When we feel spiritually disoriented, God often invites us to revisit the original altars—the sacred places where we first heard His voice and received His direction. This “theology of place” helps us remember the undeniable call that gave our lives purpose, grounding us when culture, comfort, or suffering try to pull us off course. Yet faith doesn’t only look back—it also builds forward, creating new altars in uncharted territory as acts of trust, inviting God to meet us again. Both remembering where we began and stepping boldly into new places with God are essential to living out the calling He’s placed on our lives. —— Genesis 13: 1-4, 14-18 Abram and Lot Separate 13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. 3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord. 14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[a] forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” 18 So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.

In every culture, we’re drawn to do good. Yet Jesus reminds us that our works lose their meaning when they become monuments to our own name rather than a response to God’s grace. The Pharisee in the parable shows how self-trust and comparison can distort even good practices, while the tax collector reveals the hope found in depending entirely on God’s mercy. We often forget that grace is what begins every good work in us—and when righteousness becomes our personal ambition, it quietly separates us from both God and others. The way forward is through daily confession and a humble return to God, trusting His righteousness—not ours—as the true source of any lasting good. --- Scripture: Luke 18:9–14 (NRSV) The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’    

This Sunday, we’ll explore the parable of the shrewd manager. In the parable, a manager uses all the resources available to him before losing his job to secure a comfortable future—employing clever, though questionable, methods along the way. Jesus urges us to be shrewd managers as well, because like the manager in the parable, we all have “mammon”—the resources we depend on apart from God, such as money, work, or status. If we use our mammon only for ourselves, we may gain worldly rewards but miss out on heavenly treasure. Instead, Jesus calls us to use our shrewdness in service to God’s kingdom. Then, like the manager, we’ll be preparing for our future—but unlike him, the wealth we build will last forever.

Scripture: Luke 17:11-17  11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

One of the central tensions of the Christian life is reconciling unmerited salvation and earning our repentance. How can grace be completely free—given despite our sin—while we are also called to actively love others as Christ has loved us? Through the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector, Scripture reveals how these two truths coexist: we receive salvation as a free gift, yet we also embrace the cost of repentance for the sake of love. The good news of the Gospel is that salvation and love are utterly free. This marks the beginning of our redemptive love story with the Father and compels us to pay it forward by loving others in return. ------ Scripture: Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Life, people, and even our own actions often don’t go according to our expectations. When that happens, the result is often disappointment, resentment, or shame. In those moments, God calls us to forgive—not only others who have hurt us, but also ourselves when we fall short of who we hoped to be. Forgiveness is difficult and often counterintuitive because it requires surrendering all judgment to God—even our judgment of ourselves. But in doing so, we open ourselves to God's grace. And through His power, rather than our own strength, we become able to forgive others—freely and often. Most importantly, forgiveness is not just a command Jesus gave to His disciples; it is foundational to the Christian life. It is both an extension and an acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. ----- Scripture: Luke 17: 1-10   Jesus[a] said to his disciples, ‘Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard! If another disciple[b] sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, “I repent”, you must forgive.’ 5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ 6 The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a[c] mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you. 7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 8 Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’

Matt 6: 25-34  Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches that we cannot serve both God and "mammon." While "mammon" is often translated as "money," it more broadly refers to anything we rely on in place of God; we cannot serve both God and anything else at the same time. Importantly, this is not a call to live an austere life devoid of possessions, but rather a call to prioritize God and steward our possessions wisely. Each of us must identify what our personal "mammon" might be—whether it's money, power, comfort, or something else—and ensure we are using it to serve God, not the other way around. By doing so, we may give up some measure of worldly wealth, but we gain something far greater: spiritual wealth that surpass anything the world can offer.   Scripture: Luke 16:10-13 NIV 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”   Luke 16:10-13 AMP 10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].”

Many of us experience moments when our efforts feel futile—when, despite our best intentions, we seem to get nowhere. It’s no wonder we sometimes throw up our hands, questioning the point of it all and wondering why we’re here in the first place. We may even find ourselves asking why the Creator of the universe would go to such great lengths for our existence and salvation. But believe it or not, each of us is made for a good work. The good news of the gospel is this: every one of us is called by the Father to a purpose—crafted intentionally, designed uniquely—so that others might see the beauty of His handiwork in you.

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[a] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[b] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Many of us want to follow Jesus—but selectively, and at a discount. In this week’s message, guest speaker and international missionary leader Andrew Feng challenges us to embrace all of Jesus’s teachings, including the Great Commission, which many Christians tend to neglect. Following this call may not be easy and often requires personal sacrifice. Yet, as Jesus reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount, God equips us with everything we need. We are the light of the world, and we are called to let that light shine before others. By answering this call, we not only serve others but also deepen our own spiritual journey as we grow closer to Jesus. Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We live in a culture that urges us to build our own brand—to perform and project an image that wins recognition. Yet this constant performance leaves us exhausted and empty. Modern branding taps into our longing for connection and meaning, but what it offers is shallow compared to the grace of God, who knew and loved us before we ever achieved anything. In Jeremiah, we see that God calls and equips imperfect people—not because of merit, but because His purposes are already accomplished through Jesus. As Christ's ambassadors, we are invited to lay down the pursuit of being "enough" and instead embody His love, resting in the truth that through Him, we already are. -------------- Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 NRSVUE Jeremiah’s Call and Commission 4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’for you shall go to all to whom I send you,and you shall speak whatever I command you.8 Do not be afraid of them,for I am with you to deliver you,            says the Lord.” 9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth.10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,to pluck up and to pull down,to destroy and to overthrow,to build and to plant.”

In Scripture, our faith journeys are often likened to a race—a test of endurance and resilience in our pursuit of Christlikeness, the ultimate prize. But in moments when we fall short and feel tempted to give in to discouragement, how can we continue to persevere in faith? It's easy to be overwhelmed by our shortcomings and challenges, especially when the goal feels distant. Yet, if we draw strength from the example of those who have gone before us and keep our eyes fixed on Christ—turning to Him in our trials—we can learn to endure alongside the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. God Disciplines His Children 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Scripture: John 4: 4-12, 27-35  4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”   The Disciples Rejoin Jesus27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

It’s easy to trap ourselves in an echo chamber. After all, it feels good to surround ourselves only with voices that affirm what we already believe—regardless of whether those beliefs are true. But we must ask ourselves: do we truly love the truth, or only when it’s convenient? When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, He calls her to confront the truth of her situation. In the same way, He calls us to face the truth—no matter how difficult it may be—because only then will our hearts and minds be ready for Him to truly transform our lives. --- Scripture: John 4: 1-32 Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” The Disciples Rejoin Jesus27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  

Prayer is more than a ritual or a measure of spiritual performance—it is a daily audit of our hearts in light of God's living Word. As Jesus taught in the Lord's Prayer, we are called to reorient our desires, surrender our will, and depend on God for grace, provision, and deliverance. True prayer awakens us—not a reluctant God—to His presence at our door, reshaping our priorities and transforming us into people who seek His kingdom above our own. In this way, prayer becomes less about tracking spiritual “progress” and more about being formed into the likeness of Christ through His presence. Scripture: Luke 11:1-13 NIV Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father,[a]hallowed be your name,your kingdom come.[b]3 Give us each day our daily bread.4 Forgive us our sins,    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]And lead us not into temptation.[d]’” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The mystery of what lies ahead in our lives is a ubiquitous experience we all share. Until these mysteries are revealed, they are often difficult to prepare for. The same is true when it comes to how the Lord unveils His calling for our lives—we often find ourselves waiting, confused, in the dark until His revelation meets us where we are. It is through our trust in His plans, which go beyond our understanding, and through the faith to hold onto His promises, that the Father’s revelation brings light to His commission for our lives, calling us into action for the glory of His Kingdom.   Scripture: Colossians 1: 24-29 Paul’s Labor for the Church 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

In order to achieve great things, we cannot just rely on talent or aspiration alone, but also training and hard work. Nowhere is this more true than in our spiritual journey. We are saved by grace, and that's a good starting point, but rather than waiting for spiritual power to come to us, we need to be serious about our spiritual goals, and actively work towards them. By doing so, we build a center of strength through God, which we can fall back to and rely on regardless of life's difficulties, and without which we will crash in anxiety whenever life goes south. We all wish to flourish spiritually, but we cannot get there accidentally; we need to train in Jesus's likeness, and we will be rewarded in this life and all eternity. Scripture: 1 Timothy 4: 1-10 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.  

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3 A Living Sacrifice12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Humble Service in the Body of Christ3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

2025-06-29 REMOTE SERVICE David Brooks, book author and political and cultural commentator, reflects on how the educated elite—including figures like himself—helped build a meritocratic system that ultimately rigged society in their favor, destroying equality, moral clarity, and institutional trust along the way. The elite privatized morality, replacing shared values with individual feelings of right and wrong, leading to a loss of meaning and community. Yet, there’s hope in rupture and repair: cultural renewal happens when small groups live in a better, more communal way that others feel drawn to follow. This renewal, he suggests, requires a return to our spiritual roots—recovering a sense of sacred moral order, such as the belief that every person is made in the image of God, as a foundation for dignity, justice, and shared purpose.