Drawn Towards the Center: Desire Opens the Door

Drawn Towards the Center: Desire Opens the Door - Pastor Hannah Witte - a2cc.org. Watch our livestream Sundays @ 11:00am - vimeo.com/annarborcommunitychurch 

Summary:

Pastor Hannah invites the church to rediscover a centered set vision of faith—one where belonging is defined not by meeting specific boundaries, but by the direction of one’s desire toward Jesus. Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Pastor Hannah traces how Jesus consistently welcomed people who were considered outsiders: tax collectors, political extremists, women, children, sinners, and even the criminal dying beside Him on the cross. Again and again, religious leaders asked, “Why is Jesus letting them in?” And again and again, Jesus’ life answered clearly: anyone who desires to be with Him is welcome. Desire—not perfection, morality, or religious performance—is the entry point into the family of God.

The sermon then turns toward the implications for church life today. A centered set community holds Jesus at the center—trusting Him to transform people over time—while practicing grace, honor, humility, and curiosity with one another. This kind of community is beautiful, but also demanding, because it asks us to stay engaged across differences, resist policing one another’s journeys, and choose compassion over control. The call is to become a Beloved Community where fear grows small and love grows deep, where we take relational risks, ask better questions, and walk together as fellow pilgrims—trusting that Jesus delights in drawing all who desire Him closer.