The Isaiah passage appointed by the lectionary for this coming Sunday tells us that “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” The symbolism of the reading makes it clear that this is a prophecy about the coming Messiah -- but it’s also a striking description of the new growth and change that can arise from already existing roots. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Dean Feldmeyer suggests that it’s also an arresting illustration of the situation facing many of our churches today.
