What are we called to do with all the information that we have gotten out of this series? Paul tells us we are given this ministry of reconciliation. What does that look like? Paul speaks about this in 2 Corinthians we are called to be reflections of Christ in the world giving our lives over.

God, our creator created us to be in relationship with Him. Sin entered into the world and God still desired a relationship with us. Jesus died as a sacrifice so that God could reside within us, so that we could be fully cleansed.

Sin entered into the world through the actions of Adam and Eve. There is a difference between original sin, the residual effects of the fall and personal sin a voluntary violation of a known law of God. Mildred Wynkoop defines sin as a perversion of love. We are called to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves anything beyond that is a perversion of what we are created for.

Why were we created? If we believe God created out of nothing why did God create? The rest of the Biblical text answers this question. We were created to worship the creator and come into relationship with God. God doesn’t force relationships. But what happens when we don’t live our life being a reflection of who God is? What if we worship other things instead of God? Join us next week for that answer.

Who is God? It is a question that many ask. God is described many different ways in the Old Testament. But the real question is does our life reflect what we believe about God?

Simeon didn’t lose focus. He even went to the temple at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t give up hope. He knew God had promised and is faithful. We as Christians should be spreading hope and love because God is faithful even in times it looks hopeless to us.

God shows his love for us that even in the midst of our mess He brought us a path to peace and wholeness. We thank God through living our life showing that light and love through our actions, thoughts, and words.

Songs remind us of things in the past and we sing of hope for the future. Psalm 126 is a song that reminded them not only of how faithful God has been, but how faithful God is in the present, and how faithful God will continue to be.

God’s love is steadfast. He shows us through Scriptures, He shows us through stories of our friends and family, we all have stories of how God is faithful. One of the key points to the Christmas story is that God so loves us …

Psalm 80 is a Psalm of lament. Many of the Psalms are. They teach us that we should be honest with our feelings. Even though we lament, we can still have hope that God is working. We can still have hope even in the midst of our grief.

There is this image within the Biblical text of Revelation that we should catch onto but because society changes, culture changes we probably don’t catch on to as much as we should. It is the image of this wedding banquet.

We are thinking about the idea of sitting around the table and the importance of that. Next week we will touch on what the Biblical text tells us about the big wedding feast we are all invited to but today we are going to look at a different important dinner.

This Psalm of lament and then a Psalm of reminder that God is our comfort and our provider and then Psalm 24 is a Psalm of praise. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty- he is the King of glory.

These upcoming weeks we are going to be looking at the significance of sharing a meal. We are going to look at the significance of the table and bread. As we look back through the Old Testament we read about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. As they wander in the desert they are given Manna. Later on in as God gives Moses instructions for the building of the Tabernacle he mentions this table that is to be built.

Peter facing execution wrote another letter emphasizing a few things and one of the first things he emphasizes is the Holy life we are called to live. He reminds them we have been given these building blocks, or starter kit, we should use it.

Peter is reminding the Christians in these Roman providences that they are a chosen people. They might seem like they are out of place. They might be facing persecution but no matter where they are, no matter what is going on around them they are still God’s chosen people and they still need to act like it.

In first Peter Peter reminds us of the verse from Leviticus “be Holy because I Am Holy”. But what is Holiness? What does it look like? Perfected Love.

In the midst of the story of Peter we run across this scene where an angel leads Peter out of prison. At the beginning of the chapter we read about the execution of James. Why was James martyred and Peter had a miracle? We don’t know. But we know God was with both of them and used both situations to His glory.

God moves in mysterious ways. Peter’s story about his vision and visit to Cornelius’ house showed that God wanted to break down barriers. God will move where God wants to move and no one will stop Him.

In Acts 5 the apostles were brought before the religious council once again and Peter again said you need to rethink what is going on. The angel had told them to speak to others about this New Life that they were called to live. The religious council felt threatened by what Peter was saying. Peter was calling them to live this life of worship and witness through the power of the Spirit.