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There is a chair at the table that stays empty. There is a phone that will not stop buzzing. And we keep being told that this is the whole story. But we know whose we are. Revelation 7:9-17 | 1 John 3:1-3 | Matthew 5:1-12

That we are made right before God by grace and not works, that forgiveness cannot be earned, is the central claim of the Reformation and Luther's theology. Grace, however, is about more than just forgiveness. Grace is the central principle of life. Amidst chaos, political and economic upheaval, natural disaster and even death, grace sustains us. Amidst it all, God is our fortress and strength.

When the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a trick question, he ends up revealing their hypocrisy and turning the tables on them. Being concerned about paying taxes to Caesar is not a central concern of life. Instead, a life of faith is about giving God what belongs to God – which is everything. He exposes this political posturing for what it is – unessential to the kingdom of God.

Some stories we wrestle with. Some wrestle with us. This one has been going round and round with us, and it ends with a closed door and a question nobody answers. We cannot walk away from it. We are not sure we want to. What do we do with this?   Matthew 22:1-14 | Isaiah 25:1-9

We all have a view of how the world works. We have a mindset that guides our decisions and relationships. It is often shaped by culture, family, tradition. The Apostle Paul tells us that we should have "the mind of Christ." He demonstrates how his own life has been turned upside down by having the mindset of Jesus. It frees us. It saves us. It blesses us.

They asked him for his credentials. He never gave them. Not to the priests in the Temple, not to a prisoner sending word from a cell, not even to the crowd standing under a cross daring him to prove it. He answered a different way. He's still answering that way, at this table, today.   Matthew 21:23-27

We keep a ledger. Quietly, carefully. Who showed up, who's earned their place, who still owes something. Some of us keep it on others. Some of us keep it on ourselves. But grace was never good at math.    Jonah 3:10-4:11| Matthew 20:1-16 | Philippians 1:21-30

When Peter asks Jesus how many times we are to forgive someone, Jesus answers, "Seventy-seven – or Seven times seventy." What he means is, "Infinitely." Can that be right? Is there no room in the world for "enough is enough?" Are there not some things that are unforgiveable? Apparently not.

It is not news to say that the world and its inhabitants are divided, fragmented in a way that makes us give up hope. We just can't help ourselves from our desire for revenge, retribution, and winning the argument. Jesus called his people, his Church, to bear witness to another way of life which restores hope, to be a light in the midst of the divided darkness.

Jesus' invitation to "take up your cross and follow him" is the essence of the call to discipleship. What does it look like to take up the cross? Are we to be martyrs? Tortured? Imprisoned for our faith? That has happened to many, as the history of the church bears witness. For most of us, the cross comes as we choose the way of Jesus instead of the ways of the world and find friction. If you follow Jesus, the cross will find you.

We have been finishing that sentence our whole lives. I am… and somebody else usually filled in the blank first. But there is an older word about who we are, spoken before anyone else got a vote. And it turns out, Jesus is still speaking it.   Matthew 16:13-20 | Isaiah 51:1-6 | Romans 12:1-8

When a Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter his response seems, to us, rude. Rude Jesus? Not really. The story shows us that the promise of God in Isaiah 56 has come true – all nations will be drawn to God. The story also shows us that crumbs from the table of grace are more than enough.

The women we encounter in scripture provide a powerful witness to God's love and mercy. From Miriam to Mary, Hannah to Ruth, the women are empowered by God to preach, teach, proclaim, and praise. Pastor Paul Witmer, Lead Pastor of Women at the Well, a congregation in the Mitchellville Women's Correction Center, is our guest preacher and mission partner.

When Jesus sees the thousands waiting for him, he has compassion on them. The disciples see a problem. The people need to go home to eat. Jesus tells the twelve, "You give them something to eat." All they have is five loaves and two fish. It ends up being more than enough. Twelve baskets of leftovers remain after all are full. Perhaps Jesus gives us the same command when we see the overwhelming problems of the world and all the suffering. "You give them what they need." We are called to do all we can with all we have, in this place at this time.

Something in you has been asking whether this, whatever this is for you right now, might finally be too much. Too far gone. Beyond reach. Paul already asked that question, on our behalf, and searched the whole universe for an answer.    Romans 8:26-39 | Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 | 1 Kings 3:5-12