Hope, Love and New Life in a Broken World

1 Corinthians 13:13 - "Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."
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I’m honored to teach what we call the “Chancel Choir Sunday School Class.”  It was designed with the purpose of providing an abbreviated lesson so choir members could attend a complete Sunday school lesson and be able to leave in time to rehearse before traditional worship.
 
We are small in number, but our classes have been so rich with the contributions of those who attend.  At the moment, we are tracing the footsteps of Jesus using Dallas Jenkins’ series The Chosen.  It is the first multi-season series about the life of Jesus, and it portrays Jesus through the eyes of those who knew Him.
 
There are moments in this series where we all fill the room with laughter--yes, I know - it’s awkward to think of laughing about the life of Jesus--and there are those intimate occurrences where all in the room are choking back tears.  There is suspense, abuse, celebration and moments of victory--all of which are common occurrences in our lives here on earth. 
 
An overall theme that continues to permeate the episodes is the frustration that Jesus experiences in His attempt to get the disciples to comprehend that they are preparing for a kingdom that is not of this world.  A kingdom ruled by God, not man. Things are different in this kingdom. Love is unconditional and forgiveness is common. Healing is not just physical but spiritual as well. The unwanted are wanted and there is a table large enough for anyone who so chooses to take a seat. 
 
This Lenten season is a time that we can set aside to prepare our hearts and minds to become kingdom builders. Easter is coming, but we as believers already know how the story ends with Jesus. We’ve seen the final episode. But the world is full of people who are hurting, discouraged, and unwanted. These are the people who need to fill our sanctuary on Easter Sunday. 
 
As kingdom builders, may we find the courage and the time to invite someone to Northbrook to hear the music, feel the love, and absorb the message of a resurrected Savior who offers hope, love, and a new life in a broken world.
 
Randy Hubbard

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