My husband has been delivering sermons for about twenty years. A couple Sundays ago he preached likely the best sermon he has ever preached. (Yes, I am biased, but I have also heard almost every single one of his sermons, so if I say it is amazing, that means something.) :)

It is incredibly difficult for me to stay informed with current events without feeling frustrated and overwhelmed and to let pessimism sneak in. (However, I press on, trying to read as much daily news—and I mean actual “news,” not simply my favorite podcaster or only one source of anything, always—as I can handle, because I do believe it is our responsibility to be informed citizens.

This message reminds me who Jesus was, who Jesus is, and who Jesus encourages me to be. The message starts around minute 49:00, and the scripture he references is read just before (around 43:00 minutes); the scripture is Jeremiah 1:1-10 & 7:1-11 and John 2:13-22.

As/after you listen, please think about and share:

What lands personally for me when exploring these ancient texts?
What connections can be made between these stories in history and what is happening in our world today?
What would I like to know more about?
What questions do I have?

Be self reflective. Take some time to pray and wonder about how you are and want to be showing up in this world. Be curious.

And for God’s sake, be kind.