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.
WHO WAS JESUS? He has been variously pictured as philosopher and prophet, sage and social activist, charismatic healer and mushroom-ingesting cult leader. Indeed, Jesus often suspiciously resembles the person answering the question. In this series, we are looking at how Jesus described himself. There are 7 “I am” statements in the gospel of John and we are going to look at them this summer. Together, they will help us know, love and follow him- the actual him- even more.
When things go bad in their lives people always ask why God would allow such things to happen in their lives. Not many people had it worse than the Old Testament figure, Joseph. His story is one of the truly epic ones in the Bible. For the next several weeks we are going to explore his life story and plumb the depths of God’s ways and wisdom. You will come away with your vision stretched and your hopes renewed.
The most frequent command in the Bible is to not be afraid, but how do you do that?! Fear and faith seem like perennial enemies who are always competing for dominance in our lives. It is hard sometimes to even tell who is winning, and nothing makes it more challenging than a crisis in our lives. Join us as we learn how to rely on faith and overcome fear in deeper ways than ever before.
During this tumultuous time in which everything is changing, one story does not change. It begins with Jesus’ submission on Palm Sunday, followed by the completion of his task on Good Friday. Then Easter reveals how death is unDONE by the resurrection of Jesus, and the final Sunday shows how the ripples of that event reverse the damage. “Undone” summarizes the unchanging message that changes everything.
The very word is an invitation to stretch to something new and a call to reach beyond ourselves. We are going to explore several ways our congregation can stretch to REACH others. One way we will stretch is by going on a spiritual journey to seek God’s wisdom, strength and resources for our upcoming building project. This is a rare opportunity to experience together a powerful movement of God in our lives. There will be 'spiritual ripples' flowing out for years to come as we experience this journey together. Don’t miss it!
We are visiting various threshold moments in the lives of individuals and in the life of the nation of Israel. It is important to be aware of “liminal moments” when one season of life gives way to another, especially when that moment of decision helps determine what season comes next. How can we know when we are at one of those thresholds? How should we navigate them wisely? Most importantly, what should we do – or not do – when we stand at a threshold?
Is there any more universal message than the “gospel”? Is there any more universal board game than Monopoly?! What a perfect combo for the first series of the new year! We are going “back to basics” of the central message of the Bible by taking a trip around the Monopoly board. You will never see the gospel OR Monopoly the same again! Join us … and bring your friends.
Is there any more wonderful season than Christmas? Just think of your memories of being a child! There is a reason for that … the story truly is wonder-full. This Advent Season we are going to explore the wonder of Christmas by looking at the story in 4 “acts.”
What do we do with the “downward drag” of our spiritual lives? Why do we keep falling into the same old ditches? The New Testament says it is because we do not understand the meaning of our own baptism! As foreign as that sounds for many of us, it is the centerpiece of teaching in scriptures. We are going to do a “deep dive” (pun intended) into the 6th chapter of the Book of Romans … the one that tells the story of our baptism and what it means.
How do you see yourself? Understand yourself? Imagine yourself? Most people today see themselves as autonomous, “in charge,” self-defining; we can be whoever we want to be. But the spirituality of Jesus is quite different, and until we understand that we will be thwarted and frustrated in our spiritual life. We must learn to see ourselves as entrusted with something that is the most precious possession of the human race and the only hope of its salvation. This series connects with Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy. Take his message to heart and you’ll never see yourself the same way again.
