in a prison of self-condemnation.

When anger is allowed to fester into bitterness it creates a personal prison that keeps us captive

Anthony Delgado (pastor of Sonrise Baptist) delivers a power message on hope in depression.

When we are codependent our faith either gravitates towards taking on the responsibility of someone else's spiritual health or giving someone else responsibility for our spiritual health

Self-Medication is a form of idolatry - we turn to our medications (that take many forms) for relief from the pain of depression and anxiety. God's desire is to bring healing and wholeness to our fear and worry through the peace of Jesus.

"Holiness" isn't about being more "loved" or "accepted" by God...it is about POWER. The more we conform to, and follow, the image of God...the more the Spirit of God can use us to do the work of his Kingdom.

Holiness is the practice of living out our identity as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven…as we live into that identity we gain the authority of our Father, the King, to do the work of His Kingdom

God cares so much more about our sexual wholeness and healing than about our past transgressions and current weaknesses. Purity and Wholeness are what we are called to...but we only get there through the grace and mercy of Jesus, not our own strength

Bishop Martin describes the incredible journey of adoption and fostering that went on in the small town of Possum Trot Texas and how God's heart is for the orphan.

Men and Women are made equally in the Image of God, neither is subservient. When men or women are missing or minimized in our communities we miss the fullness of God.

If this brings up questions please RSVP for our Brewing Dialogues event: https://www.facebook.com/events/918390081597433/

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27

Just as a map is useless without a compass, so is the Bible without the Spirit of God When trying to follow Jesus and be connected to the Bible we tend to gravitate towards: 1.) A narrow, nearly literal view of the Bible, treating it as a textbook for life and holding it in such reverence as to worship it (Dallas Willard called this "biblical deism"). 2.) An incredibly wide, allegorical understanding of Scripture making it one more text among many so it becomes almost irrelevant for shaping faith, behavior and ethics. We need a 3rd (middle) way to worship Jesus and read the Bible. Worship is about Spirit AND Truth - Scripture is a sacred set of REVELATIONS anchoring us to TRUTH, but it's useless w/o REVELATION from the SPIRIT

We all have rules of life - practices that come out of belief and habits that come out of routine. Some are insignificant, some shape the course of our lives. We want to be intentional with our spiritual practices and habits together. This is our Rule of Life: Communion · RECONCILING to God through Sharing the Eucharist · CREATING SPACE to be Shaped by Scripture and Prayer · SUBMITTING our time by Gathering for Worship and Sabbath Rest Community · RECONCILING to one another by Speaking With Integrity (Matthew 18 Communication) · CREATING SPACE for Spiritual Investment (Discipleship) · SUBMITTING to one another by Listening in Humility (Communal Discernment and Mutual Submission) Co-Mission · Joining in God’s RECONCILING acts of Justice and Mercy by Testifying as Witnesses · CREATING SPACE for Family on Mission (Neighborhood Churches and People of Peace) · SUBMITTING our abundance by Giving our Resources

Sanctification is the process of being formed into the image of Jesus...with grace and truth

"12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." -2 Corinthians 3:12-18

There are many issues, ideas and practices the church has made essential in order to follow Jesus, that Jesus never mandated. In other words...there are lots of hills Christians have claimed were important enough to die on while they actually aren't central to the message of Jesus...here are a few hills that are worth dying on. The Renewal of All Things: In the midst of chaos, God invites us to join him in the reordering and redemption of our world-bringing life from decay, beauty from ashes

Community Pastor Cody Urban delivers a message about hope, new perspective and God's direction in 2017

The Nativity is a symbol of light in the darkest places, peace in the most turbulent seas...An invitation to join God in Shalom Peace

Christ has become our PEACE & called us into peace w/each other. As we pursue RECONCILIATION, our peace becomes our megaphone for GOSPELLING

The Good News is a message of restoring peace with God…As agents of this Good News we speak PEACE to our neighbors through presence AND proclamation

Christians are called to be ambassadors of peace to our cities and governments: that requires TRUTH, ACTION & RELEVANCE

Prophetic hope in a future where God's restorative love reigns is only possible when we have a vision of what God's Kingdom, God's intention for our world looks like

We are called to seek and embody justice in an unjust world as a foreshadowing of God's Kingdom here and to come

1 Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. 2 Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. 4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. 6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. 7 They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor. 10 The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing. - Psalm 112

We looked at the idea of lament and how we as a nation and we as part of the Western church have lost the ability to communally engage in this critical form of expression. Upon some reflection I wanted to clarify a few things that I didn't feel I expressed well or clearly: 1. I failed to mention the way we as a community grieved and came together over the recent tragedy of Sergeant Owen. It was a very powerful picture of what communal lament looks like and I think it caused the beginnings of genuine shifts in police and community relationships. I mentioned 9/11 as an example of lament and I want to be sure to acknowledge that our coming together as a nation in sorrow and lament was real and sincere. I realize how complicated seasons following terrorist attacks are, including decisions that have to be made. I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the fact that I too was calling for action, retaliation and preventative measures in the weeks and months after that tragic day. 2. I truly mean no disrespect to our military nor to family members of military. For those who have lost loved ones in service or to those injured for our freedoms, I sincerely thank you for your service. Our troops are brave and honorable men and women…I know they do not create wars and unjust forms of aggression…circumstances outside of our control including policies and politicians have done that and our military is at their bidding. I'm not saying all war is unjust (or just); I'm not saying God hasn't gone before soldiers at times or protected them from danger; I'm not even saying that God can't or hasn’t used the American military to work in the world…But I did want to bring to everyone's thought process the converse reality- sometimes, what we see as good or God ordained, has been evil and destructive for those at the brunt of military actions. I do not want us to get lost in dehumanizing or minimizing the complicated effects of winning a war or setting up post in foreign lands. While we may continue to emerge victorious and protect our interests, there is often a lot of pain and heartache, devastation and loss on both sides. 3. When it comes to personal lament…being honest with our emotions, expectations, anxieties and anger…I have learned a lot in the last few years. I'm not sure I was able to communicate that last Sunday in the sermon, but I want everyone to know this is an important issue to me personally. Though it is uncomfortable for me I am learning to work through and embrace these seasons of my life and allow for more grace and space for others going through these seasons. At the end of the day, the transparent, desperate, hopeful language found in the Psalms expressing lament are what I need to break through my attempts to not acknowledge my circumstances and torrent of emotions. Many times the words in such Psalms have helped me to stop suppressing and to start living integrated, opened up and with authenticity, knowing I can express my sorrow and anger but I can also take it all to God and know that He will walk me through. 4. When it comes to corporate lament as a nation we need to be honest with our history...(read more on FB)

Maybe 'asking' has more to do with conforming to and understanding God's will rather than changing it?

How can we become living memorials of God's goodness in our day? Tell God's story, tell our story, invite others into that story

How do you have spiritual intimacy with God? An undivided, available heart starts with transparency, honesty and physically showing up .

Peter lived in a world that was utterly violent, excessively pagan and thoroughly un-Christlike…yet had a faith that flourished and helped lead a church that grew in that setting.

Spiritual warfare happens in the battle over thinking we control spiritual realities through our own abilities v. submitting to the new reality of Christ, his kingdom of power and grace

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen. - 1 Peter 5:6-11

i am loosing my teeth i have chomped all these days looking for self-sufficiency food i needed food i didn’t to fill a void and to help grow me driven to eat and eat and eat

i ate the food of idleness i ate the food of work i ate the food of consequences i ate the food of grace i ate many things and many people ingested them all grew from them all

shudder, shudder past went my skin writhing and wringing disoriented from shirking so much of what i once knew what i once thought i knew

alive i’m still alive with old skin gone, i’m still here i still eat

i eat memories i eat joy i eat sadness i eat confusion i eat love i eat life i eat battles i eat peace

i grow i shudder i disjoint, i remove my head

i cast aside old ways of thinking i begin anew again i see with sharpened gaze

i return to eat though my tooth is less sharp i don’t eat so many people i don’t eat so much out of selfish inclinations

but now i eat pain i eat hopes lost i eat death and sadness and expectations i eat disappoint and failure i eat age

shudder rid this hopeless skin i’m in rid these voices in my head

renewed once more i eat again

but my stomach craves what is pure this time it longs to feast on goodness

i find my new head thinks now of heavenly things

i eat grace i eat truth i eat justice and mercy i eat forgiveness i eat faithfulness and hope and purity

i eat everything He gives me and i long for more

i shudder. again? i find myself upside down yet again

i call out for Him to help me i arc myself in an effort for Him to see me

i find myself suffering once more curved and bent and upside down into the symbol that bears His name

i am dormant, but not really look closely see the quivering that. that is new life.

beginning again. not left, not forsaken

this time, i have lost my teeth. i have lost my head. but i still remember what i was and what i came from but that is no longer me.

for now, i soar. bound not to the earthly driven chomping of my youth no longer driven by selfish need or desire but driven to seek him to find Him to follow Him

i am a new creation. i can travel far further then before. i can go for thousands of miles. it is by his strength. by his love. by His design

i am free. i am created for this purpose the shuddering mattered the shuddering transformed me but now, free of what bound me,

i fly

1 Peter challenges our ideas of power and leadership in the Church…everything the church does and every way a leader leads should resemble Jesus, not a CEO

Our reactions to the pain around us should reflect Jesus and be a "megaphone to rouse a deaf world"

How do you prepare for the end of the world? Use what God has given you to express love to everyone through hospitality and service

Is there the possibility of salvation after death? The Book of 1st Peter says yes...but to what end? 1 Peter calls Christians to "live into your baptism" as the beginning of a new life.

JR Woodward shares with us on the Early Church and the expansive mission of the church. We are not called to be an institution, but a movement.

In a world filled with antagonism, competition & fear, Jesus offers us & calls his Church to be a center for peace, equality & hope

"I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned" - Matthew 12:37

Jesus isn't setting up a new type of patriarchy for families that is more benevolent and kinder than Roman (or American) patriarchy...he is setting up a new Kingdom where he rules with love, mercy, gentleness and justice...and we ALL submit to that.

"So have do we move forward in the midst of racial and class divisions in our nation? How do we find racial reconciliation and righteousness? How do we bring the Kingdom of God to bear on an upside-down, sin-filled, and broken world? The road forward is a bridge. We cannot deny the reality of race and privilege. We cannot use colorblindness and silence to solve deeply rooted racial issues that have plagued our reality for centuries. We must commit to prayerful discussions, bible studies, worship experiences, and solution-development cross culturally and cross racially. We can’t just look for people who look different than us but believe exactly what we do theologically and politically. That’s cheap reconciliation." - Efrem Smith

Christians are chosen as diplomats of the Kingdom of God, to represent the King in a foreign land...this is what “mission” is

Do you live as if you have unmitigated access to God or as if you need a "priest" (right person, place, practice) to be "spiritual"?

Following Jesus entails trials and hardships, but the reward is always worth it.

Being "born again" means more than believing the right thing, it means reorienting your existence to the life and Kingdom of Jesus

We live between two cities: the old (Babylon) built on power, greed & destruction-the new (Jerusalem) being built on love, humility & grace

The reality of the Kingdom of God beckons us to live "On earth as it is in heaven"..."church" is figuring out how

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:18-20

“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” ― Karl Barth

Kairos Sunday 5 - 14 - 16 by Kairos Community

The Church is called to live a balanced life of Communion with God (UP), Community with one another (IN), and Co-Mission for our neighbors (OUT). The Rule of Life for our church family helps us balance these responsibilities.

Spiritual wealth is the most valuable asset we can get in life…and we gain it through the act of giving ““The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” - ‭‭Matthew 13:44-46 NLT

Isolation shackles us from experiencing the joy of community…our mission is to make space for spiritual family & invite others to belong

Witness is the overarching theme of the early church…tying together proclamation, community and service. Witness is the way we live with integrity and faith

Jesus is not only reconciling us to God and one another, but the whole world under the healing rule of Christ through his victory over death and violence…it is our call to join God in that rule

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. - Colossians 1:15-23

Reconciliation is a cornerstone of healthy community. Churches that cannot learn to be direct and caring in their internal conflicts will never realize their potential as transformative communities of the Kingdom of God.

We all owe a debt from brokenness and sin...we hurt and abuse each other (God's children) and can never fully make right our wrongs. Jesus came to pay for our debt and set the balance right...this is the Good News of Easter

The call for followers of Jesus to make more followers of Jesus (Discipleship) in not an optional idea in Scripture

"What you present as the gospel will determine what you present as discipleship. If you present as the gospel what is essentially a theory of the atonement, and you say, 'If you accept this theory of the atonement, your sins are forgiven, and when you die you will be received into heaven,' there is no basis for discipleship." - Dallas Willard

“‎Those who aren't following Jesus aren't his followers. It's that simple. Followers follow, and those who don't follow aren't followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up his dream and work for it.” ― Scot McKnight

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

God longs to be with you, not just get work or moral living out of you...this is the idea of Sabbath rest

Sabbath is, “Uncluttered time and space to distance ourselves from the frenzy of our own activities so we can see what God has been and is doing. If we do not regularly quit work for one day a week, we take ourselves far too seriously. The moral sweat pouring off our brows blinds us to the primal action of God in and around us.” - Eugene Peterson

Independence & Image are central American Values; The Lord's Table challenges us with interdependence and transparency.

“In the Eucharist we can find all the dimensions of communion: God communicates himself to us, we enter into communion with him, the participants of the sacrament enter into communion with one another, and creation as a whole enters through man into communion with God. All this takes place in Christ and the Spirit, who brings the last days into history and offers to the world a foretaste of the Kingdom.” ― John D. Zizioulas

A map is useless without a compass…the Bible is useless without the Spirit…when we direct our journey by the map 0f Scripture and the compass of Spirit our destination is divine

It is impossible to live vicariously today through the spiritual experiences of yesterday

Prayer isn't simply asking God for things...it is aligning ourselves with who God is (character) and who God created us to be (calling)

We are called to be the church...part of the identity is formed in regular worship together. The act of identity formation through communal worship should be born from a conviction that this is an essential, not optional, practice.

Jesus lived a life of intentionality with his spirituality (communion with God), spiritual family (community with friends and family) and service (co-mission with his Heavenly Father to others)...he invites us into the same intentionality with our practices and rhythms

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Blessings and Woes 17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. - Luke 6:12-19

We were meant for life together...to consider on another and spur each other on in. Community is God's plan for humanity

God does not hide from us, but asks us to seek him...our fear, busyness and preoccupations obscure God's presence in our lives

Love is here…behold I stand at the door and knock…will you open the door and keep your guest outside while you try to get everything in order?

We live in a world where "forgiveness" often looks like enabling and "forgiveness of sins" is interpreted as a message of condemnation…but forgiveness of sin is the greatest act of love ever displayed

While happiness is based on external circumstances, Joy is internal…rooted in a sense of identity, belonging and purpose

ADVENT & countdowns can either fill us with hope & anticipation of what God is doing or can fill us with anxiety about what we aren't doing

Our understanding of the Good News shouldn't be reduced to personal salvation...it should be large enough for the salvation of the world

How does the church respond to the Syrian refugee crisis?

True faith doesn't depend on political power, military might or economic prowess, but the spiritual power of the Kingdom to change hearts

If the Church is an institution built on buildings and hierarchies it should be very concerned about political power and money; but if the Church is the Body of Christ, comprised of Spirit empowered followers, it will grow and expand despite who is in power or what the economy looks like…declaring "Jesus is King"

Categories of "secular" and "sacred" disappear when we make Jesus Lord over our lives…every area of our lives becomes sanctified through his presence

New Wine needs New Wine Skins

Cody Urban delivers a powerful message about idolatry, leader worship and the importance of having a direct relationship with God.

Community Pastor Cody Urban shares a great message with us this week

Mission, Miracles and Identity Making are always birthed out of worship and prayer…Do you feel comfortable sharing from your experience of God and personal, spiritual encounters you've had or are you spiritually bankrupt? You will only feel confident or comfortable in the Kingdom of Jesus when you have had your identity conferred by the King!

Bushawn Carpenter of Total Restoration Church brings a great word from Acts 12

hange is at the heart of the Good News, as followers of Jesus we must get used to the following wherever he leads, not just where we like.

"It is surely a fact of inexhaustible significance that what the Lord left behind him was not a book, nor a creed, not a system of thought, nor a rule of life, but a visible community - Leslie Newbigin Quote on

There is a major difference between seeking God and entering into fellowship with God

"You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." ―Morpheus, to Neo

The church is called to be a community or understanding and action, not simply understanding Philip and the Ethiopian 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Spiritual oppression often looks like the shackling power the past; breakthrough comes in the freedom of a future under God's calling

9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” 24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” 25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. - Acts 8:1-25

God has been working through your life long before you ever realized it and God will continue working even when you feel like he is absent. Often God makes major course corrections in our lives through seemingly inconsequential decisions...when we recognize God's movement in our lives the question is will we submit or resist the leading of the Spirit?

In the early church, ethnic tensions threatened to rip the community apart. Their rapid growth produced administrative problems that looked like racial and ethic ones. The enemy will use our pressure points (the areas we are weak in) to divide and conquer. God wants to use these weaknesses as evidence of God's strength and power.

Nothing can stop God's Kingdom and nothing can keep us from join in this new life of the king…except our inhibition

Triangulation is the practice of playing one side against another so that you come out the winner; Spiritual triangulation is the act of comparing yourself to others in order to appear holier to God…spiritual triangulation is a sickness and the

Being filled with fear leads to isolation, compulsion & paralysis, being filled with the Holy Spirit leads to action, community & faith

When you let fear control your life, it is impossible to have faith in God, it is impossible to live by the Spirit

The hardest part of faith is living it out with people in community…people who operate out of fear don't stay at any Kairos very long

When you have firsthand knowledge of the faithfulness of Jesus, telling those around you (witnessing) is the natural, inevitable result. When we have experienced the faithfulness and effectiveness of something we have faith in it/them and very openly recruit people to that brand, location or philosophy Why is this not always the case with Christ?

The problem with most "faith" today is that it often instead of basing it on experiencing the faithfulness and effectiveness of the Gospel of Jesus through the Power of the Holy Spirit it is based on "false knowledge" (fear, control, pride and self-centeredness)

Pneumatic: Acts 3 by Kairos Community

What does salvation and baptism actually mean? What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Acts 2 shows us a picture of what it means for us to turn towards God and what it looks like when a generation gives God their lives.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. - Acts 2:42-47

Being "Spirit Led" is more than stamping "God told me" on all of our decisions, it is about a posture of vulnerability When walking along the mountain ridge of a Spirit lead life, it is a quick fall to spiritual apathy on one side and hallow self-sufficiency on the other…only a posture of vulnerability will keep us in line with the Spirit

The Early Church exploded with growth and transformed an Empire not because they had the right set of beliefs but because they lived and operated by the power of the Spirit of God. The Spirit in you is better than Jesus besides you.

"Fellowship" is joining together with Jesus to enjoy his friendship and help accomplish his mission…every other fellowship we have should be to that end.

"Kairos" is a Greek word for a "divine time when God breaks in" - are you aware of God's presence or are you walking around in a slumber?

When we are locked outside of the house, Jesus becomes the door so we can be at home in the family of God I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:9-11

The earthquakes of change shake the structures of life (family, identity, etc.). Unless our foundation is firm the buildings collapse

At the heart of the gospel is the proclamation that "THE TIME IS NOW" - what are you waiting to do tomorrow that could be done today?

Who you believe yourself to be and who you believe God believes you to be are powerful questions each of us need to wrestle with. If our ID is found in titles we will struggle to live a life of faith & purpose; when our ID is rooted in our CALLING it is second nature.

Your willingness and ability for intimacy (vulnerability, honesty, humility) sets the the capacity of depth for your spiritual life

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. - James 4:8

Getting your spiritual house in order. God wants us to be neither controlled by our appetites nor void of them...Jesus models perfectly how appetite is meant to bring us closer together through sharing meals and closer to him through Communion.

As part of the Church, we bring the Kingdom of Heaven wherever we gather, go and give…even when we fail to notice it

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - ‭Matthew 5:13-16

God gives his children access to the wealth of his resources, yet many of us live in spiritual poverty

God desires everything we got, our whole heart...not just religious practice or pragmatic logic.

How do we become close to God? Pastor Dennis Enriquez from The Edge brings a challenging and insightful message.

What does the Gospel mean?

Greg Larson talks to us about how the live life directed by the Spirit of God

Reading the Bible for yourself is a key ingredient in a healthy spiritual diet...it should be something we are feeding our spirits daily...what are we filling up on.

When we know the end of the story fear, anxiety, compromise and indecision leave us; we know the final outcome of God's great saga…we are called to live in the light of Christ's victory.

Our hope lies not within the past but in the possibilities of the future. God is all about dramatic acts of redemption and courage that alter the course of human history

“We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.” ― Rick Warren

"People are all over the world telling their one dramatic story and how their life has turned into getting over this one event. Now their lives are more about the past than their future.” ― Chuck Palahniuk

God doesn't always give us what we want, but what we need. Times of "silence" are often times of preparation & training we fail to recognize

What does Psalm 119 have to say to us today? To become a master chef one must eat great food, learn recipes and create from the ingredients of the season and location; to become a true disciple one must consume Christ, learn his word and embody who Jesus is in every situation and season

Thanksgiving is a vital and cornerstone element of spiritual health, we were made to express our gratitude and praise in all kinds of forms including creativity...but that expression is stifled when we cling to bitterness, let fear direct us or fail to proclaim what God has done in our midst.

Trauma comes from unprocessed pain and life altering experiences. As we coop with trauma we can put up defenses and hide from vulnerability...this often keeps us from trusting God and trusting others. We are called to trust God and enter his presence with confidence...we are called to heal from the trauma in our lives.

In an age of consumerism equipping and empowering the Church to live in the character and competency of Jesus is more important than ever

Reconciliation is the primary job of the Church, learning to live at peace with each other as we are reconciled with God #WhyChurch The Church often becomes a breeding ground for gossip and forum of broken relationships when it needs to function as a hospital of reconciliation and truth. That is why we are called to live with each other the way Jesus outlines in Matthew 18.

In a world of relativism the church is to be grounded in the Spirit on Scripture...pointing us to Jesus the Perfect Word of God

WhyChurch

God has provided us Scripture as a compass pointing to encounter the perfect, inerrant word of God...Jesus. The church is called to be a community of Truth, where all can experience and meet Jesus as Lord

Discipleship is at the very heart of Jesus life and ministry and we are called to follow Jesus as his disciples...developing the character he had and the competency he possessed. This requires community, commitment and choice...that often feels invasive but leads us out of our comfort zone and into radical, revolutionary change.

Until we are discontent with the things of this world we will never find contentment with God.

“Restlessness is discontent — and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man — and I will show you a failure.” ― Thomas A. Edison

“The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the Kingdom of God” - Leo Tolstoy

The Church is called to be a place where anyone can come and experience a taste of what life is like under the coming reign of Jesus. Church is supposed to be a taste of the coming feast at the table of God, not a diet from what you're missing out on eating now! We are invited to first experience the goodness of the King before reorienting our life around the rule of the Kingdom. The Church is impotent, boring and petty when we don't understand the Kingdom of Heaven and have a weak view of the King. If we are to be a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, a place where anyone can experience the goodness of God, we must be consumed by Jesus.

When the church is a sign of the Kingdom of God, we warn of danger, are clear to read, guide to true destinations and are easily seen in and around the community When the church fails to point towards the Kingdom of God in all it does, we mislead people, distract seekers from Jesus and obscure the truth #WhyChurch

If we want to be dynamic, New Testament followers of Jesus, we need a dynamic community of faith that will equip, challenge and encourage us into the life of Christ.

If our understanding of Kingdom doesn't have Church at the center, we will inevitably lose the King at the center too

How do you invite others to join you on a journey of following Jesus? Greg Larson talks about keeping the main thing the main thing

We are called to join with God in combating chaos and entropy only after we encounter God's love and mercy as a loving parent

As we are adopted into a new life, a new family with God, we are called to bring others into our family. “It is not imitation that makes sons. It is sonship that make imitators.” ― Martin Luther “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” -Jesus

Testimony from our missions trip to Enid, OK.

Joel Custodio, worship pastor from Grace Chapel, shares an encouraging message on value in the Lord and praising God for what God has done.

What are the heights that feel unattainable, impossible, dangerous and out of reach in your life? That is exactly where God wants to move you through the power of the Spirit. Arrogant people are shameless self-promoters who try to make it through life on their own strength. The righteous shall live by the faithfulness of God and humbly take a place of less importance, waiting for God to lift them to a place of honor.

Salvation comes in desperation - God's presence in your life will shake every foundation. What prisons need to be shaken in your life right now?

Special Guest Ken Gardner preaches on the dangers of idolatry

When we live in relationship with God as Father we feel the need to see everyone else as his children rather than objects for exploitation. God says the righteous shall live by faith...that means exposing the darkness of pornography, exploitation, rape, globalization and drunkenness by living in the light of Christ through community, transparency, thanksgiving and dignity.

We can either build our own EMPIRE or join in the coming of the KINGDOM of God…but we can't do both! Our ideologies can become the idols we set up and worship in the name of progress, freedom and safety. Hail Jesus as King and joining his Kingdom is the only driving force for a disciples life.

We can be imitators of God and live by faith and the Spirit of Jesus or imposters of faith and pose by our own self-righteousness

If we live by plundering, pillaging and exploiting others we can expect exploitation to come our way - generosity, respect and righteousness are the alternatives to a life of plundering

"To truly live one must have faith; to have faith one must adventure. The arrogant are self-sufficient, complacent and unjust…"but the righteous will live by faith"

The first in our series on Habakkuk - how do we move from impersonal philosophy and theology to intimate faith and fidelity?

A night to hear from the missionaries we are sending out

A wonderful night of testimonies, sharing, healing, communion and baptisms

The Resurrection is power to the powerless to choose life instead of death, healing over decay, peace over enmity, purpose over apathy - The rule of Jesus brings this life regardless of our talents, skills, histories and ancestry.

Our very special night of worship, confession and communion

Chasing after approval and popularity that isn't anchored in your identity as a child of God always leads to destruction and disappointment

Life comes through God's voice; how can we hear God's voice in a schizophrenic world selling us deceptive messages of what "living" is?

It is impossible to love your enemies unless you've experienced forgiveness & grace-Jesus loved us while we were still enemies

Giving up superiority doesn't mean giving up power and authority, but living in humble power for the sake of others and the world.

When we frame life through preconceived notions we limit the possibilities of surprise, blessing and challenge

Unless we learn to give up controlling the outcome of the future, we will miss the blessing God has for today

Disciples of Jesus experience the power of his Kingdom when we stop resisting his reign and start submitting to his rule

Correct thinking and holy living are not precursors to following Jesus-Right thinking & right living result from communion w/Jesus, not the other way around

Being a disciple of Jesus means exchanging our right to Self-Validation, Relativism and Isolation for Humility, Community and Receptivity

Being a disciple of Jesus is more than a statement of faith or way of thinking - it means we say the things he said and do the things he did. Being Christians v. Following Jesus

What does it look like to understand the Image of God in light of physical and mental disabilities? If our community is to embrace the disabled as being made in the image of God we are called out of individual, self-relying, self-reinforcing "religion to a communal, dependent, embodied relationship with God and each other.

1-26-14 The Secret Place (Jonny Bell) by Kairos Community

1-19-14 The Peace of God - Karen Herman by Kairos Community

Prayer is conversation between us & God. If it doesn't have an effect on both of us, it is sterile and worthless. Do you believe in prayer?

Our Guest Speakers run http://www.forgottenministries.com/

The Ghosts of Christmas Future (worry and fantasy) keep us from opportunities and experiences of following Jesus today

Our recording cut off early...apologies. The Ghosts of Christmas Present are often distraction and busyness…they keep us from experiencing Jesus today

Living with the ghosts of Christmas Past keep us from receiving and giving the gift of Jesus in the present - reconciliation and forgiveness

Where we belong...where our destiny lies...determines our identity. Our identity directs our actions...what is your destiny?

The Kingdom of God isn't built on our own efforts and authority; we can submit to the King of Kings or usurp his rule with our own kingdom

Brokenness alienates us from God Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus we are called into a new relationship (Covenant) of grace

Cody Urban Delivers This Weeks Message "God invented adventure and wrote an engaging story for each life; do you take victory in kingdom battles, or watch life pass by defeated?"

Our responsibility representatives of the KING (GOD) is to live with one hand to the plow (Our CALLING) and one hand on a sword (Our VOCATION) After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.” When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice. Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’ (Ezra 9:1-4, 12 NIV)

We examine the work of the Prophets and the saga of exile through the lens of Jeremiah. The prophet calls us to live lives of dependency and intimacy with God.

The life of David gives us a clear example of what it means to have integrity before God. Integrity=an undivided heart, where all areas of life are integrated When we can integrate God into every part of our lives we find security

Our 4th installment of the Covenant and Kingdom series. This week we look at the life of Moses. The law comes in response to God's covenant and mission for his people. Identity needs to supercede and proceed our obedience.

Covenant and Kingdom, Jesus, Joseph, Egypt, Trust, Ephesians 2, purpose, plan, pain, prosperity, entrust. the saving of many lives

Week two in our series where we investigate the life and call of Abraham and Sarah. What is a covenant and what does it mean to be in one with God? Tweet: "Uncertainty & faith have nothing to do with each other when our spiritual relationship is based on a covenant, an identity forming union"

The first in our series on Covenant and Kingdom. Excuses look at the rupture in relationship between God and humans as shown in the interactions of Adam and Eve. Tweet: "We were created for a COVENANT with the creator & to represent God's image through responsible, KINGDOM living."

9-8-13 Building A Movement by Kairos Community

9-1-13 Blessed Are The Persecuted by Kairos Community

Week 6 in our series on the Beatitudes

Week 5 in our series on the Beatitudes

Week 7 in our series on the Beatitudes - Blessed are the Peacemakers

Part 1 of Kairos' Beatitudes Series

Part 2 of Kairos' Beatitudes Series

Part 3 of Kairos' Beatitudes Series

Special guest speaker Jeremiah Caleb On this Rock Matthew 16:13-20

Here you can find the weekly sermon from Kairos Community Church www.kairoscommunity.org

Here you can find the weekly sermon from Kairos Community Church www.kairoscommunity.org

Here you can find the weekly sermon from Kairos Community Church www.kairoscommunity.org