Topics – Heaven, Judgment, Repentance
Jesus never asked for background checks on people before he ministered to them. His life and death reflect an all inclusive love and grace toward all people. Through Christ, God gives a massive bear hug of love and forgiveness around humanity.
Focus Scripture – Luke 23:39-46HIDESHOW
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. [a]"
43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." [b] When he had said this, he breathed his last.
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. [a]"
43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." [b] When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Extended SummaryHIDESHOW
When Jesus was on the cross, there were two thieves also being crucified. One thief asked Jesus to “remember” him. Jesus responds, “Today you’ll be with me.” Notice what Jesus did not say during this exchange. He did not interrogate the thief to make sure that he had the right theology or ethics. The thief knew he was a sinner in need of grace and believed that he could find hope in this person hanging on the cross next to him and that is all Jesus needed to know.
This was Jesus’ pattern throughout his ministry. He never asked for background checks on people before he ministered to them. Jesus’ life and death reflect this all inclusive love and grace toward all people. Through Christ, God gives a massive bear hug of love and forgiveness around humanity.
If Jesus reveals a God who is so outrageously generous with his love and acceptance, and if churches are called to reflect the character of Jesus, why does Jesus’ attitude toward the thief on the cross seem so rare in Christianity?
Most communities throughout history are defined by their parameter, which defines who’s in and who’s out, thereby creating an “us verses them” mentality. The same is often true in the church.
But if a community is going to be centered on the Jesus who told the thief he’d be with him, no questions asked, it must be a community that’s defined not by the parameter, but by the center, who is Jesus. That is the difference between a bounded community and a centered community.
The Kingdom is to be a community defined by the center, not the parameter. There is no need for security guards to police the parameter. We hold up the center and together help each other move toward it, conformed to image of Christ.
This was Jesus’ pattern throughout his ministry. He never asked for background checks on people before he ministered to them. Jesus’ life and death reflect this all inclusive love and grace toward all people. Through Christ, God gives a massive bear hug of love and forgiveness around humanity.
If Jesus reveals a God who is so outrageously generous with his love and acceptance, and if churches are called to reflect the character of Jesus, why does Jesus’ attitude toward the thief on the cross seem so rare in Christianity?
Most communities throughout history are defined by their parameter, which defines who’s in and who’s out, thereby creating an “us verses them” mentality. The same is often true in the church.
But if a community is going to be centered on the Jesus who told the thief he’d be with him, no questions asked, it must be a community that’s defined not by the parameter, but by the center, who is Jesus. That is the difference between a bounded community and a centered community.
The Kingdom is to be a community defined by the center, not the parameter. There is no need for security guards to police the parameter. We hold up the center and together help each other move toward it, conformed to image of Christ.
Practical Applications (homework)HIDESHOW
Most of the time, conversation about church and “God’s people”involves clear, concrete parameters. Those on the inside believe or act a certain way, or they cross a specific boundary in order to belong. As a result, it can be easy for those on the “inside” to judge those on the “outside.” Jesus demonstrated a different way of including people, shown in his dialogue with the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him. Instead of holding up parameters, Jesus promotes a new center to a new life, which invites people on a journey. With this in mind reflect on the following:
- Reflect on your church experience (or if you are relatively new to church, think about what you assumed about the church in general). What boundaries or parameters existed in the church that created an inside vs. outside experience? This exercise is not looking for a specific answer. Instead, think through your perception of the boundaries and how you saw them. Write down those words around the circle in diagram #1 on the reverse side.
- Reflect on the center of the Centered Community diagram (#2 on the reverse side). How would you describe that center? Write down those words. Imagine what this would look like in your life, even though you are not yet there— none of us are. Now think about the journey toward that center. How is this different from the bounded community experience? How would the church be different if we really lived this way? How would “outsiders” perceive the church?
- When you think about your church experience and the exercise of naming the boundaries in the church, what did you feel? Frustrated? Burdened? Hurt? Exclusion? Judgment? Stop right now and pay attention to what you are feeling. Now imagine that you are picking up that emotion or thought in your hands and laying it at the cross. This might require you to forgive some people from your past. You may have to let go of certain emotions that you have held on to because of your experience. Whatever the case, give your current experience over to Jesus and accept his healing.
Reflection QuestionsHIDESHOW
- What stood out to you most from this message and the supporting texts?
- What has your experience been with bounded communities that focus on the parameters? What were the perceived benefits of this experience? How did the focus on the parameters make the insiders feel? How did it make the outsiders feel?
- Why do you think the church is often so focused on the parameters?
- Close your eyes and imagine what a Centered Community might look like. How would you describe it? How is it different from a bounded community? Is what you see based on previous experiences?
- How would being part of a centered community impact your life? The lives of those around you in the church? The lives of those you know outside the church?