River City Church - Smyrna, GA: Recent Episodes
River City Church
Josh walks us through Psalm 37, focusing on what it means to not only delight IN the Lord, but also what it means to live a life full of His delight.
Want to know more about River City?
Check us out online! www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Join us this week on the podcast as we send off our friends, Bess and Bobby, to a new adventure as well as our 2023 Fall Baby Dedication!
We are so thankful to be able to walk alongside and celebrate what God is doing in our families.
Want to know more about our community?
Check out our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Pastor Josh walks us through the end of Romans 12(verses 14-21), a key passage in the foundations of River City.
Want to know more about our community?
Visit us online! www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Pastor Josh walks us through the next part of Romans 12 focusing on the importance of committing to being formed in and through Godly community.
How to Live in the Body of Christ:
1. Sincere love.
2. Hate evil and cling to good.
3. Practice affectionate love.
4. Compete in giving respect.
5. Don't tire of hard work and be on fire for the Spirit.
6. Celebrate hope.
7. Be patient in suffering.
8. Constant prayer.
9. Contribute to the needs of God's people.
10. Make sure you are hospitable to strangers.
Want to know more about River City?
Check out our website! www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Our Associate Pastor, Kara Lee, walks us through Romans 12:1-8 and the importance of practicing being present with God.
A few sermon notes:
"Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural pathways throughout life and in response to experiences. While the brain usually does this itself in response to injury or disease, when humans focus their attention enough, they can slowly rewire these pathways themselves." (Grace Weintrob, Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging)
"As we practice pursuing the presence of God, studying His word, and praying on a continuum, we build new neuropathways. As the saying in neuroscience goes, "neurons that fire together, wire together." The more we practice something, the more we strengthen the pathways and the easier the skill becomes." (Lauri McNair, MS)
Josh walks us through the final bit of our Hebrews study looking specifically at God's heart towards leaders. Hebrews 13:16-25.
Want to know more about River City?
Check out our website! www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Kara walks us through the later half of chapter 12 on our journey through the book of Hebrews. She also pulls from Deut 4:11 and Ex 19:12-13. Check it out!
"The author does not simply say that it will not be shaken but that it cannot be shaken. It has a quality found in nothing earthly. The kingdom is something we "receive." It is not earned or created by believers; it is God's gift."
Want to know more about River City? Visit us on our website! www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Kara walks us through Hebrews 12:12-17, following along the course of our Hebrews study, and the importance of reading scripture with a communal view/context. What is the role we can play in each others lives? What can we learn from the challenges and encouragement presented in this passage? Listen in to find out!
Want to know more about how you can join in? Visit our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
This week our students are back from our annual network youth camp, OneCamp!
Listen in for some really cool testimonies about God's nearness from both our students and our adult counselors.
Want more information on how you can join in? Visit our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Kara, our Groups and Community Director, guides us through the last bit of Hebrews chapter 11 and into the early part of Hebrews 12! We have really loved getting to dive deep into these passages week after week. What have you learned so far?
For more information about our River City community or ways you can get involved, visit our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Join us for a Father's Day Blessing from Sara and a Message from Pastor Josh about the people of Israel and their example of faith.
Want to know more about our body or how you can get involved? Check out our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Another powerful message about living a whole life of faith with Pastor Josh.
Want more information on how you can connect with us? Check out our website! www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Kara walks us through chapter 11 (pt 2) on our journey through the book of Hebrews. She touches on the idea of detachment as she quotes author, CS Lewis-
"The world as we know it must no doubt be good. True. But the final goal of every human being is the enjoyment of God and not of this world. Therefore, nothing that this world can offer, not even its most innocent blessings (daily bread, health, natural affection or friendship) must be allowed to engage the whole heart. If it were, we should be treating as our home what was meant to be only a wayside inn. Unless we practice detachment, the world, however good in itself, it will become for us a danger.”
Looking for more ways to get involved in our River City community? Check out our website- www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Celebrate the faithfulness of God with us- RCC turns NINE!
We are so grateful to God for all the ways he has shown up in, around, and through our community over the last nine years.
Join us today as the staff walks us through some of our history of being a church. God is faithful!
Looking for ways you can hop in and join the fun?
Check out our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
We are so honored to have our dear friend, Tammy Ma, here with us. Join us this morning as she gives a word on what it means to contend in prayer for the world and to wrestle with God for His Kingdom here. Tammy has been involved in mission work since 1998 and has a rich history with God. We have so much to learn from her life and stories of faith.
For more info, check out our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com.
When walking through a book of scripture together, you are really able to see and discover the reason a book was written in whole to a specific community. We have SO enjoyed walking through the book of Hebrews together in order to discover what God is saying through Hebrews to OUR community!
Join us this week as Josh walks us through the first part of chapter 11 on faith.
"We don't believe something merely by saying it, or even when we believe that we believe it. We believe something when we act as though it were true."- Dallas Willard
Come back for part 2 next week!
Check out our website for more info on how you can get involved!
www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Join us for the follow up to Josh's message on the fist half of Chapter 10.
This week, Kara (our Groups and Community Director), walks us through verses 26-39.
Looking to find out more about our church body? Or how you can get involved?
Check out our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Join us back on our journey through Hebrews, this week- Chapter 10!
Josh walks us through verses 1-25. Join us back next week if you want to hear Kara wrap up the chapter.
Looking to find out more about our church or how you can get involved?
Check out our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Join us as we celebrate Easter 2023! May the good news of Jesus, His death and Resurrection, bring fresh joy to your heart today.
Looking to get baptized? Want to learn more about our church?
Visit our website: www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Josh invites us into Palm Sunday by reading Matthew 21:1-11.
As we enter into Holy Week, take a moment to pause and invite the Spirit of God to show us the journey of Jesus in a new way.
"Lord, teach us about the humility of your triumphal entry as we learn to trust you with our lives. That you may make the same kind of entry in our hearts. Amen."
Josh also shares with us some important updates about the current status of our lease and where we are feeling lead moving forward. Continue to pray with us!
Want more info? Check out our website!
www.rivercitysmyrna.com
Diving back into Hebrews- this week, chapter 9!
Josh walks us through the picture of the Tabernacle and the New Covenant.
We also spent some time praying for our space and our city. Join with us in prayer this week as we continue to seek God about our upcoming lease renewal and the ways God is asking us to trust Him as a body!
See you next week!
Check out our website for upcoming events and services: rivercitysmyrna.com
Join us this week as we dive into The Oscars with Reel Experience's own, Bryan Coley, as we unpack together some of the central gospel themes that are hidden in plain sight.
Want to know more about Bryan or The Reel Experience?
Check out their website here: https://www.reelexperiences.com
Join us back in Hebrews this week as we travel through chapter 8 with our Groups and Community Director, Kara Lee. What would it look like to truly believe that we hear God and the things He tells us are true? Dive into this truth with us! Want more information on River City or how to partner with the work of God in our community? Visit our website, www.rivercitysmyrna.com. We hope to see you next week.
Join us on the podcast this week as Josh continues through the book of Hebrews. On the docket this week- Chapter 7! Feel free to check out our website for all event related information and to keep up with the latest happenings in our body. We hope to see you next week!
Join us back in our Hebrews study as we dive into Chapter 6! Josh walks us through the ministry of repentance and what that discipline does for our mind + body+ soul + spirit. Want to learn more about who we are and what's going on in our community? Visit our website- rivercitysmyrna.comSee you next week!
Join us this week as Kara walks us through a message on Formation. She pulls from Mark 12:28-34 and Psalm 34. Jesus notes that we are to love God with every part of our being- mind, body, soul, strength- so we can trust that God will be faithful to meet us there. Jesus is forming every part of us. May we continually submit to His work among us and in us!
Josh kicks off Group Sunday by diving into Isaiah 61. The saving work of God coming to the earth in the "right now"s of life- when we are brokenhearted, held captive, mourning, and poor. The good news of Emmanuel, God with us, now. Imagine if the people of God took hold of this both individually and communally! Kara then transitions into presenting our Spring 2023 Groups and Group Leaders. Want to know more? Head over to the groups tab on our website!
Welcome back to the podcast! We kicked off this week's service with our 2023 Baby Dedication. We know it takes a village, and we are so grateful to be part of this stories with these little ones! Next, Josh walks us through Week Three of our POTS (Prayers of the Season) focus- A People on Mission. What would it look like if the people of God lived in their city with intention? Kingdom- minded people living Kingdom-minded lives. God loves the earth, and we want to be a living, breathing expression of that kind of radical love. Here are three ways Josh mentions you can live on mission where you are: Know your neighbors, serve your neighbors, pray for your neighbors. Scripture References: Matthew 28:18-20, Colossians 4:2-6. See you back next week!
Join us this week as Josh dives into week TWO of our Prayers of the Season: A People Who Serve. Scripture References: Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-18, Romans 12:4-8Josh spends some time at the end of his message presenting our new High Level Volunteer leaders (HLV) and allows space for us to pray over them as a body. We'd love for you to join us in prayer as we partner with what God is doing at RCC!
Scripture Referenced: Matthew 21:12-14. Isaiah 56:7Josh walks us through our first prayer point of the season, Building a House of Prayer. What would it look like for us to walk daily with the realization that WE are the temple of the living Spirit of God? What happens on the earth when the people of Jesus realize that WE are the place God loves to dwell? As we become daily familiar with this truth, we see the budding glory of God in the mundane. "Prayer is a word that describes a relationship. The disciplines of prayer provide patterns for attending to God throughout the day. They open us to the divine dialogue through intentional encounter with the Trinity." - Adele Calhoun (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook)
What better way to start the year than in worship and prayer! Join us as we gather to pray around these four core prayer points as we step into the new year-1. Building a House of Prayer.2. Being a People Who Serve. 3. Being a People on Mission.4. Living with Open Hands to the Spirit. We closed our time by praying for each other. We are always reminded that God is best seen and experienced amongst community and we are so honored to stand with you each in prayer. We see God through you. Miss the service but would like to pray with someone? Email us- prayer@rivercitysmyrna.com
Today, on our fourth Sunday of Advent, Josh dives in to Matthew 1:18-25 taking a look at the journey of Joseph amongst the nativity story. We learn through Joseph that when God is birthing something in or around us, He is always asking us to trust Him when we can't see the rest of the story He is writing- even when it costs us... and it always costs us something. We see that Emmanuel is always present with us as we say yes to God.
"Speaking the name used for God (Emmanuel), Matthew highlights that God is present with His people. He doesn't intervene from a distance, but its always active, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. God's actions are aimed at rescuing people from a hopeless place, demanding that He take the initiative and do things people have regarded as inconceivable." - NT Wright
Scripture focus: Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:14
Kara shared on the theme of Joy this week as we continue walking through the season of Advent. She reminded us of two truths: (1) we are all capable of experiencing the joy of the Lord; and (2) that that is what we were created for. We can rejoice, because we are a people of hope. Joy is a part of Jesus' character. Advent reminds us that we can step into the both/and tension of suffering and joy. Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11; Psalm 146:5-10; John 15:11.
Kara also shared a quote from Mother Teresa: "Joy is a net of love by which we catch souls for the one filled with joy preaches without preaching."
As we continue to walk in the Advent season, Josh shares on this week's theme of peace. Peace conveys a sense of inner rest. It is a joining together of things that were separated, bringing things and/or people into harmony. Jesus is the prince of peace. He is the source of peace. May we lean into Him when we are at war with ourselves or others. May be rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to be peacemakers for those who are warring with themselves or others. Romans 15:1-13; Deuteronomy 7:6-8.
Sara Turner shares this week's lectionary passages for the first week of Advent. The theme for the first week is hope. Hope is not always easy to hold or sometimes, we misplace our hope in things that cannot sustain. It's hard to hope, and yet we do. Christ sources hope: in His wisdom and peace, in His vision of worship and life, and in purpose and meaning. Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44.
Sara shared a quote from Noel Leo Erskine in reference to today's Isaiah passage: “This promise comes in the midst of the waywardness and idolatry of the people. The promise is not consonant with the practice and conduct of the people, but the prophet, who is able to “see beyond seeing” and somehow able to see God’s hope for the people, articulates a message that transcends the reality on the ground.”
Josh shared a variation of St. Patrick's breastplate prayer today:
"Christ be with you, Christ within you,
Christ behind you and before you.
Christ beside you, Christ to win you,
Christ to comfort and restore.
Christ beneath you, Christ above you,
Christ in hearts of all who know you.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger,
Christ in quiet and in roar.
Love, blessed Trinity of three,
Bound in unity
Who guides your journey.
You will arise with strength of heaven
Trusting in Your light
To guide your journey
Shine before you
Lead you home.
Power to guide you, might to hold you,
Wisdom teach you, watching over you.
Ear to hear me, hand to guard you,
Love to conquer every fear."
Josh continues our discussion of Hebrews in Chapter 5. The writer of Hebrews is explaining how Jesus is a form of priest - the Great High Priest - in the order of Melchizedek. Considering the qualities of a priest and who Melchizedek was, we begin to see just how "great" a High Priest Jesus is. And we are left with the same question the Hebrews community faced: if this is true about Jesus, are we building our lives as if this is true? Are we maturing in our faith and moving to "solid food" as the writer describes it? Hebrews 5; Hebrews 6:1-2.
Becca and Craig walk us through a discussion of both the posture and practice of worship. Looking at some of the various words for "worship" in Scripture, we have a way to understand the intimacy and dependence represented in worship. Worship acknowledges God's sovereignty. Worship responds to God's presence in our lives. Worship is a spiritual and transparent activity. Genesis 18:2, 22:5, 24:26; John 4:23-24; Matthew 14:33; Romans 12:1 (MSG); Zephaniah 3:17; Mark 14:26; Jonah 2:7; Deuteronomy 6:12; 1 Samuel 16:23; Colossians 3:16.
Becca shared a quote from Jonathan Edwards: "The duty of singing praises to God, seems to be appointed wholly to excite and express religious affections. No other reason can be assigned, why we should express ourselves to God in verse, rather than in prose, and do it with music, but only, that such is our nature and frame, that these things have a tendency to move our affections."
Josh finishes chapter 4 of Hebrews today where we are reminded of the power of Scripture to read us, to penetrate our hearts. If we will allow ourselves to be laid bare, we can receive the rest that God is offering. The invitation is to be open with God about where we are and then to be open to receive the grace that is available to us. Hebrews 4:11-16.
Josh continues our study of Hebrews, moving into chapter 4, and we see the reminder of the Israelites' response to being on the precipice of the promised land. They decided not to enter in, and, in effect, missed out on the invitation to step into the rest God was offering. That invitation to rest is still being offered in our present through Jesus. We can receive that rest. Hebrews 4:1-11; Numbers 13:17-30.
Josh continues our walk through the Book of Hebrews. In chapter 3, we see the author encouraging a group of Christians experiencing persecution to trust the Jesus they've known and heard about. The author reminds them of the stories of the Israelites and Moses after God rescued them from Egypt when they grumbled and complained about the wilderness and entertained returning to Egypt. The Israelites did not get to experience the rest God was offering, and the author does not want this community of Christ-followers to follow the same path. Hebrews 3:7-19; Psalm 95; Numbers 20:1-13; Matthew 11:28-30.
Josh continues our discussion of the Book of Hebrews starting with the first few verses of Chapter 3. There are two things about Jesus to focus on from these verses: (1) Jesus is the apostle or ambassador of our confession; and (2) Jesus is the High Priest of our confession. Jesus serves as a bridge and our representative, and He makes access to the holy of holies possible for each of us. Jesus is the High Priest of the Church, and we are the stones that make up His Church. Hebrews 3:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:4-7.
Josh shared a three quotes today:
1) From N.T. Wright: "The purpose which God was working out through the long years of Israel's history, with Moses and the exodus among the key founding people and moments, really has reached its goal with Jesus. This means that those who belong to Jesus in the present are really God's holy ones -- a title only reserved for Jews before who were strict in their adherence of the law. They share in this call from heaven.”
2) From William Barclay: “That building of the church will stand indestructible only when its every member is strong in the proud and confident hope he has is Jesus. Each one is like a stone in the church; if one stone is weak, the whole edifice is endangered. The church stands firm only when each living stone in it is rooted and grounded in faith in Jesus.”
3) And also from N.T. Wright: “The people who make up this house are described in verse 6 as a bold, confident family. There is no room here for a rather mealy-mouthed confession of faith one sometimes hears in the western world. Some want Jesus and others don’t and that is great…either you believe that God's new world has come through birth of Jesus and is there waiting for us as a solid definite hope - which means you can be bold in living on that basis and can make sure and confident claims about it. Or you haven’t really understood what Christianity is all about. This isn’t a recipe for arrogance, using the gospel as an excuse for the kind of pride which covers up your own insecurities. Rather, it is a matter for cheerful celebration, knowing that the gospel and the hope has nothing to do with our own achievements and everything to do with God's love and grace.”
Kara walks us through the end of Hebrews Chapter 2 today. Kara invites us to remember what the writer of Hebrews is trying to explain to that group of people: in addition to being fully divine, Jesus was fully human, and that fact is extremely important for us to remember. Jesus, as fully human, experienced temptation and suffered through those temptations -- like we do. As fully human, Jesus was crucified and experienced death. We can take hope in the reality that Jesus desired to be merciful as a human, and that He will stop at nothing to be with us in our suffering. Hebrews 2:5-18; Psalm 8; Genesis 1:26-28.
Josh continues our discussion of Hebrews, moving into chapter 2. We read the first warning in this book which boils down to: "do not forsake the salvation you've received from Jesus." We can drift in a way that alters the trajectory of our lives. Josh shared three things that distinguish this salvation we've received. He also offered three simple ways and five more obscure ways to pay greater attention to what we have received. Hebrews 2:1-4; Deuteronomy 11:16-20; Joshua 5:8-11; Acts 2:42-47.
Josh shared a quote from William Barclay: "Therefore, we must the more eagerly anchor our lives to things that we have been taught lest the ship of life drift past the harbor and be wrecked."
Josh continues with Hebrews 1 noting two things that the writer of Hebrews wants the readers to understand: (1) Jesus is the supreme authority over all; and (2) remain faithful, because it is worth it. Hebrews helps us understand that Jesus has been involved with creation (and humanity) from the beginning. He is the intermediary to whom we can go at any time unlike the intermediaries described in the Hebrew Scriptures (OT). Jesus is greater than all those previous intermediaries. What Jesus is offering is greater than what they knew or had expected. Hebrews 1.
Josh shared a quote from William Barclay: "The writer of Hebrews is basically saying the old time is passing away. The age of incompleteness is gone. The time of human guessing and groping is at an end. The new age, the age of God, has dawned now in Christ. He sees the world and the thought of men enter, as it were, into a new age beginning with Christ. In Jesus, God has entered humanity, eternity has invaded time, and things can never be the same again."
Josh starts our walk through the book of Hebrews in chapter 1 (of course). We can see rather clearly that the writer wants to communicate that God is faithfully speaking throughout the generations. We celebrate that God has faithfully used the Old Testament fathers, prophets, and even angels to speak to us, but the writer wants us to understand that Jesus is beyond all of those messengers. He is the exact representation of God. Hebrews 1; Isaiah 55:1-3.
Jonathan Godbey, the chair of RCC's finance committee, shares his heart about having and maintaining a healthy relationship with money and not separating our faith and finances. We also hear about his love of the Cokesbury Hymnal and his Uncle Billy along the way as he updates the body about RCC's finances.
Before we begin our journey into the Letter to the Hebrews, Josh provides some context for reading Scripture, in general, and Hebrews in particular. 2 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 3:1-17; Hebrews 10:19-23.
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns shares from Matthew 4 about the temptation of Jesus. We can see Jesus' temptations as ones for the "quick and easy" and for the "spectacle" and for "power." We ourselves often want things quick and easy -- especially from God. We want to be a part of a spectacle, and we want power in some form or another. But if the spiritual journey is as Eugene Peterson described it -- "long obedience in the same direction" -- we find that that obedience is often slow and hidden and often doesn't result in positions of power. Matthew 4:1-11.
This morning, we hear from the River City staff. We learn a little about them as people. We also hear their hearts for their ministries, what they are dreaming for in their ministries, and how we can partner with them. Acts 20:28.
Josh finishes looking at John 15 today, focusing on the call to bear witness to Christ. In John's context, bearing witness was life-threatening. In America, it isn't necessarily life-threatening, but we can still struggle bearing witness. What areas of our lives are we organizing without God? What if we invited God into those areas and abided with Him to let Him tend those things? John 15:18-27.
Josh shared a quote today from William Barclay:
"It is our privilege and our task to be witnesses for Christ in the world, and we cannot be witnesses without the personal intimacy, the inner conviction and the outward testimony of our faith."
Josh continues sharing from John 15, wrestling with what appears to be some difficult language from Jesus. We see how Jesus loved the disciples and what His command to them -- and us -- is: to love others in the same way. If we know and trust the character of the One commanding us, that can shift how we hear His commands. John 15:9-17.
Back from sabbatical, Josh shares a message from John 15 reminding us that we are chosen to produce fruit, but we are not meant to go and produce our own fruit. A faithful vine always has to be present, and our constant connection to that vine is important. The vinedresser prunes vines that are not producing fruit and those that are producing fruit. The vinedresser is concerned about the long-term health of the vine. John 15:1-8.
On this Groups Sunday, Kara shares about our fall season of groups, inviting us to step into one of the offerings for this season. When we think of the word "community" in the context of joining a group, we may have different expectations from one another. If Ephesians 4 illustrates the work of the church -- offering routes into community to be formed, the fruit of that is described in Acts 2. Some of our groups for the fall offer structure for more intentional spiritual formation in a small group (ETS), and other groups provide structure for more social interaction in addition to formational opportunities. Our hope is that you will find one that fits where you are and where you sense the Holy Spirit leading you. Ephesians 4:11-16; Acts 2:42-47.
Kara also shared a description for what spiritual formation is:
(1) Believers acquiring a Christ-likeness at the personal level;
(2) Believers becoming a people of God at the community level; and
(3) Believers establishing the Kingdom of God at the missional level.
Kara helps us better understand what we mean by the term "spiritual formation" that we talk about so often at RCC. It is keeping in step with the Spirit. It includes things like spiritual disciplines and small groups, but it is more than just those individual things. With Groups Sunday coming up next week, Kara left us with two questions to consider: (1) What areas of our hearts is the Holy Spirit seeking access to? and (2) What does it look like to invite community into that? Mark 12:28-34; Galatians 5:13-25.
Josh served as the OneCamp pastor this past week for our network's youth camp. He summarizes what he shared with the students this past week, but we all need to be reminded that God invites us; He calls us beloved; we are blessed; and we are broken to be given to others. We also hear testimonies from a number of students and adults who went to OneCamp this past week. Matthew 26:26-28; John 1:43-51; Matthew 3:16-17; John 15:9; Ephesians 1:3; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 147:3.
Josh shares a message from a well-known portion of Luke 10 today. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. We can see how Jesus prepared the people He sent on mission, and how He continued to foster their dependence on Him as they walked out the mission work. Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.
Kara shares from Luke 9 and 1 Kings 19, looking at what it costs to follow Jesus. Three different people come to Jesus and ask to follow Him, and He seems to have harsh words in response. Following Jesus does not guarantee our comfort. It requires an understanding that nothing comes before professing the Gospel. The cost of following Jesus is our hearts. Luke 9:51-62; 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21.
On this Father's Day, Bill looks at the person of God the Father and what it means to be a child of God who cries "Abba, Father" as the Spirit does. We have preconceptions about God the Father. But the reality that we are heirs and that we are becoming heirs -- that we are sons and daughters of God and are becoming sons and daughters of God -- tells us something about God the Father and can help us see Him in His true light. Bill also shared information about how we, as a church, want to help people serve from a place of health and a pathway towards serving. Galatians 4:1-7; Romans 8:18-25; John 14:9.
Bill shared a couple of quotes from George MacDonald:
1) “The hardest, gladdest thing in the world is to cry Father! from a full heart. I would help whom I may call thus upon the Father.”
2) “His children are not His real, true sons and daughters until they think like Him, feel with Him, judge as He judges, are at home with Him, and without fear before Him because He and they mean the same thing, love the same things, seek the same ends. Nothing will satisfy Him, or do for us, but that we be one with our Father! What else could serve! How else should life ever be a good! Because we are the sons of God, we must become the sons of God.”
Josh wraps up our discussion of A Praying Life on this Trinity Sunday. Looking at the mystery of God -- the Father, Son and Spirit -- we first notice them in relationship, in community with one another. The Spirit's "job" is guiding us back to Jesus (back to the Truth). The passage from John 16 highlights how much the Spirit wants to teach or show us, and the grace Jesus had as a teacher. Josh also walked us through a tool we can use as we continue stepping into prayer -- Prayer Cards -- which is a way the Spirit can teach us (see more below). John 16:12-15.
Guidelines for Using Prayer Cards
1 | Use short phrases to describe what you want.
2 | Pick 1 or 2 key areas and pray for those. Don't linger over a card too long.
3 | Write a verse that expresses your desire for that person or situation.
4 | Maybe once per year, add another line to the card.
5 | Don't write down answers to prayers.
6 | Date a prayer request with month & year.
Building a Sample Deck of Prayer Cards
- 4-10 family cards (1 per person)
- 1-3 people-in-suffering cards
- 1 friends card
- 1 non-Christian card
- 1 church's leadership card
- 1 small-group card
- 1 missionary, ministries card
- 1-3 world- or cultural-issues card
- 3 work cards
- 1 co-workers card
- 3-5 repentance cards (things I need to repent of)
- 3-5 hope or big-dream cards
Josh continues discussing our call to a praying life. The story of Pentecost is about hearing and dependence. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, those present heard the gospel in their own language. And those who were there were there because they remained dependent on Jesus who told them He would send an Advocate. The Lord's Prayer is a scaffolding we can build a praying life on that fosters our own dependence on Jesus when we pray about any and all of our needs and wants.
Today, we pray for the victims of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas. We lift up prayers of lament, comfort, healing, peace and hope. May our prayers lead us to action. Psalm 13, Psalm 91, Romans 15:13.
Josh continues our discussion of embodying a praying life and overcoming our cynicism. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul is writing to a church that he cares deeply about but that is having a hard time bearing witness to Christ in their community. Things like selfish ambition have crept their way into the church, which is always an issue for church leadership. When we develop an eye for Jesus and what He is doing in and around us, we remain in postures of gratitude and humility, which provide ways out of cynicism and help us overcome things like the challenges Paul saw in the church at Philippi. Philippians 2:1-11.
Josh continues our series on prayer this week looking at how cynicism can get in the way of our prayer lives. Cynicism feeds the skeptical ideas we have about prayer -- what's the point of prayer? Cynicism is a strong cultural presence, and many have us agree with it without even knowing it. Cynicism acts as if it knows everything but ultimately leads to nothing. Cynicism moves our focus to outcomes rather than the trustworthiness of God, the goodness of God, and the hope we find in Jesus. But we can learn to trust again. Psalm 23; Genesis 3:5.
Kara shares today from John 10 and Psalm 23 reminding us of the importance of learning the shepherd's voice. We can spend a lot of time listening to the best teaching and allow that to substitute our own efforts to spend time with God and learn His voice. Kara also encourages us that the shepherd knows each of our voices and comes to us whenever we reach out to Him regardless of what we need to say to Him. It may take some time to discern God's voice, but that journey is worth it. John 10:1-21; Psalm 23.
Today, we celebrate River City's 8th birthday through testimony and the unveiling of some new language related to our vision. We also share about our updated and refreshed website. Our church's vision is upheld by four values: spiritual formation, hospitality, restoration, and missional living.
RCC's vision: "River City Church is a place where we commit to be a people formed by Jesus, together, in community. We surrender to reorienting our hearts to God, the Ultimate Reconciler, who empowers us in building bridges with our neighbors to reflect the Kingdom of God."
Visit rivercitysmyrna.com for more information about our church.
Josh continues our discussion on prayer and praying like a child. Praying with childlikeness. Praying out of a dependency on God. Prayer is simply being with God, and the desired outcome of that prayer is actually getting what we want -- God. There are doorways presented to us where we can enter into that space with God to offer whatever is on our hearts and minds. We don't like to cross the thresholds of those doorways in our weakness or with our brokenness. But God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. John 15:5; John 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 63:1-3; Galatians 4:6.
Jessica also shared that she will be stepping off staff as the CityKids Director at the end of May.
Josh shares from Luke 24 -- a passage that churches all over the world are reading today. We read about the women finding an empty tomb, being reminded of what Jesus had told them would happen, and then telling others about what they'd encountered. In their story, we can see many of our own stories. We have an experience with Jesus that leads to our curiosity being piqued. We are reminded of our own history with Jesus and that leads us to more of an understanding of who Jesus is and the new life that comes through journeying with Jesus. Luke 24:1-12.
We also witnessed three baptisms today after the message.
Josh shares a Palm Sunday message as we enter into holy week. Looking at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, we are faced with two questions: Who is Jesus? and What kind of king is Jesus? In contrast to the Roman governor's entry on the other side of the city, we see Jesus riding in humility. We see the way of empire and the way of the cross cast against each other. We see Jesus weeping over the city -- because the people don't understand who He is and what His entry represents. By the end of this week, everyone abandons Jesus. He needs us to have the humility to see we could abandon Him too. Luke 19:28-41; Matthew 21:9-11; Zechariah 9:9-10.
Josh shares a message inspired by the way Jesus considered the children who interacted with Him and informed by Paul Miller's book, A Praying Life, which is a helpful resource for many of us who struggle with prayer. Jesus calls us to be childlike in our relationship with Him and, thus, in our prayer with Him. Our adult approach to prayer can be so burdensome, and there is freedom in the childlike approach with the Father. Luke 10:21; Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 10:13-16; Revelation 3:20; Matthew 11:28; Matthew 7:7-11.
Paul Miller's book is available here: A Praying Life.
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns is our special guest today, speaking from a passage in Revelation 8. Dr. Johns reminds us that there is deep mystery in prayer. The passage speaks of half an hour of silence before the seventh seal is broken. That silence operates as a clearing out; it wraps us for the deepening we are invited into that is coming. As we go deeper with God into God, we begin to understand that we don't just pray, but we are prayer as we are becoming more like God (theosis). Revelation 8:1-5.
Our finance lead, Jonathan Godbey, shares a message about our relationship with money and stepping into giving. Jonathan draws from John Wesley's framing on the topic: gain all you can; save all you can; and give all you can. Psalm 122:1; Psalm 19:14; John 21:15-17; Matthew 22:37-40; 1 John 2:16; Deuteronomy 8:17-18.
Continuing our discussion around the idea that "We All Go Together," Josh shares about the heart of hospitality behind stepping into serving. Bill invites us to follow Jesus' words that the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and shares specific ministry needs that the RCC family can help with. Exodus 33:14-16; 1 Peter 4:7-11; Romans 12:3-13; Mark 10:45.
As we continue our series and enter the season of Lent, Josh looks at Luke 3 and 4, where Jesus hears God call Him the Beloved and is then led into the wilderness where He is tempted. During Lent, we have the opportunity to fast as well, and in doing so, we are not only giving something up, but we are also stepping into a space to take something Jesus has for us. In the wilderness, Jesus fasts for 40 days before He is tempted, and the story prompts a couple of questions for us to consider: (1) What do we do with unmet hunger? and (2) Does our version of success look like what God has in mind? Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:1-13.
Josh shared a couple of quotes from Debie Thomas:
1) "Many of us “give up” something for Lent each year. Chocolate, wine, television, Facebook. The goal of these fasts is to sit with our hungers, our wants, our desires — and learn what they have to teach us. What is the hunger beneath the hunger? Can we hunger and still live? Desire and still flourish? Lack and still live generously, without exploiting the beauty and abundance all around us? Who and where is God when we are famished for whatever it is we long for? Friendship, meaning, intimacy? A home, a savings account, a family?"
2) "What does this mean for us as we begin our Lenten journeys this year? Maybe it means it’s time to follow Jesus into the desert. It’s time to stay and look evil in the face. Time to hear evil’s voice, recognize its allure, and confess its appeal. It’s time to decide who we are and whose we are. Remember, Lent is not a time to do penance for being human. It’s a time to embrace all that it means to be human. Human and hungry. Human and vulnerable. Human and beloved."
This week we have a guest speaker, Aaron Vickroy, who is the Associate Director for Staff Development at the UGA Wesley Foundation in Athens, Georgia. Aaron calls us to live a life that is a prayer. Looking at a number of verses from 2 Chronicles, we see how we participate with what God is seeking to do in the world. That participation comes through prayer but it also comes by the way we live our lives. God wants to open our lives to Him in such a way that our life becomes our prayer. A question to consider: Where are the ways that we're living disconnected from our prayers? 2 Chronicles 7:14-15; 15:2; 16:9.
Aaron shares several quotes during his message:
1) "The great Christian revolutions come not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when someone takes radically something that was always there.”
-- Richard Niebuhr
2) “God does nothing except through prayer.”
-- John Wesley
3) “Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets his people to pray.”
-- Charles Spurgeon
4) “Prayer moves the hand, that moves the world.”
-- Charles Spurgeon
5) "I want a life that does more than just pray sporadically, but that is itself a prayer."
-- Ken Shigematsu
Josh continues our series of talks explaining what we mean by "We All Go Together" and encourages us to step into being present with Jesus. Whether we are reading Scripture, going to church, meeting in small groups or whatever we are doing along our spiritual journey, the point of all of it is to meet with Jesus -- to be present with Jesus. He is the destination. For example, the point of Scripture isn't to bring us to a room or a building, but to be present with Jesus in community. Some questions to consider: What are things that may hinder me from being present with the RCC body? Who around me needs encouragement? Do I need some encouragement from others in the body?
Josh shared a quote from Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns related to deconstruction that many try to engage alone instead of in community: "A few words about deconstruction. In order to move out of toxic environments it is often necessary to exert power of 'I' and stake one's claim over against repressive systems. Once the power of 'I' is gained, it is especially hard to let go of it, especially when the 'I' is wounded. We can become trapped in our power of deconstruction and find ourselves in what Mark Taylor calls, 'amazing grace' -- endless possibilities and no closures. A life of mutual display, but one fearful of common values, common stories. Longing for community but afraid it may harm us. In such a world, everything can be deconstructed -- except the 'I.' We protect the wounded self. But who wants to live in this wilderness? The way out is not going back. It is going deeper. Deeper into the call of Christ to 'come and die.' The paradox of the 'via negativa.' 'All to Jesus I surrender' may seem like call to return to a life you struggled to be free from. It's not, because it offers true freedom. Freedom to love and be loved. Ending with a quote from T.S. Eliot: 'The only hope, or else despair, lies in the choice of pyre or pyre.' "
Josh shares from Psalm 1 this morning as we continue our three-month focus on the importance of the local church, living in community, and being formed together. Today, we're looking at what it means to step into spiritual formation. Formation is already happening. We are being formed by one thing or another. One group or another. Are these what we want to be formed by? Three questions to consider: What am I pursuing? How am I currently being formed? What things hinder me from desiring to be formed by God in my day-to-day routines? 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:1-2; Psalm 1.
Josh shared a few definitions today for spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines:
1) James Bryan Smith - “Christian spiritual formation is the process of being transformed into the image of Christ, through a relationship of intimacy with God, by the power of the Spirit, in order to live a good and beautiful life of faith, hope, love, joy and peace- for the sake of the world.”
2) Ruth Haley Barton - “Spiritual transformation is the process by which Christ is formed in us …for the glory of God, for the abundance of our own lives, and for the sake of others."
3) Evan B. Howard - “The intentional and semi-intentional processes by which believers (individuals and communities) become more fully conformed and united to Christ, especially with regard to maturity in life and calling."
4) Spiritual disciplines: "Any intentional space or practice done with the goal of cultivating attentiveness to God and what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and around us."
This week, we start a 3-month journey looking at a tagline that has become a part of RCC: "We All Go Together." We want to flesh out the heart behind that line. It includes the importance of gathering collectively on Sunday mornings and committing to spiritual formation in small groups. Kara kicks off this focus today as a part of the new season of groups. We often focus on the early church through the lens of Acts 2:42, but the fruit we see there was birthed out of that new group of believers in Acts 1 -- a group that gathered together to pray, worship, eat together. Looking at the life of Jesus, we see him model practicing the disciplines as well. Both were practicing spiritual disciplines before there was such a label for it. Kara shared about the groups that are available this season for people to join. Psalm 51:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:22-24; Acts 1:13-16; Acts 2:42-47.
Kara shared a couple of quotes this week:
1) Donald S. Whitney: “Although God will grant Christlikeness to us when Jesus returns, until then He intends for us to grow toward it. We aren’t merely to wait for holiness; we’re to pursue it.”
2) Richard Foster: "Thus, the daring goal of the Christian life could be summarized as our being formed, conformed, and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ…. Now, we must insist that this way of life is reliably sustained in the context of a like-minded fellowship. Essential to our growth in grace is a community life where there is loving, nurturing accountability. Christlikeness is not merely the work of the individual; rather, it grows out of the matrix of a loving fellowship. We are the body of Christ together, called to watch over one another in love."
Josh continues the discussion of our racial reconciliation prayer of the season. Jesus is the ultimate reconciler, and we need his wisdom and guidance as we practice the ministry of reconciliation. The work will also require humility, mercy, washing wounds, fellowship, and justice. Acts 2:42-47; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Acts 16:16-34.
Josh shares from 1 Corinthians 12 this morning about the Body of Christ. Paul wrote these words in his letter to explain what being a part of the Christian community means. He borrows some militaristic language of the time to flip things around, driving home the point that there is no superiority in the Body of Christ. All parts of the body matter. We all have some gift or gifts to offer to build up the body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.
Josh also shared a quote from RJ Whitney:
"The human body has 206 bones, 639 muscles, and about 6 pounds of skin, along with ligaments, cartilage, veins, arteries, blood, fat, and more. Every time we hear a sound; every time we take a step; every time we take a breath, hundreds of different parts work together so that what we experience is a single movement, our minds and bodies working as one unit. Even the greatest engineers struggle to achieve anything like it in mechanical form. The human body represents one of the most complex systems in existence."
Josh shared from Romans 8 where we see three groanings: creation, humanity and the Spirit. Paul talks about the firstfruits of the Spirit. That deposit from the Spirit reminds us of what is to come. Hope fits where we are in the present -- it encourages and sustains while we wait. Where are you groaning? That may be where God is trying to build you up. Romans 8:1-28.
Mariah shared a timely message as we start a new year with our personal plans and goals for the weeks and months ahead. We often make plans and ask God to bless them. What if we invited God into those plans and goals? What if we acknowledged that His ways are greater than our ways? Do we trust God with our plans? We want to, but will we? We can trust God. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:23; John 1:1-14; Isaiah 55:8-9.
Josh shares from Psalm 84 this morning -- a psalm Charles Spurgeon referred to as "The Pearl of Psalms ... one of the most sweet of the Psalms of peace." As much as the psalm centers around the Temple, it can also center each of us in the presence of God as we walk our spiritual journeys. Psalm 84.
Josh shares the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth when the two women are pregnant. We hear Mary's Song of praise. We read about the first Christian worship service and the first Christian mentoring between these two women. They encourage each other. They recognize the significance of what is happening to them and yet do not give in to the temptation to complain about the challenges they may be having as a result and do not rush what the Lord is doing through them. Luke 1:39-56.
Josh shares about the heart of John the Baptist's ministry and his unique call that was not the same call as the one for Jesus. John came to prepare the way for Jesus. We are reminded of his call to repentance -- to make us holy as Jesus is holy. As we are formed, we see the fruit of that call to humility: to share with those in need; to be truthful and practice justice; to be content with what we have; and to point others to Jesus. Luke 3:1-18.
Josh shares about John the Baptist preparing the way and what he gained going to the wilderness that he was able to bring back to the city so impacted by Rome. He did not take the city to the wilderness; he went to the wilderness to hear from God to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. What would your Rome be that you need to leave behind to hear from God in your wilderness? Luke 3:1-6.
We also heard testimonies from people about their experiences in their ETS groups and how they've valued finding their time away from the hurry of life.
Tina helps us usher in the Advent season this year reminding us that we are anchored in the hope of Christ. Jesus is hope. Waiting is hard. Hope anchors us while we wait. So many things and people disappoint us. Our own expectations disappoint us. But hope does not disappoint. Romans 5:5; Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 139:12; Psalm 130:5-8.
As we wrap up our discussion of the current prayers of the season, we hear from a number of staff members about each of this season's prayers. We also hear from the RCC family about how they've been pressing into these prayers, how they've seen God moving, and what they are grateful for. Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:12-13; Revelation 5; Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Revelation 7:9.
The sixth prayer of the season focuses on racial reconciliation. Looking at Acts 2, the story of Pentecost reveals God's heart for people who are broken and in need. The upper room was full of over one hundred people praying in humility. God comes in power, but God comes to each person in their respective tongue. He meets them where they are with the Holy Spirit and the power of the gospel in the language they understand. And the people are reconciled to God and each other. God is the ultimate reconciler. As we step into the kingdom work of justice and mercy, may we first be listeners to understand the stories of our neighbors. May be build relationships to break down barriers. May we see them as image-bearers of Christ.
Josh continued our discussion of our prayers of the season, further developing the conversation about "looking outward." In Psalm 146, we read the psalmist's pep talk he's giving himself as he chooses to praise God despite his circumstances. The psalmist prays about how God steps into situations faithfully and continually because of who God is. We see the reminder that what we worship forms us.
Josh shared a couple of quotes from Debie Thomas this morning:
1) "We are confident that God will heal us in body, mind, and spirit. We are assured that God will be there to lift us up when we fall, steady us when we stumble, and care for those among us who cannot care for themselves (the stranger, the orphan, and the lonely). We are not told specifically how God will meet these needs for us, and there is no guarantee that the answers to our prayers will be what we expect -- another of the 'surprises' of divine providence. God does not hesitate to use us ourselves to answer our own prayers, for not all the wonders of God will 'break in blessing on [our] head' (from the hymn by William Cowper, 'God Moves in a Mysterious Way'), God does not promise in every instance to change things for us; sometimes, we are changed for things. And a large part of our faithfulness is the wisdom to perceive the difference!"
2) "The righteous one works tirelessly for justice, giving food to those who are hungry, setting free those who are bound, healing the blind, watching over strangers, and upholding those who are most vulnerable in the world -- the orphan and the widow! The wicked are those who do not cooperate in 'mending the world.' They always prioritize their own self-interest. The psalmist asserts that God brings ruin to these. The reader of the Old Testament often turns to the books of the prophets to find compelling words calling communities to justice and righteousness. An unrecognized but consistent strain in the Psalms, however, is the same insistence and call to be a justice-seeking people."
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns from Pentecostal Theological Seminary shares a message from Hebrews 12 to help us celebrate All Saints Day and remember the saints among us and who have gone before us. All Saints Days teaches us that grace is relational as we pray with the saints. We are part of a grand, ancient community. We are not alone. Hebrews 12:1-2.
If you are interested in Dr. Johns latest book that Josh mentioned, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Transforming-Gifts-Menopause-Unexpected/dp/1587434393
Josh continues the discussion of our new prayers of the season (P.O.T.S.) using the lectionary passage for this week from Mark 10 about Bartimaeus. Jesus is on the way to celebrate Passover, but he stops to hear the prayer of Bartimaeus and meet him where he is. Jesus demonstrates the importance of creating space to hear the stories of those around us even when we are in the middle of doing something ... even doing something for God. Spiritual formation is more than learning the spiritual disciplines or consistently engaging with them. Part of spiritual formation is discerning when to put aside even our spiritual agenda for the sake of the others who need our help. Mark 10:46-52.
Our CityKids Director, Jessica, shares a message from 1 Samuel 3 about young Samuel and Eli. Jessica leads us in an imaginative prayer walking us through the story of the Lord calling Samuel. Hannah, Samuel's mother, gave Samuel a strong foundation of faith and dedicated him to the Lord to serve at the temple under Eli's mentorship. Eli had baggage of his own yet the Lord called him to continue to serve in the temple and share his relationship with God with young Samuel. Samuel was willing to serve and participated with God as he continued to serve the people as God's messenger. The worship journey for this week: "God calls, so we listen and answer." 1 Samuel 3.
Josh continues the discussion of our current prayers of the season. Service is a part of spiritual formation. RCC has church staff -- most of whom are part-time -- but the work of the church involves all of the members of the body. There are places for every member of RCC to serve in one of the ministries led by the staff. Be prayerful about where to serve at RCC. 1 Peter 4:7-11; Romans 12:4-9; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
This is the Hearts That Serve prayer: "Lord, we pray that our RCC family would be awakened to their specific place of service in our body in a way that enables them to be committed to our local church physically and spiritually through discipleship that forms hearts to serve the body out of this revelation and ownership of their roles as parts of the Body of Christ."
Kara shares her heart this morning about one of our newest "prayers of the season" (P.O.T.S.) -- Spiritual Formation. We have a responsibility to make ourselves available for the Spirit's formation in us and of us. Kara shares the what, why and how of spiritual formation and reminds us that (1) it is a slow process with the goal being to abide in relationship with Jesus; and (2) we have a part to play in our own formation and the formation of those around us. 2 Peter 1:3-7; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Luke 6:43-45.
Kara shared a quote from Dallas Willard today: "Sometimes we think of spiritual formation as formation by the Holy Spirit. Once again: That’s essential. We can’t evade it -- formation by the Holy Spirit. But now I have to say something that may be challenging for you to think about: Spiritual formation is not all by the Holy Spirit. None without the Holy Spirit. But there’s always more involved. And here again we run into the problems of passivity over against activity. Here lies the deepest challenge to the very idea of obedience to Christ in our times. We have to recognize that spiritual formation in us is something that is also done to us by those around us, by ourselves, and by activities which we voluntarily undertake."
Josh wraps up our discussion from the Book of James looking at what the early church looked like and what a church embodies that reflects the wisdom James describes. The early church was a singing church, a healing and confession church, and a praying church. James calls us individually to wisdom but also as a community of faith to live that out collectively. To be a vulnerable beloved community and to go after those who have wandered off to remind them that they too are beloved. James 5:13-20; Ephesians 5:19.
Josh shared a quote today from Barbara Brown Taylor:
"Like the sinner, she is to use her vulnerability to engage the vulnerability of others, in a community where people agree not to look politely away -- where mutual confession is practiced, along with anointing of the sick and pervasive prayer, sin and sickness cannot isolate people for long. Through these communal acts of faith, attention is removed from the individual self and returned to the larger body, so that God has more room to work. In this way, the wisdom of God edges out the wisdom of the world, at least for today."
Josh continues our discussion from the Book of James. James is talking about wisdom. Where does it come from and what does it look like? James unapologetically declares that it comes from God. It isn't found in titles or positions or offices. It is characterized by humility. It is pure, peaceful, gentle, unhindered, and without hypocrisy -- among other things. The wise person is one who wants to hear from God. James 3:13-4:3; James 4:7-10.
Josh shared a quote today from William Barclay:
"One of the most difficult things in the world is to argue without passion and to meet arguments without wounding. To be utterly convinced of one's own beliefs without at the same time being bitter to those [beliefs] of others is no easy thing; and yet it is a first necessity for the Christian teacher."
Josh continues our study in the Book of James. Today, we discuss the power of language. What we say and the words we choose have the power to build up or to tear down. Our mouths can spread cursing or blessing. Pray that we would have the humility to repent of any cursing and the wisdom to be a blessing to others and ourselves. James 3:1-12.
Josh continues our walk through the Book of James. In Chapter 2, we see James encouraging the brothers and sisters to hold onto Jesus as he cautions them against showing partiality to members of their body. Biblical community discards hierarchy. We must be aware when we consider others for what they can provide us instead of inviting them into community because of who they are in Christ -- be they rich or poor. We have to put faith into action and avoid judging others' situations or statuses. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Josh begins a 5-week study from the Book of James. James is writing to the diaspora that is struggling, in part, with living in community with Gentiles. James' call to be hearers of the word and doers of the word and to "strip away sordidness." James is calling them to listen -- to be slow to speak and slow to anger. James could be writing this letter to us today as well. We have a choice to pause; to be less reactive; to use our words to encourage and not tear down. James 1:17-27; Matthew 7:17; James 2:17.
Josh shared three quotes today:
1) Archie Smith Jr. -- "Words Create Worlds of Meaning. We use words to express ourselves; to convince and convict ourselves and others; to describe, name, blame, or label things; to win arguments; to sell an idea or object; to lecture; to expound a point, explain things into or out of existence, persuade, condole, console, counsel; to announce, denounce, deceive; to ask someone to marry; to declare war and make peace; to sentence someone, diagnose a condition, analyze a problem, deliberate or negotiate a deal. We cannot get along without words. Words can alarm, harm, uplift, inspire, degrade, or silence someone. They can reveal our inner thoughts. Where would we be without words?"
2) William Barclay -- "Cultivate virtues of a discerning welcoming spirit. Listening and being listened to opens doors for the righteousness of God in communities."
3) William Barclay -- "What you hear in the holy place must be lived out in the marketplace."
Josh finishes our discussion in John 6 regarding Jesus as the bread of life. John 6:56-69.
Josh continues the discussion from John 6 surrounding Jesus' talk about the bread of life and how that includes the eucharist but is also more than that. Proverbs 9 mentions wisdom and folly. The wisdom we seek originates in the bread of life and the person of Jesus. As we journey with Jesus, we partake in the bread and water He is offering and develop the wisdom spoken of in Proverbs. Proverbs 9; John 6:51-58; Luke 24:30-32.
Bill continues the discussion of hunger looking at this week's Lectionary passages. We see in 1 Kings an exhausted Elijah who has no idea what he needs, and the Lord provides food and water for his journey ahead. In Psalms, we read the words of David, writing about tasting and seeing that the Lord is good after the priest provides him with loaves of the bread of the presence. In the Gospel passage from John 6, we read about the Bread of Life that came down from heaven in the person of Jesus and the invitation to imitate the life of Christ. And in Ephesians, we read about what a life in Christ looks like which invites us to continually partake in the Bread of Life to fill, sustain and satiate us. 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; John 6:41-51; Ephesians 4:25-32.
Kara shares from John 6 today and asks us the question Jesus asked those following him after he fed the 5000: "What are you hungering for?" Are we trusting God to satiate our true hunger? Do we believe Jesus is the One God sent to satiate our true hunger? Do we believe that even when what God provides doesn't look like what we expect or thought we wanted? John 6:22-35; Exodus 16:2-4.
On this Creative Sunday, Mariah, our Service Coordinator, shares a message about spiritual formation as a creative process. God is a creator. He made us to co-create with Him. We see His creativity in the creation story and in the specifics of the Tabernacle construction in Exodus. Through the Holy Spirit, God continues to create a dwelling place within our own hearts, and we continue to have roles as co-creators as we step into the tools provided through spiritual practices like sabbath, silence and solitude, and others. Genesis 1:1, 12, 27; Genesis 2:19-20; Exodus 35:5, 10, 22, 30-35; Psalm 51:10; Ephesians 2:19-22.
After a week at our network's OneCamp for our middle and high school students, Bill shares a message from 1 John 4 and John 15 about abiding in Christ. The OneCamp theme this year was "Abide," but the message of abiding in Christ dovetails nicely with RCC's discussion this year about equipping the saints. And the ETS groups we are planning for the fall are an easy way to participate in the work Christ wants to do in our lives. We also hear a number of OneCamp testimonies from the students and adults who attended camp. 1 John 4:9-13; John 15:5, John 15:2, John 15:7; Matthew 11:28-30.
Jessica, our CityKids Coordinator, shares a message from the Gospel of Matthew for the RCC children and the adults. We see Jesus befriend an outcast like Matthew, who was a tax collector. And then we see the disciples try to stop the children from seeing Jesus, and we learn how Jesus sees the little children. They have something to offer our church family as well. As much as we want to focus on our personal equipping, the children need us as well to equip them and provide opportunities for them to share their faith with us. Matthew 9:9-13; Matthew 19:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:14-15.
Josh introduces our ETS (Equipping the Saints) groups that will launch in August by explaining the importance of discipleship to our faith journeys. We read about Jesus calling the disciples at the beginning of his ministry, and we read in Matthew 28 the command to "Go and make disciples." But we tend to lose sight of the discipleship Jesus undertook with the disciples in the three years between "Follow me" and "go and make disciples." Our ETS groups are designed to help us move into discipleship at the pace of Jesus. If you are interested in signing up for one, please email ets@rivercitysmyrna.com to let us know. Matthew 4:19-20; John 1:35-50; Matthew 28:16-20; John 14:25-27.
Tina Lee shares a message about the initial steps in our apprenticeship to Jesus -- Awakening. She reminds us that God awakens, and we are the awakened. Whether our awakening experience is earth-shaking or a series of smaller moments, it serves as an invitation into discipleship or spiritual formation -- to step into the journey of apprenticeship that Jesus has for each of us. Ephesians 1:18; John 3:3-8; Acts 9:9-19; Philippians 3:7-10.
Josh continues our discussion about apprenticing to Jesus, looking at a passage from Luke 9, where Jesus interacts with different people who say they want to follow Him. Jesus' responses can seem harsh, but Jesus understands what the journey with Him involves. What it offers. It's worth more than all the other things we want to take care of before we do the spiritual part. But the journey is where the beauty is; where the life is. There are stages to our spiritual journeys: awakening, purgation, illumination, and union. Where are you on the journey? Where do you feel stuck?
Josh shares from the first four chapters of Joshua to help illustrate the journey of apprenticeship to Jesus that we are all walking. The Israelites could've crossed the Jordan in any number of ways, but they crossed the river as led by the Spirit. But they didn't stop there, because the story of the river was on the way to where God was leading them. The story of the Israelites provides a number of lessons for us as we practice our apprenticeship. They shared their journey; listened and obeyed the voice of God; had a shared testimony and treasured it; and they made preparations for the next steps of their journey. Joshua 1:1-9; Joshua 3; Joshua 4:1-14.
Josh shared a message based on the story from Joshua of the 12 stones out of the Jordan. The story serves as a visual of not only hearing testimony of what the Lord is speaking to us but also following through and actively engaging what God is leading us into. We have to create space to hear from God and follow His guidance. None of us can pull ourselves out of Egypt. The Spirit is leading us out into the things we need to be children of God. Jeremiah 17:7-8; Joshua 4:1-9; Exodus 13:21; Romans 8:9-17.
As we wrap up our walk through the Book of Ephesians, Josh shares about the "armor of God." These are verses many have heard before, but we may not connect with the armor imagery. What does armor have to do with a gospel message like "love your enemies?" The armor imagery, like Paul's use of "body" or "temple" imagery elsewhere, is a vehicle to explain a broader truth. The armor elements referenced are defensive weapons aside from perhaps the sword of the Spirit, but even that is for protection against attack -- not a tool to bash another. In the end, the armor helps us "stand firm" to engage in conversation with others and share the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:10-24.
Josh shares from Ephesians 6 today about some verses that can be hard to hear -- whether you are a child or a parent. Paul is encouraging the Ephesian church that life in Christ is not like the context in which they live where power dictates the relationship. Parents like to correct their children -- especially when they don't listen and obey. Children have a hard time listening to their parents if all they hear is correction. Perhaps if parents erred on the side of encouragement versus correction, our children would hear the correction for what it is. This week, let's step into encouragement and listening. Ephesians 6:1-9.
Josh shared three quotes today:
1) N. T. Wright: "We shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that because some families get it horribly wrong it isn't possible to get it right, at least some of the time. Just because the Garden grows weeds we shouldn't pave it over with concrete. Just because there are oppressive families, there's no reason to dismiss family life altogether. On the contrary. The reason the family can become a place of fear and bondage is because it is designed as the place of love, security, affirmation and new energy. The worst is the corruption of the best. As with marriage, so with family life, and attitudes to work, both from employer and employee. Are we so sure that we in the modern world have got it right that we are in a position to turn around and tell Paul he's got it wrong?"
2) William Barclay: "Here's a letter dated from 1 BC from a man called Hilarion to his wife Alis. He has gone to Alexandria, and he writes home on domestic affairs: 'Heartiest greetings to you and to my dear Berous and Apollonarion. Know that we are still even now in Alexandria. Do not worry if when all others return I remain in Alexandria. I beg and beseech of you to take care of the little child, and, as soon as we receive wages, I will send them to you. If -- good luck to you! -- you bear offspring, if it is a male, let It live; if it is a female, expose it. You told Aphrodisias, "Do not forget me." How can I forget you? I beg you therefore not to worry.' "
3) William Barclay: "The 18th century artist Benjamin West tells how he became a painter. One day, his mother went out leaving him in charge of his little sister, Sally. In his mother's absence, he discovered some bottles of colored ink and began to paint Sally's portrait. In doing so, he made a considerable mess of things with ink blots everywhere. His mother came back. She saw the mess but said nothing. She picked up the piece of paper, saw the drawing and said, 'Why, it's Sally!' And she stooped and kissed him. Afterwards, Benjamin West always used to say 'my mother's kiss made me a painter.' Encouragement did more than rebuke could ever do. As Paul sees it, children must honor their parents, and the parents must never discourage their children."
On this Mother's Day, Josh continues our equipping the saints discussion looking at the end of Ephesians 5. We see in these verses the invitation to be Christ in our relationships. In the marriage relationship, we are invited to learn what it means to serve the other -- not to dominate the other. These verses are challenging to read in today's context and seem at odds with other writings of Paul that honor the leadership of women in the early church. We must see the arc of Scripture and what Christ is leading us to. Ephesians 5:21-33; Romans 16:1-2; Galatians 3:28; Genesis 3:16; Ephesians 5:8.
As we celebrate our 7th birthday as a church, we have many things for which to be thankful. Scripture is full of reminders of the Father's heart to bring us joy and to encourage us. We hear some testimonies from important people in the life of RCC and from our own family members. Luke 2:10; John 15:11; Luke 4:15-19; Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 150.
Josh continues our ETS discussion today, looking at a passage from Ephesians 5. Paul is encouraging the church in Ephesus, in their call to be light in the world, to be wise -- to not be foolish. How does that apply to us today? What is foolishness now? Maybe it's the badge of busyness we wear. The world is driven by busyness. We are too busy. Are we being wise? Paul's call against "drunkenness" is against the things that intoxicate and inebriate us. When we are lost in our busyness, we do not have the time and space needed to foster depth of relationship with Jesus -- to live like we are filled with the Spirit. Worship redeems the time we think we don't have. It reorients us to what matters. Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs together in community propels us to handle the good and bad that life throws at us. Ephesians 5:10-21; Proverbs 8:1-11.
Josh shared three quotes today:
1) From Richard F. Ward: "Spiritual formation describes an integrated religious life, with balance between contemplation and action, firmly rooted in God's vision for all humanity, and particularly for those who are 'in Christ.' To retrieve this deeper, richer set of meanings for this popular but potentially vacuous construct, the preacher is on the lookout for those biblical texts that will give spiritual formation depth, shape, and definition. You can find one here in this brief exhortation from Ephesians. For one to be 'spiritually formed' as a Christian believer, one is to be mature in one's faith and to be concerned about developing character as a human being. Claiming oneself to be 'formed' or 'mature' is the height of hubris, so we think of ourselves as being in a process of or on a journey toward maturity. Think of these few verses as but one signpost on that path that provides spiritual direction."
2) From Richard F. Ward: "The times are so urgent, so pregnant with possibilities for redemption and transformation, that the church cannot afford to miss its vocation. That is the key to the church acting wisely. When the church is acting contrary to its vocation, it is acting foolishly. ... When the church is out of touch with its vocation, it moves through these evil times as one who is intoxicated -- satiated and reeling, engaging in regrettable behaviors. If a quest for spiritual formation and maturity in the church displays a desire for balance and integration, drunkenness is the condition of being unfocused, off balance, and out of kilter with 'what God wants for you.'
"So how do we fill in the blank? 'The church's vocation is ______.' Imagine the church's vocation as a great series of interpretive images set in stained glass and put on display. Within that display, we see an image found in this little blip of a text from Ephesians. Here is the church 'filled with the Spirit.' And what does that look like? A group of folks like you and me, on the path toward formation and maturity, 'singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs' that rise out of grateful hearts."
3) From Dark Night of the Soul by Gerald May: "I must confess I am no longer good at telling the difference between good things and bad things. Of course, there are many events in human history that can only be labeled as evil, but from the standpoint of inner individual experience, the distinction has become blurred for me. Some things start out looking great but wind up terribly, while other things seem bad in the beginning but turn out to be blessings in disguise .... I also feel that the dark night of the soul reveals an even deeper divine activity: a continually gracious, loving, and fundamentally protective guidance through all human experience -- the good as well as the bad."
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns shares a message from Ephesians 5 as she takes us deeper into our "equipping the saints" journey. Paul's letter to the Church in Ephesus is a follow-up to his two years of ministry with this group of people. Paul is responding to a new church family that heard his message of the gospel of Christ but that is allowing the culture around them to creep back into their fellowship. Paul reminds them of the seal of the Spirit that marks them, and Paul is calling them to live distinctively as the people of the light and as members of the culture of Christ. Those calls remain for us as we navigate life in the various cultures into which we were born and find ourselves. Ephesians 5:1-10.
Continuing our series of messages around the idea of "equipping the saints" as we move into the Easter season, Josh looks at the end of Ephesians 4 where Paul is talking about new life in Christ. At our Easter service, we celebrated a number of baptisms which is what Paul is pointing to as he shares with the Church in Ephesus about this new life into which they've been brought. When resurrection and Christ become the center of community, nothing is impossible. When we read about the early church in Acts 4, we see that play out in their unity, hospitality, generosity, truth-telling, etc. Psalm 133; Ephesians 4:17-5:2; Acts 4:32-35.
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we pause in "holy awe" as we hear the story at the empty tomb and a group of followers who can't comprehend what's happened. Jesus doesn't appear to explain everything like we might prefer. They have to bear the weight of this transformational moment and do the work to understand the significance of what's occurred. We also celebrate a number of baptisms on this Resurrection Sunday. Mark 16:1-8.
Josh steps out of Ephesians to continue the discussion of "equipping the saints" by looking at the Palm Sunday narrative from Mark 11. The context of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem illustrates some of the misperceptions we hold about Jesus and what He wants to do in and through us. When Jesus is entering Jerusalem on a donkey from one end, the Roman governor is entering another side of the city with his legions -- displaying Rome's military might and engendering fear in the people. Often, we cry out to Jesus to save us, expecting a display of might and force to make things right or to deal with our enemy. Maybe Jesus isn't interested in saving us from our enemy, but rather, saving us from ourselves. Mark 11:1-11; Philippians 2:5-11.
Josh shared a quote from Debie Thomas today: "These paradoxes are what give Jesus’s story its shape, weight, and texture, calling us at every moment to hold together truths that seem bizarre, counter-intuitive, and irreconcilable. On good days, I understand that these paradoxes are precisely what grant my religion its credibility. If I live in a world that's full of pain, mystery, and contradiction, then I need a religion robust enough to bear the weight of that messy world. But the question is: will I choose the humble and the real? Or will I insist on the delusions of empire? Will I accompany Jesus on his ridiculous donkey, honoring the precarious path he has chosen? Or will my impatience and pessimism undermine my journey?"
Josh continues our discussion in Ephesians, moving to Chapter 4, in which Paul challenges the young church in Ephesus to grow into maturity in Christ. That call involves Christ as the centerpiece, the unity in the church, and each person realizing they have a grace to grow into to contribute to the body of Christ. The worship journey this week: "We all grow together." Ephesians 4:1-16.
As Josh continues our series, he looks at the end of Chapter 3 of Ephesians to the prayer that Paul is praying for the church in Ephesus. We see Paul understanding the limits of his ability to convey the fullness of grace and the depth of the love Christ has for us. So much so that Paul is on his knees praying they would learn what it means to be dependent on Christ. Do we really understand the grace of God? Do we really understand the depth of love that God has for us? What would it look like to be rooted and grounded in that grace and love? Ephesians 3:14-21.
We continue our series on "equipping the saints" which is a challenging concept to pin down in 3 or 5 or 10 easy steps. Josh looks at Ephesians 3 today, where Paul, who is writing from prison, is sharing his understanding of the mystery of Christ. Foundationally, that mystery is that the Gentiles are also heirs of Christ. But the mysteries of Christ are many and the questions they invite are what bring blessing to our lives as prisoners of this gospel that Paul describes. Ephesians 3:1-13; Exodus 33:14-15; Psalm 19:14.
There are some testimonies of the grace of God working in the lives of the RCC family at the end of service.
Josh shared a quote today from Johnny Hill: "The mystery of Jesus as spoken of in this passage embodies the kind of transformative power to help heal, restore, and renew broken lives, communities, institutions and even nations. This particular passage is a long prayer of the author's insight into the mystery of Christ. The church is presented as the cosmic organism for revealing and understanding God's divine will for humanity and all creation. The epiphany of the Lord is made possible because of God's self-disclosure. God discloses or reveals God's self to human beings as an expression of God's inexhaustible love and mercy. The epiphany speaks to an awakening and enlightenment and the revelation of the god revealed in the life of Jesus Christ. It is a kind of epiphany that transforms lives and calls for new allegiances, goals, and directions."
Josh continues our discussion in the book of Ephesians, highlighting the community that Jesus invites us into when he says to us, like he did to the disciples, "Come, follow me." Jesus is our peace and brings groups together that have no business together. Through Christ, the dividing walls come down, and the disparate groups become one new humanity. And together, these saints become members of the household of God with Jesus as the cornerstone.
Josh shared some quotes and thoughts to consider:
1) "Talmudine" -- "Jesus was a Rabbi. Rabbis teach. Each Rabbi had his own unique interpretation of Torah. The Torah is the law that the people lived by, and had been given to them by God through Moses. Each Rabbi’s unique interpretation of the law was his ‘yolk’. So when a young man chose a specific Rabbi to follow and learn from, he ‘took the yolk of Torah’ from that Rabbi. The Rabbi became his ‘Master’, and that disciple (Talmudine) accepted that Rabbi’s interpretation, and embraced it."
2) This journey of faith with Jesus looks something like:
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A revolutionary awakening.
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A radical experience of inclusion and love from God and community.
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The ability to seek without being forced.
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A sense of belonging to a family.
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A deeper experience and understanding of Christ that becomes personal in nature.
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A desire to commit deeply from a heart-choice place.
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Understanding who you are & whose you are, so God begins to bring clarity on what He's made you for.
3) "A new group of aliens and strangers now citizens with all the saints fill this household. Not a place that saints go, but where God chooses to dwell."
Josh shares from Mark 1, where Jesus is baptized and then immediately led to the desert for 40 days. He here's God call him his Beloved -- receiving his identity -- and then is led into the wilderness to be tempted. We can get caught thinking once we come to Christ that life is going to be full of blessings, but Jesus' own story shows us how wrong a perspective that is. When we read in Ephesians 2 about being saved by grace and being dead to sin, we can think that our suffering is behind us. Sometimes, God leads us into deserts to draw us closer and take us deeper. Mark 1:9-15; Ephesians 2:1-10.
Josh shared a quote from Henri Nouwen: "Every time you listen with great attentiveness to the voice that calls you the Beloved, you will discover within yourself a desire to hear that voice longer and more deeply. It is like discovering a well in the desert. Once you have touched wet ground, you want to dig deeper."
Josh provided questions to ponder this week: Questions for a Desert Season
1) Do I see struggle as an indictment or an invitation?
2) Do I feel okay knowing that I'll have more time to think? What will I do with silence ... Can I handle it?
3) This will be a place where the feelings I have outrun will catch up with me. How do I feel about that?
4) What will I do if I encounter my own wild beast?
5) Will I take the temptation of a promise of a half-dead life and head back to where I came from?
6) Do I trust that all of this is from God and that he is with me?
We are excited to enter into another groups season at RCC. Kara shares the heart behind lifegroups at River City. They are spiritual and relational. They are each unique but share the same DNA of communion, prayer, connection and word. Joining a group can be risky, but God is present with us when we risk stepping into community. Each of this season's lifegroup leaders share a little about their groups during this service. Josh also offers an RCC finance update for us. Ephesians 2:18-22.
Check out the spring season of RCC lifegroups, and jump into one: https://rivercitysmyrna.com/groups/
Josh kicks off a series of messages walking through the theme of "equipping the saints for the work of ministry" from Ephesians 4. Paul explains to the church in Ephesus that God has already done and continues to do much of the work in and through us. Part of becoming "equipped" is remembering that we walk in that reality. We know that God is good; He has a plan; and He will bring righteousness and shalom. Ephesians 4:11-13; Ephesians 1.
Josh shared two quotes
1) Gordon McClellan -- "I think the answer is to be found in verse 17. There, we hear of the goal to come to 'know [Christ] better' (NIV). This, it seems to me, is the true purpose of the church -- not always to get it right, or to have a pristine history of always being on the right side of every issue. Rather, the purpose of the church is to be a vehicle that works continually to know and reveal Christ better. In this sense, there is no other vehicle, no other institution like it on earth. This is what allows the church the opportunity to 'complete Jesus.' By presenting to the world a model of what it looks like continually to strive to know Christ better, the church has the unique opportunity to complete the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ."
2) Henri Nouwen (from Life of the Beloved) -- "Every time you listen with great attentiveness to the voice that calls you the Beloved, you will discover within yourself a desire to hear that voice longer and more deeply. It is like discovering a well in the desert. Once you have touched wet ground, you want to dig deeper."
Josh shares from his heart about our personal and collective calls to live out the ministry of reconciliation. This requires repentance, humility, listening, learning, and being comfortable with the uncomfortable. Conversations about racism and justice are not easy, but we have to be willing to step into God's heart for unity and reconciliation. We see Jesus in John 4 meeting a woman at a well despite the 800 years of racism between her people and the Jews. Jesus offers us a way to step into those uncomfortable spaces as well for the sake of the Kingdom. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 7:9; John 4:1-42.
Josh shared several quotes today as well:
1) J.R.R. Tolkien: "It does no good to leave a live dragon out of your calculation if it lives in your area."
2) Charles Baudelaire (as quoted by Keyser Söze in The Usual Suspects): "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people that he did not exist." 3) From the book, Black and White: "It's important to think carefully about this. What are these principalities, powers, and world rulers? What's their agenda? How do they operate? To what extent are they involved in human affairs, and more specifically to what degree are they involved in racism? If we discover they are involved in racism, what exactly are we supposed to do about it? If we don't think they are involved, then we will do nothing about them."
This Sunday, we had the privilege to hear from our new CityKids Director, Jessica, who shared her heart for children's ministry. Jessica reminded us that the children at RCC are as much a part of what the church is about as anyone else, and we have roles to play in shaping, sharpening, and encouraging them. If you want to serve with Jessica in CityKids, please email her at jessica@rivercitysmyrna.com. We also continued hearing testimonies of what Jesus is doing in the lives of our people. Psalm 127:4; Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 46:10a; Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 5:8-10; John 7:38.
This morning, we have the privilege of two messages in one Sunday. First, Shannon shared about her heart for hospitality and how that plays out in her role as the Table Director, inviting us to join her in the mission she has for The Table (Make Room; Make Do; Make Time; Make Space). Then, Josh shared from Psalm 139 and John 1 about what it means to be a "come and see" people who live out the reality that everyone -- friends, friends who vote for the other person, enemies, and ourselves -- are fearfully and wonderfully made. Romans 12:3-8, 13; Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; John 1:43-51.
If you'd like to help Shannon at The Table, please email her at shannon@rivercitysmyrna.com.
Josh asked us to consider 4 questions this week:
1) What are the needs of the body right now?
2) What are the specific anointings over RCC?
3) What specific supernatural graces does RCC have to accomplish the calling RCC has?
4) Are we following the favor God has already given us with Smyrna well?
Josh shared a quote from Debie Thomas:
"Is it possible for us to see our present moment as Jesus sees it? Instead of deciding that we know everything there is to know about the political “others” in our lives, can we ask God for fresh vision? Instead of assuming that “nothing good” can come of the cultural mess we find ourselves in, can we accept Philip’s invitation to “come and see?” What would happen if we left our comfortable vantage points, and dared to believe that just maybe, we have been limited and hasty in our original certainties about each other, about God, and about the world? To 'come and see' is to approach all of life with a grace-filled curiosity, to believe that we are holy mysteries to each other, worthy of further exploration. To come and see is to enter into the joy of being deeply seen and deeply known, and to have the very best that lies hidden within us called out and called forth. I write these words in hope. In fragile hope, but hope nonetheless. Not because we’re capable of clear vision on our own, but because we are held by the eternal promise of Jesus who said: 'You will see greater things than these.' We will. We will see heaven open. We will see angels. We will see the love and justice of God. So don’t be afraid. Don’t hide. Don’t despair. Live boldly into the calling of Epiphany. See. Name. Speak. Bless. God is near and God is speaking. Many good things can come out of Nazareth."
Josh looks at three passages from this week's Lectionary, and we are reminded that to embody the life of Jesus, we are called to repentance and are given an identity. The Creator Spirit that hovers over the waters in Genesis leads us to go low. In Mark, we see Jesus standing in line to be baptized by John who is calling people to repentance. And immediately, the heavens open; the Holy Spirit descends; and the Father calls Jesus, "His Beloved Son." We too are the Father's beloved sons and daughters called to repentance and given the Holy Spirit to live out the new life of unity in Christ. We also heard three more testimonies from the RCC family regarding how the Lord blessed them in 2020. Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11.
Josh shares from Ephesians 1 and reminds us of the blessings we have seen as a church family over a challenging year like 2020. Like the church in Ephesus, we have many things to be thankful for, and we recognize that all blessings flow from God to us, and from us to others, and then those others praise God for the blessings they've received. And that cycle of blessing and praise continues. We heard from many in the RCC family today testifying of the blessings they've received. Ephesians 1:3-14.
Josh shared three quotes today:
1) Allen Hilton: "Christians in Ephesus may have thought their decision was more a shift in religious focus -- no big deal. Just changed habit of worship. Then his letter, read after a meal, and they discovered that their small steps into a new community had been planned by God before the beginning of time. That the steps amounted to God's adoption of them through Christ. That they were part of a plan to bring all separated fragments of creation together in unity through Christ and that this would all end in a glorious inheritance."
2) Thomas Steagald: "We are those chosen for praise to God, destined for worship and appointed unto doxology. If we cannot yet see all that will be we can already sing it. We sing of what will surely come by the grace of God. In doing so, we prove that we are marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit. The spirit serves as a kind of retainer, or sustainer, until the fullness of time. In the day to come, all will sing and give thanks to God; until then, we have received the lavish blessings and redemption sung on behalf of the rest. If the origin of the message of Christmas is that the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us, the culmination of the season is that our flesh becomes the praise of God who makes us all one."
3) James McTyre: "God has set in motion an irresistible cycle of gifts and thanks, of which we are destined to be a part of, but certainly not the end. Rather than being entitled by God's spirit of adoption, we are obligated by its purposes. The mark of 'the seal of the promised Holy Spirit' is not that we believe and then stop, satisfied of our own salvation. The mark of the Holy Spirit is seen when we continue to place this imprint of love upon our neighbors, our friends, and even our enemies. By the mystery of God's will, they too will continue the cycle of gift and thanksgiving. What plans do we have, what plans do our churches have in the coming year to live into the mystery of God's will? How do we propose to continue to write, say, and give thanks? How will we continue to share our spiritual, physical, and financial gifts? Will we live another year as people with possessions, or will we live as people with gifts? Will we cautiously parcel out our gifts, or will we heap them lavishly, as God has given them to us? Mercifully, even if we missed the opportunities of Christmas, there are always second Sundays, second chances to begin anew. Our lives can be grateful, again."
Kara looks at Luke 2 and John 1 to remind us that Christmas is more than a single day to be celebrated. The purpose of the season is celebration. We have a hard time sitting in celebration. And the twelve days of Christmas are an invitation to celebrate the Emmanuel Jesus. Scripture describes a season of 400 years of silence from God -- of people waiting to celebrate the Messiah's arrival. Simeon and Anna were worshiping God in their waiting into very old age, and they witness Jesus' presentation at the temple. The testimonies of Simeon and Anna serve as a reminder that God did what he said he would do. He is true to his word. And we can celebrate that in our own times of waiting.
As we celebrate the fourth week of Advent, focusing on the theme of love, Josh shares from Luke 1 and the story of the Annunciation of Mary. In response to the angel's news of her role in the incarnation of Jesus, Mary sings a song of praise -- the Magnificat. Jesus continues to break into our lives today. And we have an opportunity to respond to the change and transformation that comes when Jesus breaks in. What will your magnificat sound like? What stories do you have to tell of what Jesus is doing in your life? Luke 1:26-56.
Josh shared a couple of quotes today:
1) Gail Ricciuti: "People are always puzzled that this pregnant woman who before giving birth speaks of her Offspring approaching Mission as if it's already accomplished. The way in which she sings her song calls a Future Vision into the present. The resulting Synergy reveals a vibrant now in which God's realm is complete and dwelling Among Us. The end is where we start from so that the end precedes the beginning. If so, then the saving justice of God's rain is as good as accomplished among those who can articulate its outlines. We are not used to seeing the realities around us in this way. Realists we call ourselves ignoring the Deep implications of incarnation no less than Resurrection, the new thing God has already done that sleeps below the surface of our perceptions. Now challenges to cultivate the ability to see God's promises as already having come to pass."
2) Debie Thomas: "The Magnificat is a song of too much hope. Of course it is, because "too much hope" is precisely what we're called to cultivate on this fourth and final Sunday in Advent. Can you do it? Can you find your voice and share it with a world more desperately in need than ever? What does your Magnificat sound like this year? How is God magnified through your unique perspective and vision? What stories of divine favor do you have to tell? What glorious reversals do you see heading our way? What words will you choose to describe the Good News of the Messiah you carry? Don’t wait. Sing it. Sing it now."
The Advent Choir's special song is also included in the podcast.
As we celebrate the third week of Advent, focusing on the theme of joy, Josh looks at John the Baptist again but from the perspective of the Gospel of John (different "John" by the way). While John is in the wild baptizing people, the Pharisees send some men to ask him, "Who are you?" And John has to look inward before he looks outward. He could choose to open with how he's the witness described by Isaiah to prepare the way -- to push himself into the forefront. But he doesn't. His first response is one of humility. He tells them that he is not the Christ. He has a purpose -- like we all do -- but it's not to be Christ. He points them to the light. Whatever else we do, our first and primary responsibility is to point others to that same light. Psalm 126; John 1:6-8, 19-28.
Before his message, Josh also shared some important announcements related to our church staff.
At the end of the message, Josh asked us to consider three questions this week:
1) How has the Father used this season to enrich and shape you?
2) In what ways can you share your story? How can you testify about His goodness?
3) Whilst in a season of waiting, how can you celebrate Him right now?
As we celebrate the second week of Advent, focusing on the theme of peace, Josh shares from Mark 1 and Isaiah 40 -- both of which discuss "preparing the way of the Lord." What does that look like? Mountains brought low. Valleys lifted up. Uneven ground becomes level. A people in the wilderness reminded that the presence of the Lord is coming. Hope is coming. Peace is coming. Joy is coming. Love is coming. Comfort is coming. John the Baptist prepares the way of Jesus, calling people to confession and repentance. That is how we, in our pride, are brought low to be lifted up by and through the grace of God. Mark 1:1-8; Isaiah 40:1-11.
Josh shared a quote from Debi Thomas this week: "To locate ourselves at the outskirts of our own power is to acknowledge our vulnerability in the starkest terms. In the wilderness, we have no choice but to wait and watch as if our lives depend on God showing up. Because they do. And it's into such an environment -- an environment so far removed from power as to make power laughable -- that the word of God comes."
https://www.journeywithjesus.net/essays/2838-comfort-my-people
Josh shares a message from Isaiah 64 for the first week of Advent -- the week whose theme is hope. Isaiah is crying out to God and is tired of waiting. Where are you, God? We need you! Do the things you did before. But God is doing a deeper work in Isaiah and the people of Israel. Many of us today feel like Isaiah did then. And the good news is that the waiting we're experiencing isn't empty waiting. The Advent season helps remind us that something is coming. We expectantly wait for the new things God wants to do in and through Christ in us. Isaiah 64:1-9.
Josh shared two quotes from Patricia de Kong today:
1) Her comment on Bonhoeffer: "What Bonhoeffer discovered was that the hiddenness of God is not a cloak of humility temporarily covering an awesome, powerful glory (a kind of Clark Kent/Superman act), but rather is a reflection of the divine character, a divine determination to relate to the world through the vulnerable path of non-coercive love and suffering service rather than through domination and force. God's refusal to replicate a Red Sea-type deliverance does not mean that God has abandoned Israel (or the church).
"Our hope does not rely on God's acting today in the same ways God acted in the ancient stories, but it does rely on God's being the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow -- a God who hears our cries, a God who does not abandon us, a God who will finally redeem all that is lost in a new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17). The tradition of biblical lament does not invoke the past as nostalgia, nor does it dismiss the present in despair; rather, it draws on the collective memories of God's people as a source of hope for the future."
2) "I recall a comment that our country has changed over the past years from one that wanted to be good to one that wants to feel good. We see some of this desire every Christmas season as people run from store to store and shopping mall to shopping mall, searching for the things that will bring them and their families some sort of fulfillment and happiness. Peace, the kind of peace that the world is hungering for, will not come from trying to fill ourselves up with material things. We try to stem our hurt and pride by running away from pain and caring only about what is ours. We cannot create peace through selfishness, but by opening ourselves to hope. Hope is what is left when your worst fears have been realized and you are no longer optimistic about the future. Hope is what comes with a broken heart willing to be mended."
The song that Josh shared at the end of service was "Voice of God" by Dante Bowe. You can see the video of that song here: https://youtu.be/hP5u4BUcq_U
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns looks at Exodus 35 and shares a message about the Creator Spirit ("Veni Creator Spiritus"). During this Covid season, the church has had to be creative. The Creator Spirit that inspired the many hands to fashion and craft the tabernacle in the time of Moses -- a portable and tangible place of habitation for the presence of God -- continues to inspire us to create beauty out of chaos through the variety of work we do. We have an opportunity to call on that Creator Spirit to provide wisdom to participate in those new creations using the skills we've been blessed with. Exodus 35:30-35.
Dr. Johns shared a song by Graham Kendrick called "Creator Spirit (Veni Creator Spiritus)" at the end of service. Here is a link to that lyric video: https://youtu.be/l2VWG0n26K0
You can find sheet music, a lead sheet and a chord chart for that song at Graham Kendrick's website: https://grahamkendrick.co.uk/songs/graham-kendrick-songs/other-recordings-new-songs/creator-spirit
Dr. Johns' most recent book can be found here: https://amzn.to/3pRLviN
Josh shares a message from Jeremiah 29 (not just the verse everyone knows) and Hebrews 12, inviting us to reexamine how we practice our faith. We've been given a rich history from which to draw but often settle for bumping into Jesus when we can. The life of St. Patrick and the Christian community he was a part of illustrates a different way to walk out what the writer of Hebrews describes for us as children of God. Jeremiah 29:1-14; Hebrews 12:1-17.
Kara shares her heart for community looking at a passage from Mark 2. There, a paralytic man's friends lower him through a roof to receive healing from Jesus. The man's faith was strengthened and his life transformed through the faith of his friends, and it offers us a glimpse of what it means to live in community with our friends and neighbors. Choosing to be rooted in community is the way towards a deeply formed spiritual life. Mark 2:1-12; Acts 2:42-47.
Josh continues our discussion of the prayers of the season (POTS) asking the question, "What does Jesus say that community looks like?" Using a passage from Matthew where Jesus is talking about unclean spirits in a house and then in front of his mother and brother, refers to the disciples as his mother and his brothers, we get a glimpse of what Jesus wants to do in our lives and how his view of us invites us into a community that, among other things, eats together, shares responsibility, holds each other accountable, and is faithful to each other until death. Matthew 12:43-50; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:26; Mark 11:17; 1 Corinthians 10:17.
Josh continues our discussion of the prayers of the season (POTS), bridging between "Clear Paths for Formation and Discipleship" and "Community, Belonging and Connectedness." We live in a culture that touts individualism, and it is easy to succumb to that in our daily lives. That pursuit leaves many Americans as some of the loneliest people in the world. Jesus calls us to Christian community which provides a path to a collectivist mindset that prioritizes the group over one's individual interests. 1 Corinthians 10:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.
Josh provided a quote from Lucy Shaw: "The pace of life and our preoccupation with unimportant things take so much of our attention. The significant things, like taking time to develop friendship, to read and pray, to listen to God -- these all get sacrificed on the altar of good works and Christian busyness."
Josh continues looking at our prayer of the season related to spiritual formation and asks: "Where does spiritual formation happen?" We see in the life of Jesus and his disciples a rhythm of Jesus getting away in silence and solitude and living in community repeatedly. Jesus invites us on a journey, asking us to share our desires with him and to tell him what we want him to do for us like blind Bartimaeus. But spiritual formation is more than that one-on-one relationship with Jesus. Spiritual formation encompasses at least three things: community, vulnerability and accountability. Psalm 23; Mark 10:49-52; Matthew 4:18-22; 1 Corinthians 10:17.
Josh opens our series of messages related to our most recent Prayers of the Season (POTS). Spiritual formation offers an opportunity to discover how Jesus wants to interact with us. We are invited to keep company with Jesus. We aren't invited to follow a list of steps to arrive at formation. We journey. The point is the journey -- not the destination. By sharing our deepest desires with Jesus, he can reveal how he wants to walk with us through that, what he wants to show us about ourselves, and where he wants to take us. Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 3:4-14.
Josh shared an acrostic from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun to help us step into spiritual formation. What desire grabs your heart when you read these things?
"WORSHIP"
Worship God
Open myself to God
Relinquish the false self & idols of the heart
Share my life with others
Hear the word of God
Incarnate Christ's love for the world
Pray to God
Kara shares a message from Philippians, illustrating how humility and honor operate in the Kingdom of God. Paul writes to the church in Philippi speaking of the assurance that comes in and through Christ: encouragement, love, participation in the Spirit, affection, joy, unity, etc. And yet, we see often in the Church, a group of people who struggle to honor the differences among each other. Kara reminds us that in the example of Jesus -- who became a servant for all -- we have the proximity we need to find the humility to count others more significant than ourselves and the support we need to deal with the costs of denying ourselves. Philippians 2:1-13.
Josh shares a message from Matthew 20 about Jesus' parable of the generous landowner. We see the landowner find people to help with his vineyard, and he selects people who may look the part and those who may feel unworthy of inclusion for the labor. And he pays them all the same day's wage. Unsurprisingly, some grumble at the apparent "unfairness" of the decision. But why can't we be happy for what someone else got when we've been provided for as well? Luke 24:32; Colossians 3:14-16; John 10:14-16; Matthew 20:1-16; Jonah 4:1-11.
Josh shared a quote from Frederick Buechner: "Don't start looking in the Bible for the answers it gives. Start by listening for the questions it asks."
Josh shares from Matthew 18 and Jesus' teaching about forgiveness. Jesus is trying to explain to the disciples how crucial forgiveness is to the Kingdom. This is how Christian community is built. We have to understand what we have received from Jesus in the way of forgiveness and grace, and if we have that understanding, we will offer the same forgiveness to others. Matthew 18:21-35.
Josh shared three quotes about forgiveness:
1) Anne Lamott (in Traveling Mercies): "Withholding forgiveness is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die."
2) Nora Gallagher: "Forgiveness is a way to unburden oneself from the constant pressure of rewriting the past."
3) Henri Nouwen: "Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly, and so we need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. Forgiveness is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family."
Josh shares from a passage in Matthew 18 part of which is commonly quoted without the context preceding it. We've all heard "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them," but that comes at the end of Jesus' instructions regarding how to handle conflict. Jesus is being realistic with the disciples. You are going to have conflict. You are going to be hurt. This is a way to fight for healing. Matthew 18:15-20; Matthew 9:9; Luke 19:5-10.
Josh looks at a couple of passages from Isaiah 51 and Matthew 16. Both passages reference rocks and teach us important lessons. In one, we are reminded of what God has done for us and that we can trust Him even when circumstances may suggest otherwise. It's not worth going back to revive the things that are dead. In the other, we are reminded of the power of our testimony of who Jesus is, which also brings us to a place of remembering what we've experienced with Jesus and that we can trust Him in the midst of our wilderness. Isaiah 51:1-6; Matthew 16:13-20; Exodus 16:1-4.
Josh also shared a quote from Debi Thomas: "I’m stunned by the answers that Peter must have lived into as time went on — answers he never could have articulated in the early years of discipleship. “Who do you say that I am?” You are the one who found me in a fishing boat and gave me a new vocation. You’re the one who healed my mother-in-law. You’re the one who said, “Yes, walk on water." You’re the one who caught me before I drowned. You’re the one who glowed on a mountaintop while I babbled nonsense. You’re the one who washed my feet while I squirmed in shame. You’re the one who told me — accurately — that I’d be a coward on the very night you needed me to be brave. You’re the one I denied three times to save my skin. You’re the one who looked into my eyes with pain and pity when the cock crowed. You’re the one who fed me breakfast on a beach and spoke love and fresh purpose into my humiliation. You’re the one who gave me the courage to preach to three thousand people on Pentecost. You’re the one who taught me that I must not call unclean what you have pronounced clean. You are the one who stayed by my side through insults, beatings, and imprisonments. You are the one I followed into martyrdom. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Josh shares a message based around Psalm 67, asking the questions: "What does it mean to be blessed?" We can be susceptible to viewing our circumstances through the lens of curse. But the language of blessing is important. We are blessed in the gathering -- however we can gather in the current environment. The blessing of God is always wrapped up in the community we are a part of. Psalm 67; Numbers 6:24-26.
Kara shares from the story of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew 14. Often, we focus on Peter's response to Jesus walking on the water, but what do we learn about the character of Jesus in this story? How does Jesus respond to us when we are in the storm? When we are in a storm that Jesus compelled us to encounter? Matthew 14:22-33.
Josh shares a message from Matthew 14 and Jesus' miracle of feeding the 5000. The disciples come to Jesus filled with compassion for the people who have gathered to hear Jesus teach and are now hungry. They don't know how to handle the situation. We see Jesus' motivation for His ministry -- love and compassion. And we see what it is like to use one's gifts and calling for the right reasons. Matthew 14:13-21; Psalm 78:19; Matthew 4:2-4; Matthew 9:36.
Bill shares a message from Romans 8. Many in the midst of the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic are also dealing with a variety of life challenges and losses. The confluence of events only highlights that life is hard. Hopefully, in today's lectionary passage, we sense the depth of God's love for us in the reality of the Spirit groaning for us when we can't find the words to pray, and Jesus, in His humanity, experiencing the range of emotions we face in hard times and divinely staying with us to the end -- gloriously completing what He began. Romans 8:26-39; 1 Kings 3:5-12.
Josh shares from another parable in Matthew 13 today that can create a tension within us when we read it. Jesus is describing a sower who sows good seed in his field, and an enemy who comes in the night and sows weeds in that same field. We -- like the disciples, I imagine -- are tempted to get caught wondering whether we are the wheat or the weeds that grow in that field. Whether we should tear up the weeds right now. Why isn't our first response: "Thank you, Lord, that You are going to restore?" Jesus isn't in a hurry to separate what's in the field. There will be a time for that, and that isn't our responsibility. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
Josh shared a number of paradoxes that carry a similar tension and require us to pause to wrestle with them:
1) God is One & Three.
2) Jesus is God & human.
3) The Bible is the Word of God & authored by flawed humans.
4) Creation is good & broken.
5) To give is to receive.
6) To die is to live.
7) To pardon is to be pardoned.
8) To be weak is to be strong.
Josh shares about the familiar parable from Matthew 13 about the sower who casts seed on a variety of soils and what happens to the seeds sown in those soils. We have a tendency to view this parable as the "Parable of the Soils," getting caught up in identifying which soil describes our spiritual walk. But Jesus is telling the "Parable of the Sower." He is describing the reckless way He loves. He is reminding us that the Kingdom is a seed planted within us by Him and that we cannot produce the fruit of that without Him. Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Galatians 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:7; John 15:1-4; Colossians 3:12-17; Micah 6:8.
Josh shares a message from Romans 7 where Paul is talking about how sin lies near when he tries to do good. Sin is not a word we like to discuss. We aren't comfortable with the reality that there is something at play that interferes with our lives. But if we can't name the sin in our lives -- the things that need the grace we like to talk about -- we can't receive the grace that abounds through Jesus. Romans 7:15-25; Romans 5:20.
Josh shared a quote from Debi Thomas' website today. You can find that essay here: https://www.journeywithjesus.net/essays/2678-a-lighter-burden
Josh shares from Jeremiah 28 about competing words from the Lord declared by the prophets Hananiah and Jeremiah. Hananiah is declaring what the people want to hear. Jeremiah is declaring a word from the Lord that is difficult to hear, but he is the picture of ongoing rootedness with God. The people are left with a question that we still must face today: "How do we discern Yahweh's voice?" Matthew 18:20; 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 10:24-25; Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 28.
Josh provides an update on regathering, and Justin Boggs talks to us about praise and worship. Justin explains that worship is how we live. Praise and worship help us connect our hearts with the heart of the Father. Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Psalm 63:1-8; Psalm 86: 9-10; Matthew 12:34; 1 Peter 2:9.
Justin shared a quote from Aaron Keyes: "Worship is the natural expression of what is at the center of our lives."
Josh looks at Matthew 28 and Luke 10 considering Jesus' instruction for us to go into the world and the importance of listening to those we interact with in our neighborhoods. Instead of dictating what is needed or expecting people to come receive what we have, we can sit as a guest at the mercy of others, learn what is needed, and follow the Spirit's lead to serve.
Josh shared some quotes today:
1) Apostles' Creed: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy apostolic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."
2) Dwight Shirley: "Church finds its identity when it participates in the mission of God."
3) Steven P. Eason: "Disciples are students. They are like interns. Interns are watching, practicing under supervision, asking questions, making mistakes, and learning from them. Jesus said very clearly, 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.' Go make students of Christ. Put people in internships, into a lifelong learning process. That is a major paradigm shift from making church members or whatever else we substitute for discipleship."
Josh also mentioned the book, "Black and White: Disrupting Racism One Friendship at a Time." Here are a couple of links to purchase the book:
a) Amazon: https://amzn.to/3h0aTP8
b) Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2Mx4ay2
Josh looks at the Pentecost story in Acts 2 today, and we see what can happen when we wait on God and step out in boldness when the Holy Spirit prompts us. We cannot see Acts 2 without the waiting disciples of Acts 1. The Church involves both the Spirit and the spiritual practices. The Church is about both freedom and structure. If we will wait on God and learn the languages of others around us, the Holy Spirit will lead us into powerful and life-changing moments as well.
Josh shared several quotes today:
1) Nathan Clair: "I want Eucharist and ecstatic tongues. I want the processional with thurifer/crucifer and harp and bowl singing. I want antiphonal chanted Psalms and open mic prayer/prophecy. I want Creeds, the Our Father, and miraculous healings, dancing in the aisles. I want it all."
2) Debi Thomas: "What the crowds found baffling was that God would condescend to speak to them in their own mother-tongues. That he would welcome them so intimately, with words and expressions hearkening back to their birthplaces, their childhoods, their beloved cities, countries, and cultures of origin. As if to say, 'This Spirit-drenched place, this fledgling church, this new Body of Christ, is yours. You don't have to feel like outsiders here; we speak your language too. Come in. Come in and feel at home.' "
3) "The power of the Holy Spirit in worship services resembles the vision of poet-theologian Amos Wilder: 'The world is molten and hearts are sifted. The altar is like a third rail that spatters sparks. The sanctuary is like the chamber next to an atomic oven. There are invisible rays, and you leave your watch outside.' Spiritual power can create thundering choirs, soaring rhetoric over-the-top praise bands, and sermons that rock with joy. It can create congregations who sing with their hearts in their faces, pray without ceasing, and extend themselves for others. Many congregations can use a reminder of these facts."
Josh looks at John 17 and Acts 1 today, and we see Jesus praying for the disciples to "be one" as Jesus and the Father are one. Before His ascension, Jesus tells the disciples to return to the upper room to wait. Jesus understands that the unity they must forge will come in the waiting together before the Holy Spirit comes. In the waiting, they will be formed. And in our own lives, we may not like the waiting, but if we will submit to the waiting Jesus calls us to, we too can be formed more into His image. John 17:1-11; John 13:35; Acts 1:6-14.
Josh shared a quote today from Rick Mixon: "Jesus spent his postresurrection time with them reinforcing all he had tried to teach them about the reign of God. No, it would not be like the return of the glorious old Davidic kingdom for which they longed. Jesus would not fulfill their rapidly disappearing hope of driving out the Romans, doing in the religious authorities, overthrowing the rich and powerful, and putting them in those places instead. The reign of God would, however, come riding on their shoulders, through the work of their hands, following the journeys of their feet. What is this realm of God? Is it just spiritual? Is it also social and political? What will it look like, feel like, sound like, taste like? How will it work? Who will be in charge, and what will be their (and our) roles in such a realm? When will it come? William Barclay offers the perspective that 'by the Kingdom Jesus meant a society upon earth where God's will would be as perfectly done as it is in heaven. Because of that very fact, it would be a Kingdom founded on love and not on power.' So this coming reign of God will be characterized by love and its cousins, compassion and justice, not by power and privilege, wealth or might."
Looking at John 14 and Acts 17, Jordan shares about how Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, presented the gospel to the people of Athens. In the pluralistic society of Athens, Paul took the time to observe the people and their search for meaning in the array of ideas and philosophies they regularly discussed. Paul encouraged them that their search, if they'll take it farther, is bringing them to Jesus who has been present with them all along through the Spirit. Likewise, we live in a pluralistic world and have an opportunity to observe our community, ask questions, learn what is needed, and discern how to bring the gospel. John 14:15-21; Acts 17:16-31.
As we step into the month of May focusing on listening prayer, Josh looks at passages in 1 Peter and John 14 which illustrate who Jesus is and His invitation to us to trust Him -- even when He does not appear to be who we think Jesus is. Like the disciples, we expect Jesus to behave in a certain way and when He does not, we find ourselves in a space that offers the opportunity to build that trust in Jesus. There's no way to trust if there's no space to build it. Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14.
Josh shared 3 quotes in today's message.
1) Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns: "My movement talks about prayer. We are a praying people. But, we are inclined toward penitent prayer or the life of ongoing repentance. Lack of teaching on this subject has made us people who love to praise God, while at the same time, compromised by personal and corporate sin. I firmly believe 2020 should be our 'penitent year.' We don't need to get America to 'cry out to God.' We, the church, need to cry out in fervent, penitent prayer. Both we and our ancestors have sinned. There is a whole generation who have never experienced the heavy, convicting cloud of God's Presence. They've seen smoke machines and even danced before the Lord. But, they've never been overwhelmed by the Glory or trembled under the weight of the 'Holy hush.' The only way there is through the door marked 'penitence.' "
2) Shannon Michael Pater: "Tumultuous teens, in fact, know this space of faith in their very body and soul. No longer in the relative safety of childhood, but not yet in the supposed self-sufficiency of adulthood, adolescence is a space of liminality, that is, an in-between space. Door frames are liminal places: a space between rooms, a portal from outside to the inside. Teens need a companion who can be both midwife and chaplain, someone who will help them navigate the loss of infancy and facilitate a safe crossing to the terrain of adulthood. For the adolescent disciples, that will soon be the Holy Spirit. The Comforter will come to cure their diseased hearts and help them stand firm in the coming transformation."
3) Debie Thomas: " 'In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places,' Jesus tells his sorrowing disciples. Meaning: God is roomy. God is generous. God is hospitable. God can handle your doubts, your fears, and your questions. And God’s offer of belonging extends far beyond the confines of this mortal life. 'I go and prepare a place for you,' Jesus says as he stands in the shadow of his own cross. You have a place with me. You have a place with God. You have a place. A grim setting. Real questions. An offer of comfort. The promise of home. The Way. This is a Gospel for our time. The story — your story, my story, our collective story of this precarious, overwhelming moment — will not end in death. Though we might feel alone and frightened right now, the Way is open before us. We know it. We know Jesus, and because we know Jesus, we know God. The Way will safely bear us home. Do not let your hearts be troubled."
Josh shares a message from John 10 where we see Jesus trying to explain how He operates. He is a shepherd -- a shepherd who draws us in to bring us into abundant life. The presence of the shepherd makes the difference in life. We need to learn the shepherd's voice. We need to recognize the shepherd's character when He speaks to us. Jesus is still shepherding us into the unforced rhythms of grace. John 10:1-10; Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 11:28-30.
Josh shared two quotes in service and referenced the third one below that he did not share specifically:
1) "But in fact, this passage, at its heart, is not about scarcity at all. It's not about the stinginess of God, and it's not about the self-protective walls we like to build and hide behind. (Remember, Jesus is the gate. We're not. Gate-keeping is not our job.) It's about life. Life that pushes across formidable boundaries. Life that flourishes in precarious places. Life that never denies the real threat of thieves, bandits, and strangers -- and yet holds out the possibility of pasture, nourishment, protection, and rest. Life that perseveres and maybe even thrives in the valley of the shadow of death. Life that reaches through any opening it can find, however small, however fragile, however tenuous, and insists on generous self-giving: 'This is my body, given for you. Take and eat.' " -- Debie Thomas
2) "When christological awareness ebbs in congregational life, that is, when the story of Jesus is neglected, the church becomes unmoored and rudderless. Christology teaches us that God is not willing to remain at a distance from us; rather, in God's humility the Trinitarian history of God includes creation. The Word becomes flesh as God is made 'after our likeness,' as the prologue of John narrates. The church would be helped if it could recover the theological meaning of the shepherding imagery. In the iconography of the church, by the fourth century Jesus as shepherd was gradually replaced by Jesus as Pantocrator, the elevated ruler over all, as Constantine united the church with the secular state. As the church became an expression of imperial power, the shepherd's staff was replaced with a gilded crozier; a crown of thorns was displaced by the triple tiara of the pope. Recovering shepherding imagery could call the church to simplicity, sacrifice, and solidarity -- needed in a time when many have lost their way." -- Molly T. Marshall 3) The concept of "zoe" -- "fundamental to John's gospel. This life is the very essence of God brought to the world through His word. The bestowal of life is to be the very purpose of Jesus' mission. Jesus himself embodies God's life for the world. Life in Johannine terms is to be understood not only as the vital force that animates the human person but also as 'eternal life' -- a share in the very being of God through faith in Jesus." -- Donald Senior
Josh looks at the story of the two disciples on the Emmaus Road from Luke 24. We see in this story how Jesus interacts with us. He asks us what we're thinking or feeling. He listens and is present with us. We often don't recognize Him. He explains things that our heart knows to be true, and when we invite Him in, our eyes are opened. And we continue the journey towards the fullness of the gospel with Jesus. Luke 24:13-35; Acts 2:42-44; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19.
Josh shared three quotes in the message:
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"And Jesus listens. He hears them out, allowing them the balm of articulation. And then — when they’re done — He tells the story back to them, and as He does so, the story changes. In His retelling, it becomes what it really always was — something far bigger, deeper, older, wiser, and richer than the travelers on the Emmaus road understood. 'Here’s what you’re leaving out,' Jesus seems to say. 'Here’s what you’re missing.' When Jesus tells the story, He restores both its context and its glory. He grounds the story in memory, in tradition, in history, in Scripture. He helps the travelers comprehend their place in a narrative that long precedes them, a narrative big enough to hold their disappointment without being defeated by it. When Jesus tells the story, the death of the Messiah finds its place in a sweeping, cosmic arc of redemption, hope, and divine love that spans the centuries. When Jesus tells the story, the hearts of his listeners burn."
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Debie Thomas
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"Then, as the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, another character falls into step with them and asks what were they discussing with each other while they walked along. This question stops them in their tracks. They 'stood still' Luke says suggesting that when God enters a conversation we think we are having with one another - when our horizontal perspective on the human condition is assumed from above and crossed by the vertical perspective of God's word, we cannot but find our lost self standing still. We have surely come to a crossroad. At issue are not the miles before us but the moment at hand and the eternity that has just invaded time.... God's word interrupted the church's idle conversations and effectively called a halt to our frantic forward momentum? Where were we going when the question of a stranger prompted us to confess that we had lost our way? What was it about the one who had listened that turned the details of despair into beseeching?"
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Cynthia A. Jarvis
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"It has been suggested that hospitality is the key to evangelism in our day, so this text offers a window to spiritual practice and post-modernity. Actions more than words, welcome more than self promotion and protection provides the space where others might fearlessly enter in and find themselves at home. Sharing the common meal transgresses boundaries and allows communion with Christ, who meets us whenever we gather at the Lord's table - or at the tables that provide self-giving welcome."
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Molly T. Marshall
Josh walks us through the second half of John 20 where Jesus appears to the disciples and Thomas. In both scenes, we see Jesus entering rooms where people are hiding out of fear. Jesus doesn't berate them for hiding; He displaces their fear by simply saying, "Peace be with you." Jesus wants to enter the rooms where we are hiding to draw us deeper into belief. Jesus confronts us by meeting us where we're less formed -- where we wrongly believe a piece of our brokenness defines who we are. Jesus wants to bring us to consecration where we have the ability to sense and hear Jesus knocking, and we invite Him in. There, the Word can dwell within us. John 20:19-31; Colossians 3:12-17; John 14:27; John 14:1-6.
Josh walks us through the Easter story from John 20, and we are again faced with the question: "Is this story true?" We see Mary who was certain that Jesus was dead and weeping that this journey was over. Then, Jesus calls her by name, and she understands what is happening and goes to share this gospel with the disciples. John had run to the tomb and paused outside before entering, but when he stepped in and looked around, he believed. We see John embrace the reality that Jesus is risen. We see Mary embody the gospel when she runs to tell the disciples that she has seen the Lord. We partake in the gift of faith with them. John 20:1-18.
On Palm Sunday, Josh walks us through the familiar passage in Matthew of Jesus sending two disciples to retrieve a donkey and a colt for His procession into Jerusalem where the crowd shouts "Hosanna" as Jesus enters the city. We see that Jesus comes not as the king the people in the crowd expect or desire. In this time of social distancing, maybe you identify with the two disciples who are sent to do something with no clue how it will work out. Maybe the kingdoms -- the things in which you've placed your trust and security -- are weakened. Take heart. Jesus' incarnation is the perfect embodiment of love, and in this time, He is walking with you through this and whatever may be dying ushers in the birth of new possibilities. The worship journey this week: "The culture of the Kingdom of God -- the culture of Jesus." Matthew 21:1-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 139:7-12; Psalm 19:14.
We continue our Church Everywhere season with Josh's message centered on Ezekiel 37. The current situation may beg the question, "when will things return to normal?" This week's passage from Ezekiel reminds us of the Israelites who shortly after escaping Egypt cried out for their old lives. Ezekiel later faces these dry bones which are a metaphor for where the Israelites were as a community and with God -- lifeless, doubtful and fearful. And God reminds Ezekiel -- and us -- that He desires to breathe new life into us by the power and creativity of His Spirit. Ephesians 3:14-21; Ezekiel 37:1-14
As we face the challenges of not being able to meet in person on Sunday morning, we continue in the spirit of "Church Everywhere" with Josh's message centering around Psalm 23 this week. Psalm 23 offers a number of helpful reminders for us as we try to establish a new normal in this season. We see a Shepherd who is leading us in the midst of trouble. He leads us in it and through it when we might prefer to simply avoid it or run in the other direction. We see a Host who invites us in and sets a table for our enemies. In moments like these, we can experience the overflowing love of God whose goodness and mercy chases and pursues us in this moment and all the days of our lives. Psalm 23; Psalm 139:11-12.
If you have a prayer request, please email prayer@rivercitysmyrna.com. If you have a need, please let us know by emailing needs@rivercitysmyrna.com.
Josh shared a prayer from Robby Waddell that he prays before teaching his Greek class:
"Creator of language and first speaker, though you are infinite, we are finite. You have granted us the capacity to interpret and to misinterpret. You have given us the ability to create and to destroy with words. Help us to use this gift of language faithfully to know and love you and each other. With humility, we seek to understand your loving and holy words recorded in our scriptures. As we study Greek, may you fill us with gratitude, love, curiosity, and awe."
Josh also shared a poem from Brother Richard Hendrick inspired by the current moment:
LOCKDOWN - Brother Richard Hendrick
Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood So that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way All over the world people are waking up to a new reality To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic The birds are singing again The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing. March 13th 2020
This week, to love others well, RCC streamed service from Josh's home instead of meeting as a congregation in light of the CDC guidance on social distance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. In this moment, we have an opportunity to stand as a non-anxious presence in the world. Josh shared about the idea of "Church Everywhere" which is more than simply viewing a streaming service but also provides opportunities to serve those most vulnerable to the virus, to find ways to connect wisely with others, and to sabbath from many of the things that hinder us. In this time, we are faced with two questions: (1) How can we step into the unforced rhythms of grace? and (2) How can we be good neighbors? Look for updates from RCC this week as we gather more information and make plans for proceeding amidst the challenges we are facing. If you have a prayer request, please email prayer@rivercitysmyrna.com, and if you have a need, please email needs@rivercitysmyrna.com. We would love to partner with you during this time. Psalm 95; Matthew 11:25-30; Luke 10:25-37.
In today's service, Josh provides several updates on staff transitions and shares the new prayers of the season (P.O.T.S.) with which we are partnering. Additionally, Josh preaches about the story of Nicodemus who is confronted with the impossible thought of being born again, and we see that, in many ways, Nicodemus represents many of us as we walk our apprenticeship with Jesus. He invites us into things that seem impossible. And the good news is that Jesus is eager to walk with us every step of the way as we mature in our faith. The worship journey this week: "What is the invitation of Jesus today?" John 3:1-17; Philippians 3:10-21.
Josh shared this quote from Deborah J. Kapp: "God works hard for us and our faith. God conceives us as Christians and nurtures us in the wombs of our faith, safe and warm and secret. At some point, like any pregnant woman who is close to full term, God gets impatient with gestation and wants to get on with it; God wants to push that baby through the birth canal into greater maturity, into fullness of life, into a faith lived wholly in the world. That is what Jesus talks about in this text. Jesus thinks it is time Nicodemus came through that spiritual birth canal. Perhaps he thinks it is time for many others to be reborn too. God is ready to give us birth by water and Spirit. How many of our church members (or preachers) might be Nicodemuses in twenty-first-century garb? How many of our congregations might be organizational versions of him -- people and institutions with compartmentalized faiths that flourish behind the scenes, out of sight, away from the fray, essentially in private? How many of us are gestating Christians? Who among us has room to grow in our faith? The good news of this text is that God is prepared -- even eager -- to do the hard, messy, sweating labor that will bring us to maturity and new life."
Looking at the story in Matthew 4 about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, Josh walks us through the three tests that Jesus faced and how He responded. We see that Jesus is faced with temptations that continue to challenge us: self-sufficiency; how to walk in our identity; seeking notoriety; compromising a little; obtaining power to dominate; and the mindset that the ends justify the means. The apprenticeship of Jesus invites us into handling those tests the way Jesus did -- by trusting the Father -- instead of yielding to the empty promises attached to those temptations. The worship journey for this week: "Temptation and Trust." Matthew 4:1-11; Romans 8:31-39; 2 Kings 6:15-17.
Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns visits and shares a message inspiring us to seek and anticipate the glory of God and the presence of God. We can get enticed by other forms of glory and miss the heavy radiance of the glory of God. We are ministers of this glory. The same light that God called out of the darkness at creation lives in us through Jesus. We taste the glory of God, bear it, and bear witness to it. And we journey to deepen our awareness and experience of the glory of God. The worship journey this week: "Come up! Journey into the mountain of God's Presence." 2 Corinthians 3:14-4:7; Exodus 24:12-18; Matthew 17:1-9.
Today, Josh and Jessica shared about the variety of groups that are available for the spring groups season. Josh also applied the "apprenticeship to Jesus" discussion to our invitation to enter into a group this season. We see, in Jesus, someone who is living in community and not just focused on his individual ministry or the ideals He espouses, and He is not intimidated by the many who do not accept His invitation to follow Him or who adamantly oppose what He offers. In community, we have the opportunity to share mutual loves, to live generously, to honor and celebrate with those around us, and to be vulnerable about the obstacles in our lives. Psalm 68:6; Matthew 4:18-20.
Josh shared a couple of quotes today: (1) "Face-to-face conversation is the most human -- and humanizing -- thing we do. Fully present to one another, we learn to listen. It’s where we develop the capacity for empathy. It’s where we experience the joy of being heard, of being understood." -- From Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle, Ph.D.
(2) "The sooner this shock of disillusionment (that it will be easy and people will be perfect) comes to an individual and into a community, the better for both. Every human wish or dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive. He who loves the dream of community more than the community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter even though his intentions may be honest and sacrificial. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own laws and judges the brethren and God and himself accordingly." -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Josh shares from Isaiah 58 to press into our need for Sabbath to combat the culture of busyness that infiltrates our lives. Busyness narrows our focus to "work" or "family." Busyness narrows our focus to "worship" or "mission." Busyness prevents us from pausing long enough to see the need to focus on work "and" family or worship "and" mission. Sabbath is a practice that invites us to create space to be with God regularly and long enough to see the "both/ands" in our lives -- to see, for example, how worshiping together and mission go hand in hand to form us into people that look like Jesus. Isaiah 58.
Josh shared a few quotes in his message as well:
(1) "Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life." -- Dallas Willard
(2) "How would our congregation respond to this call to worship? 'We hope you are not planning to go through the motions in worship today, singing the songs but never engaging your hearts, hearing the scripture but not listening for God, or giving an offering but not giving of yourselves, because if so, you are not doing God any favors. You do not get points for attendance today. If you really worship God, then you will share with the poor, listen to the lonely, and stop avoiding those in need.' The preacher who dares to preach as Isaiah preached will tell those who come to church that if they are not there to give themselves to God, then they should have stayed home.” -- Brett Younger
(3) "Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions." -- Henri Nouwen
Josh also shared Ten Symptoms of "Hurry Sickness" from John Mark Comer's new book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry:
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Irritability—You get mad, frustrated, or just annoyed way too easily.
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Hypersensitivity—All it takes is a minor comment to hurt your feelings, a grumpy email to set you off, or a little turn of events to throw you into an emotional funk and ruin your day.
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Restlessness—When you actually do try to slow down and rest, you can’t relax.
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Workaholism (or just non-stop activity)—You just don’t know when to stop. Or worse, you can’t stop.
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Emotional numbness—You just don’t have the capacity to feel another’s pain.
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Out-of-order priorities—You feel disconnected from your identity and calling.
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Lack of care for your body—You don’t have time for the basics:
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Escapist behaviors—When we’re too tired to do what’s actually life-giving for our souls, we each turn to our distraction of choice: overeating, overdrinking, binge-watching Netflix, browsing social media, surfing the web, looking at porn — name your preferred cultural narcotic.
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Slippage of spiritual disciplines—If you’re anything like me, when you get overbusy, the things that are truly life-giving for your soul are the first to go rather than your first go to — such as a quiet time in the morning, Scripture, prayer, Sabbath, worship on Sunday, a meal with your community, and so on.
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Isolation—You feel disconnected from God, others, and your own soul.
Josh shared a message that challenges us to embrace a lifestyle of repentance. It is easy for us to see the flaws in others -- to see how they need to change. As we continue our apprenticeship to Jesus, we have to practice true repentance which requires us to engage in self-examination and confession of our own sin and intentionally seek to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. The worship journey this week: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 139:23-24; Psalm 32:1-2; Psalm 106:1-7; John 6:44; Romans 2:4; John 20:23; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9.
Josh shared a few quotes today:
1) Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns: "My movement talks about prayer. We are a praying people. But, we aren't inclined toward penitent prayer or the life of ongoing repentance. Lack of teaching on this subject has made us people who love to praise God, while at the same time, compromised by personal and corporate sin. I firmly believe 2020 should be our 'penitent year.' We don't need to get America to 'cry out to God.' We, the church, need to cry out in fervent, penitent prayer. Both we and our ancestors have sinned. There is a whole generation who have never experienced the heavy, convicting cloud of God's Presence. They've seen smoke machines, and even danced before the Lord. But, they've never been overwhelmed by the Glory or trembled under the weight of the 'Holy hush.' The only way there is through the door marked 'penitence.' "
2) Richard Foster: "The discipline of confession brings an end to pretense. God is calling us into being a Church that can openly confess its frail humanity and know the forgiving and empowering graces of Christ. Honesty leads to confession and confession leads to change. May God give grace to the Church once again to recover the discipline of confession."
3) Adele Ahlberg Calhoun from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: "Self-examination is a process whereby the Holy Spirit opens my heart to what is true about me. This is not the same as a neurotic shame-inducing inventory. Instead, it's a way of opening myself to God within the safety of divine love, so I can authentically seek transformation. Confession embraces Christ's gift of forgiveness and restoration while setting us on the path to renewal and change."
In today's message, Jordan illustrates that the tension between lives of faith and the world we live in is not a new tension. The Israelites faced the difficulty of living their faith as they discovered new technology and when they were in exile in Babylon. Rather than silo ourselves off in safe faith spaces, the challenge lies in navigating the opportunities to invite Jesus into our lives in the world. The worship journey this week: "Be with Jesus; be with the world." Genesis 11:1-9; Jeremiah 29:4-14; John 16:33.
Jordan shared a couple of quotes during his message: "How much of our modern life can be summarized in that arresting dictum of the poet Thoreau, ‘Improved means to an unimproved end’? … We have allowed our technology to outdistance our theology and for this reason, we find ourselves caught up with many problems." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"We try to keep [our young disciples] insulated. We helicopter-parent them. We imagine that safety and security are kingdom values. We want them to change the world around them, but only at a reasonable distance. We like the idea of counter-cultural mission, but in practice, here in exile, it’s kind of terrifying. Living faithfully in Jerusalem, when everything is neat and predictable, is a different animal from faithfulness in Babylon. Too many of our ministry efforts prepare people for a world that doesn’t exist, undercutting our witness and passing flimsy faith to the next generation. Because, honestly, we are scared." -- From Faith for Exiles by David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock
Josh continues to walk us through the month of prayer looking at the example Jesus gave to the disciples in Luke 11 when they asked Him to teach them to pray. They witnessed all that He was doing and deduced that His prayer life was key. We often view prayer as petitionary or intercessory. Jesus' example illustrates the importance of orienting ourselves in relationship with God, the Father. The worship journey for this week: "Prayer orients us to the Kingdom." Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 11:28-30.
Josh shared a quote from Dallas Willard: "God's 'response' to our prayers is not a charade. He does not pretend that He is answering our prayer when He is only doing what He was going to do anyway. Our requests really do make a difference in what God does or does not do. The idea that everything would happen exactly as it does regardless of whether we pray or not is a specter that haunts the minds of many who sincerely profess belief in God. It makes prayer psychologically impossible, replacing it with dead ritual at best. And of course, God does not respond to this. You wouldn't either."
As we move into this month of prayer, Josh shares about one of his favorite prayer practices: listening prayer. We need to hear the voice of God, and that starts with being with Jesus. If we're honest, we battle the critical and condemning voices in our head, and prayer offers the chance to commune with Jesus for God's voice to speak to our spirit. God's voice doesn't sound like our critical voice, because God's voice is action. It creates, begins things, shakes created things, is gentle, names, identifies, encourages, loves, and tells us who Jesus is. The worship journey for this week: "Which voices do we listen to?" Psalm 29; Jeremiah 23:29; Matthew 3:13-17; 1 Kings 19:12; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16.
Josh mentioned a website from John Mark Comer that may be helpful as we journey deeper into prayer this month: practicingtheway.org/.
We find ourselves in the midst of Christmastide in the Christian calendar -- a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus for 12 days. Yet once we finish unwrapping our Christmas presents, it's easy to slip back into the darkness of Advent. Looking at a passage from Isaiah, Kara encourages us to hold these tensions together. We may not feel the excitement or hope that the birth of Jesus declares. Our feelings may be fueled by the struggles of our lives and the world around us, but that doesn't change the truth of Christ. The truth that He is with us. He has never left us. So, even when our prayers are not answered in the way we desire or expect, we can still declare the truth that God is who He says He is.
Josh shares from Isaiah 9 and Luke 2 and reminds us that the light of Jesus is coming. Jesus comes in the form of a baby, inviting us to take care of Him -- to walk with Him. Israel waited 740 years from Isaiah's prophecy for this child to be born, and there were another 33 years before He conquered death. That promise of hope and peace found in Jesus' presence is still available for us. Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-20.
Jordan walks us through the story of the angel of the Lord visiting Joseph in a dream. We often consider the story of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus as a snapshot of the manger scene, but there are so many contexts at play in their story. Joseph and Mary were in the midst of turmoil via Roman oppression and a religious structure that wasn't welcoming to their situation. When the angel speaks to Joseph, he doesn't offer rescue from their plight. Instead, the hope they are given is in the person of this baby who will save the people from their sins. The ambiguity or uncertainty of what that will look like can be challenging to grasp. And the hope we have is in the presence of Jesus -- Emmanuel -- sitting with us in our pain, addiction, abuse, financial difficulties, infertility, etc. The worship journey this week: "The birth of ambiguous hope for a better tomorrow." Matthew 1:18-25.
Jordan shared a quote from Don E. Saliers: "The hope for the coming of a child of destiny is certainly still alive in secular society. In complicated times -- politically, socially, economically -- the yearning for some sign of promise and hope in the form of a new leader is still very much with us .... Such a sign [of a coming child] focuses the contrast between the forces ranged against the good, and the hope for a salvation from all that is violent and destructive. Awareness of the gap between the world's actuality and God's ought-to-be of the world kindles the prophetic spirit in every age."
In Matthew 11, we encounter John the Baptist again through his disciples asking Jesus if He is the Messiah. John the Baptist was a prophet called to "prepare the way." But John had his own idea of what that way would look like and sitting in prison wasn't exactly how he thought that would turn out. When Jesus does things differently than we would, we can get offended. We don't know what Jesus will do. We say, "Jesus, you need to do more." But Jesus is at work in ways we don't expect or see. And we are left with John's question, "do I want this version of Jesus -- this Jesus who does things differently than I want or expect?" The worship journey for this week: "Is Jesus real?" Matthew 11:2-13; Matthew 3:11; John 1:29; John 3:30.
When we read the story of John the Baptist preaching "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," we can hear anger or a list of things that are wrong with us. Josh reminds us that our identity is not tied to what we've done, are doing, or will do. The call to repent is an invitation to reorient our lives to prepare the way for Jesus to walk out of the woods and impart life that conquers death, identity, new beginnings, and a heart for those around us living in their brokenness. This week's worship journey: "prepare the way." Matthew 3:1-12.
Josh looks at passages in Isaiah 2 and Matthew 24 that point to times in the future, but they also are pointing to the present and inviting us to take part in what Jesus is working towards fulfillment. At the start of the Advent season, we are encouraged to "stay awake" to what Jesus is calling us to. He is not trying to scare us into right-living or making a one-time decision that protects us individually. To "stay awake" looks like putting on Christ, saying "yes" to Jesus, remaining present in what's really happening around us, understanding that true intimacy comes from our identity in Christ, and following the example of Christ in our encounters with power and the powerless. The worship journey for this week: "Awake to God." Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44; Romans 13:11-14.
Josh shared a prayer from the Daily Lectio app: "Unexpected God -- Your advent alarms us. Wake us from drowsy worship, from the sleep that neglects love, and the sedative of misdirected frenzy. Awaken us now to Your coming, and bend our angers into Your peace. Amen."
David Scott, the pastor of Highlands Church, our network's newest church plant, shared the vision and values of their church family. To illustrate the heart of Highlands Church, David walks us through the story in John 8 about Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. There, we see Jesus avoiding the trap the scribes and Pharisees were attempting to set and engaging the situation and this woman with 100% grace and 100% truth. John 8:2-11; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; John 1:17; 1 John 1:8-9; James 1:19.
For more information about Highlands Church, visit their website: https://www.highlandsmarietta.org/
Josh walks us through Isaiah 12 where we hear Isaiah giving thanks for the salvation of the Lord roughly 200 years before their captivity ended. Isaiah embodies hope for them. We know people who feel hopeless and empty, and they need to see the sustaining connection of intimacy that happens between a believer and Jesus. How can we bring people to the well of living water and share the hope we have? The worship journey for this week: "Salvation." Isaiah 12; Isaiah 10:20.
Jordan draws from a passage in the Book of Haggai about a time when the Israelites returned from exile and were setting about rebuilding the temple. Most of them had no recollection of the time of the first temple where the presence of the Lord dwelled. As Christians, we are God's temple, and we can draw on that reality to engage the world around us. Navigating through culture can seem shaky, but with the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can step boldly into the community and bring the peace and freedom that dwells in us. The worship journey for this week: "Rebuilding the church as unshaken people in a shaky world." Haggai 1:15-2:9; Mark 14:58; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Revelation 21:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.
Jordan shared a quote from Robert Mulholland Jr.: "The process of being formed in the image of Christ takes place primarily at the points of our unlikeness to Christ's image. God is present to us in the most destructive aspects of our cultural captivity. God is involved with us in the most imprisoning bondage of our brokenness."
In the story of Zacchaeus, Jesus says that He came to seek and save the lost. That word "lost" refers to one who is being destroyed or actively killed. Zacchaeus was wealthy, but he was also despised, because he was a tax collector. He was lost, and Jesus called him by name and invited Himself to Zacchaeus' house. Are you able to look at the ways you are lost? Are you willing to allow Jesus to come to your house, to show you where the false narratives have taken hold, and to reveal your true identity? The worship journey for this week: "Going from distant observer to faithful disciple of Christ." Luke 19:1-10; Matthew 11:19.
Josh looks at the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector from the Gospel of Luke. We see that each person in the parable had to step away from something false they were believing about their relationship with God. In our own lives, we have moments where we identify with the Pharisee and the tax collector. It is easy to fall into the trap of depending on what we have or what we are successful at. What would we depend on if those things were taken away? What is sustaining you right now? How is Jesus drawing you into a space where He can be your sustainer? Josh also shares some news about our new Worship Coordinator. The worship journey for this week: "Leaving false things behind." Luke 18:9-14; Psalm 51:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-33.
Josh continues walking through 2 Timothy and calls us back to the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus. We are to be in the process of helping form the culture around us but only through what is happening in us. Our efforts to "be missional" will be limited if we're not open to Jesus working in us. Jesus speaks to us through the Bible which is more than a book. Can the Bible correct us? Can it rebuke us? Can we be encouraged by it? If we will continue in Christ, we won't run from correction or rebuke, and His encouragement will breathe life. The worship journey for this week: "Continue in Christ." 2 Timothy 1:6, 8, 2:1, 8, 3:14-4:5; Romans 15:4; Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Josh shared a quote from AJ Jacobs and Peter Holmes: "Studying the Bible is not like wrestling. It is more like wrestling itself. This opponent of mine is sometimes beautiful, sometimes cruel, sometimes ancient, sometimes crazily relevant. I can't get a handle on it. I'm outmatched. God's word does not return unto God void. The Bible does not need a disclaimer to say it is fiction. Rather, it needs a warning to those who would read it. It is so true that it will read you. Do not just read it alone. You are outmatched. As we read it, we discover all about how we are outmatched by the love and grace of God who has given us His word and given us His Son, that we might know life eternal here and now and forever more."
Josh looks at the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. One of them realizes he is healed, runs back to thank Jesus, and Jesus tells him, "Your faith has made you well." Rather than a challenge to "have more faith," what if Jesus is revealing that the way into faith starts with thankfulness? In the midst of our struggles with faith and doubt and our deconstruction, maybe returning to Jesus and being grateful for what He's done for us is a way back home. And when we can't remember, we can lean on the stories of what Jesus has done in the lives of others in the RCC family. The worship journey for this week: "Thankfulness and faith." Luke 17:11-19; 2 Timothy 2:8-15.
Looking at the mustard seed parable in Luke, Kara encourages us that Jesus wasn't calling out the disciples for a lack of faith. Rather, He was affirming that they already had what they needed. Jesus isn't concerned about the size of our faith. He wants us to follow Him. The miraculous work of the gospel that takes hold of our lives is all the faith we need for the hard things He will call us to. And when we're called to obedience -- because we know the character of the One asking something of us -- we can step into that challenging thing, because we have all the faith we need. The worship journey for this week: "It isn't the size of our faith, but the One we are putting our faith in." Luke 17:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:1-14.
Josh looks at the parable of the rich man and Lazarus from the Gospel of Luke in the context of spiritual formation and community transformation. Lazarus has a name in the story, and when we name someone, the relationship changes. The rich man is never named in the either scene of the parable. When they were alive, there was a chasm between the rich man and Lazarus, and in the second scene of the story, the chasm remains. In neither scene does the rich man see or address Lazarus by name. He is blind to him. What if the chasm in the parable describes the here and now, and we've been asked to build bridges with the people we haven't seen around us? The worship journey for this week: "Help us become a community that becomes attentive to the poor, the broken, the hungry and the thirsty on our doorsteps." Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 3:20; Matthew 25:34-40; 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
Josh looks at a couple of passages in 1 Timothy and James, encouraging us to step into prayer. We often resist stepping back into prayer because it reminds us of the type of connection we have with God. Josh explains that Jesus mediates on our behalf -- interceding for us. When we pray, we are entering a conversation that is already taking place. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are already working on the concerns we bring, and we have the opportunity to sit and listen for the truth they want to share about our concerns. In that space, we can experience the intimacy with Jesus we seek -- the intimacy that we need to experience everything good that God has for us. The worship journey for this week: "Stepping into prayer." 1 Timothy 2:1-7; James 5:13-20.
Josh listed a number of prayer practices for us to consider: Breath Prayer, Centering Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Conversational Prayer, Fixed Hour Prayer, Fasting Prayer, Inner Healing Prayer, Intercessory Prayer, Labyrinth Prayer, Listening Prayer, Liturgical Prayer, Prayer of Lament, Prayer Partners, Praying Scripture, Prayer of Recollection/Examen, Prayer Walking, and Welcoming Prayer.
Looking at this week's passages from the lectionary, Jordan unpacks why RCC is offering something like The Table for our community. There are scores of people around us who identify as "post-Christian" or "unchurched" who are open to talking with people about matters of faith but aren't interacting with Christians who can have those discussions in non-judgmental ways. We hear parables like the lost sheep and tend to identify ourselves as the "one" that Jesus is seeking when, more often than not, we are in the "99." We allow fear or compartmentalization to keep us from listening to the "ones" who have stories to tell about what's going on under the surface. But if we'll invite them to our tables and listen, we'll have opportunities to share how Jesus helps us continually overcome many of the same burdens, anxieties, and obstacles in our own lives. The worship journey for this week: "Sinners, Saints, and the Seats at God's Table." Luke 15:1-10; Psalm 14:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:15.
Jordan shared the following statistics during his message.
In the United States:
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85% of churches are stalled/declining.
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14% are growing from transfers.
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1% are growing from conversions.
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96 churches are closing every week.
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20.4% of Americans attend church.
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38% of Atlantans are "post-Christian/unchurched."
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95-97% believe that part of the Christian faith is witnessing about Jesus.
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47% of Christian millennials find evangelism to be morally wrong (GenX = 27%).
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62% of non-Christians say that they would be open to talking about faith matters with someone who listens without judgment.
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34% of non-Christians know Christians that will discuss faith matters without judgment.
Josh looks at two Old Testament passages, and we see that the God who formed you in your mother's womb wants to continue forming you if you will listen to His voice. We need the God who lovingly reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and who carefully destroys the things in our lives that we've created that won't sustain us and often cause harm to us and those around us. Sara also shares about her six-month sabbatical. The worship journey for this week: "Creating space to allow God to form us in ordinary and extraordinary ways." Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-17, 23-24.
Josh shares passages from Luke and Jeremiah which together illustrate the importance of telling the stories of God and how He's transformed our lives. Jeremiah shines a light on the Israelites who had left behind the stories of God who rescued them from Egyptian captivity. Jesus invites us to take a posture of humility at His table where we can share our stories with people and hear their stories to help us trust that Jesus provides everything we need. What's the story that Jesus is asking you to tell?
The worship journey for this week: "Continuing to tell the stories of God at the tables He prepares and leads us to." Luke 14:7-14; Jeremiah 2:4-13.
Josh shares the story from Luke 13 about a woman crippled for 18 years who Jesus healed in the synagogue. We all deal with things that cripple us, and not all crippling is physical. We often learn or choose to live with it, but Jesus wants to heal us from those crippling things in community and redeem each and every one of us into the Body of Christ. Luke 13:10-17.
Josh looks at a couple of passages from Isaiah and Luke that together illustrate that sometimes the mission of Jesus as Peacemaker means that things will get worse before they get better and that the journey is one of long obedience no matter what it costs. We've been invited into the gospel of peace, and we are called to be people of justice and righteousness. So when we see people, systems, or situations that are oppressive, unjust, unethical or corrupt, we may need to call that out, lovingly challenge, or work towards unsettling it, which may cost us something. The worship journey for this week: "Sometimes, the mission of Jesus as peacemaker means that things will get worse before they get better. Becoming a people of long obedience no matter what it costs." Isaiah 5:1-7; Luke 12:49-56; Luke 1:79.
Here is a link to the Jars of Clay song that Josh referenced in service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjE-Rh4ugHI
As we transition from rest to groups season, we hear about the variety of life groups, spiritual formation, and special interest groups planned for the fall. Sara also shares how Jesus' idea of kingdom is broader than our tendency to find people who look like us and think like us and encourages us to take a step towards that as we find a group this season. Hebrews 11:13-16; Luke 12:32-34; Revelation 7:9.
Dr. Chris Green, Professor of Theology at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, talks with us about with issue of racism and how we are to respond to it as followers of Jesus. The problem of racism is built on the lie of superiority which permeates most of the distinctions we make between "us" and "them." But we read in Colossians that Jesus has overcome and destroyed these distinctions. "Christ is all and in all." As a people of faith, we've done a good job of putting away unrighteousness or doing away with wrongdoing, and some of us show mercy to those impacted by racism. But mercy will never change the injustice of racism. We have to do justice, and that responsibility rests with those with the power. Colossians 3:9-11; Colossians 3:5, 12-14, 22.
Dr. Green also serves as Teaching Pastor at Sanctuary Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma: https://www.sanctuarytulsa.com/
Teddy Hart, from Parish Long Beach, shares a beautiful message on what it means to be prayerful. Looking at Jesus' teaching about prayer and a parable about a man looking for bread for a friend who is visiting, we see that prayer is something we let Christ do in us, so it brings about an animation in our bodies beyond the kind of words we pray. That prayerfulness engenders hospitality, generosity and neediness in us that compels us to move beyond the indifference that can get in the way of seeing God in a stranger or an enemy. Luke 11:1-13.
You can learn more about the church that Teddy and Krystle Hart pastor by visiting the church's website: https://www.parishlb.com/
Bill walks through the Lectionary passages for this week, and we see that humanity's pursuit of wealth and power drives a wedge between themselves and their relationship with God. We often choose the fleeting over the lasting things that God has for us and those choices make it difficult, and at times seemingly impossible, to hear the words of the Lord. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming a people who understand that Christ is in all things and also understand that Christ's preeminence means we are to be a people that cares about the things Christ cares about." Colossians 1:15-28; Amos 8:1-12; Luke 10:38-42; Psalm 52.
Jordan looks at several passages from the Old and New Testament and reminds us that God has always called us to love God and love our neighbor, because when we live in that space, we share a living hope with others around us. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming a people that live in hope through neighborly love." Amos 7:7-17, 8:4-6; Psalm 82:1-4; Genesis 12:1-3; Luke 10:25-37; Colossians 1:1-6.
Coming off a week at OneCamp, Jonathan and Kara invite us to walk with our students returning from the "big" experience of camp, so they see that the Lord's whisper is just as strong and life-giving as what they witnessed at camp. They encourage us to engage our students, invest in their lives, and entrust them to the Lord. Luke 10:1-11, 16-21; 1 Kings 19:11-12.
Josh continues presenting the new prayers of the season (POTS) and challenges us to give and serve with generosity. Looking at Luke 9, we hear Jesus make some seemingly harsh statements to His disciples and to others who say they want to follow Him. Jesus sets His face towards Jerusalem and casts the vision of God that His followers didn't understand or expect. Likewise, we don't always understand, and we expect God to act in certain ways -- elevating other things over what Jesus is calling us to. Luke 9:51-62; 2 Kings 1:10; Luke 9:3-5.
Josh shared the following quote from C.S. Lewis: " 'They say Aslan is on the move- perhaps has already landed.' And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don't understand but in the dream it feels as if it has some enormous meaning- either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again. It was like that now. At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.”
Josh unpacks a couple of the new prayers of the season (POTS) and calls us to commit to praying for RCC and to being present with the RCC body. Looking at the lectionary passages from Isaiah 65 and Psalm 42, we see that God is waiting for us, but the things we spend our resources on impede us from tasting and seeing what the Lord has for us. We also read the psalmist in peril who is not longing for those things but finding solace and strength in his experiences in the house of God with his fellow worshippers. What would it look like if we committed to prayer and to being present with the RCC family even when we did not feel like it? Isaiah 65:1-14; Psalm 42.
Josh shared two quotes today: (1) John Rollefson: "Anne Lamott states: 'My prayer oscillates between the two extremes of "help me, help me" and "thank you, thank you, thank you" ' in this extended lament, the psalmist shares fond memories of joining in the festival procession to the temple, while feeling overwhelmed by unspecified circumstances that are now preventing participation. The palpable sense of yearning is offered up to God as a sacrifice of a willing spirit that seeks to be restored to full fellowship in the company of worshippers."
(2) P.C. Enniss: "However, to those of every generation who are tempted, the psalmist enjoins the skeptic to 'go to church,' where one can join the throng 'in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.' The writer knows the power of the liturgy. Many of us are in church today because years ago we were expected (and sometimes required) to go. We would not on our own have chosen to go, and when we became older, we may even have stopped going altogether, but over time we came to acknowledge our thirst. Today there are men and women in church pews, pulpits, and theological seminaries who years ago were led reluctantly to the water by kind and caring parents and friends, only to discover that they liked it. This is the power of the liturgy. The danger for so many today is, as Simone Weil pointed out years ago, 'not lest the soul should dount whether there is any bread, but lest (by a lie) it should persuade itself that is is not hungry.' "
Kara calls us into experiencing the fullness of God through the mystery of the Trinity. We may be most comfortable with the person of Jesus, but we can discern the heart of God through Jesus, who attests to God's character, if we will invite Him into that conversation. We can also trust the Holy Spirit -- sent by Jesus for our benefit -- to guide us to Truth, even if others have misrepresented the Spirit before us. The worship journey for this week: "Being guided by the Spirit, may we journey with one another to know the heart of God through Jesus." John 16:4-15; Romans 5:1-5.
Josh looks at a couple of texts from the Lectionary -- the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis and the story of Pentecost in Acts. In Genesis, we see a people looking to make a name for themselves out of fear that they will be scattered, and God confuses their language to disperse His people throughout the world. At Pentecost, we see a group of people from various regions of the world experience the power of the Holy Spirit and despite their multiple languages hearing each other in their own. And God unifies them to spread the Gospel of Jesus. We continue to experience this tension between being a people of Babel and a people of Pentecost -- between trying to make a name for ourselves out of fear and resting in the truth that we've been given a name by God, knowing whose we are, and accepting the invitation to God's mission for His namesake. Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21.
Josh shared a quote from Richard Boyce: "The motivation ('let us make a name for ourselves') and the fear that drives it ('otherwise we shall be scattered abroad across the whole earth') and the battle is on. What is possible only for God -- the granting of a name, by which humanity's fundamental fears might be eased, and around which humanity's necessary unity might be achieved -- becomes here a project for humankind, independent and counter to the gifting of God."
Josh shares how the story of Lydia starts with the story of Jesus telling the disciples about leaving them and the Helper He will send. The Holy Spirit later sent Paul to Macedonia where Lydia was. The Holy Spirit then opened Lydia's heart to hear the Good News that Paul shared, and a continent was opened to the Gospel. Those convergences continue today, because God is always drawing people and always sending people. What are we doing with the Good News? Josh challenges us to focus on one of these this week:
(1) Silencing our inner critic for a season;
(2) Creating space for spiritual disciplines;
(3) Praying for openness to receive the Good News as Good News;
(4) Considering essence over specifics;
(5) Reclaiming the story of the beautiful mission of the Gospel;
(6) Who is God drawing to you? and
(7) Going when you know where God is sending, because His provision is there.
The worship journey for this week: "The intersection between human obedience to God and the Divine initiatives guided by the Spirit." John 14:23-29; Acts 16:9-15.
Our guest this week is Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns. Dr. Johns looks at a passage from Hebrews and delivers a word for the RCC family -- calling us into the mystery of Christ. One portal into the mystery of God is the Word -- the logos revealed in Scripture. Many see the Bible in a very manageable, two-dimensional way, but Dr. Johns reminds us that it is multi-dimensional. We can meet God in that space. Scripture is sacramental -- it points to the reality of Jesus, and it is a means for God to enter into our lives. Mysteriously, it feeds. It heals. It is powerful. And it brings freedom. May we embrace the many dimensions of that mystery. The worship journey for this week: "Re-enchanting the text." Hebrews 4:8-13.
Dr. Johns is a professor at Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. She serves in the Robert E. Fisher Chair of Spiritual Renewal. She is a frequent speaker at seminaries and universities across the globe and the author of two books and countless articles and papers.
Our pastors, Josh and Sara, share their hearts about where they sense the Lord leading RCC next -- inviting the RCC family to join them. Individually, we have to know who we are, whose we are, and what we are called to. As a church family, we have to be a people who know how the Father speaks to us as a body and make it accessible again. We must follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We must find the green pastures to rest to hear the Shepherd's voice. So we can prepare a table in the presence of our enemies. We do that by keeping the first commandment first, because Jesus is the source we must listen to, who will provide the rest we need, and who will host the table we are preparing. The worship journey this week: "O God, whose Son, Jesus, is the good shepherd of Your people. Grant that when we hear His voice, we may know Him who calls us each by name, and follow where He leads; who, with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30.
Our pastors, Josh and Sara, walk us through what the Lord has done in and through RCC over the last 5 years. To celebrate, we hear from people who entered the RCC story during different phases and revisit the scriptures that steered our body each year. The worship journey for this week: Celebration in thankfulness for what God has done. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8; Psalm 1:1-3; John 15:5; Mark 14:22-26; Joshua 5:9-12.
Josh walks us through the end of John 20, looking at the gap between what Thomas knew about Jesus and the faith to believe in the resurrected Jesus. We are all Thomas, because we all have a gap between our certainty and our faith. We need a God community that walks with us when, like Thomas, we verbalize our doubt and are working out our faith. We cannot make others believe and demanding they believe won't help either. The power of the Holy Spirit bridges those gaps and helps us live our faith in the resurrected Jesus. The worship journey for this week: "Lord, help us to believe in the Resurrection so that we can live Resurrection through our lives to the people in our world." John 20:19-31; Genesis 2:7; Revelation 12:11.
Josh looks at the Easter story from the Gospel of John. We come to the Easter story often to celebrate what God has done, but that's not the end. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb to mourn and when the tomb was empty, she wanted to find the Jesus she knew. But that Jesus wasn't there. There's a version of Jesus that may need to die in our own lives, so that the One who formed us can speak our name in our darkness and whisper, "I see you" and reveal to us the new thing that He wants to do in and through us. The worship journey for this week: "Resurrection isn't just a reunion but an invitation into God making all things new."
Josh shared a couple of quotes this week: (1) Nancy Pittman -- "Scholars often remind us that the resurrection narratives are really commissioning stories, sending believers into the world to tell all that death is not the last word. Otherwise, no one would ever know what happened, and Easter would be just a reunion story with tears and hugs all around. However, Mary obeys the risen Jesus, fighting her impulse to cling to a familiar body, and leaves the garden to tell what she knows to be true. An expected ending is now a beginning - of telling the truth about life to those who want only to deal in death, of offering living water and the bread of life to those who want only to buy and sell commodities that perish. Mary speaks, and in her speaking we find our own voice."
(2) C.S. Lewis (from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) -- "Aslan is a lion -- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he -- quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." ... "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. ... "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
Sara looks at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem the week before His crucifixion as described in Luke's gospel. We see the people celebrating Jesus' arrival, and we see -- in Jesus' weeping -- that He knows the people have a different vision of what His arrival means. Even today, we have a vision of what following Jesus means or what Jesus should do. Are we willing to lay down our vision of His Kingdom? What things does Jesus have to tear down in us to bring peace? What stones need to be leveled to make Jesus the cornerstone? We must let His vision undo ours. The worship journey for this week: " 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes.' Choosing to see and live our shalom." Luke 19:28-44; Zechariah 9:9-10; Ephesians 2:12-22.
Sara shared a quote from Fleming Rutledge regarding Jesus weeping over Jerusalem in Luke 19: "Tears are eloquent. Tears speak. Judges look for tears when they are looking for a reason to give a lighter sentence. Jesus' tears encompass the entire human tragedy.... In tears of the one man Jesus, God's complete solidarity with human pain, yes, but also with human sin is shown. And yet, we do not know the time of our visitation. We don't want to make Easter easy."
Josh looks at a couple of Old Testament passages from Isaiah 43 and Psalm 126 that use water to illustrate truths about God. Sometimes, God leads us out of a situation and rescues us. And sometimes, God leads us into places that are uncomfortable so we can lament and weep over them to learn faithfulness, patience and waiting that lead to something new and beyond our own effort. We are reminded of what God has done, but we cannot remain stuck waiting for God to do the same thing over and over. We must remember to anticipate that God is always making things new. The worship journey for this week: "Being a people that celebrate what God has done in the past, not to become nostalgic but to be reminded that He is a God with a dream that is capable of making all things new." Isaiah 43: 16-21; Psalm 26:1-6.
Josh shared a couple of quotes: (1) "God's new thing will spring forth like rivers that water the desert. Water will once again be a source of life rather than a barrier. There will be water to drink, to irrigate fields and to water livestock. The prophet speaks of a God who will cut a path through the water when it gets in the way of the divine call to freedom and will use water as a pathway through the wilderness of the world toward the new thing that God is yearning for a beloved (if disobedient) people." -- Michael Williams; and (2) "We are uncomfortable with tears, impatient with the hard work and slow process healing requires, whether the healing is physical, spiritual, emotional or all three. The images evoked here are vivid, and it is worthwhile to dwell with them long enough to understand the depth of the sorrow expressed." -- Kimberly Clayton.
Josh looks at Joshua chapter 5 when the manna stops, and the Israelites are about to feed on the land of Canaan. God is always rolling something away and leading us into something new. Joshua pauses in the plains to remember what God had done for them before they enter this new land. We can see ourselves in this Joshua story. We come out of our wilderness and fail to remember that God provided the new land we are embarking on. We lose sight of the source of the land we possess -- the things that matter -- the things we've been given. The worship journey for this week: "God is continually inviting us to look past what is provided to the source. Developing a dependence on Him as He makes things new." Joshua 5:9-12; Deuteronomy 24:17-22.
Bill looks at the wrong Old Testament lectionary passage for Sunday to discuss humility using the story of Joseph revealing himself to his brothers. We tend to view humility as the opposite of pride and can find ourselves in the trap of shame as a result. What if humility isn't the opposite of pride or shame? True humility steers clear of either trap and can help us see ourselves and others the way God does. Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Matthew 23:1-12.
Josh looks at a passage from Philippians where Paul tells the church to imitate him and those in their community who are walking just a few steps ahead in their walk with Jesus. Paul cautions them about having appetites for things that are destructive. But even things we think are good may not satisfy or lead to health. Do you know your appetites? We must if we want to overcome what does not bring us into wholeness and health. Philippians 3:1-4:1.
Josh looks at the Transfiguration in Luke's gospel and reminds us that the point of Jesus' gospel is to be on the mountaintop and then come down the mountain and let what happened spill out into our lives. The worship journey for this week: "Being a people who experience Jesus on the mountain and then are willing to come down the mountain and involve ourselves in the realities in the world. Being present with Jesus as He shines the light of His Kingdom into these places, always drawing from the past, believing in God's future and listening to Jesus for how to do it." Luke 9:32-45.
Dr. Chris Green, Professor of Theology at Southeastern University, visits RCC and teaches on part of Jesus' sermon on the plain and Jesus healing the slave of a Roman centurion in Luke's Gospel. Dr. Green explores the depth of Jesus' call to "love your enemies," looking at why we are to love others without expecting anything in return, how we are to love those who take advantage of us, and how the idea that "being kind to people who are sinning condones their sinning" undercuts our Christian witness. Luke 6:26-7:10.
Dr. Green shared a couple of quotes as well: (1) Thomas Merton - "You can't prove your love for God by hating those who seem to be God's enemies." and (2) St. Isaac the Syrian -- "Shame the lover of righteousness by your compassion for the unrighteous, and you will be like God."
Josh looks at the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke with an eye towards what Jesus is revealing about Himself. We see Jesus healing people in the crowd of any number of outward things, but we also see that Jesus is more concerned with being invited into our hearts to heal the deeper things that trip us up. Is Jesus allowed to say to you what those things are that He wants to heal and work through with you? There are some things we need to wrestle through with Jesus. The worship journey for this week: "Understanding the heart of Jesus that is revealed in the Beatitudes. Blessed are the poor and the hungry, those who cry, those who people hate and are excluded. Luke 6:17-26; Luke 4:17-21.
Josh looks at part of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians -- a church that was grappling with divisions. Instead of drawing hard lines, Paul calls them to unity by focusing them on the simple truths of Jesus: He died for our sins. He was buried. He was raised on the third day. And He appeared to many. In a way, Paul is following Jesus' example by not drawing hard lines, as we see in how Jesus handled the crowd wanting to stone an adultress in the Gospel of John. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming a community that leans into the common grounds of our core beliefs about Jesus Christ. That Christ died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." Josh shared this quote from Lewis Galloway during the message: "Whenever Christ turns a life around, heals a marriage, transitions a bitter heart, forgives a sinner, teaches a fearful heart to love, or shows a greedy person how to give, there is a witness ready to take the stand to tell the good news of God's grace." Luke 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 8:1-11.
Walking us into Groups season, Sara introduces our spring groups and then explains how groups can help us encounter the gifts of friendship with God, spiritual friendship, and Christian community. The worship journey this week: "Being formed into people who abide in friendship with Christ and each other. John 15:9-17.
Josh looks at Luke 4 where Jesus comes to Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue. He is handed the scroll, labels a passage in Isaiah 61, and builds His ministry around it. But before Jesus reaches this moment of calling, filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit had been at work calling Him "beloved" after His baptism and then testing Him in the wilderness. How open are we to the "pre-work" of the Holy Spirit before we set out trying to fulfill our calling? The worship journey for this week: "Through the example of Christ, discovering what the heart of the Gospel is." Luke 4:14-21; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 4:1-11; Isaiah 61:1-2.
Josh shares about the Jesus and Mary at the wedding at Cana from the Gospel of John. Instead of focusing on "Jesus' first miracle," Josh contends that the story asks us what we think about Jesus. We all experience depletion of one kind or another. When we can see the abundance of Jesus when we are depleted, we should celebrate it -- recognizing Jesus' work -- large and small -- and calling it out. We are the water. Jesus' job is to turn us into wine. The worship journey for this week: "In Jesus, the gifts of God come abundantly and extravagantly. Help us to become a community that recognizes and celebrates these things together." John 2:1-11; Mark 7:3-4.
Josh looks at the psalm that David wrote in response to his choices surrounding Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite. The psalm puts words to a heart that is longing to be re-created and doesn't know how to do it. David's decisions revealed things that were in his heart that he then tried to "fix" himself until he realized he couldn't fix it -- he couldn't clean his own heart. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming a community that is honest about the things in our hearts and inviting God into them." Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 11:1-15; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.
As we enter into the season of Epiphany, Sara looks at the story of the Magi visiting Jesus and explains how the revelation of God in Jesus has been celebrated by the Church throughout the world. Epiphany is an opportunity to alter our rhythm to the rhythm of the Gospel story -- repenting and re-orienting our hearts. The worship journey for this week: "Recognizing the revelation of God in our lives." Sara shared several quotes during her message: (1) Ruth Haley Barton - "The stirring of spiritual desire indicates that God's Spirit is already at work within us, drawing us to Himself. We love God because He first loved us. We long for God because He first longed for us. We reach God because He first reached for us. Nothing in the spiritual life originates with us. It all originates with God." (2) Kenneth L. Sehested - "Those for whom this 'world' is 'home' -- all who profit from current arrangements, from orthodoxies of every sort -- will take offense at this swaddling-wrapped revolt. Something new is being built; a new cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) is being laid. That is the good part. The bad part is that existing structures may be razed to make room." and (3) T.S. Eliot (from "Journey of the Magi") - "We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, but no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation." Matthew 2:1-12.
In this Christmas season, Kara draws from the story of the shepherds visiting Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus to illustrate how God doesn't always show up the way we expect Him to. The Jews hoped for the Messiah to come for generations and had an expectation about how He would do so. For most, that expectation interfered with their ability to see Him when He arrived as a baby in a manger. The shepherds came and saw, and glorified and praised God for what they heard and saw. The worship journey for this week: "What would it look like for RCC to be full of hope and celebrate even if God gives us different things than we hoped for?" Kara shared a quote from Richard Rohr about the virtue of hope: "The theological virtue of hope is the patient and trustful willingness to live without closure, without resolution, and still be content and even happy because our satisfaction is now at another level, and our Source is beyond ourselves." Luke 2:15-21; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 35:5-6; Revelation 21:1-6.
On the final week of Advent, Josh shares the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth and the spontaneous song that arises within her in response to Elizabeth's blessing over her for saying "yes" to the Lord and believing in what the angel told her would happen. At the end of our lives, we may ask ourselves, "did we spend our lives on what we needed to?" Is there something that God's put in you that He's calling forth to say, "will you use this to magnify Me?" The worship journey for the week: "Becoming a community that says "YES" to God's invitation into His story that becomes magnifiers to draw attention to Him." Luke 1:39-55.
In discussing the Advent theme of "Joy," Josh notes the difference between a joy we manufacture and one that bubbles up naturally and spontaneously from an awareness and appreciation for what God has done, and is doing, in our lives. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming a community that is moved to joyously celebrate God and make His goodness known." Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:1-6; Isaiah 55:1; Ephesians 5:19; Philippians 4:4-7.
This week, Sara reminds us that Advent is not just about Jesus coming in the manger, what we refer to as the Incarnation, but also about Jesus coming again -- not in a judgmental way, but seeing it as our rescue moment where shalom finds its fullness. The worship journey for this week: "God is forming us into a people who see through the darkness into the light of the coming Kingdom." Sara shares two quotes from Fleming Rutledge: (1) "The disappointment, brokenness, suffering and pain that characterizes life in this present world is held in dynamic tension with the promise of future glory that is yet to come. In that Advent tension, the church lives its life." and (2) "Wherever people are willing to come out from the paralysis caused by fear and anger to active participation, there is the Advent spirit. Wherever there are voices in the darkness speaking out for light, there is the Advent hope. Wherever there are people willing to face danger for freedom, there is the Advent frontier. The work of God is located there." Luke 3:1-6; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:1-4.
Josh walks us into the Advent season looking at finding hope for the longings of our hearts. The worship journey this week: "Becoming a people who listens to longings within our own hearts and those around us, so that we can together lean into and see God's future with hope." Josh shared this quote from Reinhold Niebuhr: "Despair is among the most human of conditions. It is associated with our failed attempts to procure security for ourselves, optimistically pretending that we are not subject to the vicissitudes of creatureliness. Despair is characterized primarily by the conspicuous absences of theological hope. Humans meet despair when they cannot imagine God's alternative future." Jeremiah 33:14-16; Jeremiah 29:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Jordan wraps up our series on the tables of Scripture, looking at the Parable of the Great Banquet in the Gospel of Luke. Jordan asks the question: what does it look like to take the table of God to the world? The worship journey for this week: "God's table forms us into the people that invite the world to our own tables." Genesis 2:16; Revelation 22:17; Matthew 11:19; Luke 14:16-24.
Josh continues our series on the tables of Scripture by looking at the story of the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus' conversation with the disciples afterwards. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming the church that feasts on Christ. What does it look like for Him to be your bread today." While we contemplate bringing Christ to our own tables, what is the meal that Jesus has prepared for us? John 14:6; John 10:10; 1 John 5:12; John 15:4-5; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; John 6:1-14, 25-69.
In this new series, Josh begins our discussion of the tables of Scripture by looking at the story of Jesus overturning the tables in Herod's Temple. The worship journey for this week: "What table does Jesus need to overturn for us to be present with Him and His Body? Jesus, help me understand the value of Your Body and be present today!" Matthew 21:12-17; Isaiah 56:1-8; Isaiah 65:11; Psalm 8:1-2.
Josh wraps up our series in 1 Peter this week. The worship journey this Sunday is: "Developing a shepherding heart. Receiving it and giving it." 1 Peter 5:1-14; Numbers 11:16-30; Mark 10:42-44; John 13:3-6.
Josh showed a picture during service of a modern twist on iconic imagery -- The Calling of Peter. Here is a link to that artists set of icons: https://scottericksonartshop.com/collections/all/icons
Mark Nysewander shares a message about Moses' pursuit of the fullness of God. Mark serves as the Executive Director of the Transformation Network of which River City Church is a part. The worship journey for this week: "God's glory is His presence and nature. Through Jesus, we have the incredible calling to go after God's glory in our lives. Are we still on that quest or have we been distracted by lesser things? Moses is a great example of someone who persevered in going after the fullness of God's presence and nature in his life. He interceded for the Hebrews in the desert. Moses had a heart for God's glory and refused to be distracted from his pursuit for the fullness of God." Hebrews 11:27; Exodus 32:9-13; Exodus 33:3, 12-18.
Josh continues our look at Peter's first epistle. The worship journey for this week: "Christian suffering is a huge opportunity for spiritual refinement. Our joy is that His presence remains with us in it and through it." 1 Peter 4:12-19; 1 Peter 5:8; John 15:18; Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10; Acts 5:41; Acts 6:15; Proverbs 12:1.
Josh continues our walk through 1 Peter. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming a people who are awake and alert because Christ is near." 1 Peter 4:7-11; Matthew 26:40-41; Matthew 6:9-13; Proverbs 12.
Kara shares her heart for students at RCC. The worship journey for this week: "Honoring how God is moving through the generations at RCC." The prayers of the season (POTS) for student ministry are (1) Lord, we pray for Your guidance in creating a lasting foundation for RCC's student ministry for today and years to come; (2) Lord, we pray that we establish a culture within the student ministry that mirrors the vision You have given us for RCC (i.e., Living in Love, Creating Space, Spiritual Formation, and Community Transformation); and (3) Lord, we pray that the RCC body partners with what You are doing in the lives of our students and embraces the reality that You speak to and through young people. Mark 10:13-26; Isaiah 61; 2 Timothy 3:13-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
The worship journey for this week: "Being made alive in Christ." 1 Peter 3:17-4:6; Ephesians 3:18; Romans 6:4. (Includes a special message from and prayer for Ms. Sarah Luke.)
The worship journey this week is "Form us into a people of hope." Josh discusses six virtues of the church: unity, sympathy, love, compassion, humility and forgiveness. 1 Peter 3:8-16; Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 5:44.
Josh and Sara tackle one of the more misunderstood passages of Scripture: "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands," bringing light to the context of Peter's letter. The worship journey for this week: "Forming our hearts toward Christian living. Let us practice unity, sympathy, agape love, compassion, humility and forgiveness." 1 Peter 3:1-12; 1 John 3:14-15; 1 John 4:20; Psalm 34.
Josh reminds us that we are called to love -- an agape love -- to love those we are masters over and those to whom we are slaves just as Peter reminded the exiles receiving his letter. When we demonstrate agape love to those around us, people will see Christ. The worship journey for this week: "Christian freedom through humble living." 1 Peter 2:13-25; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; Psalm 133:1; Psalm 100:3.
Bill revisits the fatherly approach Peter is taking with the Christian community receiving his letter. In chapter 2, Peter calls us to discard the things in life that get in the way of sincerely loving those around us -- not for the sake of "living right" but to eliminate the things in our lives that burden or overwhelm us and prevent us from building bridges with the others in our lives. The worship journey for this week: "Becoming spiritual houses of the Lord and serving as priests to those around us -- not by what we believe or profess -- but through the testimony of our lives." 1 Peter 2:1-12.
Jordan continues our look at 1 Peter, reminding us of Peter's fatherly approach to the exiles to whom he is writing. Peter writes about a "living hope," and we are faced with a couple of important questions: (1) What is the living hope? and (2) How do we live it out? That is, how do we practically live that out while we may be facing present trials? The worship journey for this week: "Embracing our Father's guidance to live the living hope." 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13-25; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 15:49-55.
Josh opens our study of 1 Peter following our journey through the Gospel of Mark. There, we saw Peter called by Jesus to ministry, and we witnessed Peter bungle his way through many times as he grew in faith. In 1 Peter, we have a book written to encourage a community facing persecution for their faith and hear the fatherly, pastoral heart that Peter has for these people. The worship journey for this week: "Chosen by God invited into living hope." 1 Peter 1:1-12; Revelation 7:9; Deuteronomy 7:6.
As we exit a season of rest, Sara invites us into Christian community as our season of fall groups begins. The worship journey this week: "Being formed by God into people who say 'Yes' to participating in the spiritual reality that is Christian community." Psalm 133:1; Ephesians 2:11-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; Romans 15:7; 1 John 1:5-7.
The worship journey for this week is "unity in diversity." Josh revisits Romans 12 and declares that RCC is going after being a family of God which looks different than a gathering of people. To live together despite our differences, we have to take hold of the imperative in Romans 12:3: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." Romans 12:1-21. Leviticus 1:9. Ephesians 5:2. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. 1 Corinthians 14:29-30.
We take some time to pray for the RCC staff and our RCC family, and worship together in the presence of the Lord. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.
Josh walks us through the last 8 verses of Mark 16 -- the way Mark originally completed his gospel. The open-ended way the gospel ends leaves us with the question: Who is Jesus to you? Have we annointed a version of Jesus who isn't there? Have we rolled stones in the way that keep us from experiencing who Jesus is? Jesus sends two women to deliver the message of His resurrection. He still sends people in our lives to us -- who help us see Jesus lived out through them. Don't step over your brother and sister in need to share the gospel with the world. The Holy Spirit calls us to lay down our lives for them. Josh wraps up his talk with a corporate prayer of repentance to women who have been hurt by culture, by the church, and by other men in their lives. Mark 16:1-8; Romans 10:9; Matthew 28:7-10.
Bill looks at the burial of Jesus and Joseph of Arimathea's bold approach of Pilate to request the body. In the process, Joseph lets go of his reputation as a member of the Sanhedrin and his old way of looking for the Kingdom of God. We all have things in our life that are dead or need to die. We need to go through the process of burying those things -- letting go of those things -- to experience the resurrected life we are called to. Alice also shares her heart about her six months serving at River City -- how she got here, what she's learned, and how she is approaching what's next for her. Mark 15:42-47; Numbers 19:11-13.
Josh and Sara discuss three practices that can help with discerning the voice of God: (1) Silence; (2) the Emmanual Prayer Process; and (3) Lectio Divina. These practices can help you hear the Father who is already speaking to you. They also share about the various ministries that need volunteers on Sunday morning as we prepare to incorporate the new space on August 5th. John 10:1-6; Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:12; Luke 5:16; Romans 12:4-5; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 4:32-33; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Josh looks at the Crucifixion and asks: "Are you interruptable?" Mark doesn't focus on the agony of crucifixion. Instead, he focuses on how others respond to the crucifixion. Simon of Cyrene was interrupted on his journey to the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, and it transformed his life and the life of his family. The Roman centurion is the first person to recognize Jesus for who He truly was. Nature responds with darkness, earthquakes, and awakened cemeteries. The veil is torn in the temple proclaiming access to the presence of God for all. Be interruptable. See Jesus as clearly as the centurion. Approach the throne of grace boldly. Mark 15:21-41; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Luke 23:45; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 10:17-18; Mark 1:1; Matthew 27:51-54; Romans 16:13; Acts 13:1; Hebrews 4:16.
Josh discusses the stories of Jesus before Pilate and the Roman soldiers mocking Jesus before the crucifixion. We see Pilate's amazement at Jesus standing silently in the face of the accusations being brought against Him. We hear the crowd's choice for the freedom of Barabbas over the true Son of the Father. We are left to consider what it means to serve and suffer for the sake of another -- sitting in silence with another or suffering in silence for another -- as Jesus did for the sake of all of us. Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-5; Matthew 27:16; John 1:14; Philippians 2:1-11.
Jordan looks at the story of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and Peter's denial and asks the questions: How do we respond when our identity is challenged? With courage or cowardice? It takes great courage to believe something when everything else in your life tells you otherwise. We all have our breaking points, and how we respond to our inevitable moments of cowering in the corner is key. Will you believe the identity that the Lord is speaking over you? And when you don't, will you be courageous again and jump into the arms of Christ? Mark 14:53-72; Jeremiah 31:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:1; Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 3:12; Jeremiah 29:11; Deuteronomy 17:6; Mark 13:2; John 2:19; John 21:4-7, 15-17; Galatians 2:11-14.
Josh looks at the arrest of Jesus, the way shame plays out in the disciples, Judas, and the unnamed man who ran away naked, and how better to deal with our shame. What if we turned toward Jesus to be with Him in those moments with those feelings? Jesus takes our shame to the cross -- even the shame we experience after walking with the Lord. Jesus joyfully takes that from us. And then, He restores us and clothes us with salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, joy, forgiveness, and purpose. Mark 14:43-52; John 18:1-11; Isaiah 61:10-11.
Bill walks us through the truth Scripture says about our identity in Christ. We are beloved, new creations, and children of God. We are free, bold, and we hold a secure future. Jesus sees our true identity when He pursues us, when He calls us by name -- like He did with Zaccheus and Saul. Our identity is our true self, but we often operate out of our false self that is the product of messages we've received, roles we play, or labels we've been given. The false self, like the seed that needs to die to bear fruit, must be killed, so we can engage life out of our identity in Christ -- out of our true self. Jeremiah 31:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 3:1; Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:12, 17; Jeremiah 29:11; Luke 19:1-10; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-19; Philippians 3:4-8; John 12:20-28; Colossians 3:1-4.
Continuing in Mark's gospel, we reach Gethsemane. Josh reminds us that the will of God sometimes puts us on our knees in agony, and in Gethsemane, Jesus shows us how to face those hard times. There is no resurrection without death, and there is no version of the Gospel being lived through our lives where we don't have to die. We all have to be led into our Gethsemane. There are people around us who are in the midst of those hard times too, in agony, and they need us not to be sleeping. They need us by their sides keeping watch. Through those hard times, there are lessons learned that deepen our relationship with Jesus. Jesus went to Gethsemane with His people and with God; we need the same things when Jesus is leading us into our Gethsemane. Mark 14:32-42; John 18:2, 10; 1 Peter 5:1-11.
Sara walks us through the Pentecost story, pointing out how we tend to focus on the part about tongues. We get distracted by the expressions of the Spirit and forget the story is also about the formation of the Spirit. How can we position ourselves to receive the Spirit to be the Helper she was intended to be? The Spirit that arrived on Pentecost catapulted the disciples into a season of empowering and faithfulness. How can we step into that same story today? We are being called to faithfulness. Are our current rhythms forming us to be empowered and faithful? How does the Spirit want to form us in this season of rest? Acts 2:1-21; Luke 3:15-16; John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15; Romans 8:22-27; Ezekiel 37:1-14.
Looking at Jesus foretelling Peter's denial, Josh reflects on how we all experience what Peter experienced. We all have things that we insisted we'd never do and then end up doing. And in those moments of failure, the challenge is not to let the failure define us but see it as an opportunity to discover what the Lord wants to do in and through us through the failure. Jesus is on the other side of all of our failures waiting to eat some bacon and eggs with us. His love endures forever. Mark 14:26-31; Matthew 26:30-35; Romans 2:8; Zechariah 13:7; Psalm 136; Luke 22:31-32; John 21:1-12.
As we celebrate RCC's 4th birthday and moving into some additional space, Josh looks at the Last Supper passage in Mark. Jesus invites His disciples to the table, shares a common meal with them, and transforms the breaking of bread and a cup of wine into something sacred. Likewise, our prayer is that through this new space, RCC would invite people to the table, and we would dream about how the Lord can take this common space and bring about something sacred as we serve the community through it. Mark 14:22-26; Romans 12.
Jordan walks us through the story of Judas' betrayal of Jesus and the preparation of the Passover meal. We usually don't see ourselves as Judas in this story, but how often do we choose our agenda or ambition over surrender to what the Lord is doing? Our submission gets us to Jesus' table, but our ambition causes us to leave it. And Jesus is always drawing us back to the table. Mark 14:10-21; Isaiah 53:6-7; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Psalm 41:9.
Josh looks at the story of the woman who broke a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus' head. There are moments in our lives that end up defining who we are and how people remember us. We have moments of extravagance in our lives -- like this woman did -- when we have a choice to make a difference. When we choose extravagance, there likely will be criticism, but the criticism doesn't define us. Is Jesus inviting you into moments of extravagance? Mark 14:1-11; John 12:1-8.
Josh walks us through the mysterious passage in Mark 13 regarding the "abomination of desolation." The disciples were enamored with the grandeur of the temple and fearful of the persecution Jesus predicted for them. They understood that the size of the temple mattered and that life needed to be safe. Many of us are no different. However, we don't need to miss being present in everything Jesus is doing -- looking for things He's not asking us to look for. We have to learn to be thankful for the difficulties that shape us. Jesus' words to the disciples remain true for us: there will be challenges, and (1) don't be led astray; (2) the Gospel will go all over the world; and (3) you will have the Holy Spirit to give you the words and wisdom you need in the tough times. Mark 13:1-23' Luke 21:12-17; John 16:33; Jeremiah 1:9; Acts 6:10; Acts 17:24; 1 Corinthians 6:19.
We like to approach Easter like an historical event, but Jordan reminds us that the Gospel is continually moving -- it comes to us on the way to someone else. Christian culture can get stuck focusing solely on resurrection and miss the importance of death -- of dying daily to our insecurities, fears, need to control, and selfish desires. But the process of resurrection is ongoing. We need to befriend death to discover the ongoing resurrection in our lives. Matthew 27:62-28:10. Ephesians 3:2-6. 1 Timothy 3:16. 1 Corinthians 15:50-51. 1 Corinthians 13:12. Colossians 2:1-3. 1 Corinthians 15:31. Luke 9:23. John 12:24.
Sara shared an encouraging location update,and Jordan explained how Jesus uses the social ladders in our lives to form us. Exploring Jesus' warning about the scribes and His celebration of the humility behind the widow's offering, Jordan shows us that the posture(s) practiced to maintain Jesus in the highest place in our lives is primary over our position on the social ladder. Mark 12:35-44. James 3:1-2. Philippians 2:5-11. Colossians 1:15-18.
After six months of praying and seeking as a staff and a church, Josh reviews the four pillars of RCC: Living in Love, Creating Space, Spiritual Formation and Community Transformation. The purpose of this effort was to identify language that captures the heart of who RCC is as a body and what the Lord has for us in Smyrna and the surrounding community. More than revealing a new logo, the service provided an opportunity to hear from the RCC family about what the Lord is showing them about our church as well. Psalm 1.
When the scribes confront Jesus in the temple, they ask Him which commandment is the most important. Many churches center their ministries on His response: "Love God and love people." Josh reminds us that Jesus' command is not about creating a list of things to do or a personal theology on how to walk out "love God and love people." It's not about a striving to perform better or having a sounder plan to accomplish the command. Instead, it's about a dependency on Jesus to show us how and to empower us to walk that out. Mark 12:28-34; Matthew 22:34-35; Luke 10:25; Matthew 19:16; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Leviticus 19:18; John 14:15; Romans 3:9-26; 1 John 4:7-21.
It's not easy being told you're wrong about something. When the Saducees confront Jesus about the bride of seven brothers, they intend to trap Him with a theological game based on their reading of Scripture. Jesus tells them their reading is "quite wrong." We can find ourselves at times placing more importance on certain aspects of Scripture or Christian culture that can close us off from other perspectives or an understanding of what Jesus is trying to show us. Josh reminds us there are times we need to be able to hear that we are wrong and view them as opportunities to explore Jesus more deeply. Mark 12:18-27. Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Colossians 2:18. Exodus 3:6. 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Wrapping up the My Beloved series, Bill discusses what it means to be "given." Our greatest fullfilment lies in giving ourselves to others by (1) giving ourselves in life and (2) giving ourselves in death. We see, in the story of Elijah and Elisha, that we are given out of our brokenness and that to give of who we are, we must confront our brokenness. 2 Kings 2:1-14. 2 Kings 4:42-44.
Josh continues the My Beloved discussion talking about our brokenness. We are all broken, but we often hide from our brokenness. Jesus calls us to befriend it. He wants to walk with us through it. When we befriend our brokenness and place it under the blessing, we can help someone else walk through their brokenness. Matthew 26:26-30. Isaiah 53:1-6. Matthew 26:39. 2 Corinthians 12:6-11.
Since the beginning of River City Church, we prayed for the Lord's guidance for our next steps. Every six months, we present new Prayers of the Season (POTS) that we sense the Lord is calling us to. Josh reviews our previous POTS and introduces the new POTS for the first half of 2018. The new POTS fall into three categories: (1) Who We Are; (2) Right People, Right Places; and (3) Where We Are. We ask everyone to join us in prayer this season as we anticipate what the Lord will do in these areas and partner with Him. Revelation 5:8. Acts 2:42.
Continuing our discussion of My Beloved, Sara walks us through what it means to be "blessed." When we bless others, we say "yes" to another's belovedness. We call out something new that might not fully be realized. Our blessings are expressions of the blessings that already rest on us from all eternity and remind us we belong to a loving God. We have to claim our blessings. Genesis 2:15-20. Genesis 3:8-9.
Josh updates us about RCC's location and then begins a short series looking at what it means to be called "My Beloved." We are beloved by God before we do anything -- good or bad. When we fail to grasp that well, we get caught up in what others say about us -- good or bad. The reality is that the Lord chose each of us -- and not at the expense of another either. We are called to walk in our chosenness individually and as a church family to see ourselves and others as the beloved we all are. Matthew 26:26-30. Mark 1:10-11. Deuteronomy 14:2. John 15:16. 1 Peter 2:9. Ephesians 1:3-4.
Dr. Karen Connell visits and reminds us that we "know in part" and that God knows we know in part. He has a plan for the other parts we don't know. We can have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand and perceive. We can ask God, and He will answer us. Or we can stay stuck in the natural and temporal and conclude our circumstances are the beginning and the end, defined by what we see. All of us hit a wall or come up against Goliath, and we'll be faced with the question: "Is God good?" There's no way out of that through our senses, but that often is our default response. We lose sight of the reality of our supernatural rebirth and the supernatural equipping to which we have access that can help us get unstuck. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12. Proverbs 25:2. Proverbs 3:5-6. Matthew 6:32-34. Matthew 7:7-8. James 1:5. 2 Kings 6:15-20. 1 Corinthians 2:14. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20. John 5:2-9. Mark 2:3-6. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Matthew 5:3. Ephesians 6:13-14. Romans 8:28. Romans 5:2. Matthew 7:7-12. Ephesians 1:18. Colossians 1:27. 2 Corinthians 3:18. Ephesians 3:19-21.
Josh walks us through the story of the confrontation with Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. We see Jesus acknowledging there are kingdoms of this world, and there is a Kingdom of God -- and each has its place. Jesus puts them in their proper perspectives. We are called to place primary importance in the things of God, but Jesus isn't calling us to fight over the secondary things. Mark 12:13-17. Luke 20:20. Genesis 1:26-27. Matthew 6:31-34. Romans 12:1-2.
Josh shares an RCC location update and then reminds us that we need authority in our lives. Jesus shows us that successful authority sacrifices itself for those it is leading. When we have that kind of authority in our lives, it can challenge us. Instead of being irritated by it, we see that Jesus is actually fighting for us. Through that, we can experience safety, peace and freedom. Mark 11:27-12:12. Mark 1:22, 27. Matthew 9:6. Matthew 28:18. Isaiah 5:1-7. Psalm 68:5-6.
Kara notes how we are pulled by society to set new year's resolutions and goals to see how we can improve. And the Christian calendar calls us to rest, be still, and know that the Lord is pleased with us. Your identity is not tied up in the success or failure of your resolutions. What if we looked at our list of goals or resolutions, asking "is my list bringing me closer to wholeness in Christ," and went after that? Matthew 3:13-17. Revelation 4:9-11.
On Christmas Eve, we celebrate the perfect gift of Jesus. His birth and ultimate sacrifice bring us salvation and freedom. This Christmas, and over the coming weeks, may we treasure up Jesus deeply in our hearts. Luke 2:1-20. John 10:9-11. Psalm 96. Titus 2:11-14.
Looking at Isaiah again, Josh reminds us that it's not our job to produce joy, explaining that recognizing our brokenness and fostering a complete dependence on Jesus is the source of joy. Jesus looks at us and doesn't see the brokenness or the accusations we hurl at ourselves. Jesus sees the complete picture. He sees where we are and where we're headed. He doesn't see a sapling. He sees the oak of righteousness that Isaiah prophesied about. Isaiah 61:1-11. Luke 4:16-21. Psalm 126.
Sara walks us through the second week of Advent theme of Love, exploring the consolation of Jesus prophesied in Isaiah. Sara unpacks how we have a role to play in comforting those around us, reminding them of God's presence, the steadfastness of the Word of God, and the arm of the Lord that both conquers our hearts and holds us tightly in his love. Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13. Isaiah 40:1-11. Mark 1:1-8. 2 Peter 3:8-15.
Josh and Sara introduce the Advent season and the first theme of "Hope." Who are the Isaiahs in your life? Who are the people in your life who gave you hope when you felt hopeless? And who can you be Isaiah for -- to give them hope when they have no hope? The Advent season ushers in Jesus, Immanuel. Who are you proclaiming Jesus over? Isaiah 64:1-9. Matthew 1:18-23. 1 Timothy 1:1.
Jordan revisits the story of the fig tree and Jesus' reference to faith that moves mountains. There are fig trees in our lives that need to die, but we often ask the Lord to put fruit on them. Likewise, there are mountains in our lives that separate us from the Lord. Having faith isn't about praying harder to move the mountains. In seeking fidelity with Jesus, we come to find those mountains cast in the sea. Mark 11:20-25. Mark 1:14-15. Mark 11:12-19. Matthew 6:31-33.
Josh looks at the stories of Jesus' cursing of the fig tree and cleansing of the temple. From a distance, Jesus looks at both the tree and the temple looking for fruit. But when He stands next to the tree and enters the temple, He sees none. Josh reminds us that the tree doesn't represent us -- that is, Jesus doesn't view us as His enemies. His anger is directed at the enemy that feeds us lies that result in fruitlessness on a tree and in the temple. Mark 11:12-19. Galatians 5:22-23. James 2:17. Romans 13:10. Micah 6:8. James 1:27.
Josh shares the story of Jesus' triumphal entry. Jesus comes into Jerusalem as the King of Peace -- not like King David. Will we take off our cloaks to follow a king who rides in on a donkey or demand he shower us with the blessings of a conquering king? Mark 11:1-11. Zechariah 9:9.
Josh looks at the story of Bartimaeus - a blind man whose identity is caught up in his affliction. He is broken, but his awareness of his plight compels him to call out to Jesus. We see the need to do the tough work of our own souls to become aware of our brokenness. Through that, we find the bravery to call out to Jesus, and He can silence the voices that feed our false identities and speak directly to us: "What do you want me to do for you?" Mark 10:46-52.
Over the last few weeks, we asked the RCC family to pose their questions about the local church, giving, etc. This morning, we took time to answer some of those questions. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8. Psalm 1:1-3. John 15:5. Luke 22:7-20.
In the third part of the Pull Up a Chair series, Josh and Sara tackle the topic of giving. They address five of the most common reasons people don't financially support the local church: (1) I don't have enough money; (2) I don't really trust what the church will do with my money; (3) I'd rather give to a mission organization where I can see the results of my support; (4) I don't understand why I should give or how to do so; and (5) I don't really know how to start giving. Romans 12:1-3. Acts 2:42-47.
Why does the local church matter? Why is it important to connect with a local church community? Do Sunday mornings matter? Josh and Sara provide some insight into these and related questions about the local church in part 2 of the Pull Up a Chair series. Hebrews 10:23-25. Ephesians 1:22-23. 1 Corinthians 12:26. Galatians 6:10. Ephesians 2:19.
Josh invites us to "pull up a chair" to discuss some things that matter to our community within RCC and our surrounding area. Using the Lord's Prayer as a model, we kick off this series focusing on prayer and inviting the Lord to speak to our body about why we're here, what our purpose is in Smyrna, where we should be located, etc. We are asking the Lord to lead us moving forward, praying into six areas: Presence & Intimacy, Kingdom, Provision, Humility & Forgiveness, Guidance, and Protection. Matthew 6:9-34.
Josh looks at the third time Jesus predicts his death and the disciples' response -- asking for seats at his side in glory. We are challenged to consider what the seat is in our life that says, "you need to get this" because then you will have value. We keep asking for things that don't benefit us or anyone around us. Jesus wants us to see, like he wanted the disciples to see, that it's not about our reputation or status or all the things we have but about how we serve and when we choose the other over ourselves. Mark 10:32-45. Philippians 2:5-7. Luke 22:24.
Bill walks through the story of the rich young man. We see Jesus reminding us that outward appearances do not concern Him. In a culture that said this rich man's possessions demonstrated God's favor on his life, Jesus shows how our attachments to secondary things can actually get in the way of the call on our lives to follow Jesus with the openness, dependence and wonder of a little child. Mark 10:13-31.
Josh discusses the story of the Pharisees' attempt to trap Jesus with their question about the lawfulness of divorce. We see Jesus use the interaction to illustrate His love for us. Marriage is beautiful. It is a picture of the kind of love Jesus has for us -- a love that pursues us and overpowers the world through His sacrifice. Mark 10:1-12. Mark 3:6. Deuteronomy 24:1.
The telos (i.e., "the ultimate aim or goal") of the Christian life is not about not going to hell. The telos of the Christian life is to be included in the life of God. When we confuse the telos, we can get caught up making sure people don't behave in certain ways and miss out on doing the work of the Christian life. Mark 9:38-50. Leviticus 2:13. Romans 12.
Josh explains that the message of humility is at the core of Jesus' ministry -- not power. For us, that looks like Jesus putting His finger on the things in our lives that need to die. The disciples are talking among themselves about who is greatest, and Jesus explains that the call of the gospel is to be the servant of all. Mark 9:30-41. Luke 9:44. 1 Corinthians 2:2. 1 John 1:9. Matthew 25:40. Isaiah 66:2.
Josh walks us through the Transfiguration and how fear plays a part in our lives whether we are on the mountaintop with Jesus, or we are chosen to stay behind and wait on the Lord in the valley. Fear brings an indictment that we want to run from, but Jesus says "fear not." Mark 8:34-38. Mark 9:1-29. Luke 9:28-32. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Jordan acknowledges that the Holy Spirit dwells in him, but the Holy Spirit also dwells fully in others. We only see in part, and the Lord gives us a community to help us see more fully. Inviting each other into our stories helps us discern what the Lord is telling us individually and collectively. We may hear differently, but in fighting for unity despite our differences, we may become more like Jesus. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12. Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16. 1 Thessalonians 1:5. 1 John 3:18. 1 Corinthians 4:20. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12.
Josh walks us through the stories of Jesus healing the blind man, Peter rebuking Jesus, and Jesus rebuking Peter to illustrate spiritual blindness. If we're spiritually blind, the key to seeing spiritually often starts with admitting when we can't see. Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Christ, but his rebuke of Jesus reveals that Peter is spiritually blind to what Jesus Christ truly means. Mark 8:22-38. John 8:12. Matthew 13:44-46.
Bill shares the parables in Luke about the Lost Son, the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin that point us to Jesus and who He is. We see the Lord's pursuit of us and the grace He bestows upon us when we go our own way and then decide to ask Him if we can come home. Luke 15:11-32. Luke 15:1-10.
In the stories of Jesus feeding the 4000 and the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, we are left with the question, "Where is my heart?" We often demand that Jesus use His power to meet our desires. Even though Jesus is the one who can create something out of nothing ("ex nihilo"), Josh reminds us that Jesus came to be with us (Emmanuel), providing what we need, and drawing our hearts to Him. Mark 8:1-21. Proverbs 4:23. Joshua 9:6.
Josh challenges us to love and lead our young people. Using the story of Samuel and Eli, Josh reminds us that the Lord speaks to our youth, and our job is to be humble enough to hear what the Lord is telling us through them. 1 Samuel 3:1-21. Matthew 6:33.
Josh looks at the first message Peter delivers at Pentecost and the response of the people: "What shall we do?" They had lived with Jesus and not recognized who He was. In many ways, we've shut Jesus out of our lives too. "What shall we do?" Create space for spiritual formation. Spiritual formation doesn't happen on Sunday mornings. It requires creating space in our lives the rest of the week for word, worship, prayer and community. What if spiritual formation becomes your heart's cry, and then God gets to add the things you're trying to add? What could that new rhythm bring? Acts 2:22-47. Matthew 6:33.
Taking a break from our study in the Gospel of Mark, we reviewed the prayers of the season (P.O.T.S.) from January and how the Lord is answering those prayers in our body and community. We participated in eucharisteo -- giving thanks for what the Lord is providing. Then, we previewed the new P.O.T.S. for the current season. Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17. Luke 22:14-20.
Sara walks us through Jesus' teaching about what contaminates a life and how ritual compliance with the legalism of the day isn't what makes anyone clean. Then or now. Which begs the question: "What are we hung up on that prevents us from loving others?" The condition of our hearts is what contaminates our lives, and practices like the Lectio Divina help us create space for our hearts to be formed by God as we journey towards the "good life" and away from any legalism that paralyzes our claims of love. Mark 7:1-23. Mark 7:6-7. Deuteronomy 10:12-22.
Josh discusses the story of Jesus walking on the water and asks: "In what kind of season are you right now? And where is Jesus?" The disciples enter the boat and worry about how they're going to reach the shore. But we see that Jesus isn't the God who gets us to shore necessarily. He is the God who gets in the boat with us. He is the destination. Mark 6:45-56. Mark 4:35-41. Isaiah 41:10-13.
Josh looks at the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, and we see that Jesus doesn't come to us to satisfy our appetites. He didn't come to be the Bread King. He came to swallow all of our appetites and give us appetites we didn't even know we had -- appetites that only Jesus can satisfy. Mark 6:30-46. John 6:14-15. Mark 10:45. John 6:51. Hebrews 13:20-21.
Kara shares three stories from the Book of Mark -- Jesus rejected in Nazareth; the sending out of the 12 disciples; and the beheading of John the Baptist -- and we see that rejection and suffering are not surprises to Jesus. But we also see how the Lord uses those experiences to grow our faith and trust in Him until we find ourselves on the Resurrection side of suffering. Mark 6:1-29. Luke 1:39-45.
Josh shares the story of Jairus' daughter and the woman who touches the hem of Jesus' garment. The desperation of a father for his daughter and a woman's desperate desire for healing meet in this moment with Jesus. Jesus walks with Jairus amidst his desperation; He hears the desperate cry from this ailing woman. And we see how healing, peace and identity comes through trusting Jesus. Mark 5:21-43. Ecclesiastes 4:1-12.
Josh walks through the passage in Mark 5 about Legion, the demoniac. Mark tells us the story of Jesus casting out 2000 demons into a herd of pigs. In a way, Jesus wants to do the same for us by casting out the things we believe about ourselves that are not who we truly are. Mark 5:1-20. Ephesians 6:12. Ephesians 2:1-10. Psalm 23.
Josh looks at 3 parables Jesus shared about seeds to make us think about who He is and contemplate what it means to follow Him. We can get caught up in looking for harvest or blessing or healing, but before we get to harvest, we need seeds planted and time and patience for them to grow and mature. As we grow and mature, we move from asking, "What is this?" to "Who is this?" And we see in the story of Jesus calming the storm, that even when our growing seasons are tumultuous, we can turn to Jesus for peace. Mark 4:21-41. 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.
Bill looks at Jesus' heart for his followers -- a heart that called them together as a family and showed them how to view themselves and others through a story about a generous farmer sowing seeds on his land. Mark 3:31-4:20. Luke 14:26. Acts 2:14a, 36-41. 1 Peter 1:17-23.
Josh continues our look at Jesus and how the person of Jesus is revealed in the Book of Mark. We see that Jesus is never unsure of what He does, and He is never ready to throw in the towel. Jesus' wisdom is perfect. He knows exactly where we're at and has exactly what we need. Mark 3:7-30.
What is God trying to say to you today about Resurrection? For many of us, the Easter Story is just another Bible story. This story has to become your story. That's how the Gospel becomes someone else's story. Matthew 28:1-10. Colossians 3:1-4. Acts 10:34-43.
Jordan asks us the question: "Who is Jesus to you?" We pray and sing, "Yours is the Kingdom. Yours is the power. Yours is the glory forever and ever." But have we allowed His Kingdom to reign within our hearts and minds? When we see Jesus at work, like the people in the Book of Mark, we ask, "What is this?" That question is the start of a dialogue Jesus wants to have with us to reveal Himself to us. We have a choice to dialogue with Jesus or accuse Him. Don't let your "What is this?" become a "You did this!" Mark 2:13-3:6. Mark 1:14-15. Mark 1:26-27. Colossians 1:15-18.
Looking at the story of the four friends who lower their paralytic friend through the roof where Jesus is meeting, we see, once again, how Jesus sees our hearts and offers what our hearts need -- even when we don't perceive or understand what that is. Mark 2:1-12. John 9:1-3. Leviticus 24:16. Luke 5:17. Jeremiah 17:9-10.
We can get caught up in the "things" that Jesus can do, like miracles and signs, but Jesus understood seeking those things can be obstacles to our ability to meet and know Him. Mark 1:21-45. Psalm 139:1-18. 1 John 4:8. Exodus 16:1-21. John 6:25-35.
Sensing the Lord's leading not to preach, Josh led us in a time of prayer to hear from the Lord for ourselves and for each other.
Jesus returns to Galilee from the wilderness and calls the first disciples. What do we do when Jesus enters our lives? Do we arrest Him and anything connected to Him? Or do we follow Him and willingly receive what He wants to do in and through us? Mark 1:14-20. John 16:5-15.
Teddy and Krystle Hart share their story about moving to Long Beach, CA to plant a church. Prayers of the People.
Jesus shows up on the scene in Mark and submits to John the Baptist. Then, after His baptism, He is sent into the wilderness for 40 days. Mark 1:1-13.
Jordan explains RCC's current prayers of the season (POTS), and Dr. Karen Connell shares her message reminding us that we were created for God's pleasure. We are His pleasure. Revelation 4:11.
Josh calls us to be rooted and grounded in Christ, so we are open to the change the Lord has for us and to sustain us through that journey. Ephesians 3:14-21. Colossians 2:6-10. Revelation 22:14-17.
Josh takes another look at John 15 and how our prayer lives and abiding in Christ are correlated -- how the fruit the Lord has for our lives is born out of the intimate closeness of our prayers.
Jordan reminds us that we were not created to live a solitary life. We are called to love God and love others. We demonstrate our love for God by loving others. Hear about the new set of RCC life groups for 2017.
Josh continues the Home series, presenting what it looks like to be a healthy member of the Body of Christ.
In Josh's first message on "Home," he encourages us to be ready to be a disappointment if we're at home in the Lord's presence. But if we can remain in His presence, we will see the fruit of the Spirit -- in our lives, in the lives of others, and in our community.
On the snow day, we preview the upcoming Home series and pray for the world and nation; the Body of Christ; and for inner healing, restoration and freedom for those in our community.
Bill discusses looking at the Trinity as a relationship -- a model for us of a healthy, loving, life-affirming relationship.
In our final Advent service of the season, Jordan reminds us of both the simple story of Emmanuel who continues to commune with us and the power of His Presence today.
Josh discusses the joy we can experience in our deserts and the promise of water to permeate the dry places.
Josh talks about Isaiah 11 and the promise of peace that we may not experience personally but can anticipate.
Sara discusses "The Good Life" (Christmas Edition) and creating space to recalibrate our lives during the Advent season to focus on what it means to live in the "now and not yet."
Josh wraps up our Prayers of the Season talks looking at "Next Steps" and challenging us to ask the Lord what He has for us; steward it well; "love listen;" and dream with the Lord.
Sara shares her passion with our next P.O.T.S. theme, Vision for Spiritual Transformation.
Josh talks about his favorite subject, Community and then our Life Group Leaders share.
We are excited to host the Campbell High School football team and Josh talks about the Gospel in places it shouldn't be.
Josh talks about his favorite message from the Scotland trip. He shares the concept of, your gifts are not necessarily for you.
Sara speaks after bring the church together in a prayer of Unity for the country. The she speaks on the Rule of Life.
Sara speaks on the subject of Spiritual Guidance. A subject she taught on briefly before, but is not able to study deeply.
Josh flips our service my speaking first on Worship before we enter in with a new perspective. Only the message is included here.
Mark Nysewander, the Riverstone pastor overseeing other Transformation churches visits River City.
Josh gives an short thought on why we do stories. For privacy sake, we have not included the actual stories here.
Bills speaks this week as part of our Creating Space series by talking about Submission.
Kara Lee was asked to speak and a while back and, surprise, the Lord laid Creating Space on her heart. So, she delivers her word on the subject.
Josh continues our Creating Space series with a look at the spiritual discipline of Study.
Sara speaks on the sometime sticky subject of money and lays out a pathway to generosity.
Staff Spotlight: Sara Turner and the City Kids Team. Josh continues the talk about Creating Space and brings up new community members to share a bit about themselves and what RCC means to them.
Staff Spotlight: James Shealy. Then, Josh follows the Holy Spirit and leads us in praying through our POTS and SOTS as well as or each other.
Staff Spotlight: Jordan Craig. Then, Jordan brings up all the Life Group leaders to introduce their groups and then talks a bit about community.
Josh starts a new mini series discussing the ways we can Create Spaces in our lives for things that matter.
Bill Pinto shares his families journey with adoption and how the Father has adopted us.
Following the leading of the Spirit to break from his prepared Ephesians message, Josh shares his testimony for new and old RCC friends.
Josh continues pulling treasures out of Ephesians by finishing the second half of Chapter 3.
Guest pastors, Peter and Masha, from the latest church plant in the Transformation Network, ARISE, bring an encouraging Word.
Josh continues to walk us through Community Transformation by allowing the church to share testimonies of what God has done in their communities.
Jordan Craig continues teachings on Disciple making Disciples by explaining RCC Life Groups and introducing each leader to talk about their group.
Today, Sarah Turner takes the stage to continue teaching on Disciple making Disciples, part of our Vision Series.
After an amazing week of praying for each other in Week 4 (unpublished), Josh wraps up Word, Worship & Prayer - Part of our Vision Series.
Jordan Craig continues Word, Worship & Prayer - Part of our Vision Series with today's focus on Worship.