Synopsis: We are constantly making decisions. What role am I going to play as dad in my kid’s life? Is it republican, democrat or independent? How much will I let God into the details of my life? Yet we never know who or what hangs in the balance of our decision. But our decision does determine the direct and the quality of our lives. Bad decision affects us but they also can affect others. Think about you own family, parents, and grandparents; if they would have made different decisions, how would that have impacted you? Truth is we can’t look down the line and ever know how our decision will affect others. All decisions have consequences, all have risks. We never reach our potential unless we are willing to take risks. Farmers who watch for perfect weather will never plant a crop (Solomon) and will never have a harvest. Jesus told a story about taking risks. In the end Jesus tells us that all of us must take on responsibility and assume risk if we are to harvest the potential He has for us.

Synopsis: Grace is the most incredible gift we can ever receive. We can’t buy it or earn it, it is a free gift. But grace is not something we get to put on a shelf for display. God has a plan for our lives and he gives us grace so he can lean on it in our lives to mold us and shape us and to impact the lives of others. He wants us to understand we are his son and daughter.

Synopsis: It is not our sin that will keep us from God, it is our own self-righteousness that keeps us from God. How do we know if we are drifting in our own self-righteousness? What are the clues? Well, it is how you start to treat others around you. Particularly, those who have made a mess in their life. Three questions you can ask, 1.) “Have you separated yourself from others you consider broken and messy? (Pharisees stepped away from others) 2.) Have you ever said, “I’m glad I’m not like them? (The Pharisees said it in his prayer) 3.) When broken and messy people get good things, are you happy for them? (When we think others need to suffer more before they get God’s grace). If Jesus doesn’t require people to clean up before they come to him, we should not either.

Synopsis: Ever known or been a religious bully? A religious bully thinks he/she knows how to act or think or dress or behave. And if you don’t follow up to their standards, they will whack you back in line. Let me tell you, Jesus never meant for his kingdom to be portrayed in such a way. In fact some people are so concerned about looking good, they want to have their lives appear all together. In the end they miss the point of grace. Think about what our communities and churches might look like if we could be more concerned about pointing out the heart of God and less about pointing out others mistakes.

Synopsis: Are you doing things for God out a sense of duty? Slaving away, looking at God from a transactional perspective? Someone to be bargained with? Have you lost sight that God is your heavenly Father? Are you board with what seems like a religious game. Hear the last words of the Father. “Just come back in the house, that is where grace is, not out here slaving away thinking you can earn his love.” If it is only duty, a transaction, you need to realize you are more than that, you are my child. All I have is yours so stop striving and come in, rest in my love for you.

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