I was thinking of a God who left divine utopia and came into a cesspool of brutal human misery. Why? Because of people. People matter. You matter. God’s reason for coming in the flesh, or better yet for sending His beloved Son in the flesh, is us. It’s me. It’s you.

God designed us to be transformed primarily inside a community. There is no such thing as a personal relationship with God. Although you are a person and can relate with God without anyone around, you are not designed to grow by yourself. God inspired every word of the New Testament to point to a community of Christ followers whom He was intending

“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one” (NLT). Notice that Jesus didn’t pray that they would grow churches or make converts, start nonprofits, or stop sinning. He didn’t pray that they would do a ton of miracles, get people’s attention, go on speaking tours, start Bible studies, or lead successful evangelism efforts. He prayed

If He remains a historical figure who came to pay for our sins, then we may put a cross around our neck, we may go to church on occasion to thank Him for what He did for us, but we may not look much different from the guy or gal next door. But if you become convinced that Jesus had other reasons for coming to earth—namely to teach humans how to be

“Jesus teaches you to live your life as He would live your life.”

Consider these words about our calling: You are called to pray at all times (1 Thess. 5:17), work with your hands, and live a simple life (4:11). If you will not work, you shall not eat (2 Thess. 3:10). You are all called as priests unto our God (1 Pet. 2:9). You all have been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–19). For those who are

Depending on the translation, at the very most, “leader” is used only six times in the New Testament, while the word “servant” can be found over two hundred times. We should be asking why those of us who have a calling to serve the church obsess so much more over leadership than servantship. Jesus said, “I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke

Our flesh is the most vulnerable part of our bodies and oftentimes the reason we get judged, abused, enslaved, or stereotyped. Flesh matters!

The incarnational way of life is not about conversion. It’s about adoption. The book of Ephesians strongly implies that Jesus followers are always to be viewed in the context of the family. We are a part of His body, members of God’s household, bride and groom. This understanding is so important because if you miss it, you’ll head out your door in