Questions for the week
The people of Nazareth thought they were entitled to receive Jesus’ gracious words and deeds because they were his friends and relatives. What things cause us to feel entitled to receive God’s grace and mercy? How do we counteract that sense of entitlement?
Read Luke 4:14-30. Nazareth was a thoroughly Jewish community. As such, the people labored non-stop to keep themselves pure from spiritual uncleanliness of the Gentile world surrounding them. Their penchant for personal purity, however, blinded them to God’s compassion for the world and their participation in his mission. How do we do similar things today that get in the way of our participation in God’s mission to the world?
How has Jesus liberated you to serve in his mission? Who might you bring this Good News of Jesus to this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Board games, laughter, and cookies? Ditch the screens and join us for a family game night packed with fun and delicious snacks! Unplug and reconnect - game night awaits!
Samson is set apart. He has a special diet and ways to groom himself. He is powerful and can defeat those who should be stronger than him. But even though he is blind to the ways of God, God is not blind of him.
Japhthah tragically misunderstands God's nature, thinking that God will only act because of grossly large devotion. But the actual kingdom of God is one of grace and forgiveness that sets us free.
The Book of Judges, though a difficult read, confronts us with the ugly truth of how easily we turn away from God and calls us to acknowledge and confess our own sins instead of ignoring them or destroying others.