Between Sundays: The Stories Jesus Told
This past Sunday we explored how Jesus often chose to teach in parables, short, simple stories that carry deep truths about God’s kingdom. Parables are not always easy to grasp on the first hearing; they ask us to listen carefully, to reflect, and to see ourselves in the story. They are maps that guide us toward God’s heart.
During Family Time, we talked about stories in another familiar form, the children’s show Bluey. We shared about the episode “The Decider,” which you can watch here. In the episode, the characters are faced with a decision about which team to cheer for. It’s a gentle reminder that it’s okay to have different teams, different sides, and different preferences, but that what matters most is the love we share, the joy of being together, and the bigger story we are a part of. (And for this week, I’ll add… it’s especially sweet to be cheering for the Burgundy and Gold!)
As we continue our series Love. Hope. Jesus., this coming Sunday we’ll turn to a new question, one that Jesus asks again and again throughout the Gospels: “Who do you say that I am?” The Gospel of John gives us a rich way to answer through the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus. I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I am the good shepherd. Each statement offers a new facet of who Jesus is and what difference He makes in the lives of those who follow Him.
I invite you to join us this week as we listen again to Jesus’ words and let them guide our lives. If you’d like to go deeper, our Pastor’s Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., and we are studying Adam Hamilton’s The Message of Jesus: The Most Important Words Ever Spoken. It’s not too late to join in, you can simply come as you are, with or without the book.
Between Sundays, may we listen to the stories of Jesus, live out His love, and remember who He is for us today.
Until Sunday, and all the days between,
Dr. Hutton