Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 7/8

The household code. This is the kind of stuff that makes people say, “I hate Paul.” Is it redeemable? Does it matter? Can we find there the evidence of a trajectory toward liberation, equality, justice? Does it matter?

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Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 6/8

Bottle episode: Philemon, Onesimus, Paul. Two names appear in the epistles of both Colossians and Philemon: Epaphras and Onesimus. They are the carriers of both correspondences on the author’s behalf. What do we learn from Philemon about the trajectory of biblical theology concerning the rigorous hierarchy of enslavement?

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Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 5/8

Comportment for Community. In the typical movement for epistles, the author moves from theological explication to ethical exhortation by means of a single “therefore” (v. 1). What does the Christ-subsumed life look like on the ground? Egalitarian…mutual…forgiving…in the name of love, practiced in worship…

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Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 4/8

This is you. Our author may not have met the Colossian Christians, but the only identity he’s interested in is their baptized identity. This is in contrast to troublemakers who want to assess additional requirements for the super-religious; there is no “leveling up” from a simple, wholehearted commitment to “walk in Jesus” (v. 6).

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Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 3/8

This is me. Our author has not met the church to which he writes, so he introduces himself. He is primarily a servant (slave) of God, and a steward of the divine mystery of God’s inclusion of the Gentiles, making the gospel universal (for “every human being”, v. 28) rather than a localized expression of Judaism.

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Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 2/8

In whom all the Fullness was pleased to dwell. Riffing on an ancient Christological hymn, humble Jesus of Nazareth is acclaimed as the cosmic Reconciler/Peacemaker, and his ignominious death converts to a glorious reversal of the world’s deep brokenness.

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Epaphras. Onesimus. Nympha. Paul. 1/8

Thanks be to God for you! Selections from Colossians come up in the RCL for this season. Why not double-dog dare ourselves to read every word of this (perhaps) Pauline epistle? The letter begins by placing all of us in the context of God, the Source of all knowledge and wisdom – everything we need to know for the saintly life we’re called to live. “This is Who God is.”

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The Shape of Shalom: Pulling God’s Future into the Now 6/6

Chronic anxiety vs. an economy of abundance. Capitalism depends on our anxiety. Our fear of not having enough is fuel for Pharaoh’s economy. The narratives we ingest reinforce our perceived deprivation. How can we replace the story of “if I only had a little bit more…” with a trustworthy story of God’s sufficient gifts?

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

The Shape of Shalom: Pulling God’s Future into the Now 5/6

Violence reinforcing exceptionalism vs. the normalization of equity. Violence (whether militaristic, personal, relational, economic, verbal, etc.) is the tool that equips our impulse to take what we want at the expense of others. God’s dream is the cessation of violence – “no one shall make them afraid” – because everyone has what they need, no more, no less.

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

The Shape of Shalom: Pulling God’s Future into the Now 4/6

Exploitation/extraction vs. earth care. The good creation is responsive not only to God’s ideals, conforming to God’s vision for the cosmos and humanity that inhabits it) but also to humanity’s less-than-good treatment of the creation. How does it change our ethics to count God’s good earth as one of the “beings” in our consideration of what’s just and merciful?

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

The Shape of Shalom: Pulling God’s Future into the Now 3/6

Power that fragments, exploits, excludes vs. power for the sake of community. God is the Original Seeker of spiritual refugees – going out to find those who have been scattered, ravaged and butted by other sheep. So the church empowered by God’s missional priorities becomes the “rich pasture” and “good grazing” for found sheep. How does that become true in our life together?

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

The Shape of Shalom: Pulling God’s Future into the Now 2/6

Many places at once. Erma Sinclair examines what she calls God’s Divine Multiplicity—God’s ability to occupy more than one space at the same time—by looking to the Hebrew prophets and finding where God is both someone who wants to be worshipped and a God that is committed to walking with God’s people. What questions arise when we place this in the context of Juneteenth and America’s ongoing legacy of enslavement and white supremacist colonialism? And where do we see God walking with God’s people in our country’s past and present?

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The Shape of Shalom: Pulling God’s Future into the Now 1/6

False peace vs. true shalom: an introduction. The dominant narrative denies real suffering, whistling in the dark (“Peace, peace!” where there is no peace). The counter-narrative imagines peace that follows justice and righteousness, resulting in “quietness and trust forever,” “abiding,” “security,” “resting”… We are here relieved of the pressure of “What should we do?” and invited to divert our imaginations toward “What could the world be like?” (David Byrne, “Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens…”)

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

Breathing Together: the Co-Conspiracy 7/7

Happy birthday, church!  Pentecost is a movable feast, and so is Galileo Church’s birthday. This year we’re 9 years old, and thinking about what we’ve accomplished with God’s help, and what comes next with God’s help.

Longtime Co-Conspirator and MLT member Missy Holtman is moving away from Fort Worth, and she shared some thoughts during communion on how she came to Galileo and what Galileo means to her.

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

Breathing Together: the Co-Conspiracy 6/7

Presence, the best you can, at gatherings of the church. Martha of Bethany wants what a lot of us want: to be useful, busy, appreciated. But Jesus favors, at least in this instance, Mary’s quiet presence. It’s a difficult shift for many in our church, who are used to church making people busier – and it’s hard, too, because we are a DIY church with lots of needs for people’s time and energy. How do we curate gatherings where more people can simply be?

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

Breathing Together: the Co-Conspiracy 5/7

Gracious receipt of care from the church family. The lawyer who asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” wanted to imagine himself in the care-giving role. But when Jesus casts his play, the VRP’s character is unconscious and bleeding by the side of the road. What would such a reversal require of us – seeing ourselves as (sometimes) care receivers, rather than (always) caregivers?

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

Breathing Together: the Co-Conspiracy 4/7

Extension of the church’s welcome to friends, neighbors, strangers, and enemies. The way Jesus tells it, this reign-of-God enterprise has always been invitational. You don’t stay in one place and hope that people find you; you go where the people are, and see what happens. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t – but when you’ve got news this good, you can’t keep it inside. With communion thoughts from Dr. Lance Pape.

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Breathing Together: the Co-Conspiracy 3/7

Participation in the church’s discernment for our next steps together. At Jesus’s transfiguration, his closest friends are invited to think about what comes next. They take a swing and a miss (thanks, Peter), and God reminds them to shut up and listen for a while. This listening task is passed along to us – what do we hear from the Spirit when we hush, and how will it help us know what’s next?

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

Breathing Together: the Co-Conspiracy 2/7

Featuring guest preacher Savannah Williams-Brooks!

Cultivation of spiritual gifts for the life of our church and community. Jesus invests his apostles with so much power – look at all they can do in his name, on his behalf! But upon their return, they are once again dubious that they have anything to offer. They can’t even make lunch for a larger-than-expected crowd. But one of Jesus’s specialties is making a lot out of a little, including our own little gifts, multiplied and magnified by his power.

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.

Breathing Together: The Co-Conspiracy 1/7

Sharing material resources to further the church’s goals. The generosity of several women funded Jesus’s ministry then. Consider that they had little power otherwise – but money is power, and in their release of it for his use, they effected more of what they wanted to see in the world. Similarly for us – most of us have little power otherwise, but the designation of our resources for the church’s missional priorities is a way to express and manifest our intentions to get God more of what God wants.

To tell us your thoughts on this sermon, click through to the web posting and leave us a comment. Or, find us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Or, email us the old-fashioned way: info@galileochurch.org. To contribute financially to the ongoing ministry of Galileo Church, find us on Venmo, Patreon, or PayPal, or just send a check to 6563 Teague Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140.