Mud and Spit
This week, we dive into the messy, unglamorous reality of how grace actually works.. Looking at the story of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9, we explore why Jesus chose to use mud and saliva rather than a tidy, “dignified” miracle..
If you’ve been feeling like the world is a bit too messy lately—or if you’re tired of trying to find someone to blame for the “un-normal” state of things—this sermon is for you..
Inside This Episode
* The Problem with Blame: Why our first instinct in a crisis is to find someone to at fault, and why that rarely brings the relief we crave..
* The Miracle in the Mud: Exploring the idea that the “gross” parts of the story are actually the point: Grace isn’t a voice from above the mess; it’s God getting God’s hands dirty..
* Religion vs. Relationship: How the Pharisees missed a literal miracle because it didn’t fit their theological categories or “proper” rules..
* Finding the Sacred in the Ordinary: Learning to see God’s activity in the unspiritual, unglamorous materials of our actual lives..
* The God Who Finds Us: A look at the beautiful ending of John 9, where Jesus goes looking for the man after he has been cast out by his community..
Key Quote
“Grace doesn’t wait for us to arrive somewhere cleaner or more ‘together.’ God is already here. Already working. Already in the dirt.”.
This Week’s Practice
Pay attention to the mud.. Once a day, notice a moment that feels too ordinary, messy, or “unspiritual” to matter—like doing the dishes or a hard conversation—and stay in it a little longer.. Ask yourself: What if this is exactly where God is doing something?.
Connect with Messiah Lutheran Church:
* Location: Fort Wayne, IN
* www.messiahlc.com
