Love

Like the famous words announced on the intercom of the London Tube, the church’s call is to “mind the gap” between God’s Kingdom and human culture, creating loving dialogue that help people experience the beauty of Jesus Christ and his good news.

Just like a mustard seed itself, Jesus’ small parable of the mustard seed discloses a large truth: The Kingdom of God is already here, and new patterns of growth have already begun.

One of Jesus’ most well-known stories tells the tale of a man who was attacked by robbers and left for dead on the side of a road. The surprising twist in the story is who comes to help him, and this raises important questions for us today about how we live our lives.

This is one of the most famous and beloved story Jesus ever told. Though it’s commonly known as the parable of the prodigal son, the story actually features two sons. They represent two different ways of avoiding God. And it turns out there’s more than one prodigal. The father in the story helps us to imagine just how outrageously extravagant God’s love for us is.

There are many ways to feel lonely—sometimes by ourselves and sometimes with others. The story of scripture honors both the dignity of solitude and the powerful purpose found in community.

In his novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck wrote about the grizzly story of Cain and Abel that it is important because it is a chart of the human soul. It It helps us make sense of our inner world and gives us clues to help us grow into more healthy versions of ourselves.