HumeRidge Is Everyone: Front Row Seats For The Forgotten | Ross Savill

·25 min·2 clips

Jesus tells Peter he will build his church, the first time this word appears in the Bible.

The episode opens with the biblical account from Matthew where Jesus first mentions building his church after Peter's confession. Ross Savill explains the Greek word 'ekklesia' means a called-out assembly. He stresses that Jesus is actively building his church today, often through unnoticed volunteers and small prayer groups. A key theme is the early church's practice of welcoming everyone, which was radical in its historical context. Jesus himself was known for including tax collectors, sinners, and outcasts, earning criticism from religious leaders. After his resurrection, the early church continued this inclusivity, welcoming slaves and the poor, leading some to call Christianity a 'slave religion.' Roman emperors noted Christians cared for both their own poor and others. Ross references Eugene Peterson's commentary on Luke, which criticizes religion that excludes outsiders like a club. He shares a personal insight that true welcome is only understood after experiencing unwelcome. The sermon warns against churches becoming insular, where people stay in their 'boxes' based on age or status. An anecdote describes Izzy inviting a lonely young person to sit with her family during a service, breaking unspoken norms. Ross encourages congregants to deliberately reach out to those sitting alone, especially during communion. He uses a video segment metaphorically about breaking out of boxes and drawing lines between 'us' and 'them.' The episode concludes with a prayer for the church to be a welcoming family, noticing the lonely and marginalized, and reviving as a diverse community.

As heard by us

A searching sermon on whether the church welcomes outsiders or becomes another guarded club.

Starting with Peter's confession in Matthew, the speaker asks what Jesus meant by building his church and tests communities of faith against a demanding picture of welcome, sacrifice and care for outsiders.

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Why you'd press play

Hear Jesus' promise to build his church become a call to welcome outsiders.

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