The first Christians were a contrast society. The church was built on the primal claim that Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified, is now raised from the dead. And so, in sharp tension with the world, the ancient church loved Christ as Lord instead of Caesar, and their lives were ordered around Christ’s resurrection instead of Rome’s activities and offerings.

Where are you from? What did you bring with you when the Holy Spirit invited you to Grace Lutheran Church? What do you bring now? What if we each thought of several “I am froms” and shared them with each other? (I am from lakes and books, music, games and sunshine.)