Church is Messy

Rick and Svea reverse roles today. He puts Svea in the "hot seat" as they discuss the genius of the stories in Luke 15:1-10. In these parables, Jesus simultaneously speaks to, and shows compassion toward, two groups of people who viewed themselves as being at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Topics Discussed in this Episode
  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:14 Mother's Day is this weekend. Svea has a lot of "mom labels."
  • 04:29 Getting into the Lost Words of Jesus series - parables of lost things. Jesus really knew his audience. How did Svea get into studying the text?
  • 06:07 How was Jesus' audience of sinners, religious leaders, and tax collectors both valued, loved, honored, but also lost? What was that audience like? How did Jesus connect with them all?
  • 08:45 Jesus was showing his heart and compassion for his audience. 
  • 09:46 Do we view these parables from the lens of a Pharisee, a lost sheep, or a Shepherd? How did different groups in Jesus's original audience approach his stories?
  • 15:08 How did these parables affect people at that time? What possibly were Jesus and Luke's intentions in telling and recording these stories?
  • 17:04 Application points: How do we avoid isolation within Christian communities and build relationships with those who are different from us?
  • 22:57 Should we maintain relationships even if the other person is never going to follow Jesus How do we approach relationships with nonbelievers as a Church and as individuals? What role does God play in these relationships?
  • 27:54 Close in Prayer.

What is Church is Messy?

Church is messy podcast recorded at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN