Do you think of sexuality as more of a problem or a privilege. Consider how a biblical view of sexuality reveals it is a good-news, gospel-kind of privilege to be a woman, to be a man, and to enjoy the sexual part of our human experience. Our sexuality requires both form and freedom to maximize our pleasure and avoid pain. Your sexuality is a mysterious, wonderful, and powerful gift from God for his glory and your blessing. How can we wisely enjoy these blessings? That’s why we want to apply biblical wisdom from Proverbs to our sexuality.Support the Show.
Have you ever done something with good intentions only for the best of your intentions to explode into fire and ash? That is why we all need to keep growing in wisdom. Life is complex. To live successfully, we want to master the ways that people think and communicate, the ways that life rocks and rolls, and the general principles that create predictable responses in most situations. We all want to discover discernment for navigating life and obtaining wisdom.Support the Show.
What would cause someone to be dunked under water while lots of other people watch and cheer? Jesus chose to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, at the beginning of his ministry. We continue following Jesus' example in baptism as well as his command to baptize others. Let's explore the significance of this unusual practice and celebration this weekend.Support the Show.
New possibilities, new opportunities, and new hope--all rising from new life in Jesus, that is what Easter is all about. Jesus Christ rose up and walked out of a tomb to begin God's new creation work. Together, we join him in this new creation and explore this most significant moment where Jesus rose from the dead. Let's rediscover Jesus as our Living Hope!Support the Show.
Jesus’ three stories in Matthew 25 pass on his mission to his followers and offer a glimpse of his coming Kingdom. Our task is to live today with growing awareness and confidence in the coming of his kingdom and to bring into our reality the values of that future day. How can we take our next step into faithfully following Jesus today while recognizing all that tomorrow holds for us?Support the Show.
Salvation is a free, unconditional gift. We receive that gift through faith in the work that God already completed in Jesus Christ—his life, death, and resurrection. This gift can’t be taken away or lost and is all about God’s work for us. The Scriptures also teach that we can receive rewards for our faithfulness with the good gifts and opportunities God gives us in life. These rewards can be won or lost and are conditional—based on our faithfulness and good works. The second story Jesus tells in Matthew 25 encourages us to be faithful stewards of the resources, gifts, and opportunities God entrusts to us. How can we live a life worthy of rich rewards in eternity?Support the Show.
What does it look like for us to continue Jesus’ mission and faithfully watch for his return? As Jesus faced the end of his life, he also talked about the end of this age (or as we might think of it, the end of the world) and charged his followers to be faithful until the conclusion of history when Jesus returns to establish his kingdom. In the first of three stories Jesus told in Matthew 25, we discover a sense of urgency as our temporary life now connects with eternal life that never ends.Support the Show.
Jesus must have frequently shocked and sometimes scandalized his original audiences. Today, when we take the time to listen to his words in the Gospels, how could we avoid being surprised? Mark carefully sequenced narratives about Jesus and teaching from Jesus to help us understand what a Jesus-following looks like. As we conclude this portion of teaching through Mark’s Gospel, we come away surprised by Jesus again but also receive insight about responding to the surprises we experience from life with Jesus.Support the Show.
Following Jesus will lead us into situations that will test our faith. Jesus told us to expect troubles in this world. But trials still catch us by surprise. They can leave us confused. Thankfully, we can trust God in the difficult times because we know they are opportunities for our perseverance, our character, and our hope to grow stronger-if we persist. And in the end, unimaginable glory awaits us!Support the Show.
On our journey with Jesus, it’s all too easy to focus on the steps we’re taking and lose sight of the one we’re following. When this happens, we’re in danger of constructing a rigid religion instead of enjoying the revolutionary relationship Jesus invites into. Following Jesus liberates us from legalism while giving us the tools to receive His love and grace daily.Support the Show.
Part of growing up in Jesus means realizing that Jesus is the primary actor in our lives, and we learn to react or respond to what he has done. Through Jesus’ words, healing a paralyzed man, and then partying with sinners—we find Jesus taking bold, unexpected actions that demand a response. This weekend let’s discover how we can respond to Jesus’ bewildering actions.Support the Show.
Why should we follow Jesus with our lives? One of the big questions Mark tries to answer in his Gospel stories about Jesus is also a question every one of us ask. This weekend we’re exploring a few reasons Jesus is worth following. Along the way, we will also realize that following Jesus isn’t about self-improvement, self-realization, or self-care but involves self-service and sacrifice to expand God’s reign and God’s purposes.Support the Show.
No choice in life makes a greater difference than our choice to follow Jesus. This one decision influences and casts a new shade on every other decision. Whether you are considering following Jesus with your life or are looking for your next step to follow Jesus, we are wise to consider what Jesus' path really looks like and includes. This weekend, we're finding the first steps to follow Jesus in Mark's Gospel together.Support the Show.
Worshiping Jesus together radically re-orients our lives around the person of Jesus. When we gather as a church, we experience a unique opportunity to realize and celebrate who God is and what he has done as well as encourage one another to one another to be changed into the people God calls us to become. This weekend, we’re asking God to reveal himself to us and shape us into the individuals and the community that he has made us to be.Support the Show.
Following Jesus is not a solo journey but is designed to be experienced together. Sometimes the pace and structure of our modern lives seem to work against our ability to build meaningful relationships. However, being part of the body of Christ includes intrinsic connections with God’s people, and we want to create strong relationships so that we can follow Jesus together. Let’s explore some of the benefits we experience by pursuing growth together.Support the Show.
The writer of Hebrews tells us to motivate each other towards love and good deeds. That is the essence of serving others. God wants us to serve others by loving them and doing good deeds for them. The way Jesus loved people and gave everything for them is our motivation. The people we serve are changed by the love of Jesus, and so are we.Support the Show.
What does Mt. Arbel have to do with Jesus' life and life in our town right now? One more location important in Jesus' life helps us understand the connection between Jesus' mission and our lives and church. Let's explore how we can be part of Jesus' ongoing mission.Support the Show.
Joseph took Mary and Jesus into Egypt because Jesus' life was threatened. They joined a Jewish community living in exile before returning home. So much of our life includes a longing for a reality that remains beyond our grasp, a longing for a place where everything fits in its place, where everything is just right--our life could be considered a life in exile. Let's follow the steps of Jesus together to find hope in our exile.Support the Show.
Our character and perspective is shaped by the people we’ve interacted with and the places we have lived far more than we often realize. It’s surprising to remember how this is also true for Jesus. God chose some surprising and unassuming places to shape the life of his Son. This weekend, we consider the significance of Jesus’ hometown and the meaning behind the title we often use: Jesus of Nazareth.Support the Show.
In the story of beginnings from Genesis, we see humanity moving away from God in rebellion while God keeps moving closer in his grace toward humanity. To conclude this series, we find God bringing judgment to scatter people as a result of their pride. However, even in judgment God is acting graciously to create a good ending for the human story. How can we trust God with the broken parts of our lives and move away from pride to depend on him?Support the Show.