Month: March 2025

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Dear Church,

Jesus turned to his friends and said, ‘We are going to Jerusalem, and when we get there, everyone is going to turn on me. I’m going to be arrested and tortured and humiliated and killed.’ And James & John said, ‘Cool, cool. Hey–give us whatever we ask for!’ And Jesus replied, ‘Nice try–what do you want?’ And they said, ‘We want to sit at your right and left hand when you come into your power.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘You really, really don’t want that. Yet.’ And then all the other disciples got really pissed at James and John, and Jesus tried to teach them about the nature of power and glory in his Kingdom, but nobody was listening.’

That’s my very unofficial paraphrase of Mark 10:32-45.

We still don’t want to listen to Jesus when he teaches us about power, authority and greatness in his Kingdom. ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, Jesus–whatever you say. Hey! Give us whatever we ask for in your name!”

When Jesus shows us his glory and power on the cross, we definitely look away as quickly as possible.

The plain truth is, if we want to be saved by the power of Jesus, we will have to lay down our corrupted desires, and our natural understanding of authority and greatness must be transformed. And like our spiritual cousins, James & John, we fight that transformation every step of the way. Just let us use your name to get where we want to be, Jesus!

We may not yet understand or even desire the new life Jesus has for us, we may be committed to who we think Jesus is instead of who he actually is, we may, like James & John, be following Jesus because we want him to do what appears good to our eyes–but the good news of the gospel is we aren’t saved by our understanding or by the integrity of our faith. Rather, we are being saved by the power and glory of God. And we can trust in that glory and power, even as we struggle to surrender to it.

Peace,
Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-16 (NIV)

Dear Church,

We are spending the 40 days of Lent seeking scripture for wisdom about sacrifice. What kinds of sacrifices are pleasing to the Lord?

So far, we’ve mostly focused on what not to do. You know, don’t kill your brother because your sacrifice is not acceptable. Don’t kill your daughter as a sacrifice. There is absolutely a pattern here–don’t kill people. Period.

So if murder is an unacceptable sacrifice (even dressed up in holy language), then what kinds of sacrifices do please God?

The good news/bad news is–it’s actually quite clear. The preacher in Hebrews lays it out plainly: Love one another, show hospitality to strangers, honor your spouse, don’t use other people’s bodies for your sexual gratification, care for prisoners and those who are being mistreated in practical & costly ways, liberate yourself from the love of money, practice radical contentment, imitate the faith and life of Jesus.

The trouble isn’t that we don’t understand–it’s that the ordinary costly sacrifices God calls us to are not acceptable in our eyes. They are not elite spiritual challenges that only a few can master. They are not ‘one and done.’ The sacrifices God deems acceptable do not titillate or entertain us. They will not give us elevated spiritual status, they will sink us deeper into solidarity with the least, last and lost.

And so we are susceptible to being led astray by ‘all kinds of strange teachings.’

I hope you will join me as we hear once again our daily call to ‘do good’ and ‘share with others.’ Acceptable sacrifices are as simple, possible and beautiful as that.

Peace,
Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Scripture: Judges 11:1-11, and 11:29-40

Dear Church,

If we don’t know God, we cannot make an acceptable sacrifice. Even if we want to.

In the book of Judges, there is a terrible, tragic and important story about a man named Jephthah and his only daughter. Jephthah was one of the judges of Israel. He was an honorable man, who suffered abuse and exile at the hands of his own brothers and still returned to help them in their hour of need. Even though he was rejected by his people, he bravely and humbly agreed to serve them. He understood the history and covenant of Israel–ironically, more than those who believed they were the only ‘true’ Israelites. And he grounded his life in worship and dedicated his ministry to God.

In short, he desired with all his heart to love and serve God and God’s people.

But in a critical moment, he made a tragic vow, believing it was necessary and pleasing to God. And then, he kept that promise, believing it was faithfulness. He believed God required him to kill his only daughter.

Because he didn’t know the God he loved and served.

If we do not know God, if we do not know our own sacred history, we can be convinced to do all sorts of evil and call it faithful and righteous.

We often assume that everything in scripture is prescriptive–an example for us to follow. But much of scripture is descriptive–showing us the truth of how we can be deceived and twisted by lies and idolatry. We are gathering around the story of Jephthah and his daughter because we must learn to recognize and reject violent and destructive sacrifices as unacceptable to God and God’s people.

When we know God, we will no longer be deceived.

Peace,
Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16

Dear Church,

Along with disciples across the world and generations, we set aside the next forty days before Easter as a season of repentance, spiritual growth and sacrifice.

Sacrifice?

As modern Christians, we are very comfortable thinking about Jesus making a sacrifice for us on the cross. But most of us feel that it is no longer appropriate or necessary for believers to make sacrifices for God. Surely, we protest, we’ve moved far beyond the kind of primitive worship that involves sacrifice. We are saved by grace, not works…and certainly not sacrifices.

But that’s a curious attitude to have considering that Jesus told would-be disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” I don’t know how much clearer he could have made it. Those who are unwilling to deny themselves–to sacrifice–will be unable to follow.

This Lent, we’ll be exploring what a healthy and holy practice of sacrifice looks like. What does God ask of us? We can all tell stories about Christians who have been manipulated and abused in the name of sacrifice, but what does a good sacrifice look like? What kinds of gifts and sacrifices actually please the Lord?

Because, as we learn in the very first story of sacrificial worship, not all of our offerings do please God.

What will our response be if we discover, like our older brother Cain, that what we are willing to offer isn’t acceptable in God’s sight?

Peace,
Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-19

Dear Church,

A surprising amount of scripture was penned by prisoners. Paul wrote most of his letters while imprisoned. And Revelation, the fiery apocalyptic poem that concludes the Bible, was written by a pastor named John while he was jailed on the isle of Patmos.

Most people think the key to understanding Revelation is decoding ‘when.’ When will the events described occur? How long now? How much more time do we have?

But ‘when’ is the wrong question.

If you want to understand Revelation, the question you have to answer is ‘where.’ Where was it written? Where is Babylon? Where is New Jerusalem? And, most importantly, where will I pledge my allegiance?

Pastor John was in prison for a reason. His seven churches were small and struggling, situated on the margin of the mighty Roman Empire. He and his churches certainly didn’t seem like a threat. But the gospel he preached absolutely was. It exposed the lies and unrighteousness of the powerful. It demanded that disciples swear absolute allegiance to Christ, not Caesar.

The gospel still makes those demands of us.

Which is why we need Revelation–so that we can see beyond what appears to be real to what is true and eternal. John seemed like a weak, old prisoner, condemned to die in obscurity. But he was not powerless or defeated, and he knew it. He knew he had nothing to fear from the most powerful political regime in the world. He knew he was free, despite his chains. He knew that the one who fought for him was greater than the one who fought against him.

He knew how the story ends. He saw the glory of the living Lord. And then he wrote a poem so we could see it too.

I hope you will join us for worship this Sunday as we hear, rejoice and take courage from John’s glorious vision.

Peace,
Pastor Kate

Want to chat about what you have heard? Click here:
https://www.thegrovecharlotte.org/connect-with-us

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS