Woe

I listened to an amazing message today from Rob Bell at Mars Hill. The sermon title was Gnats and Camels, part of a series entitled "The Seven Woes" that looks a series of things that made Jesus angry. This one focuses on Matthew 23:

23"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

The message looks at how often Christians believe that the goal of their faith is only to focus on their own personal spiritual growth, that's it all about them and God and their own personal growth. I've been there, and I've heard it a million times from people I know. The message explores the continuum of our own growth and others, how Jesus emphasizes one end more than the other. Good stuff. The messages from Mars Hill are always challenging. You can subscribe to the podcast here.