Which town will we be?

What does it look like when a community truly welcomes God into its midst -- not just in word, but in action, in posture, in hunger?

This message takes us on a journey through two very different towns in the Gospels: Nazareth, where Jesus was rejected by the very people who grew up alongside him, and Bethany, where he was welcomed so completely that he raised the dead, received anointing, and even chose to lodge there during the most significant week of his earthly ministry.

The contrast is striking and deeply personal. Familiarity with church, with scripture, with the rhythms of faith can quietly erode our curiosity about what God might actually want to do in our lives. We can find ourselves living off the remnants of a past spiritual fire rather than burning with fresh hunger today.

The central question this message puts before us is simple but searching: which town do we want to be? The answer shapes everything about how we engage with God, with one another, and with the world around us.