We read from Matthew 1:1-12 at MCC today and Amy encouraged us to imagine we were the Magi in the story. These wealthy, educated, sincere seekers of truth studied astronomy and searched the skies for answers. We can learn from the Magi by observing how they sought the truth:
1. They were so serious about seeking the truth that they traveled about 900 miles in search of the King whose star they saw in the sky.
2. They didn't wait for Jesus to come to them.
3. They committed themselved to a King who humbled Himself (was born in a manger.)
4. By bowing down to present Him with their gifts, the wisemen acknowledged that Jesus is the King of their whole life.
This Advent season, let's be in active seeking mode like the wisemen to learn how to worship Him more fully.
Question of the Week: What does "worship fully" look like in your life?
Today, Jason began talking about the Advent Conspiracy to get us thinking before we reach Black Friday and any craziness we may find ourselves a part of during the Christmas "shopping season." The Advent Conspiracy invites us to:
Worship Fully Spend Less Give More Love All
So what is the conspiracy? In Matthew 1:18-25 we read how God gave His son who was called "Immanuel" which means "God with us." So God really sent us a relationship, His presence. In the Advent Conspiracy, we are asked to think about how we can give ourselves relationally like God did.
Question of the Week: What relational gifts can I give this year?
For starters, we as a church have a great opportunity to give of ourselves at the Coit Christmas Sing on Dec. 16 or the Community Service Project on Dec. 28. It has become apparent that the Coit community has need of some of the gifts we have to offer, so let's give the gift of MCC's "presence" in the community.
Today, we read Galatians 3: 26-29 which reminds us that we are all one in Christ Jesus.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. v. 28
We talked about our dreams for reconciliation after listenning to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech. God's vision is even bigger for we are all His children. He has sent His son to the whole world.
Question of the week: What is your hope when it comes to living in a cross culture?
I would hope that we could all look to the cross that unites us and not the things that divide us. We should all look to ways that we can offer God's grace to each other so that we all can believe.
What does justice look like? Today, Pastor Amy read Luke 4:14-30. In the synagogue, Jesus read from the Scripture in Isaiah 61 where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Jesus then said that this Scripture has been fulfilled today: Isaiah 61 has been put into motion with Jesus' coming. Where we can see this is in examples of restorative justice where wrongdoers are given opportunities to not only be accountable for their wrong but to make amends for what they have done and address the underlying conditions which caused this harm. Pastor Amy gave us the wonderful example of her friend's mom.
Question of the week: What story can you tell about restorative justice?
A few years ago, I participated in sidewalk counseling outside of an abortion clinic. In many instances where women would come back for their post-abortion check-ups, they would feel great remorse for what they had done. We would be able to pray with them, listen to them, or offer them support groups where they could experience the healing of Jesus Christ. There are so many in our community that work so hard to bring healing to these women who for whatever reason have come to the terrible decision to end the life of their unborn babies.
Today Pastor Henry talked about how we are reconciled to God and what that means to us. He read from 2 Corinthians 5:11- 6:12 where believers are implored to be reconciled to God. In order to be reconciled to God, we need to experience God's love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy in our lives and we need to accept what He has already done for us. When we know what God has done for us, we can regard others NOT from a worldly point of view but in their identity as beloved of God. This leads to living in harmony.
Question of the Week: Where do you see evidence of people or situations that are being regarded from a worldly point of view? How would they be different if they were reconciled to God?
