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A woman walked into a dinner at Simon the leper's house, broke open an alabaster jar of pure nard worth a year's wages, and poured all of it on Jesus' head. The room turned on her immediately. Jesus' own disciples called it a waste and scolded her, as if love for Jesus needed to justify itself. Jesus stopped them cold: she had done a beautiful thing, and she understood something about that moment that none of them did, that he was about to die. Her extravagance leaves us with an uncomfortable question: what would it look like to hold nothing back for Jesus, even when everyone around us thinks we are going overboard?

Zelophehad died in the wilderness with no sons, and under Israelite law that meant his name and his portion of the Promised Land were about to disappear. His five daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, refused to let that happen quietly. They walked up to Moses and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and made their case in public, in a system with no category for women asking for an inheritance. Moses did not have an answer, so he took it to God, and God sided with the daughters and changed the law. Do we have the courage to stand up for what is right, even when it seems we are powerless?

Pharaoh ordered Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives, to kill every baby boy the moment he was born. They refused, and when Pharaoh confronted them, they lied to his face without apology. These were two women with no army, no political standing, and everything to lose, standing up to the most powerful man in the world. God blessed them for it, and the very population Pharaoh tried to destroy kept growing. Their story raises a question every generation has to answer: what do we do when human authority demands something God forbids? We must fear God more than the people who can hurt us, and let him handle the consequences.

Jesus invited Thomas to come and see his wounded hands and side. Upon seeing, Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus commended his faith, but also commended our faith, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John, the author of the book then revealed this is why he wrote this book, to invite all of us to come and see the risen Lord, so we too can have faith. We need to both accept the invitation, but also extend the invitation, so that others can have life in his name.

Many assumptions are made about the Samaritan woman. People assume she was rejected by her community as a sinner. However, it is just as likely, perhaps more likely, that the woman was a victim of the men in her life. Men who used her, but never really knew her. Rather than being a sinful woman, John portrayed her as a woman of great spiritual insight. After encountering Jesus, her invitation to others was simple, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.” Jesus saw her and knew her. This same invitation is valid today, come see a man who knows you and loves you.  (John 4:27-42)

Who is Jesus, really? The first disciples all had questions, and even objections, about the identity of Jesus. Rather than being argued into faith, they were simply invited to “Come and see.” Through their encounters with Jesus, they all came to believe that he really is the Son of God. This chapter is both an invitation to us, as well as a commission. We are all invited to “come and see,” and then commissioned to invite others. (John 1:35-41)

James closed his letter with instructions about words. Don't swear oaths; let your yes be yes. When you suffer, pray. When you're cheerful, sing. When you're sick, call the elders. Confess your sins to one another, because the prayer of a righteous person has great power. Our words can wound, but James shows a better way. Words of honesty, prayer, and confession can heal, and can even bring a wanderer home.  (James 5:12-20)  Sermon Slides

James quoted the confident talk of merchants: “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town, do business, and make a profit.” They spoke as if they controlled the future, but James reminded them their lives were a mist that appears for a little while and vanishes. We make the same speeches about our plans and careers. Humble people say, “If the Lord wills,” and mean it. (James 4:13-17) Sermon Slides

James said the tongue is like a bit in a horse's mouth, a ship's rudder, and a spark that sets a forest on fire. His readers blessed God in worship and then cursed people made in God's likeness. He pointed out that fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring. We recognize the problem; our Sunday words and our everyday words often sound like two different people. SERMON SLIDES

(James 2:14-26)  James imagined a believer who saw a brother without clothes or food and said, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” but did nothing. He called that faith dead. Even the demons believe God is one, and they shudder. Abraham and Rahab were counted righteous because their faith acted. It is easy to confuse agreeing with God for trusting God. Faith that saves is faith that moves.

James told his readers to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, because human anger does not produce the righteousness of God. When the word confronted them, their instinct was to talk back and defend themselves. James called them to close their mouths and open their hearts, receiving the implanted word with meekness. But receiving it is not enough; those who hear the word without doing it are like a man who looked in a mirror and immediately forgot his own face. (James 1:19-27)

The walls were finished, the covenant was renewed, and the people celebrated with genuine joy. However, after Nehemiah left, everything fell apart again. Levites were not being paid, the Sabbath was being broken, and men had married foreign wives again. When Nehemiah returned, he called down curses, beat people, and pulled out their hair. It is a sad ending to a story that started with so much hope. That’s why it’s so important to remember Ezra and Nehemiah are not the end of the story. These books point us forward to the true conclusion of the story, the cross and resurrection. The end of these books remind us that even when things seem to be over, God is still working to bring redemption.

Nehemiah was a courageous leader, who successfully led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. However, he often became furious with the Jewish people for their sin. He cared deeply about accomplishing God’s will, but he was not patient or gentle when the people fell short. Like Nehemiah, we often try to force people to do what is right, but many refuse to budge. Even though people continue to be stubborn and rebellious, we now have what Nehemiah didn’t have. Jesus has come and given us all that we need to be patient, gentle, and kind, as we wait for God to fulfill his promises.

The returning exiles came home full of hope, but the reality was brutal. The land was ravaged, neighbors were hostile, and the temple project came to a complete stop for many years. The people lost heart and focused on their own houses while God's house sat in ruins. God had to send Haggai and Zechariah to convince the people to resume the work. This is a story like each of our stories, filled with moments of fear, discouragement, apathy, and stress. However, through it all, God's purposes do not fail. We must have the courage to press on in faith. (Ezra 1-6)

The returning exiles came home full of hope, but the reality was brutal. The land was ravaged, neighbors were hostile, and the temple project came to a complete stop for many years. The people lost heart and focused on their own houses while God's house sat in ruins. God had to send Haggai and Zechariah to convince the people to resume the work. This is a story like each of our stories, filled with moments of fear, discouragement, apathy, and stress. However, through it all, God's purposes do not fail. We must have the courage to press on in faith. (Ezra 1-6)