Ethos Church

Sexuality and spirituality intertwine in profound ways, yet the conversation often gets lost in whispers. Our journey isn't just about confronting the missteps of the church or the hypersexualized culture around us; it's about rediscovering the beautiful, God-given longing for intimacy that connects to our innermost selves. we grasp how being fully known and loved is what we're really seeking—beyond physicality to the heart of our relationships. And as we peel back the layers of how pornography distorts this quest, we invite a thoughtful consideration of what self-sacrificial love truly looks like. ​ “Let’s us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” Genesis 1:26 Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Look in Christian bookstores at books on marriage and parenting – compare that with books on singleness – very few marriage books argue that marriage is a good thing – that’s accepted. Instead, they talk about all the problems in marriage and how to deal with them. Christian marriage books tell you how to deal with the difficulty of marriage. Books on singleness take a different approach. They almost imply that singleness is a problem. They tell a person how to make the most of the time until the right person comes along. In other words, they say that the solution to the problem of singleness is marriage. And then – “Good news – once you get married, you’re going to have all other kinds of problems and read the marriage books.” The scriptures teach something very different ... Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

The idea that all religions are equally correct is called “religious relativism”. That all positions are equally correct, and therefore, we shouldn’t evangelize. If you believe some religions are superior to others, then you have to evangelize. But if you believe that no religions are superior to others then you are evangelizing your religious relativism view. Think of it like this; when you urge me not to urge my religion on anybody else, you’re urging your religion on me. You’re evangelizing me not to evangelize. You are doing the very thing you forbid. Up until 150 years ago, all religions got together and said, “Look, we may all be wrong, but we can’t all be right.” If two people contradict one another we say, “You could be wrong and I could be right, or I could be wrong and you could be right, or we could both be wrong, but we can’t both be right.” So the real question is who’s right?   John 14:6 (NIV) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

It’s not difficult to get a person interested in the message of the gospel, it is difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. In the words of Eugene Peterson, “Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence of mature Christian discipleship is slim.” In the western church there is a great market for religious experience but there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of Christian character. Little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called Sanctification; the process of becoming like Christ. This process involves learning how to implement healthy spiritual habits. But what stands in our way? That’s what this teaching will discuss. “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” – Romans 5:9-11 Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Every relationship forms you. The relationships you say “yes” to, and the relationships you say “no” to will both form you in one way or another. These relationships either wound you on the “operating table” or on the “battle field”. The operating table scenario heals, while the battle field scenario ultimately dominates. We need to want relationships that put us on the “operating table.” Who are you allowing to form you? We often think Jesus was 50% grace, and 50% truth. But, in reality he was 100% of both. Both the attractional and formational aspects of Jesus’ ministry worked hand in hand. At Ethos we desire to be the same – creating environments where people can come and see, while also be seen. Where all guests who arrive are received like Christ, and where we can be formed into the vision of Jesus.   “And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8 Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Living a life faithfully following Jesus, means acknowledging God’s purpose, plan, perspective, and presence whether in a season of pain or a season of ease. During seasons of pain, it means not letting the storm cloud your vision and remembering that Jesus is in the boat with you. In seasons of ease, it means keeping in front of you the truth that you cannot do this alone and that no matter how good life is right now, it is due to God continually at work on your behalf. Ultimately, faithfully following Jesus means modeling after what Jesus did and how he lived in those same seasons.   “And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” -Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)- Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Pastor Jon shares about the difference between proclamation and application. Right now we are in a “Josiah like moment”. Josiah had every reason to not turn towards God, but something rose in him at the proclamation of God’s word that made him reform; made him change. God had given us each the opportunity to reform our legacy and our family. You can set the tone for your children, and your children’s children.   “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all our naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Generations after Israel had been freed from Egyptian slavery, they were hauled off into exile in Babylon, a secular country. In the book of Jeremiah, we see that Gods call to Israel was to retain their foundational identity as Gods people even though they were resident aliens in a foreign land. Despite their status as exiles .. God tells them to stay put. Put down roots, build houses, plant gardens … We too are spiritual exiles and resident aliens. We live here but we don’t really belong here. So how do we live faithfully in the space between, not running from the world and not conforming to it but faithfully following Jesus with two feet in both worlds?   1 Peter 2:11 (NLT) - Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

“There is a mean, violet streak in the true Christian life. But violence against whom, or what? Not other people. It’s violence against all the impulses in us that would be violent to other people. It’s a violence against all the impulses in our own selves that would make peace with our own sin and settle in with a peacetime mentality. It’s violence against all lust in ourselves, and enslaving desires for food or alcohol or pornography or money or the praise of men and the approval of others or power or fame. It’s violence against the impulses in our own soul towards racism and sluggish indifference to injustice and poverty and abortion. Christianity is not a settle--and-live-at-peace-with-this-world-the-way-it-is kind of religion. Christianity is war – on our own sinful impulses.” – John Piper “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.” Romans 8:13​ Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

It is not hard to see why Christians would shy away from sin and judgement in our attempts to engage constructively in the debates and questions of our age. Our culture attacks sin and judgement as hate speech, leaving Christians confused, embarrassed and in denial about foundational biblical truths. We are told that doctrines of sin and judgement are not just misguided but downright dangerous or evil. But we agree with Fleming Rutledge who wrote, “It is only by endeavoring to look sin straight in the face that we are able to understand grace.” ​ Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Neuroscience tells us - the human mind can actually resist truth about oneself. This phenomenon is called mutual pretense in the medical field. Everybody desperately needs to be covered - desperately wants to be covered - has to be covered, to keep people from seeing who we really are. What Adam & Eve used as fig leaves in Genesis 3, we use as social media, larger homes, smiling families, and education today. Anything to create a veneer on the outside that covers the shame and guilt we fear when we are exposed. While the natural mind may be hostile to truth, the spiritual person is called to turn toward it all costs. This is called repentance or confession. This is one of the first things Jesus begins to preach … ​ Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

We oftentimes ask ourselves, if God is so good why is there so much pain in this world. But the reality is, that Jesus’ promise of peace does not guarantee the absence of trouble or pain. Rather we are called to understand that life offers both still waters and valleys of death (Psalm 23). And in that, holding on to the truth that God is the connection point within those two places. And valuing God’s presence over provision, knowing that He is with us, that is what God is good at. “He makes me like down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:2-4 (ESV) ​ Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Does anybody enjoy ‘waiting’? Red lights, long lines, commercials & ads during your favorite TV show or sports team, slow service at a restaurant. These are all a bit trivial in the grand scheme of life. But what about waiting on unanswered prayer, or a bad habit to finally be defeated, or a spouse, job, health? We don’t have a theology for waiting well. We certainly have an unhealthy and unbiblical theology for wanting everything now. Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) tells us;  “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” How do we learn to ‘wait well’? ​ Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

In “Celebration of Discipline”, Richard Foster wrote, “God takes this ‘useless’ discipline, this ‘wasted time’, to make us His friend.” When we are quiet enough to hear God’s affirming voice, it becomes much easier not to fall under the spell of the opinions of others. The primary purpose of solitude is simply to be more present to God. In solitude we discover that the one who made us and loves us most wants to be our friend. He is the prize. ​ “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. But you were unwilling.” Isaiah 30:15 Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org

Scripture teaches, “don’t be anxious. Just pray.” Maybe we don’t because prayer comes with plenty of reasons to be anxious. Prayer itself makes us anxious because it uncovers fears we can ignore as long as we don’t engage deeply, thoughtfully, vulnerably with God.” Tyler Staten “This is the way it is with spiritual disciplines – they are a way of sowing to the Spirit. The disciplines are Gods way of getting us into the ground; they put us where he can work within us and transform us. By themselves they spiritual disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done by God.” Richard Foster “Celebration of Discipline” 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT) - Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” Ethos is a life-giving community committed to keeping Jesus at its Center. We are on a mission to love all people in Jesus' name so that we may all Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, & Make a Difference. EthosOH.com Small Groups: EthosOH.com/Community ServeColumbus.org