Jesus and His disciples have just been through an extremely stressful time. They had a dust-up with the Pharisees that was not pretty. Jesus decides they need a little getaway. A chance to breathe. He takes them to the region of Tyre and Sidon. There will be no Jews there. It's a pagan place. It's foreign territory. He books this house for them to stay in, and doesn't tell anyone where they are. However, a woman of Syro-Phoenician origin figures out where they are! She comes seeking Jesus. She's desperate. Her daughter has become possessed by an evil spirit. Somehow, she knows Jesus can heal her. She cries out. Lord, Son of David! Help my daughter! He doesn't answer at first. He ignores her. She cries out again. He says, I have only come for the house of Israel. What I have is not for you! She cries out again! He says, it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs! Is Jesus being mean? Is he angry? Having a bad day? Is Jesus being racist, misogynistic, downright ugly? Or is He intentionally doing something in a particular way to prove a point? Join us as REV-REB unpacks this in a way that few are courageous enough to venture into!

There are two times in the Gospels that Jesus talks about swords. One time, He says, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword! He follows that with, I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's enemies will be the members of his own household! That sounds aggressive! Another time, He says, if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! These passages have become in many circles a rallying cry for violent insurrection in the name of God. Theme verses for movements that would attempt to seize power and overthrow systems and institutions for the advancement of a Christian society. We don't buy it. We're going to dig deeper in a way that only REV-REB can! Did Jesus promote violence? Let's find out!

One day, Jesus encountered a rich young ruler. He had it all going on. He was wealthy, respected, upright in character and integrity, and of high status. He had to be every young woman's dream! There was one thing lacking in his life, though. He wanted eternal life! Everything I have right now, forever! At first, Jesus said to keep the commandments. I have, he said. So, Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor. That was not going to happen. He went away grieved, because he had great wealth. Jesus then offers these difficult words. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God! Is He serious? Does being rich exclude you from the kingdom of God? Let's find out!