How does God shift us from the comfort of complacency into the momentum of mission? Let’s find out together in this week’s blog series called “The Shift.” Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

“Last year this time the CDC gave us practices that were intended to promote public health and save lives, however, if we’re honest, many of us have turned them into new ways to judge each other, further creating an us and a them…”

“For any relationship to thrive there must be trust; whether it’s a friendship, a marriage, a business partnership, a family, communities, churches, societies or a nation’s relationship with its government. If there’s no trust, then it will eventually become unsustainable.” We invite you to read this blog and share your thoughts in the comments.

“From time to time I like to address subjects that I encounter over and over again, and this one is definitely one of them. Now I know when it comes to how we dress for “church”, for many of us, last year into this year, has been a non-issue, because during the COVID-19 pandemic many have attended worship services online. Yet with many services opening up with CDC guidelines in place, in online conversations and definitely prior to the pandemic, this subject is still an issue for many.”

“Jesus keeps it all the way real with His disciples then and now. The mission will be challenging and even dangerous, but the trials will be turned into…”

What does it mean for you, with all your imperfections, to be sent by Jesus to make disciples in a post-pandemic world? Surely you may be tempted to think that either that must be somebody else’s responsibility or like Hariett Tubman and quite possibly the 12 disciples, you may feel you’re not cut out for what feels like a larger than life task.

Well these two men that were given their sight couldn’t keep who Jesus is and what He did for them to themselves, despite Jesus’ warning. So Like the previous miracle, the news spreads all around that region, while Jesus goes on His way only to be met with another case of human suffering beginning in verse 32…

As the news of Jesus raising this little girl from the dead spreads all throughout the countryside, Jesus continues on His way only to be met with another case of human suffering in verse 27…

Humanity is suffering. On top of all the things from which we suffer, the most glaring in our world right now is the social, economic, political, public health, religious and racial injustice issues exposed by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Notice Mary’s question wasn’t about how sure she was that God would do what He said, but rather a question about how He would do what He said.

I can imagine Gabriel was waiting for Zechariah to break out in praise at this stunning answer to his prayers. Yet, did you just catch Gabriel’s tone in response to Zechariah’s question? I mean Gabriel sounded straight up ticked off! And what do you think frustrated Gabriel to provoke such a rebuke?

When it comes to the angel Gabriel’s baby announcements, what was the difference between Zachariah’s question and Mary’s question?

The Bible records God saying that He gets no pleasure from the destruction of the wicked. It also says…

So what will we be doing in Heaven for 1000 years? The text says we will be placed on thrones and given the authority to judge. Just let that blow your mind for a second.

How does God bring an end to evil in a way that leaves no one wondering about the justice of His judgment?

“Who does He think He is? “Please Jesus, don’t embarrass us any further with Your Messiah delusions. I mean, if You really are the Messiah, then prove it by doing one of those miracles we heard You allegedly did in Caperaum.” And here we see that Jesus is rejected by His own people, because…”

Nazareth was in the same region of Galilee where all the other people who heard Him preach in their synagogues received Him with gladness and grateful praise. So, why did Jesus’ own people reject Him and could professed Christians be doing the same thing today?

Jesus is saying those who truly know Him will bear the fruit or evidence of His love in their lives by actions and not merely words. Yet He is also sternly warning those who merely focus on actions for Him, without a relationship with Him.

Friends, Jesus is saying, “If you want to avoid having a judgmental spirit… if you want to live out His ways of love in His Kingdom now… and if you want to keep the world and younger generations from having to say, “Where’s the love?,” then…

The younger generations, both inside and outside the church, are asking this same question. You see, the world, and younger generations especially, have some expectations of us! No matter how much it seems like they dismiss God or outright disregard Him; the reality is, when life gets hard, they look at God and they look at us and they say… “Where is the love?”