Is it About Authourity?

Jewish rabbis have a long history of debate. They were really good at it. They will often counter questions with another question to draw their opponents out before establishing their own position on an issue. In this week's Gospel reading (Matthew 21:23-32) Jesus uses this technique as he in drawn into a debate about where his authourity comes from. He really turns the question around and leaves the chief priests and elders scrambling to cover themselves.

The whole interaction reveals the type of God followers these folks really are and the way they look at other people. Through this interaction, Jesus shows us again how the kingdom of heaven is surprising and unexpected. He says something about how we act as members of the kingdom.

Come out this Sunday as we unpack this debate and the short parable that is part of it.

Forgiving

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How often to I need to forgive that person who keeps messing with my life? There must be a line, a limit, to my patience. There must be a point where I can walk away, turn my back, and refuse to forgive, refuse to try to maintain a relationship.

Peter thought there should be, and quite extravagantly suggests that forgiving someone seven times should be enough. Jesus, in typical Jesus fashion, is much more extravagant, much more generous and uses a story about a king and a couple of servants to illustrate his point.

Join us for worship this week. We continue to meet at the Presbyterian Church in Lucknow at 9:30 as our church is repaired following a fire in the sanctuary.