Good Morning Church...Praise the Lord! Our God reigns! The empty tomb tells me so!

This week's reading is Luke 9:1-11 - Eugene Peterson, who wrote The Message, entitles this section of the gospel, "keep it simple". In other words, just be who Jesus made you to be, with the power He gave you. Why do we have to complicate it? Don't take anything with you and don't go where you are not welcome. But when you go, preach and declare the kingdom loudly by casting out demons and healing the sick. We are commanded to do this often in scripture (see for example Mark 16, and Matt.10). When Jesus tries to get away with the disciples to hear the report of their mission, the crowds follow; and what does He do...preaches the kingdom and heals the sick (vs.11). Simple...yes! Are we doing it...not really. Have we complicated this whole Christian thing so much that we have turned it into a religion, not a transformative movement. Isn't it interesting that this plague has removed all of the complicated parts of "church" - the buildings, staffing, production, and organizational management. Now we are forced to connect very simply, without the bells and whistles. We are still followers of Jesus with power and authority! Is it possible, now that the Church has shed its religious weights, and freed itself from the production line of christianity, that followers of Jesus can now rise up in power and authority, and simply do what Jesus told us, and be who we are supposed to be - ones who bring the kingdom rule into every sphere of society. Let's take this time to get back to basics; re-connect to our power source, Jesus; and start simply preaching the kingdom and healing the sick. I believe the world is ready for a message of hope, and a demonstration of an alternative kingdom to belong to. Just do it with a 2 meter distance :)

Have a great week!

Luke 9 The Message (MSG)

Keep It Simple

9 1-5 Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple;you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.”

6 Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.

7-9 Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn’t know what to think. There were people saying John had come back from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, still others that some prophet of long ago had shown up. Herod said, “But I killed John—took off his head. So who is this that I keep hearing about?” Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action.

10-11 The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida. But the crowds got wind of it and followed. Jesus graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. Those who needed healing, he healed.