You're Not Being Inclusive, Jesus.

In one paragraph

Tribe fam gathered outdoors at the park for this message from Brian on one of the most contested claims Jesus ever made: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The question driving the whole sermon was why those words would get Jesus canceled then, and why they would get him canceled even faster today. The answer, Brian argued, is that Jesus is being...

Read together

1. John 14:6 Jesus claiming to be the only way to the Father, used as the central text on exclusivity
2. Ephesians 2:4-10 Paul on grace through faith, not works, used to show God's inclusive offer of salvation
3. Romans 10:9-13 declaring Jesus as Lord and calling on his name for salvation, used to show both the inclusive offer and the exclusive name
4. James 4:6 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, used to illustrate the door of humility unlocking God's inclusive grace
5. Philippians 4:19 supply all their needs according to his riches in glory, quoted in the offertory prayer

What was said

• Download the Church Center app so you have an easy way to stay connected with Tribe.
• Spend some time this week thinking about how you came to Jesus, so you're ready to share that story when Brian opens it up for the congregation.
• If pride has been keeping you at arm's length from God this week, take a quiet moment to come to him in humility and ask for his grace.
• Ask a friend or family member why they think Jesus would get canceled for saying 'I am the way, the truth, and the life', and use it as a door to talk about your faith.

Talk about it

1. Brian said that in every religion except Christianity, people have to climb their way to salvation, while in Christianity God came down to save us. What do you think that difference actually means for how you live day to day?
2. The congregation went back and forth on whether Jesus's words in John 14 are inclusive or exclusive. How do you personally hold those two things together?
3. Brian used the IRS illustration to describe how God, unlike the IRS, tells us exactly what is owed and how to settle it. Does that picture of God's clarity change anything about how you approach him?
4. Brian said from James 4:6 that humility is the key that unlocks the doors of God's grace, and that on the inside of those doors it says 'all are welcome.' Where in your own life right now are you tempted to stay on the outside in pride rather than walking through in humility?
5. Brian mentioned that there are a million ways people have come to Jesus, even through the Catholic church or the Mormon church, but only one way to God through his son. How did you come to Jesus, and how does your story shape the way you talk about him with others?