the birth of jesus, Luke 1,2 and Matthew 1,2

Jesus worked in unexpected ways. it was the same way at his birth. from an outsiders view, it's a story of a pregnant teen, a fiance that considers divorce, a birth in a dark cave to an illegitmate child, laying him in a dirty trough, fleeing the country to escape a murderous king who massacres a small town. could this really be the backdrop for some one we would call more than a mere man?

The Cost of Following Jesus, Matthew 8:18-22

is there something that we risk when we choose to follow the way of Jesus?

Woman Anoints Jesus, Luke 7:36-50

When we look at the story of the Canaanite Woman we see Jesus for the first time doing something that we are unable to do. He forgives sins!!! This really shows that Jesus is not just a man but also God. He is God in flesh. After forgiving this woman many people begin to ask this question; “Who is he who can forgive sins?”

Romans 5:8 says that “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” If we were living in the 1st century and we read this verse the word that shock us it the word “Christ”. They were eagerly waiting for “Christ” to come but didn’t know what it looked like. This title given to Jesus is recognizing that Jesus fulfilled all the prophecy of the Old Testament in order to save us from our sins.

It was not an accident or a mistake. God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. Why?

Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We deserve nothing but death, but God is giving His Son as a gift. What are we going to do now?

Are we going to respond like Simon who was distant and ignored Jesus’ gift of forgiveness? Or are we going to respond like the Canaanite woman, who loved much because she was forgiven much?

Accept God’s gift of forgiveness. He sent His one and only Son that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Do you believe?

Conflict and Forgiveness, Matthew 18:15-35

Hear from Lisa this week about how Jesus instructs us to resolve conflicts!

If we love people (namely our brothers and sisters in Christ) then we will
confront them when we are hurt by them. Too often we let things harbor when
we shouldn't. The bible is very clear on this approach. We are
supposed to first talk to them one on one and if they don't listen then we
are to bring another with us and if they still don't listen then we are
supposed to remove ourselves from fellowship with them until they make
things right. If at any point they ask forgiveness then we are to forgive
them and not hold it over their head again.

If we truly grasp God's grace and forgiveness in our own lives-- that once we were wretched and
we are only good because of HIM-- then we can freely give grace and forgiveness to
others. Amazing Grace! Read through Matthew 18:15-to the end.

Who is the Greatest?, Matthew 18

The disciples are traveling back to their hometown with Jesus. As they walk along the road some of them fall back behind Jesus and start talking, debating, questioning, arguing, and ultimately fighting about one thing...WHO IS THE GREATEST? You see, by this time Jesus was very popular. He was attracting large crowds everywhere he went and the disciples were his right hand guys. They began to wonder of their own fame that might grow as Jesus gets more popular. So they began to dispute which of them was the greatest of Jesus' guys.

Uon arriving back in Capernum, Jesus asks them what they were arguing about on the road. And so they ask, "Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus responds (as he always seems to do) with an answer that goes straight to the heart. He brought a little child to his side and told them to become like this child! "whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

What is it about a child that is so admirable? they have no status. they are completely dependent. they are willing to say what is on their heart. they are completely honest. they are so innocent.

As we grow up, we start to become more independent. we don't need others help and we don't depend on God for things. But Jesus drives us back to the heart of a child. it's not about who is #1. it's not about who is at the top of the charts. What matters is that our hearts are child like as we daily depend on God.

So who is the greatest? it's certainly not determined by your ability or position or what you possess. it's about where your heart is. Become the least and serve those around you. then you will find what is great.

"Come to me all who are weary", Matthew 11:28-30

it's a simple message. Not too complicated. Easy to understand. Speaking straight to the heart.

Jesus wants those who are weary and burdened to come to him. We don't quite identify with the term yoke these days. it was something that was placed on the back or head of an animal to help pull a heavy load. it was for bearing weight. Probably the closest thing we can identify with today is a backpack.

You know when you come home from school and you throw that backpack into a corner of the room? Your shoulders are tired and you want that weight off your back. That's what Jesus is talking about here. We all carry burdens. things that weigh us down. Maybe today you find yourself worn out and burdened. Perhaps things in the family are rough. Maybe school work is getting overwhelming. Sports and other activities are keeping you way too busy, always on the go. There is no time for rest.

Jesus says 'Come to Me'. His backpack is easy, his burden is light.

There is something about the way of Jesus that isn't as burdensome as the way of the world. it's definitely not easier. it's definitely not without trouble. But for some reason, it is lighter. things become bareable when you let Jesus help carry the load.

Jesus says Learn from me. As we learn to 'walk it out' in his way, we will see this truth come alive. His Yoke is easy. His burden is light.

In Jesus you find rest for your weary soul. Slow down and consider the way you are walking in. Listen as Jesus speaks these simple words, "Come to me"

The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus has something to say that may put a damper on the American Dream. As the crowds gather around him, he begins to talk about the people who are lucky in this world. the people that have it good. Were he to stand before us today, we might expect him to tell us of the Hollywood stars, the professional athletes, lottery winners, and Bill Gates. Because those are who we think have it good.

But Jesus speaks of a different dream. And it is not American. It is out of this world. It is another Kingdom. The kingdom of heaven. This dream says that lucky are those who are poor, who mourn, the humble, the hungry and thirsty people for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted. These are the lucky people in his world.

HOW IN THE WORLD DOES A POOR PERSON HAVE IT BETTER THAN ME?

think about it. a poor person is in the ideal position to be open to receiving fully what God has to offer.
We are proud. Poor people are humble
We are independent. The poor are dependent
We need no one. The poor need any and everyone to reach out and help.
We think we are important. The poor understand they are just a man.
We can take care of ourselves. The poor need someone to open their door.

It's a condition of the heart. Jesus sees their heart and says that is more desirable than the pride of the rich. Following Jesus is not the same as following the American Dream where you have whatever you want whenever you want it. It's not about climbing the ladder of success. it's not a race to the top. it's a race to the bottom.

it's okay to become successful. there is not anything wrong with being rich. The bible is full of the richest people that ever walked the face of this earth. It's not about your bank account. it's about your heart.

So, who is lucky? who has it good in this life? The person whose heart is positioned best to receive what our great God has to offer. Those who are poor.

We have a lot to learn from our poor neighbors.

the parable of the sower, Matthew 13

Why does Jesus speak in parables?

Matthew 13 begins with Jesus speaking in a parable that seems to confuse everyone.
Even his disciples asked, "Why do you speak in parables?"
His answer was basically that it reveals the heart.

Jesus desires to be desired. He longs to be longed for. He speaks in
parables so that others will search for the answer if they so desire.

But in Matthew 13 Jesus actually explains what his Parable of the Sower
means. He shows that there are 4 different soils which reflects 4 different
hearts: The seed that falls along the path, the seed that falls on rocky
soil, the seed that falls amongst thorns, and the seed that fall on fertile
soil.

The seed that falls along the path exemplifies a hard heart. This person's
heart is just as hard as the path that the seed falls on. Repetitive
sinning or continually saying no to God creates a hard heart in which has no
room for God and so therefore is more vulnerable to Satan's attack.

The seed that falls on rocky soil represents a shallow heart. This person
loves God in good times but turns from God in bad times. He springs up fast
because of emotional experiences but falls easily when temptation comes.
Their roots just aren't deep enough.

The seed that fall amongst thorns illustrates a crowded heart. This person
grows to be fine but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of money
slowly choke him out. The began to believe in the lie that having more is
better and slowly began to loose cite of God.

The seed that falls among the fertile soil is the seed that God desires us
to be. These people understand that significance matters more than success
and that for every seed you receive from God you give sow on other people.

Which seed are you?

If Jesus is the Gardener (John 17), what would you ask God to do with his
soil? Does he need to take a pick ax to break up the soil because it's too
hard? Or multiplying what you have and producing fruit?

If we are not producing fruit then we are moreso like the first 3 seeds.
Let's make sure that God is doing what He wants with his soil.

the Adulterous Woman, John 7:53-8:11

Failure...we all experience it. We all know how disappointing, frustrating, even humiliating failure can be.

This week we take a look at someone who failed BIG TIME and let's see how Jesus responds to it.

Imagine you were sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to him teach. by this time Jesus has built a lot of attention. Everyone is talking about him and everyone has different views on him. Some say he is a prophet, others a good man, and still others that he is a deceiver.

So you here Jesus is in town and you quickly head over to hear him teach so that you can decide who you think he is. As Jesus is teaching, suddenly there is a woman caught in the act of adultery that is brought before Jesus. they ask him what should be done to her and being a devote Jew, you know that this means Jesus will tell them she is to be stoned. Perhaps you even begin to reach for the rock beside you and prepare for what is certainly coming.

Yet, Jesus shocks you with a new way of doing things. He tells you "if you have not sinned, then be the first to throw that stone." Suddenly you find yourself walking off leaving Jesus alone with this woman. While Jesus tells this one she is not condemned and asks her to leave her sinful life, you are heading back home thinking about your own sinful life.

What an amazing story of the new way of Jesus we are to walk in. it is not what we'd expect. Too often we are ready to throw the stone at those who fail, but we forget that we too have failed BIG TIME...and that we aren't much different from that adulterous woman.

or maybe you feel more like that woman. you've really messed up and you know you deserve what's coming. But it doesn't happen. Suddenly the condemnation you expected doesn't come. You find yourselves in the arms of Jesus who is meeting you right where you are at.

Jesus was a fan of failures. He saw failure as an opportunity to move people towards him NOT push them away.

if we are to Walk It Out in our own lives, we must realize that we are far too quick to pick up a stone to throw and we must not forget that we all deal with sin that makes us no different from the woman who stood before jesus...a failure.

But JESUS was a fan of failures. let us walk in his way.

Salt and Light, Matthew 5:13-16

After Jesus was tempted three times in the desert He goes to Galilee, a small fishing village next to the Sea of Galilee and he begins preaching to the people in that area. People are begging to follow him and his teachings. A huge crowd begins to follow him (men, women, Jews, gentiles, peasants, un-educated, educated…everyone). After Jesus realizes that there is a huge crowd following him He walks up on a hill over looking the Sea of Galilee and after telling them the beatitudes (Mathew 5:1-12) he goes on to say…

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and, glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Mathew 5:13-16

SALT
Salt is a preservative and that’s how it was used during those days. It preserved something and kept it good. But it was worthless if it lost it’s saltiness. In the same way, we are a preservative to those around us, not allowing things to get spoiled around us.

LIGHT
Light is mentioned 200 times in the new and old testaments combined and every time it is associated with something GOOD.
In John, Jesus is described as the light of the world (v.8:12)
These two references compare us to something that is good (genesis) and to something that is similar to himself (john).

When we are salty then we are a light to the world around us. So let your light shine and do not hide it.

the Woman at the Well, John 4

Jesus was heading from Judea to Galilee so he headed straight up North through Samaria. but this was not the route Jews normally take. in fact, Samaria was seen as unclean to jews. So Jews did not associate with those people. But Jesus walked right through Samaria and struck up a conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well. (see the story in John 4)

There are a lot of different things i could talk about in this story of Jesus.
I could talk about priorities and how Jesus put aside his physical needs to help this woman in spiritual need.
i could talk about acceptance and how Jesus accepts even the dirty, down and out of society.

but today i'd like to focus on Mercy. Great mercy was shown to that woman by Jesus. Great mercy has been shown to us also.

if we've received such a great mercy then what does it look like in our own lives that we should give that mercy to others?

Jesus walked through Samaria. When will you walk through Samaria? It's easy in our suburban life to get comfortable with our own schedule and never cross paths with those who live in Samaria.

What about taking a new path? Perhaps you could change your route to lunch and stop and visit with that one kid that always sits alone for lunch. Or maybe you need to take a drive downtown to see where 9,600 homeless people in Denver live. The point is that we need to walk through Samaria so we can extend the mercy of God to those in need.

Christianity is not about meeting once a week in an air conditioned building and praising God. it involves getting dirty with those who are dirty. But in order to see the dirt, we have to be willing to walk through Samaria! it's about making ourselves less so others can have more. We extend mercy because of the mercy he extended to us. Let me leave you with this quote:

"If we enter into the pain of this world we must be prepared for the people to not respond the way we want. We are loving them because of not what they can offer but because of the mercy of God first displayed in us."

the Temptation of Jesus, Matthew 4

Last week Luke talked about Jesus being baptized
Right after that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness.

Why did he do this?

1. So we can have someone to relate to us
2. To have “proof” that Jesus was without sin, it would be easy if He wasn’t even tempted.

Hunger = Weakness, Satan tempts when we are at our weakest state.
Jesus was tempted when He was feeling completely Human!

Test #1 – Turn stones to bread. Jesus was being tempted to use the power He has since He is God’s Son, to act independently of the Father.

Jesus quotes scripture, to show the authority scripture has and to show us how to stand up against satans schemes

Test #2 – To throw himself down since the angels will protect him. Satan quotes scripture wrongly here (Psalm 91:1) leaves out in all your ways, which the psalmist was talking about someone who is following the Lord’s will

Jesus combats Satan once again by using scripture accurately and says Satan is testing God and this would not be the will of the Father

Test #3 – Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms that we know and they both know but says he will give them to Him now if He will just bow down and worship Satan.

If Jesus gave in, God’s plan would have been completely thwarted.
Satan left and the angels came and ministered to Jesus’ needs.

Adam and Eve were tempted in the same way:
1. physical appetite – eat of any tree
2. personal gain – you will not die
3. power/glory – you will be like God

You and I are tempted in a similar way:
1. physical appetite – whatever feels good do it (clothes, drinking, sex, disobedience, disrespect)
2. personal gain – this will not hurt you in the future
3. Power/glory – popular, everyone will like you, know you

God wants the best for you!

Giving into temptation is Sin but just being tempted is Not!
Satan tempts us so we lose sight of God! He doesn’t care if you have a drink, or sleep with that guy etc.

Satan wants to destroy the Glory God intends for your life!

Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3

Scenario: if all of us lived at the K-Life house and we had always lived there, but someone moved in and started living with us and ruling over us...what would you do?

1. Dig a tunnel underneath the house and live there
2. Fight! Push them out. do whatever it takes to get rid of them.
3. Join them.
4. Mind your own business, take care of your own problems.

This was the scenario that Jesus walked into when he began his ministry. The Romans were occupying Jewish land and the Jews were divided in how to respond to it.

if you chose 1...you could be called an Essene. They left town and lived in caves in the desert
if you chose 2...you were a Zealot. You created rebellions and tried to push off the Roman army.
if you chose 3...you were a Sadduccee. You played your cards out and hoped that you could maintain your wealth and stay at peace with the Romans
if you chose 4..you were a Pharissee. You believed Romans occupied your land because of your disobedience to God. if you put a big list of rules together and followed them, then your obedience would lead to God's blessing.

So which one was Jesus?

None of them. He headed out to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. In so doing, he aligned himself with a man whose message was "Repent! or destruction will come!"

This was not a popular message. Today followers of Jesus bare the weight of an unpopular message. Perhaps you've felt the weight in your own heart. Can you identify with this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

Tune in next week as we see Jesus go off in the desert to be tempted just as we are today.

Our theme this year

Many people today believe that Christianity no longer reflects Jesus in America. In fact, a growing majority of 16 to 29 year olds are skeptical about Christianity. The fact is that conversations about Christianity rarely turn to the person of Jesus. isn't there something wrong with this? Aren't Christians followers of Jesus?

Even when we turn our focus toward Jesus, we discover many different ways that people see Jesus! Everything from son of God, servant, savior, compassionate to deceiver, just a man, nice guy, or misguided. So, what is your picture of Jesus? Perhaps we need to revisit how we see Jesus. Many of us don't know his stories, but we claim to follow him.

This year we will travel through the Gospels as we journey through the life of Jesus. Our hope is that we will begin to see Jesus for who he was and how he radically impacted the society he lived in. Then, we will transfer those principles into our everyday life so we can begin to better see how Jesus would have walked today.

I John 2:6 says "whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." Let's "Walk It Out" together this year.