My favorite picture of salvation from Jesus is the story of the father and the two sons. The younger asked for his share of the inheritance so that he can go away and do what he wants to do and be who he wants to be. And, we;re familiar with the story, the money runs out, he comes home and begs his father to come back. The father runs out to meet him and brings him back into the family and throws a huge party. And then there's the older son who had stayed the whole time that said "What's going on?" And father's responses, everything that I've always had is yours and has always been yours - calves, goats, everything. Your brother was lost and now is found. Let's enjoy the party together. That is salvation, that the abundance of God is available here and now right at this moment.
All-Inclusive Grace
Jesus Calls Us Friends
Jason Fairbanks
Jesus says, greater love hath no one than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus brings up this idea of friends and then it seems like, I don't know, maybe it's my imagination, but he seemed to kind of lack on to that. And he said, oh yeah, these folks are my friends. And he started talking a little bit about this friendship, that if they do what he said, then they would be his friends. I don't call you servants anymore. In fact, in this moment, I'm not even calling you disciples. I'm calling you friends.
Let's Take Off the Halos
Let's take off the halos and let our horizons spread to the edges of the galaxy. Billions of years of creation. Let our horizons go in such a way that the people of God, no matter how flawed or unflawed, are welcomed in. And we find ourselves forgiving, not 70 times seven, but forever. For it is a gift of grace that we have been given to give to others. Let us take off this horizon and let us see the world populated not just with people, but with all of the creation. And may we see the interweavings of all of that. With that halo off, we can see the marvelous complexity of the creation of God. And maybe, just maybe, we can start to understand the grace and the love of that creator.
You Are More
Break the Cages Jackie and Matt LeFevers Bruce Linser, Soloist