Posted on February 27, 2022 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
All Access: Invited
By Sarah Hahs
I don’t know about you and your childhood, but growing up I was awkward. And what made it worse was I have bright red hair, which means that it was impossible to sink into the background. I was awkward, and noticeable, and as I have grown, I haven’t shed that feeling of being on the outside looking in. I wasn’t going to be recruited for the cool kids club. As I have aged, I have come to realize that most everyone has felt this way in one way or another. As an outsider.
I loved the passage we talked about today. It’s in Luke 14 and it is Jesus being asked who gets into heaven, or in the passage “the great banquet.” And he tells the story of the master offering an invitation to a great banquet and several people making excuses for why they can’t be there. The master sends his servant to grab whoever he could find to come to the banquet, the outsiders. I always love the stories in the bible that show us who Jesus chooses to elevate. It’s always who isn’t expected, who isn’t seen as worthy, or who is the furthest out. It’s one of the things I have always loved about Heartland. We care deeply about the furthest out and how we can communicate to them exactly what this story in Luke is telling us, that the invitation Jesus is offering is for them, for us.
And yet, I find myself making excuses all the time to not spend time with Jesus. I fill my calendar with appointments. I choose scrolling through my phone instead of scrolling through my bible. I fill my silence with noise. I talk myself out of quality time in relationship with Jesus by convincing myself I’m not worthy, and yet spend my day hustling to prove my worth to others. Exhausting myself to improve my position.
In the passage today, what is being offered again and again is an invitation, not a condemnation. It’s an invitation of grace. Jesus is not concerned with my position, he is concerned with my posture. Am I willing? Jesus has already determined I am worthy. I’m not required to hustle for my worth. What I am being asked is not to prove I’m worthy, but to show I am willing. Willing to make space in my calendar, make choices to spend time in his word, and spend time in silence to allow him to show up where he will remind me again and again, that I am invited.
You are, too. More than you will ever know. You are worthy. Are you willing?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Read the verses that we explored in the Sunday message. Are you willing to accept the invitation of Jesus? Sometimes, that invite comes in each moment, each interaction, each day, week or month. It isn’t a one time invitation…although that first invite you accept is critical. Jesus’s invitation is given to us every moment of every day, as we have opportunity to invite others. Encourage others. Be there for others. How can we be ready and willing in every moment we are invited to?
{bible reading plan: book of hebrews}
For the next few months, we invite you to engage the Bible differently along with us. Each week we will be reading a book from Hebrews 4 times, in 4 ways, as directed below. Instead of daily verses, you are free to engage in the practice outlined below as a "choose your adventure". You might do this all in one sitting, or choose to do an exercise a day. We’d love to hear your feedback, just drop an email to Lisa Zulke.
For an overview of Hebrews, watch this 8 minute video from our friends at The Bible Project.
Read the passage slowly, sitting with it and allowing it to frame and fill your mind. Listen for a single word or phrase that catches your attention. Something you want to ponder further or hold on to.
What word or phrase caught your attention?
"I heard _____________________________________________"
The second time you read the passage, reflect on what you have heard. Use your imagination to put yourself in the story, in the context of this letter to the Hebrew people. What do you THINK or NOTICE? What do you SEE? What do you FEEL? What do you LEARN about Jesus? What QUESTIONS are you pondering about Jesus in this reading? Engaging our senses invites curiosity about what we have read.
"I saw, I felt, I noticed _____________________________________"
The third time you read the passage, listen specifically for a personal invitation. What am I being invited to consider? What am I being invited to do or try? Sit quietly and listen. Pray, asking God for insight into what he wants to share with you.
"I believe Jesus is inviting me to ___________________________"
After the fourth reading, respond to Hebrews 5. Read it again, and noodle on what you’ve experienced and taken note of so far. What are you sensing or hearing from Jesus or about Jesus? Pray, inviting Jesus to nudge you in a decision: what am I going to do with what I’ve heard? How will I act on it? How might I integrate it into my daily life?
"I will __________________________________________________"
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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