Wingfoot Church

Some barriers to embracing Jesus are about our beliefs - what we believe and why we believe them. But some are more about what we do when we're together. Singing is one of those things. There's a lot of music when followers of Jesus gather and to an outsider it might seem weird or even cult-ish. But the reality is we're all singing to someone or something. The real question is "Who are you singing to and why?"

If you read the New Testament - the story of Jesus and his first followers - you might be surprised to find that the term "Christian" is only used three times, and two of those three times it's used by someone who doesn't follow Jesus to describe people who do. It's a label put on a group of people by people who don't understand their experience. Instead, followers of Jesus used the phrase "in Christ" to describe the transformation that happened when they met Jesus. So what does that transformation mean and how does it happen to you? That's what we'll look at in Colossians 3:1-4.

Behind this question is a longing we all have to belong. You'd think people who follow Jesus whose message was love would be loving and welcoming, but far too often this isn't the case. Why not? In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable that gets to the heart of why. When the basis for our belonging is on our behavior - whether that's our actions, our attitudes, our opinions - we create a IN group and an OUT group. But as the tax collector knows in Jesus' story, the basis for belonging isn't on behavior, but on grace. And if belonging is based on grace, it creates true community.

It seems like if God is really out there, he could be more obvious about it. Why not text everyone and let us know? But what we really want behind this question is a moment where we and everyone around us know that God is there and it's not crazy to believe in him. The kind of moment the prophet Elijah had in 1 Kings 18. But when we find him in 1 Kings 19, he still doubts. The problem with chasing moments of spiritual highs is that you'll never be certain it's God and you'll never be satisfied. But in Jesus, God climbs a mountain for us and declares his love to us in a way for all of history to know. This is the moment he wants to meet you in.

If you've ever tried to read the Bible, chances are you found yourself confused more than once. For a book that's so important to Christians, it can be hard to understand. That's why it's so important that we understand what the Bible is and what the Bible really says in order to experience all that the Bible has for us. Once you see it, it'll change your life forever.