This week on Cultivate, we kicked off a special Q&A conversation exploring the context into which Jesus stepped and the big questions that shaped His ministry. Charlie Loften and Abigail Boone dove into what first-century Israel was really like: a nation occupied by Rome, full of religious tension, longing for liberation, and marked by a transactional view of God. Together, we unpacked how Jesus entered this world—not as a political revolutionary, but as a humble teacher whose miracles and message began to turn everything upside down.
We looked at how the people listening to Jesus’ parables often saw God as distant or reserved for the religious elite, and how Jesus’ teachings began to reveal a God who is personal, gracious, and accessible. Through thoughtful questions and honest reflections, we considered what these ancient perspectives mean for how we relate to God today.
Take some time this week to reflect on what assumptions you might carry about God—and what it could mean if Jesus is inviting you to something deeper.