Before you read the rest of this article, stop for a moment and ask yourself this question: “When you think of the word ‘troublemaker,’ what comes to mind?”

When I think about a “troublemaker” or a “rebel,” I normally don’t think about Jesus. However, Jesus was a troublemaker. He said and did things that were upsetting to the people in power in first-century Palestine. He opposed the people who oppressed the weak, the castaways, and the downtrodden at every opportunity. Jesus stood firmly in the tradition of the prophets of Hebrew scripture – those who offered a clear and challenging alternative to popular and powerful people.

During our Tuesday Night Bible Study featuring Living the Questions on September 15th, we will examine this “stranger in the midst of his own people” – Jesus. We will look at his life and his teachings and find ways that they apply to us in twenty-first century society. We will start at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. All are invited. This is a good week to join us for the first time.