Expect the Unexpected: Heart and Soul

Copyright- South Bay Community Church
Sermon Preamble
            We experience wonder, awe, and mystery when God does something completely unexpected and then invites us to join what God is doing. We may feel unqualified, not prepared, a little scared. We may be even teetering on the fence of believing or not believing that God is truly asking this of us and leading us to do something. Our response may be a request for God to ask someone else more qualified, more accomplished, more mature, more youthful and energetic, and the list of examples of our responses goes on. We may say, “I am not ready; this is not the right time; I am not the one; please ask someone else.” Some unexpected surprises are purely for us, because they are blessings God wants us to experience because God loves us. God also sends unexpected surprises that are assignments and opportunities for good works. God has prepared us to do works as part of our purpose and calling from God. Now we see how God chose Mary for a specific purpose. Mary accepted the call with childlike faith, a willing heart, and a soul on fire.           
 
Mary in the setting of Nazareth
            “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David” (Luke 1:26-27). Nazareth was a rural town of little importance in Galilee. A popular saying in that day was, “can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Like some towns and cities today, there is a perception, a reputation and often a misconception about the place and its people. God knew Nazareth, and God knew a girl there. She spent her time doing her chores, while thinking and talking to God. What started as an ordinary day for Mary, turned into an extraordinary day because God had a surprise for Mary.

Mary hears that she is a favored woman and the Lord is with her, but she is confused
            “Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!’ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean” (Luke 1: 28-29).  Certainly, the actual appearance of an angel is confusing and disturbing. She may also be confused and disturbed by the phrase “favored woman.”      
            Status as a favored woman would not have been a typical greeting for a young girl or for someone from Nazareth. Mary belonged to the peasant class. Most of the villagers barely made a living through agriculture and small ventures like carpentry. There was constant strain and struggle on every family just to survive. They bore the weight of a triple tax burden paying taxes: (1) to Rome, (2) to Herod, and (3) to the Temple. Life was dangerous, with uprisings against the Roman occupation and brutal Roman reprisals. Mary saw day to day beatings, men killed in fights with soldiers, and the atrocity of crucifixions. For the angel to say “favored woman” was confusing and disturbing. Mary did not feel favored because she was a commoner.
            God chose Mary, an unlikely candidate for God’s surprise. No one would have chosen her, but God did.

Mary is confused, but is not shaken by fear
            “’Don’t be afraid, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for you have found favor with God!’” (Luke 1:30). The angel does say not to be afraid. Fear would be a natural human response. Fear does not appear to be her main response. She is confused and disturbed. After this greeting, Gabriel continues with the declaration that Mary has found favor with God.
God’s unfolding plan for the birth of Jesus is unexpected            
            Just like Gabriel did with Zechariah in announcing the birth of John the Baptist, Gabriel outlines God’s unfolding plan for the birth of Jesus.” You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Joshua, meaning salvation. Yahweh saves.
            “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:32-33). “Son of the Most High” declares that he will be divine as well as human. The throne of David fulfills God’s covenant promise to David that David’s throne would reign forever.
           Mary would have understood all those nuances of what is about to happen. As a young Jewish woman, Mary would have known all about the promised Messiah Israel was expecting for centuries. Mary was personally experiencing the oppression and the sins of a broken world longing for a Savior.
However, in God’s unfolding plan for the birth of Jesus, the unexpected was about to happen.

Mary’s response of “how can this happen” is different than Zechariah’s response of doubt
            “Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can this happen? I am a virgin’” (Luke 1:34). Note the difference between Zechariah’s response to the angel’s declaration, and Mary’s response.
Zechariah had doubts and asked how he could know for certain this is going to happen. Zachariah wanted a sign so he could be sure. His doubts led him to being mute for months. Forced silence was a consequence of doubts and a sign that showed both Zechariah and the community that God was at work.
Mary’s question reflected something different. Mary had faith and natural curiosity, not doubt, about the angel’s words. She simply asked how this could happen. The difference was in how she received the angel’s words. We know this difference because of how the angel responded. When Mary asked how can this happen, the Angel goes on to explain.

Holy Spirit will come upon Mary; power of the Most High will overshadow Mary
            “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Can you imagine getting news like that? This is a surprise from God!
            Think of Joseph. Mary is his fiancé; Mary is having a baby for which Joseph is not the father. Later, the angel also appears to Joseph. This completely unexpected surprise of the Virgin Birth is a lot to wrap your mind around, both then and now.
            The Holy Spirit coming upon Mary, and the power of the Most High overshadowing her, brings up images of God’s glory filling the Temple in Moses’ day or like Isaiah experienced in Isaiah 6.

The unexplainable, unimaginable, improbable, and impossible for us is our God
            “The word of God will never fail” (Luke 1:37). This statement would have brought to Mary’s mind the impossible birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, when Abraham was 100 years old. Nothing is impossible for God!  Gabriel is essentially saying the same thing the angel of the Lord said to Sarah when she had doubt about getting pregnant in her old age. Nothing is impossible for God; for the Word of God will NEVER fail.
            As Mary was conversing with the angel, it started to sink in that God was about to fulfill God’s promise through her! Today, we remember this moment for Mary as the truth of honor and God’s grace, which it was. However, we can miss what was truly at stake for Mary.

At stake for Mary was losing her fiancé, her family, her reputation, and even her life
            “She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph” (Luke 1:27). In those biblical days, an engagement was a more binding agreement than it is today. There was an agreement between the families that a marriage would happen, a financial agreement was involved, and it could only be ended by death or divorce. The engagement-betrothal commitment was as solid as the marital commitment.
            A betrothal typically lasted for a year; part of the reason for the year period was to ensure the wife’s purity. Being found pregnant before marriage would have immediately opened Mary up to charges of adultery as well as cast shame on the family.
            The laws of that time put Mary’s life in Joseph’s hands. If she became pregnant, his traditional options would have been: to divorce her, to send her away, or to turn her over to the townspeople for stoning. Joseph was planning to divorce her quietly, but after his own visit from an angel, Joseph decided to stay committed to Mary.
            They both still had to deal with the stigma of scandal. Scandal arises from the snide innuendo and remarks. Scandal arises from the disapproving comments towards Joseph. Scandal arises from questioning of Mary’s mental state in believing the child was divine.      
            As a smart young lady, Mary knew what was at stake and what she could lose: her fiancé, her family, her reputation, even her life. Listen to Mary’s response.

Despite the risk of losing much, Mary responded YES to God’s angel
            “Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38). Wow! Mary said yes to the angel even with all she had to lose. Why did she say yes? The most obvious answers might be: she loved God: she was a faithful and obedient servant. The Israelites had been waiting for a Messiah for hundreds of years. This was an honor and exciting news. With all else happening in the 1st Century, now it was time for the Messiah to finally come. In some respects, how could she say anything other than yes?
            However, let’s not take too lightly that it cost Mary something. She took a risk. She stepped out of her comfort zone and the safety of the known. Mary was given an unexpected and challenging assignment from God, and she said YES!

There is something about Mary’s character, heart, and soul that we can say YES to embrace unexpected assignments God has for our lives
            There is so much we can learn from Mary. Her story is so much bigger than a pregnant teenage girl. Mary is not only a devoted mother, but also a devoted follower of Jesus. As his mother, Mary was present at Jesus’ birth and also present at Jesus’ death; as a devoted follower, it is likely that she was present at His ascension. She was present on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came.

Three things we can learn from Mary – First, Mary had a childlike faith in God
            “And (Jesus) said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like the little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). How do we embrace childlike faith? Childlike faith is a way of looking at the world because we know who our heavenly Father is. Childlike faith is wonder and awe, curiosity, imagination, and possibilities. Childlike Faith simply believes with our heart even if feels illogical. It is not necessary to have it all figured out just with our minds.
            We can trust our heavenly Father and experience the wonder, mystery, awe, and curiosity of the unexpected surprises. Just go with it, and see where God wants to lead you.  

Three things we can learn from Mary – Second, Mary had a willing heart
            “Mary responded, ‘I am the lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:37). Once the angel explained that essentially God would handle it, Mary said okay. She did not need to know anything more than that. Once she heard God would handle that part she was willing to allow God to us her. This was an invitation.  Through the angel, God spoke with Mary first. Because her heart was willing to serve God however God wished, her agreement made it a willing partnership.
            How might we cultivate a willing heart? A willing heart surrenders to God’s Will. Just say “YES.” Trust in God, the most high.  Hold on to God’s Promises. Embrace the Adventure.

Three things we can learn from Mary – Third, Mary had a soul of fire
            “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1: 46b-47). This is the opening verse of the praise song Mary sings, known as the Magnificat. Just as Zechariah had a song of praise, Mary also offered a song of praise to God. Listen to the remainder of her song: “For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever “ (Luke 1:48-55).
            What is striking about Mary’s song is that she has completely caught God’s vision. God has vision for social justice and equality, for redemption, and to make wrongs right. She realized that she was a participant in God’s plan and story through God’s underserved grace and mercy.
            A soul on fire results from worship and rekindling what may have grown cool. As she realized that mission from God, her joy and gratitude erupted into a song of praise. Her soul was on fire. She could not contain the goodness of God!
            Every follower of Christ should have that same passion with souls on fire for what God is doing. Let us have souls on fire even for the unexpected surprises that God invites us in to. When gripped by God’s grace and mercy, we catch God’s vision and our mission. We erupt in praise, worship, and telling God’s story. Like Mary, we also can cultivate a soul on fire.

Additional application – we need others to partner with us on our journey
            Mary did not ask for a sign. But the angel gave her a sign to confirm the truth of what the angel said. “What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month” (Luke 1:36). This was bigger than just a sign for Mary. Elizabeth and Mary needed each other.
             “Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?  When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.  You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said’” (Luke 1: 42-45). The baby in Elizabeth leaped when Mary spoke; both women see it as an affirmation of God’s unexpected story at work in their lives. While Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months, they were able to support, encourage, and lean on each other. They were able to share together, hope together, and pray together. They had a unique experiential bond; God brought them together.
            God partners us with others in our life journey. For examples, God partners Adam and his helpmate Eve, sends disciples out by twos, and creates a posse of Peter, James, and John. God gave Elizabeth to Mary, and God gave Mary to Elizabeth. “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FOR USE IN FAMILY GROUPS

Sermon Preamble
-When has God surprised you with unexpected blessings (a divine hug) purely for you, since God wants you to experience the love of God?
-In contrast, when have unexpected surprises from God been assignments and opportunities to do good works as part of our purpose and calling?

Mary in the setting of Nazareth
-When have you seen God provide unexpected blessings to people in town and cities, like a rural area or a poor inner city ghetto? Has God superseded barriers from reputation or misconceptions about the place and the people?

Mary hears that she is a favored woman and the Lord is with her, but she is confused 
-As an ordinary person and an unlikely candidate for God’s unexpected surprise, how would you feel if God chose you for an assignment?

Mary is confused, but is not shaken by fear
-Zachariah was gripped with fear at the presence of God’s angel. In contrast, Mary is not fearful of the actual presence of the divine, only troubled by the greeting of favor with God. When have you realized that God’s grace and love banishes fear from God’s continual presence?

God’s unfolding plan for the birth of Jesus is unexpected
-For you, what is the significance that Jesus is not only human, but also divinity as the” Son of the Most High?”

Mary’s response of “how can this happen” is different than Zechariah’s response of doubt
-In what way is Mary’s response in Luke 1:34 different than the response of Zechariah earlier in Luke 1?

Holy Spirit will come upon Mary; power of the Most High will overshadow Mary.
-What is the role of the Holy Spirit as set forth in Luke 1:35?
-Luke 1:35 mention overshadowing and identifying Jesus as Son of God.  How is Luke 1:35 similar to the parallel accounts of the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, and Luke 9:54?

The unexplainable, unimaginable, improbable, and impossible for us is our God
-In what ways is Luke 1:37 an incredibly reassuring declaration of a biblical principle?

At stake for Mary was losing her fiancé, her family, her reputation, and even her life
-If you declare “Yes” to God’s unexpected surprise, what is at stake for you that could cost you?

Despite the risk of losing much, Mary responded YES to God’s angel
-What is there about Mary’s character, heart, and soul that Mary and us today could say YES to embrace the unexpected assignments God has for our life?

Three things we can learn from Mary – First, Mary had a childlike faith in God
-How can we embrace childlike faith?

Three things we can learn from Mary – Second, Mary had a willing heart
-How might a willing heart surrendered to God’s Will produce a partnership with God and others on the mission of God for your life?

Three things we can learn from Mary – Third, Mary had a soul of fire
-In order to cultivate a soul on fire is there something needing to be rekindled that has grown cool?

Additional application – we need others to partner with us on our journey
-When has God partnered you with others on your life journey?

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2024

Categories

Tags

.gppd 1 John 4:16 1 Chronicles 16 1 Corinthians 12:20 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 15:58 1 Corinthians 6 1 John 1:9 1 John 4:19-21 1 John 4:8 1 John 5:11-13 1 John 5:14 1 Kings 10 1 Kings 4 1 Peter 2:4 1 Peter 2:9 1 Peter 2 1 Peter 5 1 Samuel 17:45 1 Samuel 17 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 1st Peter 4 2 Chronicles 7:14 2 Corinthians 10 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 2 Corinthians 1: 2 Corinthians 2 2 Corinthians 3:18 2 Kings 6:16-17 2 Peter 1 2 Peter 3 2 Samuel 6:11 2 Timothy 2:15 2 Timothy 3 2 truths and lie 2nd Peter 1 4th Commandment AARP AI Abba Abel Abraham Abram Act 18 Acts 12 Acts 15:1-15 Acts 15:19 Acts 16 Acts 18 Acts 1:8 Acts 1 Acts 2-21 Acts 2:1-12 Acts 2 Adam Advent Africa Amazing Grace Amos 4: Asian Aslan B.L.E.S. S. Babylonia Baccalaureate Back to the basics Barbara Taylor Barnabas Barna Bethlehem Beyonce Bible Interpretation Bible Biblical Hope Big Story Book of Law Buffalo CS Lewis Caleb Can Do's of Success Can Do\'s of Success Cana Celebration Christmas Christ Condemn Cultivate Sensitivity Culture Cush Cyrene Cyrus David Deep Depression Desantis Deuteronomy 11:2 Deuteronomy 33 Deuteronomy 4 Deuteronomy 6 Diverse Diversity Divide Divine Divisiveness Easter Ebed-melech Eden Educational Egypt El Roi Election Elizabeth Emmanuel Enoch Ephesians 1:11-14 Ephesians 1:4-5 Ephesians 1:9-11 Ephesians 2:21-22 Ephesians 2:8-10 Ephesians 3: 6 Ephesians 3:10 Ephesians 3:17-19 Ephesians 3:20 Ephesians 3 Ephesians 4: 5-6 Ephesians 4:5-6 Ephesians 4 Ephesians 6: 10-17 Ephesians 6:10-18 Ephesians Esau Ethiopia Ethnic Eunuch Eve Exodus 12 Exodus 17:6-7 Exodus 19:10 Exodus 20 Exodus 4 Ezekiel 3 Ezra Family love Fannie Lou Hammer Farmer Fathers Day Father Fear Dance Feast of Trumpets Festival of Booths Festival of Trumpets Finding God First Nations Version First Nations Flock Frances Schaeffer Gabriel Galatians 3:28 Galatians 6:1-2 Galatians 6:12 Galatians 6 Gary Thomas Gen Z Genesis 14:13 Genesis 16:13 Genesis 18 Genesis 1: 26-31 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:27-28 Genesis 1:2 Genesis 1 Genesis 21 Genesis 22:14 Genesis 2 Genesis 32 Genesis 33 Genesis 37-50 Genesis 3 Genesis 5 Gentile God always with me God cares God has a plan for me God in control God knows me God loves me God respond God sees God will God's Name God's Plan God's Powerower God's Story God's behavior not expected God's character God's footprints God's glory God's goodness God's hand of blessing God's help God's love God's power God's presence God's sovereign God's throne God's timing God's unfolding story God's wisdom God\'s Name God\'s Plan God\'s Powerower God\'s Story God\'s behavior not expected God\'s character God\'s footprints God\'s glory God\'s goodness God\'s hand of blessing God\'s help God\'s love God\'s power God\'s presence God\'s sovereign God\'s throne God\'s timing God\'s unfolding story God\'s wisdom God\\\'s Plan God\\\'s Powerower God\\\'s Story God\\\'s footprints God\\\'s goodness God\\\'s help God\\\'s love God\\\'s power God\\\'s presence God\\\'s sovereign God\\\'s throne God\\\'s timing God\\\'s unfolding story God\\\'s wisdom God\\\\\\\'s Powerower God\\\\\\\'s Story God\\\\\\\'s power God\\\\\\\'s presence God\\\\\\\'s wisdom God Goliath Good deeds Gospel Grandchildren Grandfather Grandmother Grandparents Day Grandparents HBCU Habakkuk Hagar Halle Berry Harris Heavenly Mother Hebrews 10 Hebrews 11 Hebrews 13:15 Hebrews 13 Hebrews 3:15 Hebrews 3:7 Hebrews 4 Henri Nouwen Holy Place Holy Spirit Hosanna How graeat thou art Hubris Hype Image of God Immanuel Intergenerational Isaac Isaiah 25:6 Isaiah 35 Isaiah 41 Isaiah 42:6-7 Isaiah 43:1 Isaiah 45 Isaiah 53 Isaiah 58:6-10 Isaiah 58:9-12 Isaiah 61 Isaiah 65:24 Isaiah 7:10-14 Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaish 52 Ishmael Israel Jacob James 1 James 4: 1-3 James 4 James 5:7 James January 6 Jefferson Jehovah Rapha Jeremiah 22:3 Jeremiah 29:11-13 Jeremiah 29:11 Jeremiah 31:33 Jeremiah 38 Jeremiah 39 Jeremiah 9: 23-24 Jeremiah Jerimiah 29 Jesus and You Jesus at center Jesus sees Jesus with us Jesus Jews Jew Job 1:1-3 Job 37:1-14 Job 40 - 41 Job 42: 1-3 Job 42:2 Job 42 Job Joel 2 John 10:6-10 John 11:1-16 John 11:25 John 11:4-5 John 12:26 John 13 John 14:6 John 14 John 15:16 John 15:4 John 16 John 17 John 18:1-11 John 1:1-18 John 1:29 John 1 John 2 John 3: 16 John 3:1-21 John 3:11-12 John 3:16 John 4:23-24 John 4 John 5:1-9 John 6:11 John 6:35-36 John 6:51 John 6:8-9 John 6:9 John 6 John 8:11 John 9:35-41 John 9:39-41 John Newton John the Baptist Joni Erickson Tada Joseph Judas Jude Judges 16 Jui Jitsu Juneteenth Karate King Herod King of Kings Kingdom come Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Kingdom King Kobe Bryant Kush LGBTQ LGBTQ Laban Lacrae Laguna Woods Lamentations Lazarus Leviticus 16:10 Leviticus 18 Leviticus 19 Leviticus 20 Lewis Libya Lift Every Voice and Sing Light Living in Power Logos Lord's Prayer Lord\'s Prayer Lord\\\'s Prayer Lordship Love agent Love in action Luke 11 Luke 12 Luke 14: 12-24 Luke 14:18-19 Luke 14 Luke 15 Luke 1 Luke 22:14-20 Luke 22:32 Luke 23 Luke 2 Luke 4:18 Luke 4:40 Luke 5 Luke 7:18-35 Luke 9 MAGA Magdalene Magnificat Malachi 4 Mandela Mark 11 Mark 13:7 Mark 14:28 Mark 14 Mark 15:13 Mark 15 Mark 2 Mark 4 Mark 6:1-6 Mark 7 Martha Mary Magdalene Mary Massah Matthew 11 Matthew 14:22-33 Matthew 14 Matthew 15:14 Matthew 15:7-9 Matthew 16:16 Matthew 17 Matthew 18:21-22 Matthew 19 Matthew 20 Matthew 22: 36-39 Matthew 24:6 Matthew 25:34-40 Matthew 25:39-40 Matthew 26:27-28 Matthew 27 Matthew 28:19 Matthew 28 Matthew 4: 17 Matthew 4:10 Matthew 4 Matthew 5: 13-16 Matthew 5:21-22 Matthew 5:43-38 Matthew 5 Matthew 6:10 Matthew 6:33 Matthew 6 Matthew Maxwell Meal With a Purpose Mental Health Mephibosheth Meribah Messiah suffering Messianic miracles Micah Middle East Milestones Mother Teresa NASA Nationalism Naturalist Need Nehemiah 1:1 10 Nehemiah 1 Nehemiah 2 Nehemiah 3 Nehemiah 4 Nehemiah 6:15-16 Nehemiah 8 Nehemiah anointing Nehemiah New Age New Life Covenant Church New Year New covenant Next Chapter Nicodemus Nubia Original Our Father Passover Pathway of Wonder Paul and Silas Paul Pentecost Peter Philippians 1:6 Philippians 4 Philistine champion Phut Precision Priscilla Pro-life Promisd Land Promise from sufferings Proverbs 16:9 Proverbs 18:10 Proverbs 20:30 Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 3:9 Psalm 103 Psalm 116 Psalm 118:25-26 Psalm 119 Psalm 139:1-18 Psalm 149:3 Psalm 16:11 Psalm 19: Psalm 23:1 Psalm 23 Psalm 27 Psalm 28:1 Psalm 33:12 Psalm 33:5 Psalm 34 Psalm 39:7 Psalm 42:5 Psalm 78 Psalm 84:11 Psalm 89:14 Psalm 92 Psalms 16:11 Psalms 16 Psalms 24:1 Psalms 42 Psalms 5:11 Psalms Psaml 100:2 Psaml 150:3-5 Queen of Sheba Race Rahab Reimagined Reject Jesus in hometown Revelation 19:9 Revelation 3 Revelation 7:9-10 Rise and Rebuild Rise Roe Wade Roman Centurion Romans 10 Romans 12:21 Romans 12:2 Romans 12 Romans 16: Romans 16 Romans 5:8 Romans 6:3-5 Romans 8:18-25 Romans 8:23-25 Romans 8:26-27 Romans 8:28 Romans 8 Romans9 Roman Sabbath Sacred Pathways Samaritan Sanctify Sarah Sarai Satan Sensate Shabbat Shepherds Simon Social media Soloman Solomon Spiritual Renewal Spirit St. Ignatius Stand Stanford Start in Epistles Start in Gospels Stay Connected Steward Supreme Court Tax collectors Thank Offering Thank The Chosen Thurman Trump Tyre Nichols Unity Uvalde Walk in Obedience When God Disappoints Word of God Word Worldly Hope Your Divine Love Story Zechariah 4:1-6 Zechariah 9:9 Zechariah Zerubbabel abortion abundance abundunt abuse acceptance accept accountability partner accountability acknowledge action activate activist adopted adoration adultery affliction afirmative action afraid agenda alabaster alive all hands on deck all is well alone already not yet altar amen amnesia angel anger angry animals anniversary annoint anointing anoint anticipate anticipating anxiety appeal application apply argue armor of God armor ascetic ask people assemble assign attribute augustus authoritarian government awareness baby back to the future bad news banquet baptize basketball battle be still beggars belief beloved community belt of truth benefit biblical birthday birth blame God blessings blessing bless blind blood boast body broken body bold witness boldness bold bondage book born again bread breastplate of righteousness breath broken brother build community build relationships calling from God calling call cancer caregiver care caring carol celebrate center challenges challenge character cherish child birth childlike faith childlike children child choice choose chosen people chosen church trouble church cicumcise cistern close to God close cloud collective action comfort zones comforting comfort coming Kingdom of God commitment common communicate communion community support community compassion fatigue compassion competent conception concern confess confidant confidence confident conflict confuse connection connect consecrate consequence consistent contemplation contemplative prayer contemplative context of verse conversation convict correction correct cost courage covenant coworkers create human created creation crippled crisis cross identity barriers crossroads cross crucify cry cultural pride culture barriers cup curiosity curious custom daily dance dancing darkness dark day of Jesus Christ day ddarkness deafness deaf death debate debt deconstruction deepen deism deist delay deliver us democracy demon denominations dependent describe desensitization desire desperate devil die differences difficult dignity direct disciples disciple disconnect discontent disease distract distress disunity diverse voices do for others do justice door doubt dream each other eat elder elevate embody embrace distraction embrace joy embrace emotion need emotions empathy encourage enemy enjoy present enthusiast environment essentials esteem eternal life eternal ethic ethnocentrism evaluate everyone evil exercise exile expect expression external extraordinary life face of God factions faithfull faithful faith fall short family famine fasting fast fatigue fault favor fawn fear feast feelings feel fellowship fervor fight finance financial need first fitness flight flocks focus follower forewarn forgiveness forgive fornicate fortress foster care crisis free gift free will freeze friends friend fruitful fruit fulfillment full life fullness future hope future gate generation generosity generous gentle parenting gentle genuine giant gifts gift give glory godliness good news good works good grace graduate grateful great commandment great commission greater gift greed grief grieve groan grumbling guarantee guilt hallowed hand hard heart harmony hate healing community healing prayer healing health need health heal heart helmet of salvation help heterosexual hidden figure hidden hide from God high priestly prayer history holy day holy nation holy space holy homeless homosexual honor one another honor hope hospitality hot topics human heart human humble humility hurricane hurting people hypocriite hypocrite iceberg idenity ill in heaven incense indignant inequality inheritance initiate injustice inner life inner peace inside intercede internalize Jesus internal interpret intervention interview intimacy with God intimate with God into arms inttellectual investment invite isolation jail jars journey joyous joy judgement justice just key kill knowing God know lamb. lament lame last days lead us learn legacy life in Kingdom of God life with power and purpose lifeline lifelong lifestyle lifetime life limiting belief listen living into prayer living sacrifice living loneliness lonely look lord lost love enemies love mercy love neighbors love neighbor love relationship of trust God love through difficulty love loving relationship loving low income luke 19 luke 24 manger marginalized marriage masterpiece master meek memory mercy messiah millenial mind miracle misconception miss the mark mission misunderstand reality misuse mockery model prayer monarch money moral excellence moral mother character mother motive mourn movement multiply music mute mystery myths name nard nation trouble nationalist natural nature near God new life nonessentials not fear not hate not shrink back notice nurture obedience obey observe offering oil older olive trees omnipotent omnipresent omniscient oneness one open opposition oppressed oppress ordinary life other overshadow overwhelmed pain palm panic parable parents participation partner passion for life passion path patient patriot peacemaker peace peculiar people persecution persevere personal invitation personal love from God perspective petitions physical abuse physical healing physical plans plant seed plan pleasing plural you politic poor power of God power of worship power slource power source power practical steps for maturing believers practical steps for unbelievers praise pray for lost prayer pray pre-existance pregnant preparation prepare presence present with us present preserve prevention preview priest prince principle priority prisoner prison pro-choice problem prodical promise salvation promise promotion proof prophecy prophet protection protect providence provide provision psychic numbing punish purpose pursue herarts sing quarrels quarrel questions question racism radiance reactions rebuild rebutting receipt receive reconcile reconciliation reconnect reconsruction redeem reflect regeneration reign reimagine rejection rejoice relationships relationship relation relative truth release remember rememer remnant remourse repay repent repetition reputation reread bible resist resolution resource respect response restoration restore rest resurrection reveal revelation revolution rich riddle ridicule righteousness righteous risk rooted root royal priest sacred sacrifice sad safety safe salt salvation same sex marriage sanctify save savior science and bible scribe scripture searcher self exam selfish selfless self send me senses sentiment separation from God serve with humility serve sexism sex share sharing Gospel shepherd staff shepherd shield of faith shoes of peace sick man at pool silence silent simple simplicity sing sins sin slave sleep sling social justice society solid gold lampstand solidarity solitude song son sorrow soul friend soul on fire soul sounds sovereign God sovereign speak spiritual blind spiritual discipline spiritual gifts spiritual journey spiritual leader spiritual practices spiritual rebirth spiritually grow spiritual stable stake standing stone storm story strategic strength stress struggle success sudden suffering suffer suicide summer sabbatical supernatual supernatural support surprise surrender to God dailyer surrender to God daily surrender survivor sword of the spirit take me talents tax collector tears technology temple temptation testimony tests test thank thick thieves and robbers think thorn thought throne timeless time timing together tomb town trade traditionalist tradition transform generations transform heart transformation transform transfpr transition trauma treasure trial tribalism tribulation troubled times trust God trust Jesus trust truth point to Gospel truth turn around ultrasound unbelief uncomfortable unconcerned unconditional love understand unexpected united unity with God universe unpleasable unreasonable unreliable urge use me validate values vegetarian verbal abuse vibes victim village violence vision visit prison voice vulnerabilities waiting walk with God walking on water wall want to be made well wants war wash water wedding weep where worship wholeness why wife willing heart winess wine wisdom witness love to world witness women wonder world trouble worldview world worry worship wound wrestle writers of Bible wrong time younger youth