Ephesians 2:7-10

Forgiveness is not only commanded by God, but is crucial for us in order for us to find healing from life's inevitable betrayals. It doesn't mean forgetting, but includes dealing head-on with wrongs, whether real or perceived. We cannot accomplish this in our own strength, but we can find the courage to forgive through God's strength in our lives.

The first installment in the Trust and Betrayal series, this message focuses on the need to acknowledge but that we have been betrayed and that we have the capacity to betray others, in order to enable us to move towards healing and developing a healthy balance between trust and testing. As we become able to trust others, we are able to trust God as well.

Mark's blunt ending of his Gospel and his telling of the resurrection story leave us to face the reality of resurrection and the sweeping changes it brings. We are often resigned to live with death, to dwell among the tombs. Jesus has gone on ahead of us, and challenges us to lay down our excuses, our crutches, and all the trappings of death, and to boldly embrace the radical, revolutionary realities made possible by Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Text is Mark 16:1-8.