Courageous Enough to Stand, Compassionate Enough to Reach by Pastor Joseph Cortes Jesus made religious people uncomfortable because He refused to stay inside the boundaries they had created. The Pharisees had built an entire religious culture around separation. They knew who was respectable and who was not. They knew who belonged in their circles and who did not. Then Jesus arrived, and He began eating with people they would never invite to dinner. Luke tells us that the Pharisees complained to His disciples, saying, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” Jesus answered them plainly, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:30–32). That is our Jesus. He was holy without being isolated. He was righteous without being self-righteous. He could sit at a table surrounded by sinners without compromising one ounce of truth. Somehow those people wanted to be around Him. There was something about Jesus that made broken people understand that there was still hope for them. We desperately need that today. Too many Christians have built comfortable religious bubbles around themselves. Their friends are Christians. Their activities are Christian. Their social life is Christian. Their entire world becomes so insulated that they rarely have a meaningful relationship with the very people Christ commanded us to reach. Then we wonder why the Gospel is not going out. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). He did not say to remain where everything feels comfortable. There comes a time when believers must leave the safety of their Christian environment and walk into places where lost people actually live. Jesus did. Yet His willingness to reach sinners never meant that He compromised truth. That balance matters. Jesus could sit with tax collectors and sinners, but He could also stand toe-to-toe with powerful religious leaders and tell them they were wrong. He was fearless when truth was at stake.

Yeah, yeah. Bunch'a fool-hardy nonsensical moronic crappola!

Grab your coffee, disciples. The first episode from the new BIGADDISON TV PRODUCTIONS studio is ready, and you get the first look right here in The Disciple Machine. Watch the full episode in our Classroom at the link below. When you’re done, come back here and tell me what you think. https://www.skool.com/join-the-last-days-disciples-3141/classroom/09932cd5?md=e8ca82999fe14d32bca3244cc81a31b7 —BigAddison

Faith Repair Shop: Read Scripture because you can and keep the fire burning! Fellow-shipping is crucial, for it is where the Lord IS as long as two or more are gathered, social media included. The important thing is that God and Scripture are being discussed, albeit at a distance, yet still connected thanks to technology, which our Father provided. This is an actual blessing. God knows what He’s doing. Fellow-shipping in Scripture requires at least two parties to be involved and a dialogue is necessary, obviously. A frame of reference is also a requirement, which is the foundation that the discussion will be based upon. The constant is that you and I were together and a dialogue took place. That part's not disputable. The content of said dialogue might be, but the Holy Spirit will guide accordingly. And sometimes we must agree to disagree on certain topics. That’s perfectly ok unless it's something overly-outlandish or blatantly wrong. A solitary burning log on a campfire tends to begin to lose its glow and burn out once its core heat begins to dissipate. We can get that way too. It's important for us to keep that heart fire burning. Discussing His Word often, with "fervent desire" and staying close to the core & source of the fire where the heat is should be our goal. And never forget these same words of Scripture bring life to some and death to others. God day to ya and I hope you all have a superb upcoming weekend!