How many of you are fans of the 80's inspired Netflix show, “Stranger Things”? The series combines numerous genres: science fiction, horror, action, drama to make one captivating show. Not to mention, it has an excellent soundtrack. As the story goes, a group of teenagers from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana discover and befriend a young woman, "Eleven" with supernatural powers. Their friendship leads to a bigger discovery: Hawkins sits on top of an alternate supernatural dimension known as the “Upside Down”. It is a toxic, evil and dangerous world filled with murderous creatures, vines, and electrical storms. The residents of Hawkins are under an ominous threat as the “Upside Down” begins to break into their world.

We often assume that our world is right-side up but the reality is we live in a world that more closely resembles the “Upside Down”. Though it didn’t start out this way, our world is marked by division, brokenness and evil. The good news is that Jesus stepped into this upside down world to save it. Jesus gives us a compelling picture of what this upside down world would look like if it was turned right side up again.  

Jesus' name for this reality is the kingdom of God. (This is where you and I come in!) We are commissioned by God to serve as ambassadors of his kingdom. We are agents of reconciliation who announce the good news that God has reconciled this world to Himself through Jesus' death on the Cross. This Sunday we will explore what it means to rise up as reconcilers according to Paul's instructions in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.