The Rules of Engagement - Confrontation & Troublemaking: Gospel Perspectives, part 1 (online)

The cultures in which Jesus and the gospel writers lived had a set of values that drove society; they were a “given” that no one questioned.  Jesus declared that God has a different set of values, which change the rules of engagement completely.  What are the “givens” in our culture and are they the ones we want to guide our engagement?

Confrontation and Troublemaking: Gospel Perspectives – a four-part series

Disagreements are inevitable; how we handle them is where we have options.  Injustices demand that we speak up, but how?  Our polarized society pushes us toward fighting, demonizing one another and cancelling people.  Emotionally, we may find ourselves both grieving and furious.  How can we heal and move in a life-giving direction?

The gospels lay out just such an option.  After all, Jesus was born into conflict – in a country ruled by another – and got into trouble with almost everyone.  His actions and teachings state clearly how to confront evil and bring peace.  Yet, the message is complex and living it is challenging.

This series will examine key stories, teachings and themes of Jesus, as well as the messages the gospel writers intended for their historical audiences.  We will have time for reflection and rich conversations, exploring how these stories can guide us through confrontation and troublemaking today.

Each session stands independent of the others, so feel free to join in as many as you can.  Register here for the full series all at once and at a discounted rate.

• Session 2: Someone I Love Is Saying Outrageous Things, June 14
• Session 3: Cancel Culture, Compromise and Grit, June 21
• Session 4: It’s Not All Up to Us, June 28