The Surprising King

Mark 8:27-9:1

Because they were looking for a conquering King, many in Jesus' day missed the clear message of Isaiah - that the coming messiah would suffer to bring healing to the people. Peter was one of many in this regard - missing what Jesus was really doing in the world. In fact, it would be until after the resurrection that Peter would fully understand.

Imagine that! Peter spent every day with Jesus. And still, he didn’t understand all that there was to this Messiah who he trusted. Peter’s journey of discovering more and more about Christ would lead him to his great sermon in Acts 2, having for the first time received the Spirit. Then he learns that God wants to save gentiles too in Acts 10. Ultimately, Peter’s story (according to the tradition of the church) ends with his own suffering. Peter dies for his faith, hanging on a cross like he commanded Jesus not to do.

Like Peter, you are never done discovering more of Jesus. We are called to release our demands of Jesus, our pre-conceived notions and our limitations so we can go wherever He will lead us.

Where might Christ be leading you this week? Are you willing to follow anywhere that He leads? Or might you be like Peter, deciding for Jesus what it is He can do?

  

                                                                                Aaron Thompson

Silent Night, Holy Night

December 24                                         Fourth Sunday of Advent         
          

Scripture Reading
Read Luke 2:1-20 and reflect on the passage.

"You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Jesus comes in both surprising and meek circumstances, born to unwelcome travelers in the midst of squalor, and celebrated by shepherds who were not a great ceremonial court. An angel brings to the shepherds "good news of great joy for all the people." This hope that Christ brings is for all people, and even this tender Infant is already transforming the lives of others. The shepherds see the baby King and leave worshiping and rejoicing.

For those outside the church, this message of good news can feel burdensome or heavy. It flies in the face of what is strategic or logical. What images come to mind when you hear the word "king"? All the Medieval tales and real-life monarchies are very different from what we find in King Jesus. Unlike earthly rulers who want to use power for their own glory, our King came to give up everything He had for our good (Phil. 2). Our hope is tied to this baby – God's faithful delivery on a long-ago promise. Glory to the newborn King!

Question

The glory of Jesus’ birth is announced to shepherds. Can you imagine the thrill of hearing that the Savior of the world has been born? 

What emotions and thoughts might flood your mind? How is God leading you or your family to enjoy Christmas this year? How does this message of hope impact your worship, gift-giving, and gatherings?

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for this chance to celebrate Jesus' birthday. May the hope You have given us overflow to others. All glory to You!

                                                                                                Aaron Thompson and David White

Rejoice! Rejoice!

December 10                                                Second Sunday of Advent                                      

Scripture Reading
Read Jeremiah 33:10-16 and reflect on the passage.

"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah." In the middle of a terrible time, God reveals a future hope and new covenant to His people. Jeremiah encounters the good news of Christ 600 years before it becomes reality. They are under attack and yet there is hope? 

Yes, hope is like that – it comes in the midst of pain, or uncertainty. Hope in this passage is rooted in the action of God. Jesus will be perfectly faithful, where Israel had failed. Here we see the essence of the Gospel – God doing for us what we can't do for ourselves.

The birth of Christ is an incredible picture of God's faithfulness to us. Because God has been faithful to his promises over and over again, we can have real hope. Not a birthday wish or "Good luck with that!" empty feeling, but a solid, historically rooted hope. The prophet Jeremiah shows us that we can be real about the problems in life when we are rooted in the promises of God. We have hope because God keeps His promises!

What is your definition of hope? Is it a deeply rooted thing that assures you or a flimsy wish? When have you experienced God's faithfulness? How does that encourage you to follow God today and into the future? Give yourself some space this week to be reminded of God’s faithfulness. 

Prayer

Dear God, we echo the words of Jeremiah 33:11. We give thanks to You, Lord. You are good and Your love endures forever!

Aaron Thompson and David White

Be merciful as God is merciful.

March 12
Read Luke 13:1-9 and reflect on the passage.

Karma is not a Christian doctrine. Yes, “you will reap what you sow…” (Galatians 6:7-8), but in this instance, Jesus is chastising the people for presuming that the people who were persecuted by Pilate or died in a construction accident had it coming. Looking at another person’s tragedy and presuming that it must be a result of some terrible sin, in Jesus’ view, is wrong. Instead, Jesus takes the opportunity to call the people to repent for looking at another’s circumstances and drawing uncharitable conclusions.

Jesus then goes on to use the parable of the unfruitful fig tree to again demonstrate God’s great patience with His people. What would it look like for us to pattern our lives on the patience of God?

(John 19:1-3)

After Pilate sentenced Jesus to die, the Roman soldiers made a crown out of thorns and placed it on Jesus’ head. Then they knelt in front of Him saying, “Hail, the King of the Jews!” But they didn’t really mean what they were saying. Jesus was a Jew, and the Romans did not like Jewish people. So they used their words to make fun of Jesus.

1. The same crowds that cheer for Jesus on Palm Sunday demand that Pilate crucify Jesus and release Barabbas. Why do you think that might have happened? What does this station tell you about how people relate to Jesus?

2. Which crowd best represents your faith right now—are you still cheering for Him as King, or have you been tempted to turn your back on Him?

3. What is with the crown of thorns? Why would Pilate and other leaders go out of their way to mock Jesus sarcastically as a king? What does this station tell you about Jesus?

—Aaron Thompson

Grace of God in Christ

3 March                                                                                                            Grace of God in Christ

Read Titus 2:1-15 and reflect on the passage.

Titus 2:11 is the kind of sentence that starts revolutions. It was spoken into the world by Paul, whose life and mission was centered on this core truth; God is on the move bringing grace, forgiveness and life to all people. It can be hard for us to understand how much that insight has transformed the world. In the ancient political and religious environment that obsessed with gender, class, nationality, ethnicity, tribal identity and religion, Paul preached to all people—confident that the work of Christ had opened wide heaven’s gates. Through Christ, grace came rushing out of heaven like a river over-spilling its banks.

In the Kingdom of God, gentiles dined with Jews. Slaves and slave masters bowed together in prayer. Privileged Romans knelt beside the people they had conquered. All of it was possible because the grace of God offered salvation to all people. Today, God still moves to all people. God moves in neighborhoods we don’t drive through and in countries whose names we don’t know.

We have the opportunity still, which Paul had first, to be champions of this indiscriminate grace—calling any and all to know the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Questions

1. Is there anything in your identity or past that makes it hard to believe that God can freely offer you grace?

2. Is there any person or group you have a hard time believing God can save? How might Titus 2:11 change your view of them?

Prayer

God of radical grace, help me to know and experience Your forgiveness, and help me be a conduit of Your grace.

—Aaron Thompson

Jesus gives us eternal life

9 January

Scripture Reading

Read Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 and reflect on the passages.

Here’s a truth from how Titus portrays eternal life that is both troubling and comforting—eternal life begins now and lasts forever. This truth is troubling because we are not living one kind of life now that will suddenly and completely change after death. Instead, Titus tells us that Christ’s salvation brings about a change of life in this present age that is just a foretaste of the age to come. Our life now is an appetizer on the banquet table of heaven. Which raises the challenging question, “How does your appetizer taste?” How’s the eternal life that you’re living today?

This truth about eternal life is comforting because it promises us that life today is brimming with promise which will be made full and complete in eternity. We love others now in part, and then in full. We know God now in part, and then in full. We experience the love of God now in part, and then in full. The very best parts of life with God will be brought to fullness and completion when Christ finishes his work once and forever on the day of glory.

Eternal life with Jesus begins today and lasts forever. Praise God!

Questions

1.      How does your appetizer taste? Are there pieces of how you are living now which are out of place at the table of God?

2.      Which piece of life now are you most excited to experience as full and complete in heaven?

  

Prayer

God who gives eternal life, forgive me for when I fall short of the life You call me to, and fill me with hope for the life You will provide. Amen.

—Aaron Thompson

Jesus gives rest to the weary

December 31

Scripture Reading

Read Matthew 11:25-30 and reflect on the passage.

If I were crafting a comforting Bible verse about rest, the work of an ox would not be my chosen metaphor. I’m guessing beasts of burden aren’t your picture of rest either. So why is it that Jesus evokes this hard-pressed, driving metaphor when offering us comfort for our weariness?

I propose to you two reasons. First, we are meant for something. Rest for us, is not about inactivity, but about the right activity—faithful activity. Rest for the Christian is about obedience to God’s call in any moment. We may be called to stop at some times, and to go at another. Sometimes obedience will feel easy and sometimes it will be hard. But always it is what is best for us and will lead us toward a source of love and of life that will carry our weariness from us.

Second, a yoke is not taken by just one animal. We are not just taking on Jesus’ yoke, but we are yoked with Him—beside Him. Even when the work ahead seems insurmountable, we are more than conquerors because Christ pulls beside us, and He pulls in our place. We are yoked with Christ and in that there is infinite rest.

Questions

1.      What has you weary right now? Is it something God has called you to, or something else?

2.      What have you been trying to do that Christ can be doing for you? What would it take to convince you that the work you are doing doesn’t really rest on your shoulders?

  

Prayer

Jesus, I want to be yoked to You. Help me to be obedient and to remember that You do the heavy lifting. Amen.

—Aaron Thompson

Christ’s Amazing Humility and Love

Humble

Christmas Day

December 25 

Christ’s amazing humility shows us His amazing love 

and our deep need for a Savior.

Christmas Day presents us with a great moment to step out of the warm-and-fuzzy Christmasy-ness of Christmas, and back into the dirt, the noise, and the humility of the manger. God—the God who is transcendent and immanent—comes into earth as one of us, and chooses to do it by being born to social scorn. He was born to a single mother, slept among filthy animals, and was celebrated only by dirty shepherds and foreign mystics. God stepped with both feet into human history, and hardly anyone noticed. This great humility of God should move us in two ways—first, to gratitude for a love this great and second, to our own humility and confessing again how in need of a Savior we truly are.

Today’s passages are Luke 2:4-7 and Philippians 2:5-8

Here are some other ways you can put your faith into practice with this week’s focus of “Humble.”

For Adults

Humble yourself this week by serving others in need. Schedule time to work at a food bank, soup kitchen or another organization that works to address poverty. While there, ask for a tour and more information about what the organization does—come to really understand and fully empathize with those who are hurting. What would it look like to serve those with need throughout the year? During this week, consider where you recognize your humble Savior.

For Teens

Research more about Mary—she was most likely a teen just like you! Learn more about her culture and how an unwed teen mother would have been viewed by her people. Reflect on what it means that Jesus was purposefully born into that situation. Then, share what you’ve learned with someone else—either in conversation or over social media. Consider being creative and making a video or series of photo edits. Use this week to share the good news that Jesus is a humble savior! #ualcgodwithus

For Kids

Help your kids learn more about people who are hurting or in need here in Columbus or somewhere around the world. Consider sponsoring a child (through one of many Christian aid organizations) with money your child receives from chores, or consider helping them come up with the funds for sponsoring. But don’t just start sending money—use the opportunity to help your child write letters and get to know a kid just like them!

—Aaron Thompson & David White

Ordinary

Week 4 Advent Devotions

December 18

1 Kings 19:9-12

Write out the 1 Kings passage.

What images came to mind when you heard these words? 

How does this passage stretch your understanding of God?

Have someone close in a simple prayer.

Conclude together by saying “We go now in peace, ending this time in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.” Blow out the candle.

36 37

The light of the candles pierces through the darkness and reminds us of the “Light of Christ” that we anticipate during this season.

Here are some other ways you can put your faith into practice with this week’s focus of “Ordinary.”

For Adults

Keep a small notebook by your bed. Before going to sleep each night, take a moment to look back on your day. Begin by writing the small and simple things that you are thankful for, then press a little deeper by looking for where God might have been in those moments. See if you notice God at work in the ordinary during your week.

For Teens

Create a photo-journal this week of things, people or special moments that help you see God at work. Take a picture from nature of something God created, take a picture of some of the people you see God through and take a picture to record any moment where it seemed like God was especially present. #ualcgodwithus

For Kids

Each day, take a little time with your child to write or draw about a time in their life that God was there for them. As you do this, have them remember that God is there with them, even as you remember past times that they’ve seen Him. See if during this week they notice God in the ordinary parts of life—like at school, at home, or when they are playing with friends. He is everywhere!

—Aaron Thompson & David White

God requires—but does not need—our sacrifices

December 8

Scripture Reading

Read Psalm 50:7-15 and reflect on the passage.

Learning that God did not need me set me free. When I began to serve in ministry 13 years ago, I set out with a simple mission—to save the world. I was passionate, hungry and ambitious. I wanted to reach every teenager who didn’t know Jesus, and through the process, wanted to radically transform the church. You can imagine, perhaps, how frustrating it was for me when, six months into my first ministry, progress was stalled, the church remained unchanged, and the problem seemed to be me. What God taught me in that season of disappointment lasts with me to this day—God does not need me, my gifts and talents, or my thoughts—but He wants me. God gives me the privilege of joining Him in the adventure of ministry.

That is the same message God gives Israel in this passage. Their sacrifice is not about the sacrifice, but about the sacrificing. It is not the bull or the goat that God desires, but rather the heart of the one offering the sacrifice. Even then, He does not desire our hearts for His sake, but for ours. We are best when we are surrendered fully to God.

Questions

1.      What are you offering God? Are you offering that thing, or are you offering yourself?

2.      Does God have all of your heart today? What might you be holding back from Him?

Prayer

God who needs nothing, thank You for allowing me to offer myself to You. I give You all I have and all I am. Amen.

—Aaron Thompson