America is divided today. Is that a fair statement [or understatement]? Increasingly, our churches are also becoming split up into tribes. More than half of American Evangelicals would prefer attending churches of politically like-minded people. Consider the implications of that posture—it certainly is not all bad, but may not be that good either. Do not worry… the sermon will definitely not be about politics. I am not qualified for that. I am qualified to guide us into Acts 10 and let it point us to see the trajectory of a major theme for the writer Luke: a continual, if not uneven, movement of concentric circles expanding out from Jerusalem, embracing more people, in more diverse places, with the good news that Jesus is Lord, and that salvation and forgiveness of sins are available through him. My hope and prayer is that our beautiful River Church will be caught up in this ongoing Jesus-story, finding our ultimate allegiance and identity in him, for the good of the world.
