There is a wonderful passage of scripture in the book of Hebrews…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

We are followers of Jesus. We even bear the name “Christian”… originally a derisive term that the people of Antioch gave to a new religious cult obsessed with a rabbi who had been executed by the Romans… “Christ-ians”: a group absolutely under the thrall of this leader.

That’s how it all began… a Jesus cult. However, religious sects have a way of becoming respectable over time. They get domesticated. They become focused on other things: organization, procedure, formulation of beliefs. They get domesticated. They conform more and more to the society. They lose that edge.

We need a prophet to remind us what we are supposed to be about. We need to be reminded of who we are and what our focus needs to be. Jesus… Jesus is the be all and the end all of our faith. And He is going to be the focal point of every worship service, every sermon, everything that we do as a church. “What would Jesus say or do in this or that situation?” This is the only question that really matters. Our congregational theme for 2017 is, “Lord I look to You.”