If you’ve ever gone into a theater during the middle of an unfamiliar movie, you know how hard it is to understand the movie without knowing how it begins. The same is true of our lives. Whether we realize it or not, everyone is living out of some kind of “story,” some fundamental understanding of the universe: how it came to be, where it is going, who we are, what has gone wrong, etc. Needless to say, we are living in a culture with many competing stories. In the midst of this age - as in every age - the Bible declares itself to be the True Story, and the beginning of that story is the foundation for understanding everything else.
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 BeautifulLies 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 swimagainstriptides only puts you in greater danger of wearing yourself out and being even more vulnerable. What is the secret to survivingculturalriptides 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, “NeglectedVirtues.”
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.
It is the problem we face every single day, isn't it? Staying the course. Maintaining our spiritual health. Not allowing ourselves to veer off the path or be distracted from what we’re supposed to do. Finding courage to face our challenges and trials. Despite the best of intentions, we find ourselves going up and down, back and forth. Yet, we follow someone who is unrelentingly determined in moving toward his goals and fulfilling his destiny. What would it be like to live like his disciples, unwavering? Find out in our Lenten series as we follow Jesus on his last journey to Jerusalem.
Everyone loves a good love story, and the book of Ruth is one of the most charming ones in the Bible. There is nothing else quite like it. But do not let the simplicity of the story fool you. Behind the ordinary ups and downs of the lives detailed in it is a Greater Love Story that involves us all. Join us for a two-week look at how love transforms the mundane and the ordinary into vehicles for revealing divine glory.
