This is the weirdest conversation Jesus ever had. Trying to mind his own business. Bombarded by a woman saying her daughter has a demon. Comparing her to a dog. She agrees.

And somehow all of us learn one of the best lessons about grace we could.

Jesus cares deeply about injustice in our world—but bringing about justice isn’t all that easy. In fact, making headway is often painful and isolating, even when we’re being directly obedient to Jesus.

But here’s the thing…

So, should we really just “preach the gospel”?

If hope is real & change is possible, we don’t have to just preach the gospel. We can live it too.

After the storming of the Capitol on Wednesday, it’s clearer than ever that the theology that excused, justified, or encouraged that mob is bankrupt. But what else can we see with our newfound clarity?

Many of our nation’s pastors and churches are complicit. What about us?

It was the slowest holidays ever. Who’s still exhausted anyway?

Maybe we're not getting the kind of rest we're made for.

You’re not alone. You’re going to be ok. Because Jesus is here. Jesus has entered into this life, into your life, with you.

Everything Jesus offers us is love. Even the call to repentance is a call to warm embrace. Here’s how we know for sure.

The politics of Jesus are radically hopeful. They’re also realistic—if we’ll walk faithfully in his self-giving way. In a week where some of us have felt triumph and others despair, here’s some hope for us all.

When things are out of our control, what do we do? We can try to do more or know more, but if they’re actually out of our control, what then? The fantastic news is that Jesus is in town. And just a brush of his touch can change our lives, from our deep inner worlds that no one else quite knows to our future physical lives that everyone will see.

Some of us would say no one. Some of us would select some subset of supposedly filthy or irredeemable people. But almost all of us fear, somewhere deep down, that God in fact hates us. That’s why this interaction of Jesus can be life changing.

Even when we don’t consider ourselves to be fearful people, many of our actions are attempts to cope with our deep fears and anxieties—especially as we all swim in this current epoch of turmoil. These fear-driven actions, knowingly or not, create disconnection.

God wants you to be holy like God is holy. In other words, God wants you to be merciful like God is merciful. Join us to hear what Jesus says.

Not all forgiveness is equal. The forgiveness Jesus brings also brings reconciliation and transformation, holistically changing our beings and this world. Yes please, I’ll take some of that. How about you?

Jesus says you can tell a tree by its fruit. So what do we do when we realize the fruit is absent? This week we’re hearing from Jesus on exactly that.

But in this time of rampant powerless anxiety, we’re convinced convinced that the ways of Jesus can still change our world, our relationships, and our hearts. They’re utterly different than what’s been tried before. And they’re gloriously beautiful.