We often forget that the Christmas story involved a genocide that made Jesus' parents displaced refugees in a foreign country. But this part of the story mattered to Matthew's audience, who had just gone through their own crimes against humanity in the sacking of Jerusalem. And it matters to anyone living in difficult and chaotic circumstances, wondering if God is still watching, and if he still cares.

Christmas and the Mess: In this Advent teaching series, we unpack the question: "When God moves powerfully, what does it actually feel like for the people involved?" The answer may surprise and unsettle us: It's a lot messier that we'd like.

The Living Water Network is a ⁠⁠decentralized network of relationships⁠⁠ unified by a love for Jesus and his Kingdom, an affirmation of ⁠⁠microchurch⁠⁠, and a desire to reach the hard places in the world characterized by violent conflict, persecution, crushing poverty, and compromised rule of law. This podcast is a place for collected teachings that are useful to those within the network.

On the second Sunday of Advent, we explore the relational tension and pain that can be created when God moves in and through us. This pain is sometimes not just in spite of God's good work in our lives, but directly because of it. Matthew's narrative of Mary and Joseph's marriage is an honest portrayal of what it feels like when God does something new in our lives. And it gives hope to those of us who are suffering relationally.

Christmas and the Mess: In this Advent teaching series, we unpack the question: "When God moves powerfully, what does it actually feel like for the people involved?" The answer may surprise and unsettle us: It's a lot messier that we'd like.

The Living Water Network is a ⁠decentralized network of relationships⁠ unified by a love for Jesus and his Kingdom, an affirmation of ⁠microchurch⁠, and a desire to reach the hard places in the world characterized by violent conflict, persecution, crushing poverty, and compromised rule of law. This podcast is a place for collected teachings that are useful to those within the network.

On the first Sunday of Advent, we examine the confusion of Matthew's audience: Jewish followers of Jesus who still didn't fully understand why Jesus left without dealing with the Romans, or why God was choosing Gentiles. Matthew's genealogy is a powerful message to Jewish believers: God may be powerfully, surprisingly at work, even when it doesn't match our expectations. Matthews exhortation to look closer within the mess surrounding us is an encouraging pastoral word to those of us experiencing brokenness, grief, chaos, and disappointment.

Christmas and the Mess: In this Advent teaching series, we unpack the question: "When God moves powerfully, what does it actually feel like for the people involved?" The answer may surprise and unsettle us: It's a lot messier that we'd like.

The Living Water Network is a decentralized network of relationships unified by a love for Jesus and his Kingdom, an affirmation of microchurch, and a desire to reach the hard places in the world characterized by violent conflict, persecution, crushing poverty, and compromised rule of law. This podcast is a place for collected teachings that are useful to those within the network.