The explosive beginning of Christianity is one of the most significant developments in history, as well as one of the most unexpected. New movements are usually short-lived. How did a small Jewish sect capture the imagination of the Gentile world in such a short time, especially in the face of hostility, prejudice and political pressure from without, and internal strife and burgeoning needs from within? The way the early church grew and spread is instructive as we face similar challenges today. Take a look at the beginnings of the worldwide “Jesus Movement” in the book of Acts.
What is it like to meet God up close? The biblical stories are as varied and unpredictable as the people involved, and never short of amazing. Common to them all is a sense of wonder and a life-changing experience that transforms. In this series we explore Close Encounters with the living God.
If you were going to begin a movement that would change the world, how would you go about it? What plan would you follow? If you were not going to be present to lead it, how would you prepare your followers for your departure? Somehow, despite having only three years to do it, Jesus prepared followers who began a movement that spread throughout the world and continues today. Join us during Lent for a series of messages examining what Jesus did to prepare for his departure.
Elijah is the first proper “prophet” in the Old Testament and one of its most colorful characters. He did more miracles and is mentioned in the New Testament more than any other prophet. The backdrop of his ministry was one of the darkest times in the history of Israel, precisely the kind of time that God raises up extraordinary figures of courage and zeal to lead the people back to God. Join us for a brief snapshot of Elijah’s ministry and what it means to be courageous and steadfast.
As the calendar flips over to a new year, believers are called to more than just marking time or coasting with the current. As a church, we are to be “on mission” and moving in a particular direction in a particular way. How do we tell where we are headed and if we are making progress? Join us for a fresh look at our church’s Mission and Core Values that will motivate and inspire for the new year.
There are whispers of Christmas all throughout the Bible. The story begins long before the appearance of shepherds, magi, or a young woman giving birth far from home. It turns out that the Bible is one big book of Advent, anticipating and whispering about this great Messiah King who brings hope to a dark and dying world. Join us as we listen together for the whispers of his coming.
We know temptation is of daily importance and a constant challenge because in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus tells us to pray about temptation “whenever we pray.” We are all familiar with what it is like to be tempted, but do we really understand it? Do we grasp the dynamics of temptation, and are we well-armed to deal with it in our lives? There are seductive pitfalls and traps that sabotage our efforts to live a life rooted in the Spirit of Christ. This series will help us see through the Beautiful Lies that are all around us.
These are nothing if not exciting times in which we live. Our situation could be compared to swimming in the midst of cross-currents which (a) are not easy to spot, and (b) threaten to pull you further and further away from shore and from safety. Furthermore, trying to swim against riptides only puts you in greater danger of wearing yourself out and being even more vulnerable. What is the secret to surviving cultural riptides and crosscurrents? There is no better model than the Old Testament figure, Daniel, who lived as an alien in the very heart of Babylon and not only managed to survive for decades, but to thrive and impact the culture around him.
The Most Influential Sermon in History was anything but a comforting, sleep-inducing homily. It was more like a radical “call to arms” to live a life so different that it would reflect the reality of God’s kingdom. It is a moral portrait of God’s people that requires everything of us. This summer we will devote ourselves to the first part of this best known, least understood and least obeyed of Jesus’ teachings so that we can hear it the way his first hearers would have heard it. Because if we really “hear” it, we will be forever changed. Just like Jesus intended.
In an age of self-expression, the idea of cultivating virtue has been largely eclipsed by the idea of “doing good things” and “making good choices,” but how effective is that, really, without character behind it?! If we do not actively cultivate certain personal qualities then we are actually in danger of unwittingly embracing vices! How, exactly, do we go about cultivating character? What virtues seem to be most neglected today and in need of rediscovery? Why is a life of virtue worth our best efforts, time and energy? Find out in this series, “Neglected Virtues.”
The cross is critical to understanding our spiritual lives, but the empty tomb points the way forward, because if Jesus was raised from the dead ... everything changes! Understanding that reality is the key to living the "Christ-life", and the paradigm for every aspect of our lives. Join us for a fresh overview of the inescapable implications of the resurrection for the transformation of all things.
