Prepare for Sunday

August 30th, 2026

Ponder

There are two kinds of communities: communities of isolation that are marked by inward protection, and communities of invitation that are marked by outward mission. At Hope we want to be a community of invitation. This Sunday we are going to continue our exploration of invitation in the Bible. Last week we had to rethink election. This week we want to rethink obedience, using Deuteronomy as our guide:

5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

The New International Version (opens in new window) (Dt 4:5–8). (2011). Zondervan.

Sometimes we (wrongly) think obedience is how we earn God's love. At best, we are used to thinking of obedience in personal and individualistic terms. But what if my obedience is also our obedience, and what if our obedience has a purpose with other people in mind? Could obedience and invitation go hand in hand?