What does it mean to be citizens of God's kingdom AND of a nation on earth, at the same time? Few issues are more fraught, challenging or divisive today than political ones; we have an obligation to exercise wisdom in our civic responsibility. For “election season” we will briefly explore what it means to live at the intersection of two worlds.
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.
Wind is a powerful force that affects our lives in many ways. So is “spirit.” It is no accident that both the Hebrew and Greek words for “wind” and “spirit” are one and the same. In many ways, the key to the spiritual life that Jesus taught is learning how to “raise our sails” to catch the wind of the Spirit of Christ so that we are living by His strength and direction. This year, our summer series focuses on some of the everyday practices and “postures” that make all the difference in experiencing the reality of Christ in our lives.
How do we go about sharing our Easter/resurrection convictions in a post-truth world? Jesus tells us to “spread the word” but for most people that is a scary proposition. Is there a way to “translate” this timeless message into a contemporary “key” so that we can gain confidence and boldness in being heard? Join us for our spring series on how we can come out from the shadows and let our lights shine in the world (Matthew 5:15-16) … and enjoy it!
The most interesting conversations take place among people when they are eating together, and the Bible records a lot of dinner conversations that people had with Jesus. This Lenten season (the 40-day time of spiritual preparation for Easter) we are going to look at a series of conversations Jesus had as recorded in the Gospel According to Luke. It is hard to know which is more remarkable … the kinds of people with whom Jesus associates, or the things that he says to them. And we get to listen in.
The season of Advent pointed us towards that Day when 'every sad thing comes untrue' (
Get your New Year off to a great start with this series of messages on the path of spiritual growth. What does growth look like? How does it occur? What are the steps or stages of growth? We will be viewing growth as a process of awakening to spiritual light, and culminating in an "illumined" life.
The season of Advent is about much more than just the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth. As a season that begins in darkness and culminates in an Arrival, it perfectly captures the place that the church occupies in time. More than any other church season, Advent reflects “where we live” and helps us understand that we are not just looking to the past, but also looking – expectantly - to the future. Join us for this holiday series for fresh insights into what it means to be living “between the times.”
Often, our lives are filled with anxiety about what we do not have and what we think we need. If we do not have enough for ourselves, how can we possibly give for the sake of others? You might be surprised! Our next series of messages focuses on the spiritual power and satisfaction that is found at the intersection of Generosity and Enough.
What are we to make of the Bible?! It’s so … weird. Lengthy. Repetitive. Confusing. Written by messed up people. Plus … people interpret it in different ways. How can we possibly know the “right” way to read it, and even if we did, how do we know it is even reliable? How did this totally unique “book” (library, really) even come to be in the first place? This series we are going to make sense of this book which has had a greater impact on history and human lives than anything else ever written. At the end of the day we will discover that it is not a book just to be “read.” It is a way to relate to God and hear from Him. Personally. The question is not what we are to make of the Bible; rather, what is the Bible to make of us.
