Backpacks, Boulders and Boundaries: Take 2, Part 3: 8/28-29/10

I imagine that Jesus had to set a lot of boundaries.  He probably had to make a lot of decisions about when to help, when to walk away, when to speak.  Imagine walking around knowing you can take away people’s pain, seeing all the deepest, darkest truths of their heart, holding the power to change people’s lives with a touch. 

Jesus went to parties with people who were considered heathens, drunkards and gluttons.  Jesus spent all of his time with twelve guys who wanted to rain down fire on anyone who disagreed with them.  Jesus broke bread with people who betrayed him, questioned him, disappointed him. 

If we want to learn how to carry each other’s burdens, how to manage our own baggage, and how to love well, we should probably spend some time traveling with Jesus.  

We cannot read the Gospels enough.  Over and over again in these stories, Jesus has to deal with the expectations and the brokenness of the people around him.  Go back and read some of his great conversations: John 4.1-26, John 13.1-17, John 3.1-21.

Go back and re-read 2 Thessalonians 3.6-15.  The problem in Thessalonica was that a lot of Christians were sitting around waiting for Jesus to come back and thought they could just give up on life.  We really don’t want to let that be true of us as a community.  We don’t want to be weary of doing right.  Go forward.  Keep moving.

Think about your own meals.  Think about the people with whom you sit around tables.  Think about your family meals, over dinner or holidays.  What burdens are around the table?  Are you carrying them together in a healthy way? 

This series has been about traveling together.  Is there some relationship that you need to cultivate?  Do you need to share a meal with someone?  Is there someone in your life that you could help this week just by “breaking bread” together? Or taking a walk together.  Maybe you need to be the one asking for help from someone this week.

If you struggle particularly with boundary issues, you may want to check out the book Charlie referenced this weekend:  “Boundaries” by Henry McCloud. Along with the original book, there are also spin-offs on parenting, marriage and dating.

And just to get us all ready for the launch of our new series next week, Play!, here’s a little something:

Listen to the weekend message
Read a manuscript of the weekend message