9A Worship: Jerusalem - Paul & Mob Justice

11A Worship

November 10, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 21:37, Acts 22:29, Acts 22:2–22

My freshman year at Whitworth I made friends easily. But there was one person, Greg, who did not like me. I couldn’t figure out why. How could he not like me? No matter how hard I tried to win him over it seemed to have the opposite effect. I finally stopped trying. 46 years later I still remember Greg. And, I still wonder why? There are times when others just don’t get us. They assume things about us that are not true. They believe the worst about us. They attack us. Dislike us. Maybe it’s just me … nope! Paul, the first century Christian leader, was the focal point for irrational anger. Not from one, or a few, but from a mob. They wanted him dead. His approach to such hatred … he told the story of how he met Jesus. The mob listened … for a while. And then they shouted, “he should not be allowed to live!” Tough crowd. Real life. Real faith.

9A Worship

November 10, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 21:37, Acts 22:29, Acts 22:2–22

My freshman year at Whitworth I made friends easily. But there was one person, Greg, who did not like me. I couldn’t figure out why. How could he not like me? No matter how hard I tried to win him over it seemed to have the opposite effect. I finally stopped trying. 46 years later I still remember Greg. And, I still wonder why? There are times when others just don’t get us. They assume things about us that are not true. They believe the worst about us. They attack us. Dislike us. Maybe it’s just me … nope! Paul, the first century Christian leader, was the focal point for irrational anger. Not from one, or a few, but from a mob. They wanted him dead. His approach to such hatred … he told the story of how he met Jesus. The mob listened … for a while. And then they shouted, “he should not be allowed to live!” Tough crowd. Real life. Real faith.

11A Worship: Jerusalem - Paul & Mob Justice

November 3, 2024 • Curt McFarland • Acts 21:1–36

In conversations, and in what I’m reading online and in print, there is a growing sense of anxiety about our lives, our community, our nation and world. Technology is advancing faster than we can process it (thank goodness for AI). Global conflicts seem poised to expand (thank goodness for the UN). It is a year of national and local elections (thank goodness for our political parties). Cultural divisions seem to be widening (thank goodness for our common values). What can and should a Christian do in such times? Pray, yes. Re-connect with the truths and promises of God, yes. Live in this troubled world with both Grace and Truth, yes. Remember who we belong to, yes. And … we live each day knowing that God knows, God cares, God remains sovereign, and He is with us.

Grace of Christ