Some of us may be familiar, others not, with the story from the Hebrew Scriptures of the boy Samuel who would grow up to be the nation of Israel’s final “judge” and usher in the time of the kings.

In 1 Corinthians 1:24 we read these words: “...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” The word for “Wisdom” in Greek is σοφία (Sophia) - a common woman’s name then and now.

Today we’re rewinding the clock and thinking about the Christ before Jesus was born, back all the way to the very beginning of time.

“Jesus Christ” isn’t a full name, as in someone having a first and last name. “Christ” is a title. It means messiah. So as we do some thinking about Jesus, it’s actually important to understand that Jesus was the Christ - but not always.

For many of us, our religious communities or families - knowingly or unknowingly - taught us that God is angry, emotionally distant, and judgmental.

The story of Hannah, which opens the book of 1 Samuel, often resonates deeply with people struggling with the pain of infertility. Hannah wants a child with all her heart, but month after month, year after year - no baby.

Christianity was never meant to be attempted alone. It’s always been a call to community. Even though that community often causes pain and always needs help to grow and mature, it’s still essential.

So, so often in the New Testament, the word ‘you’ is in PLURAL form. So often we’ve read it as the individual ‘you’ and made our faith a very private matter.

Have you ever noticed that when someone is vulnerable with you about their failings that you feel more comfortable being yourself, sharing your doubts or losses or mistakes?

Jesus knew that Peter would rotate out of the close orbit he was in around Jesus, and indeed Peter did.

Listen to the poet and the prophet today. Hear the whispers of “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” and “Blessed are those who mourn…” and Blessed are the meek…” What might the Spirit be saying to you?

Today we’re looking at a passage that has stirred all sorts of ideas (and controversies) over the centuries.

There are lots of things that are good for others but not necessarily good for you. So we don’t need to criticize those good things if they don’t fit us. But we also don’t need to put them on ourselves.

Six times in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, “You have heard it said… but I say to you…” It’s important to note that he’s not saying that the former things were bad.

it’s no wonder that the people were so intrigued by this new way of life that Jesus was offering that they wanted him to usher it in completely.

As we reflect on the different orbits that followers of Jesus fall into, some insight from an unusual source might be helpful.

Today we’re reading a short text that you don’t hear about much in the church.

Today we’re looking at the near orbit. Notice how these women followed Jesus, giving up their families and their normal lives to follow along with him from village to village. Note how they spent their money to support the whole group of disciples.

Martha and her sister Mary and their brother Lazarus were dear friends of Jesus. But they didn’t spend a lot of time with him. Only occasionally did they get to connect. That connection was mostly when Jesus came to their little village of Bethany and stayed with them.

Yesterday we heard what many people said was an unusual message. Instead of pressuring for more regular church attendance, the message was about how God honors peoples’s spiritual journeys even when it leads them away from Sunday attendance.