Fabric Podcast

March 9: “To really live, I’ve got to really die.” (What Jesus said, and you wish he hadn't)

That is a stark, harsh saying. I wish we could skirt around it somehow, but if we want to know what Jesus said, well, he said it. Six times in Matthew’s gospel Jesus says he is going to suffer and be killed. No one seems to take him too seriously. We’d all rather there was another way. There wasn’t. So what is this suffering and dying all about? Does this only apply to Jesus, or us too? Where do life and peace and all that good stuff come in? This is a something to listen deeply to.

March 2: "Don't worry. Be happy."

No, Jesus and Bobby McFerrin aren’t one in the same but both of them knew all the time spent in worry was time wasted. Why was Jesus so concerned with worry? What does it do to our lives? Evidently this was important enough for Jesus to focus on and to show us another way to live. So, what does worry do to your life? What makes you worry? How do you not worry? Let’s look at what Jesus said, what he did, and where he wants to lead us.

February 23: "So what do YOU think?" (What Jesus Said and you wish he hadn't)

 One of the things most people don’t like about Jesus is that he didn’t just say what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. There were people in Jesus’ day who needed to decide whether they were going to open up to what God was doing, or just keep running the show themselves, and Jesus let them have it. 2000 years hasn’t changed that much. Let’s listen to a couple tough things Jesus said and try them on for size. If the shoe fits, well… wanna wear it?

February 9: "Hey you. Yeah, you. You’re in!" (What Jesus Said, and you wish he hadn't)

Remember being 9 years old, lined up with all the other kids on the baseline while the two captains alternated picking who they wanted on their team. Hope ebbed as the line thinned and you were still standing there. What Jesus said painted a very different picture of life. It’s nice to be chosen, but Jesus doesn’t only want you to know he chose you, he wants you to be same kind of chooser. Let’s dig into what God’s world of “Everyone’s In!” is all about.

February 2: Reprise

God has teamed up with you to give you a 3D view of the world. So you get inspired, you grow and you live it. Phew, done! Well, not quite. This isn’t a 3-step project, this is life’s on-going process. Like lungs or hearts that don’t quit pumping, being 3D is what we do. As a community growing closer to God together, this is a good time to hear each other’s’ stories of taking on the 3D life. A little encouragement, some perspective, and a few fresh ideas are always helpful.

January 26: Life in 3D - Living

 God invites you to put on those 3D glasses and be inspired by seeing things your way plus God’s way. God is betting that inspiration will make you grow into a different person. But it doesn’t end there. God is interested in your growth because God has big plans for the rest of the world. And guess what… you’re it! 3D isn’t just a realization or an identity; God wants you to touch the lives of others and all of creation in a deep and full and real way. 3D living.

January 19: Life in 3D - Growing

God doesn’t inspire you so that you’ve got a new, cool idea. God inspires you to change you; to make you 3D. That means growing! Growing is good, but just like those growing pains you had in your body as a kid, growing in your being stretches you in ways that hurt. Growing makes you bigger, deeper, fuller – 3D. If it hurts a bit, or quite a bit, to be that way... but it’s worth it. We'll take an honest and real look at what this growing stuff is all about.

January 12: Life In 3D - Inspired!

 The main difference between 2D and 3D is that one is flat and the other is filled up. Your life needs to be more than full of stuff like money, fun, excitement, power and fame, it needs to be fulfilled. That’s what God does. God breathes life into us to make us matter, to give us significance, to make us part of something bigger than ourselves. Join us January 12 as we look at how that happens and what a God-filled, God-inspired life looks like.