Gardeners in the War

At Zao MKE Church, we root ourselves in the Jesus of scripture—the brown-skinned, revolutionary, peasant organizer who healed, shared meals, and resisted the violence of empire. Our calling is to follow Jesus into justice, radical inclusion, and the daily work of love. Radical inclusion, for us, means prioritizing those who have been excluded, ensuring that the least are cared for first, and building a community where all are truly welcome.

We gather in a world that is often harsh and uncertain, carrying grief and fear from both recent events and long histories. Grieving is not a one-time act but an ongoing process, and we make space for it together. Yet, even as we hold our grief, we are called to cultivate hope—a hope that is not naive, but deeply rooted in God’s promise. The words of Jeremiah 29:11, “For surely I know the plans I have for you… to give you a future with hope,” are not spoken in times of ease, but in the midst of exile and devastation. God’s promise of hope comes precisely when things seem most hopeless.

In the face of overwhelming violence and loss, God’s instruction to the exiles was not to arm themselves for battle, but to build houses, plant gardens, nurture relationships, and live fully. This is a radical form of resistance: to create, to love, to hope, and to invest in life even when destruction surrounds us. Existence itself becomes resistance. The daily acts of living—caring for ourselves, building community, creating beauty—are how we defy the forces that seek to crush us.

History teaches us that the most enduring forms of resistance are not always the most dramatic. The Black Panthers, for example, are remembered for their militancy, but their greatest impact was in feeding children, building community, and sharing knowledge. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the confessing church resisted Nazi terror through prayer, compassion, and shared meals. These small, daily acts are the seeds of hope and justice.

We are called to be gardeners in a world at war, to plant seeds of love, beauty, and connection, even when we fear they may be trampled. God invites us to co-create, to invest in hope, and to trust that even if our gardens are destroyed, we can plant again. Every act of creativity, every relationship, every moment of joy is a holy act of resistance. Let us bring our gifts to the table, plant our seeds, and trust in God’s promise of a future with hope.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Existence as Resistance Choosing to live fully, to love, and to create in the face of violence and despair is itself a radical act of resistance. When the world urges us to armor up or withdraw, God calls us to invest in life, relationships, and hope. Our daily acts of care and creativity are not small—they are the very means by which we defy the forces of destruction. [36:12]
• 2. Cultivating Hope Amid Grief Hope is not a naive optimism, but a commitment to God’s promise even when circumstances seem bleak. Grieving is ongoing, but so is the call to nurture hope for ourselves and future generations. We are invited to plant seeds of hope, trusting that God’s plans for us persist through exile and loss. [30:18]
• 3. The Power of Small, Daily Acts History’s most powerful resistance movements were built on ordinary acts: sharing meals, reading together, caring for one another. These practices sustain communities and keep hope alive when grand gestures are impossible. Our small acts—cooking, laughing, creating—are the foundation of justice and resilience. [42:20]
• 4. Co-Creating with God God invites us to be gardeners, co-creating beauty and life even in the midst of chaos. Planting a seed, nurturing a relationship, or making art are all ways we partner with God in bringing forth new life. Even if what we create is destroyed, we are called to plant again, trusting in the cycle of resurrection. [52:05]
• 5. Vulnerability as Courage To remain open, compassionate, and generous in times of fear is a profound act of bravery. Authoritarianism thrives on fear and isolation, but God calls us to risk connection and vulnerability. In doing so, we embody the hope and love that outlast violence and oppression. [47:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [19:32] - Our Identity: Jesus-Rooted, Justice-Centered
• [20:44] - Radical Inclusion Defined
• [21:35] - Caring for Bodies and Community
• [22:24] - Passing the Peace and Community Connection
• [28:23] - Acknowledging Grief and Survival
• [30:18] - The Call to Cultivate Hope
• [31:24] - Jeremiah 29:11 in Context
• [34:12] - God’s Unconventional Resistance
• [36:12] - Existence as Resistance
• [38:47] - Better to Be a Gardener in War
• [42:20] - The Power of Daily Acts
• [46:05] - Bonhoeffer and Creative Resistance
• [47:29] - Vulnerability and Generosity as Resistance
• [52:05] - Co-Creating with God
• [56:55] - Joy Harjo’s Poem: The Kitchen Table
• [59:03] - Choosing to Plant Seeds of Hope
• [93:37] - Offering: Ways to Cultivate the Garden

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) — “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Jeremiah 29:11, what kind of plans does God say he has for the people in exile?
2. In the sermon, what specific instructions did God give to the exiles in Babylon instead of telling them to fight back with violence? [[34:50]]
3. The sermon mentions that grieving is not a one-time act but an ongoing process. What are some ways the community at Zao makes space for grief? [[29:06]]
4. What are some examples from history, mentioned in the sermon, where small daily acts became powerful forms of resistance? [[42:20]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might God have chosen to instruct the exiles to build houses, plant gardens, and nurture relationships instead of arming themselves for battle? What does this say about God’s view of resistance? [[34:50]]
2. The sermon describes hope as “not a naive optimism, but a commitment to God’s promise even when circumstances seem bleak.” How does this understanding of hope challenge or affirm your own ideas about hope? [[30:18]]
3. The phrase “existence is resistance” is used in the sermon. What does it mean for someone’s daily life and relationships to be a form of resistance? [[36:12]]
4. How does vulnerability—remaining open, compassionate, and generous—act as a form of courage and resistance in times of fear and uncertainty? [[47:29]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon calls us to “plant seeds of hope” even when we fear they may be trampled. Is there an area of your life where you feel hesitant to invest in hope or creativity because of past disappointments or fear of loss? What would it look like to “plant again” in that area? [[40:39]]
2. Think about your daily routines—cooking, texting a friend, sharing a meal, making art, or even just getting out of bed. Which of these small acts could you begin to see as holy acts of resistance? How might this change your attitude toward them? [[45:08]]
3. The sermon highlights the importance of prioritizing those who have been excluded and building a community where all are truly welcome. What is one practical way you can practice radical inclusion this week, either at church or in your daily life? [[20:44]]
4. When you are faced with overwhelming news or personal grief, what helps you hold onto hope? Is there a practice or habit you want to try or return to that could help you cultivate hope for yourself and others? [[30:18]]
5. The sermon mentions that vulnerability is a profound act of bravery. Is there a relationship or situation where you feel called to risk connection or generosity, even though it feels scary? What is one step you could take toward that this week? [[47:29]]
6. The Black Panthers and the confessing church resisted through feeding children, sharing meals, and praying together. What is one “small” act you could do this week to care for someone else or build community, even if it seems ordinary? [[42:20]]
7. The sermon invites us to co-create with God, trusting that even if what we create is destroyed, we can plant again. Is there a creative project, relationship, or dream you’ve let go of that you feel nudged to revisit or start anew? What would it look like to take a first step? [[52:05]]