BIG IDEA: Peace is found by anchoring our identity in God’s story, not the world’s story.
The things you believe about yourself, about others, and about how the world works - Where do those beliefs come from? What is the source of those beliefs? There are really only two sources to base these beliefs on: 1) what God says about these things (His story), or 2) what the world says about these things (the World’s story).
In God’s story, no one is excluded from the invitation to be a part of His kingdom. There are no outsiders, no outcasts. Nobody is left on the invitation list. That’s worth repeating…this new Kingdom is open and available to anybody who wants to participate.
You are invited regardless of your age. What did Jesus say when his disciples tried to keep some children from “bothering” Jesus? “Let the little children come to Me, don’t stop them.” And what did He say after that? “for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these!”
You are invited regardless of your past. Even if you say things like “You don’t know me, my life, my past, my failures. I’ve blown it. God wouldn’t want me.” Your past doesn’t exclude you from the invitation.
The bottom line is King Jesus can handle chaos and confusion, and He seeks out those who are on the margins, excluded and despised.
