A woman flew into a rage when the driver in front of her braked at a yellow light: she honked, waved her arms and finally rolled down the window and told him exactly what she thought. She had not noticed the police car right behind her. The officer took a long time checking her documents, then explained that he had been studying the stickers on her car, “God loves you and so do I” and “follow Jesus”, and had begun to suspect that the car was stolen. That story opens a sermon about giving, prayer and fasting done for show (Matthew 6). The most dangerous illusion is the one we start to believe ourselves. Listen if you want to check whose eyes you are doing all of it for.
The Illusion of the Good Life
Missio Dei
What’s important in this series is its reference to the broader picture of the Missio Dei—that is, God’s plan for the redemption of ALL creation. The point is to show that everything we do—our commitment, our self-sacrifice, our prayer, our fasting, or our acts of service—is all part of a larger story, and we want to do these things because we are part of the Missio Dei, or God’s mission.
View the whole series
10 sermons
