The Gathering

How do we live in between receiving God's promise and possessing it? (summary) God makes promises to us but there is time before claiming the promise, live in the "in between time," Joshua and the battle of Jericho, God's detailed instructions, the Israelites went in and attacked and captured the city, three disciplines for us: trust God, be obedient to what God asks us to do, be patient.

Where can we find help to change into someone new? Archbishop Desmond Tutu, lead change, find allies, God will raise them up, can't do alone, Jericho, Rahab hid men (Israelite spies), known vs. unknown, God will be with us through the presence of others, Rahab makes deal with men, they report back to Joshua, make new friends to help us change, be open to surprise of other people.

How do our fears get in the way of change? God is growing church of depth, faith demands change, change is hard, we get stuck, God wants to make changes, old life to new life, Joshua protege of Moses took people to cusp of Promised Land, people were afraid of challenges, criticized Moses and Aaron, desired to return to Egypt, God got mad, they wandered for 40 years, Joshua and Jacob last two alive...

Through religious rituals or practices, you might see God. Such as small groups, regular worship attendance, giving.

The Christmas Story.

What is the incarnation? Where the divine meets the ordinary. The ordinary is the proper setting for something great to happen. That is the very essence of the Incarnation.

What is possible from one single yes? Like Mary's yes to the Angel's question, we can answer yes to the nudging from the Holy Spirit.

Who are you listening to? Who listens to you? Witness: someone who shares information that another may not see.

It's easy to become lost like the sheep. We "nibble our way lost"--a little at a time.

See the mess, yet see the potential.

Gratitude may be the purest measure of our character.

Church gives you a community in which to live out your faith and values.

The church is meant to be a community, not an institutional bully.

"People outside and inside the Church get the same message, the same offer, same promise through Christ, from God. People outside of the church age 16-30 think of church as anti-gay, judgmental, hypocritical. Sad reality is that this is not a false impression - this is often reality of the church. If so, then the church that is charged with proclaiming God’s love for the world is actually obscurin...

What is the state of your offering? Tips or tithes? God takes something simple and normal and changes it into something complex and beautiful. First it must be offered to God. Sacrifice - to turn over something to the holy, not to give something up. More like an offering. Our whole life is full of holy possibilities. Often we give our leftovers for God’s ministry.

Sin is something that keeps us from God. Anxiety can rob us from seeing God’s presence. Our worries and anxieties keep us from seeing the joys around us. Anxiety about things we don’t have keeps us from appreciating what we do have.

The parable of the tenants. The results of treating something not ours, as if we own it, can be devastating. What do I make available, from my own life, for God to use?

Along the journey of following Jesus are you a stepping stone, stumbling block or doormat?

Inaction is one of the worst mistakes you can make over the course of your life. In the long term, you will regret your inactions/missed opportunities, more than your actions. Paul pictures a fully mature faith for the church in Ephesus. Maturing requires more than just the passage of time. If you are growing, it is helpful to have an image of where you are going. God's work continues through us....

Jesus expects more and more as people follow him. The wealthy man asks Jesus, what do I need to do so inherit eternal life? What is the price for being all in? If you want to fully develop your faith, you need to be willing to give up everything you have. When God invites us into new ways of living, there is always something required of us. We need to invest ourselves in a new way if we want faith...

Parable of the Sower, Jesus's message has a huge front door, but being a follower of Jesus also has a big back door. At some point, God is going to challenge your expectations. At some point, the church is going to disappoint you. At some point, our self oriented faith (initial milestone of faith) is going to enter into a stage of crisis. Things aren't going to go as we expect. In addition to God...

Everyone has gone through a wilderness.

God's gifts are for everyone, not just a few. What does God want from you?