An Expanding Circle | Dr. Tom Pace Preaching | 7.5.26

This sermon explores the biblical trajectory from exclusivity to inclusion, demonstrating how God's love expands from a chosen few to encompass all humanity. Using the movie "Mean Girls" as an unexpected parallel, Dr. Pace illustrates how the Bible moves from God blessing a special family (Abraham) to ultimately embracing all nations. The sermon focuses on Jesus' encounters with non-Jewish people in Tyre, Sidon, and the Decapolis, particularly his transformative moment with the Canaanite woman who challenged him to expand his understanding of his mission. The message culminates in a call for Christians to recognize their own biases and categories, seeing all people as God's children rather than judging them by external markers like politics, appearance, or background. The sermon challenges listeners to "move the fence" of their compassion outward, following Christ's example of expanding the circle of God's love.