We who are in a position of power are indebted to bear up the weakness of those in a position of powerlessness. Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you. This is Paul’s relentless challenge to the Roman church (Romans 15:1-13). There’s an uneven power dynamic in the church and Paul just isn’t having it. This discrepancy is especially present in the difficult, fractured practice of table fellowship (explored throughout Romans 14). The Jewish Christians and gentile Christians of the…

“For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us.” – Romans 4:16 I hear from time to time a comment along the lines of, “I feel like I didn’t hear much preaching about grace when I was…

Luke 15. The parable of the Prodigal Son. This is Jesus’ idea of fatherhood – to create belonging and safety for those coming home to you, to practice outrageous (even scandalous) generosity toward your kids even in, especially in, their failures. The prodigal son, after messing up so badly, is prepared to relinquish his status as his father’s son. He believes the worst about himself. He works up a whole recital of his sins to offer his dad. But halfway…

Anyone who does not hate their family cannot be my disciple. Anyone who will not carry their cross cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not part with all their possessions cannot be my disciple. This is the triple warning we hear from Jesus in Luke 14:25-33 as a crowd of enthusiasts swells around him. And blessed are those who are troubled by this warning! Blessed are those who do not rush to sanitize the difficult teachings of Jesus. Listening…