Go in Peace

God shifts the disciples from anxiously guessing to faithfully listening, from fear to trust, and from uncertainty to peace. God does so by assuring them that Jesus is his son. God does the same for us, too.

Jesus’ message and actions communicate the same good news: God is near! The nearness of God is revealed in healing, mercy, and compassion. As followers of Jesus, we’re also called to have our words and actions communicate this same good news and to be sources of healing, mercy, and compassion. Mark 1:29-39.

Jesus amazes the congregation with his teaching and when he heals a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-28). Consequently, he yanks the rug out from under the status quo to reveal the kingdom of God.

As Christians we are not called to be people of good intentions but people of loving action following Jesus. Mark 1:14-20.

When Nathanael isn’t so sure about Jesus, Philip invites him to “come and see.” In our lives of faith, it is in going and seeing that we discover who Jesus is and it is in following Jesus that we experience God’s gracious love for us and all people. John 1:43-51.

The great Christmas paradox: God gifts all creation with the fullness of love and grace through Jesus and also entrusts this immeasurable gift into Mary and Joseph’s arms as a completely dependent newborn. Luke 2.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you and the Lord has anointed you for special work. Isaiah 61 and John 1.

“Prepare the way of the Lord!” God calls us to make a clear pathway for his gift of Jesus Christ to reach us and to also reach others through us. Mark 1:1-8. Advent.

Jesus assures us he will return and calls us to keep following him while we wait. Mark 13

The gift of baptism also includes a job description: all the ways we are called and expected to further God's mission.

Jesus invites us to follow him and be set free in the process. It is in recognizing how we are not free that we open ourselves to becoming free.

Remembering the countless people in our lives who have nurtured our faith: the great cloud of witnesses.

Jesus turns the disciple's two fish and five loaves into more than enough food for over 5,000 people. Similarly, God has been turning our offerings into an abundance. Matthew 14:13-21. Accompanying video: https://youtu.be/AC-VXD8Bnxo

Jesus directs us to love God with our heart, soul, and mind and to also love our neighbor as ourselves. This applies to all areas of our life, which turns out to be a life-giving gift, even our financial giving.

We are loved by God in order that we would share God's love. Giving as a faith practice that shines the light of Christ. 1 Peter 2. Matthew 5.

God entrusts everything we have into our care (i.e. relationships, time, energy, money, etc.), but God never transfers ownership to us. And so our daily question becomes "What would God have me do with this?" Psalm 24:1, Matthew 6:25-33.

Jesus calls us to move beyond good intentions to faithful action. Matthew 21:21-32.

Forgiveness is a gift from God and a way we experience God's grace. This podcast is a series of reflections on Rev. Dr. Michael Barry's sermon and Forgiveness Project presentation at Resurrection on September 24, 2017. He is the author of the book The Forgiveness Project and co-director of Luther College's FoRGo Project. He blessed us with his research, faith, and experience. This audio podcast tr...

Jesus promises that God forgives us and calls us to play by God's same grace rules and forgive each other, too. Matthew 18:21-35

Jesus teaches us what to do after we sin against each other. Within the church, we forgive and mend broken relationships so that God's healing and grace is made known. Matthew 18:15-20.

Jesus promises us that when we follow him in a life of serving we actually discover a fulfilled life. Matthew 16

Through Jesus, God comes near to us in love and grace and removes any and all barriers, and Jesus establishes the church to be the nearness of God, to be a thin place. Matthew 16:13-20.

Yes, you are God's hero. Do good! Seek peace! And go after it!

The Holy Spirit holds us in God's love even when we are at a loss for words. Romans 8 and Matthew 13.

Jesus teaches us some spiritual gardening in Matthew 13.