This Is Our Story

Upside Down Kingdom

“Once you have given up knowing who is right, it is easy to see neighbors everywhere you look.”
-Barbara Brown Taylor

The gospels uniquely teach us about the life and ministry of Jesus and his heralding of an upside-down kingdom. The kingdom feels foreign yet it is one we were originally intended to experience. The Prodigal Son is one of three parables about lost things. Jesus launches into these stories as the Pharisees and teachers begin grumbling about the undesirable company Jesus is keeping (tax collectors and sinners- oh my!). I wonder if this grumbling stems from the Pharisees coming face to face with this upside-down kingdom. If King Jesus breaks bread with such company, then where do the devout, the ‘good guys’, and the ones who are ‘right’ fit in to this kingdom? Perhaps envy and fear are the basis of this grumbling. Maybe these Pharisees are even a little belligerent about their uncertain status.

In these parables, the preciousness of the lost item is emphasized. A dedicated shepherd lovingly searching for his lost sheep. An old woman tearing her house apart for that one coin. The prodigal son is precious to his father, clearly, the welcome home party demonstrates that- but what is he to his older brother?

The older brother, intent on pointing out who is right and wrong in this story misses the preciousness of his younger sibling.

Love your neighbor as yourself- we know this is one of the fundamental tenets of Jesus’ kingdom. If we desire to live within this kingdom, we must see neighbors - and their preciousness- rather than adversaries and opposition.

Anna Nielsen
Life on Mission Director

by Anna Nielsen

Grace

“We are saved by faith alone [not our works], but not by faith that remains alone. Nothing we do can merit God’s grace and favor, we can only believe that he has given it to us in Jesus Christ and receive it by faith. But if we truly believe and trust in the one who sacrificially served us, it changes us into people who sacrificially serve God and our neighbors.” Tim Keller

How many times do we hide in ourselves and our correct behavior that we forget that Grace has found us and calls us to live in Him? The older son became so focused on doing the right thing that his actions weren’t a result of his understanding of grace but a merit system. When he saw his father run to the younger son, embrace him and prepare a feast the only appropriate answer was anger at the injustice. The younger brother had brought shame unto their family. In that cultural context not only had the younger brother abandoned the family he had basically told the father he wished he was dead so that he could get his inheritance. The older brother watched this all happen and continued his duty of working. He did not extend grace to the younger brother in going out to find him and bring him home.

How many times as Christians do we look at people outside the church as “outsiders” or “the other”? Do we tend to continue our works to get points in the merit system or do we recognize the grace God has given us daily, and extend it to those around us? We should not consider ourselves as higher than others but display grace with open arms. Who has God placed around you so that you can take that step of displaying grace? Who is your younger brother that God has called you to love and embrace? Ask God this week to reveal a person to you that needs the reminder that God grants us grace and that His mercies are new each morning.

Lillian Arjona Garzon
Community Engagement Director

by Lillian Arjona Garzon

Sharing is Caring

No one had to teach us as two-year-olds to be selfish with our toys. “Mine!” was one of the first words out of our mouth. Sharing was hard with our siblings, harder at the neighborhood playground and harder still with total strangers in the public park.

Not much changed after we grew up. We might be willing to share what we have with our immediate family (or even our spiritual brothers and sisters in the family of God), but we’re less likely to do that in our neighborhood and even less likely with total strangers especially if they don’t share our skin color, political views or lifestyle. Farther out are those who wronged us, those who wish us harm - our declared enemies.

The further away someone sits in our circles of trust and care, the less we are prepared to share with them. It’s perfectly logical. Limited trust, limited care and limited sharing is how we ensure that we have enough to meet our own needs, that we don’t get taken advantage of, that the world is fair and equitable, that there are appropriate boundaries and limits in our society.

And yet, Jesus keeps upending our well-established system. The older son has to put up with the prodigal’s son unconditional reinstatement. The early workers in the vineyard get paid equally to those who joined at the end of the work day. The Messiah doesn’t dethrone the occupiers, he lets them execute him without having a committed crime. The “neighbor” now includes foreigners and strangers. The “family” of God now includes both Jew and Greek, master and slave…

The logic that determines Jesus’ words and actions is so different from ours, because it is rooted in a different reality. It’s the reality of the Kingdom of God where favor is unmerited, where love is not reciprocal but unconditional, giving is better than receiving, where blessings are shared with irrational generosity… where we can share freely because the supply of “toys” is as unlimited as the Creator himself…

Even though I am still in this world, it’s the reality of the Kingdom of God I want to live in. God, give me an opportunity to do that today.

Luke
Outreach Pastor

by Luke B.

Restoring Honor

I’ll never forget my first trip to Jordan visiting with Syrian and Iraqi refugees. In addition to losing family members, friends, and homes, they also lost any means to work and support their families, bringing shame and a sense of lost dignity. Broken and cast aside, families were now at the mercy of foreign governments and charitable organizations just to survive each day.

Yet when I entered their homes as a stranger, I was always welcomed as an honored guest, and received the warmest hospitality, hugs, and tea. The root of all this hospitality is the fact that many Eastern cultures are honor bound to the best and highest treatment of their guests. I spent hours in their homes sitting with them, hearing their stories, and sharing God's word and love with them - but it didn't end there.

As sons and daughters of the King, we have the highest honor bestowed upon us - and are honor bound to the highest degree. Do we choose to embrace this identity and open our hearts, our schedule, our resources - the riches of God’s Kingdom He has allowed us to steward - to help restore honor to the least, the last, and the lost? The older brother, with all his resources, didn’t do his job to bring his younger brother home and help restore his honor.

After my trip to Jordan, I knew I wanted to share the love of God to my new refugee friends in a practical way to help restore their honor. So I helped start an NGO that allowed for them to provide for their families by creating and selling handmade goods. All profits went back into an education program for their children.

By opening up my heart to strangers in need, God blessed me with people I now call family. When we make space for God in our hearts to move, it grows our capacity to love others and meet their needs.

"Christianity should feel like, 'my love for others continues to deepen,' not 'my beliefs are more correct than anyone else’s.'"
- Ben Cremer

Karina

by KP

Generosity

“Every time I take a step in the direction of generosity I know that I am moving from fear to love.” Henri Nouwen

How many times are our days taken up by job or family duties, errands, and afternoon activities to only then end the night mindlessly strolling through our phone or watching the news wishing we had time to do “other” things? Do we take priority to set aside time to give to our neighbor? It’s easy for us to set aside time for a friend, yet having a conversation with the homeless person at the gas station requires more time and energy. I find myself often saying “when I have time I’ll do this…” or “Once this season slows down then I can…” I tend to get caught up in the busyness of life and miss what is right in front of me. I forget that I am to be a steward of what God gives me and freely pour out into those around me.

How have we received generosity from Jesus? Are we partaking in the generosity of the feast of the bride and the bridegroom the Son, with lost people? Generosity is an invitation to partake in the Kingdom story which is found in Jesus. It is by inviting people in with our time and gifts that we extend the invitation of Jesus. We aren’t to look at the older brother and try not to be like him, we are to look to the other Older Brother who did extend grace and generosity to our younger brother. There will be times when we feel tired or territorial with our time and skills but when we give freely we experience the love of Christ and His joy.

“The leap of faith always means loving without expecting to be loved in return, giving without wanting to receive, inviting without hoping to be invited, holding without asking to be held. Every time I make a little leap, I catch a glimpse of the One who runs out to me and invites me into his joy.” Henri Nouwen

Lillian Arjona Garzon
Community Engagement Director

by Lillian Arjona Garzon

Restoration

Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am doing a new thing…”

For as long as I can remember, I gravitated toward the world of music. I played violin in the orchestra, sang in the choir, and even dabbled in musical theater. Shortly after I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I felt the tug to lead people in musical worship.

One evening after church, a youth leader pulled me aside. “Jean, I know you can sing. Do you want to sing with us on stage?” I was torn. I wanted to respond to what I sensed God asking of me, but I wasn’t sure I was up to the task. So I responded with “I don’t know.” What that leader did next was pivotal in my life. He said to me: “Look, you can sing. But I can’t decide for you. So this is the last time I’m going to ask. Do you want to sing with us?”

My yes that night was the catalyst for my journey of leading people in worship of Almighty God for the past two decades. And what a beautiful adventure it has been!

I don’t think I’m alone when I admit that it is not always easy to say yes to God. We look at ourselves and see what’s wrong instead of the potential. We resign to our brokenness and doubt that healing is possible. We give shame and fear more real estate in our minds than the promises of God’s Word.

I’m reminded of a story from the book of John, where Jesus approaches a man who had been ill for nearly four decades. Jesus’ first words to him were “Do you want to be healed?” Healing was right there in front of him, but first, he had to admit his need. His “yes” both confessed his need and declared Jesus’ greatness, and in response to his honest vulnerability, the Savior stepped in and restored him.

God’s ability to restore has no limits. He is ready and waiting to bring us, his prodigal creation, back to our fullest potential. He just needs our yes.

Jean Menjivar
Modern Worship

by Jean Menjivar

The Shoes

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him,
and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.”

Luke 15:22

Growing up at Emmanuel Faith, I’ve heard the Parable of the Prodigal Son innumerable times. I have no memory of when I first heard or read it. However, this was the first time I'd ever paid any attention to the father giving shoes to his son.

I’ve never had to worry about owning a pair of shoes. I’ve always had multiple for as long as I can remember and I’ve definitely never made a long journey while barefoot. The prodigal [son] probably never had to worry about shoes either . . . until he left his father. After he left and squandered all that he had, he became a servant and lost his shoes. I’m imagining the prodigal in the fields with the pigs, covered in filth from head to toe. His feet must have been disgusting. And that’s how he returns home to his father: ashamed, destitute, and barefoot.

In that day, only servants and slaves walked around barefoot. In many cases, this was so they couldn’t run away. The son returns home asking to be treated as such. But his father orders that he be given shoes, a symbol that this is his son and that he is to be fully restored into the family. You’d think he might wait till he’s cleaned up, but he doesn’t. And that’s exactly what God does for each of his children. Cleanliness doesn’t precede restoration. We come to him dirty, having been enslaved to our sins, and he covers us in his grace and forgiveness. That’s what makes us whole.

Looking at those shoes now, I realize that the father gave his son the ability to leave again. And as I look at my life, I can see how I’ve turned away from Jesus time and time again. But I’m comforted by his words to Paul when he states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Jesus is always ready for us to turn towards him and his grace is abundant. Shoes aren’t designed for sitting around. They’re for walking. The question is, will we walk with him?

Daniel Rose
Production Director

by Daniel Rose

A Ring

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

On a cold Christmas Eve, when I was eighteen, my boyfriend of a year and a half surprised me with a diamond engagement ring and proposal. That ring signified love, hope for the future, and the promise of life with the man I loved.

We all know the story (parable) of the prodigal son. We see the forgiving father run to welcome his lost son home! Not only does he prepare a feast, but he gives him a robe, ring and shoes. This tells us that God is always concerned not just with our spiritual well-being but also with our physical well being. But these gifts to the lost son have a more significant meaning.

The signet ring was a seal to officially sign documents and represented a position of authority. It was as reliable as a signature, a seal of authenticity that branded a document. In a world where the majority of men were illiterate, the signet ring became their writing instrument. An instrument responsible for signing some of the most historical documents long ago. The ring signified the father’s high level of love for his son.

Our heavenly Father puts no condition on us when we have wandered and then return. He doesn’t hold back to see if we really mean it or have some ulterior motive. He doesn’t say, you can come home, but have to earn back my love, trust and respect. He opens his arms wide and lavishes love, mercy and compassion on us. He keeps no record of wrong, he doesn’t say you hurt me, now you must make restitution. No, our Father rejoices when we seek his forgiveness. Henri Nouwen describes it best saying “I realize that I am not used to the image of God throwing a big party. It seems to contradict the solemnity and seriousness I have always attached to God. But when I think about the ways in which Jesus describes God’s Kingdom, a joyful banquet is often at its center . . .”

God celebrates each wanderer upon their return. Can we have his same heart of forgiveness and will we open our arms wide to the prodigals we know and even some we don’t yet and offer them a special place in our family?

Deb HIll
Executive Assistant

by Deb Hill

A Robe

When I was young, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. “I want to be a band director and a preacher.” There isn’t any logical connection, but for me, it made perfect sense. When I was born, my dad was a band director. He was gifted and loved by his students. When I was four, God called my father to ministry. A year later, we moved to Kentucky so he could attend seminary. He was a gifted leader and our family was embraced and loved by the churches he pastored.

The journey from my five-year-old dream to who I am today has taken many twists and turns. More times than I can count, I’ve found myself far from where I expected to be. As I look back, I can clearly see God’s unrelenting grace at work, helping me take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me.

Several years ago, I decided to return to school to pursue biblical and theological studies. The process was considerably more difficult than I had anticipated – academically and spiritually. As the deadline to complete the degree approached, I realized I would not be able to complete the degree. I felt very far from my hopes and far from God. In a profound expression of grace, God carried me through. When my doctoral hood and cap arrived, I wanted one thing – to wear them with my late father’s doctoral robe. His robe doesn’t exactly fit me. He was taller than me and the size was a little off, but that was ok with me.

Throughout scripture, robes symbolize our relationships and calling (Joseph in Gn. 41:42, Isa. 61:1–11). Paul encourages us to “put on Christ” (Ro. 13:14). The ways Jesus is made known through our lives, work, and calling isn’t something we produce by our own effort. It is a gift from our Father who relentlessly pursues us and robes us in Christ. In Christ, we reclaim God’s dream [for us] as daughters and sons. We bear God’s image, demonstrate His faithfulness, and reveal Christ in the world.

Dr. David Bales
Classic Worship Pastor

by Kim Freels