Following the play, "Connections", Dr. Joshua delivers a message about relationships and the way that our need for relational connections is ultimately fulfilled in having a relationship with Jesus.
Dr. Joshua delivers a powerful message on "Palm Sunday", reflecting on the plot to kill Lazarus and encouraging us to seek the support of others through prayer.
Dr. Joshua closes the series, "The Kingdom Way - Part 5," highlighting the priority of Jesus and the reality of human need and how Jesus responds to our need. Dr. Joshua critiques the modern Christian tendency to accommodate individual preferences over biblical principles, particularly after Covid, suggesting that this approach misaligns with true Christianity. Ultimately, God calls for a focus on seeking His priorities first (Matt 6:31-33), acknowledging that while basic human needs are important, anxiety around them FIRST, can divert attention from faith in Jesus. Dr. Joshua closes by providing five ways to distinguish yourself from the crowd (non-committal) to the congregation (committed and kingdom-minded).
Dr. Joshua continues the series, "The Kingdom Way - Part 4," encouraging us to embrace the spirit of innovation while also discussing diversity and the power of collaboration.
Dr. Joshua continues the series, "The Kingdom Way - Part 3," emphasizing that pleasing God involves both listening and taking action, and that true change in direction begins with a change in thinking.
In part two of the series titled "The Kingdom Way," Dr. Joshua emphasizes that the teachings of Jesus often challenge conventional wisdom and can be difficult for people to accept. Race - and in particular, race in the church - is not an easy topic to discuss, but difficult topics were not something Jesus, avoided. Jesus was willing to be misunderstood while still conveying important truths. The concept of a “black multiracial church” is a new way of thinking and talking about racial diversity in a Christian context. Like Jesus would explain his parables, Dr. Joshua takes his time explaining this concept in detail, using sociological terms, quotes, and illustrations as well as Biblical passages to help us understand this new concept of church diversity from an African American perspective.
Dr. Joshua introduced a new series "The Kingdom Way", part 1. Although this is a new series, Dr. Joshua summarizes the last two series entitled "The Untapped Power of We" and "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit", in which both series strongly lay foundation for this month's series. Citing Ephesians 3:20, he explains the ways in which our thinking is not like God's thinking and is often different in ways we tend not to consider. In the same way, new blessings require new thinking - His thinking. In the spirit of unity in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10), Dr. Joshua reiterates Zoe Center's move towards the goal of a "black multiracial church". Since this is a new cultural concept, Dr. Joshua spends time unpacking this direction and the reason for it.
Dr. Joshua concludes the series, "Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit," rooted in Matthew 5:3, which beautifully reminds us that God's favor shines upon those who find themselves destitute, both spiritually and naturally. In times of uncertainty and change, when it may feel as though the rug has been pulled out from under us, we can trust that God is always working to bless and favor those who feel marginalized. As a predominantly African American church in a largely Latino community, we are setting our sights on multilingualism and embracing engagement with our community, acknowledging the vast opportunities ahead. Our ambition also extends to reaching out purposefully to the Asian American community. Engaging with those who may feel like minorities requires intentional strategies rather than mere goodwill. Through our journey, we have confronted the complexities of race in America while celebrating Black history, which provides a vital context for understanding our present. Dr. Joshua also encourages understanding of Black history and recommends the book "From Slavery to Freedom" to gain insight into the cultural and historical context shaping current dynamics. Remember, knowledge empowers us to comprehend the dynamics at play in our world. We would not want to perish for lack of knowledge. God does not leave anyone out, and together, we can foster a community of Christian unity in love and understanding.
In this part (3) of "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit", Dr. Joshua discusses this unconventional series, emphasizing the need for preliminary context before diving into the main material. He highlights the church's demographic makeup as predominantly African American in a diverse community, noting recent initiatives aimed at engaging with local Latino and future Asian American groups. He stresses the importance of intentionality in outreach efforts and acknowledges that while their themes may not resonate with everyone personally, the focus is on moving the whole congregation together. He acknowledges the challenges of discussing sensitive topics, indicating that emotional triggers must be managed before presenting core messages. Dr. Joshua draws a parallel to Jesus’ preparation for his ministry through John the Baptist’s role in readying people for his teachings and uses the book, "Estranged Pioneers: Race, Faith, and Leadership in a Diverse World" by Korie Little Edwards and Rebecca Y. Kim to look at pastors who have led multi-ethnic churches. He utilizes these examples to introduce his own diversity model for Zoe Center.
Dr. Joshua continues to teach on a sensitive topic in "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit," part 2, highlighting the need to address practical realities of faith alongside spiritual principles. He references James 2:15, which maintains the importance of meeting people's physical needs before they can engage with spiritual teachings. Reflecting on the church's context, he notes that while it is predominantly African-American, the church is located in a diverse community that is not primarily African-American. Dr. Joshua admits this is difficult for African-Americans who came to this church for its rich black cultural presence but also recognizes this shift as a part of God's plan and emphasizes the church's commitment to a multilingual vision to better serve the community. This series will explore this challenge as well as present ways in which rich cultural heritage for all can exist in unity and create a win-win.
Dr. Joshua introduces a new sermon series titled "Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit," building on the previous series "The Untapped Power of We." The overarching theme for the year is "One vision, One Voice," emphasizing the importance of collective identity in Christ over individualism. Dr. Joshua highlights the sociological aspect of being one in Christ, defining sociology as the study of human relationships and social institutions. Spiritual and social dynamics must be addressed for true unity and we can't bring people together without the help of the Holy Spirit. The discussion of unity includes the necessity of addressing relationships and sensitive issues, particularly regarding race, as our church seeks to engage diverse communities.
