Tallgrass at The Well Teachings: Recent Episodes
Tallgrass at The Well
Weekly teachings from Tallgrass at The Well in Manhattan, Kansas. Visit us on the web at tallgrassatthewell.church to learn more.
Mosaic Church celebrates relocating to a new worship space and all the work of our community to get there.
What would it do to your soul if you took 52 sabbaths in this next year? How would your life look different--including the stress you carry and the anxiety you feel? It's possible, through some planning and preparation, to enter into a life filled with more peace, calm, and rest while spending more time with the people you enjoy most.
Pastor Josh Siders continues our Radical Jesus series by talking about sexual formation--that God wants to form us mentally, emotionally, spiritually and, yes, sexually. But what does that look like for us? Watch along and find out what that grace-filled journey looks like.
For more resources visit mosaicmhk.com
Josh Siders continues our teaching series about controversial topics, Radical Jesus, by talking about the mistreatment and abuse church community can experience from unhealthy leaders.
Pastor Sarah Siders talks about mental health and well-being for our Radical Jesus series. Drawing upon her years as a therapist, she shares from her perspective on integrating holistic health and how followers of Jesus can embrace this approach.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about digital and social media use, its effects on use, and how we can think about how our families can use it while minimizing its harm.
Pastor Ben Deaver addresses refugees and immigrants and how we think of their inclusion in our country, all while viewing it from the perspective of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Josh Siders teaches on American politics as it relates to the Kingdom of God and following Jesus.
Pastor Josh Siders begins our Radical Jesus series by teaching about the cross-pressures of the cultural moment we find ourselves in and how we can practice curiosity towards others and intentionally choose relationships with others instead of deepening the divide.
Pastor Josh Siders wraps up our series on community with a teaching about three key habits for growing in healthy relationships.
Join Pastor Ben and Pastor Josh as they share where we're at as a church community and what's around the corner for us.
Josh Siders begins a new series on the importance of community so we can grow together and push back against loneliness and the radical individualism of our culture.
Pastor Ben Deaver continues our teaching series about being set apart for God by asking where we might see God working already this year in our lives.
Pastor Josh Siders begins this new teaching series on being a people who are awaiting God's movement in their lives. He looks at the Jordan River crossing and the Last Supper as moments that impacted history and asks how we can prepare ourselves for God's work.
Pastor Josh Siders teaches about God's invitation to his people to practice the Sabbath. During these times, we are welcomed to rest, recharge, and dwell with God in his presence.
Pastor Sarah Siders completes our Advent series with a teaching during our Christmas Eve Gathering. She connects the Prophet Isaiah's foretold anointing of the Messiah to Jesus' proclamation of who he is in Luke 4 and encourages to not overlook the ordinary-ness of how God works in our lives.
Justin Kastner continues our series, The Fifth Gospel, as we consider Advent through the eyes of the Prophet Isaiah. Here, he teaches on the forward-looking anticipation of the Messiah.
Pastor Ben Deaver continues our Advent teaching series through some of the Servant Songs of Isaiah and unpacks how Jesus is God's chosen servant of salvation.
Advent is the time in which we prepare for Christmas and the retelling of Christ's birth. Pastor Josh Siders begins this series by looking at the Christmas story, and starts not in the Gospels but instead in the book of Isaiah the Prophet. What can Isaiah show us about the first Advent of Jesus, and what other Advents of Christ can we expect?
How do we build a thriving support system, both to aid in the mental health and wellness of others and also to join in ourselves? Rev. Dr. Justin Kastner talks about some practices we can all participate in as he finished our series on mental health.
What are some practices we can put into place to cultivate a healthy and thriving mind? Pastor Ben Deaver elaborates on this question as he continues our teaching series on mental health.For more teachings, resources, and support, visit mosaicmhk.com/mindful
Josh Siders continues our teaching series on mental health called Mindful with a talk about our connection to God and the health that we receive from him.For more teachings, resources, and support, visit mosaicmhk.com/mindful
Pastor Sarah Siders continues our teaching series called Mindful, which is about pursuing mental health and wellness. She talks here about the reflections that are necessary to incorporate into our lives.
Pastor Josh Siders begins a new message series called Mindful. Here, he talks about the rituals, rhythms, and practices which help lead to mental health and wellness.
Pastor Ben Deaver concludes our series on faith and doubt with a teaching from Hebrews 12:1-2 on having gritty faith.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about the Bible--acknowledging it's misuse and, yet, its importance in our spiritual formation.
Rev. Justin Kastner joins us to continue our series on faith and doubt and the importance of being present with one another.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about unanswered prayer and the perceived silence of God and how these seasons can be used to grow us and strengthen our faith.
Pastor Sarah Siders continued our series on faith and doubt by talking about how certainty robs us of vitality and actually takes us away from a vibrant faith in Jesus.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about the stages of faith and how doubt and deconstruction can be used by God to grow our spiritual maturity.
Pastor Ben Deaver begins a new series about naming and facing our doubts which can lead to a healthier expression of faith.
Pastor Ben Deaver shares about the benefits and messiness of relationships in the church.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about the epidemic of loneliness in our world and how Jesus has created church community to be the answer to that problem.
Pastor Ben Deaver talks about music and how we should incorporate it into our worship of God, as well as some pitfalls to avoid.
Rev. Justin Kastner continues our series on the State of the Church with a talk on Christian intellect.
Pastor Ben Deaver talks about the need for healthy leaders in the church and what occurs when self-centered leaders are in control.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about the dangers of consumerism, especially as it runs rampant in the church.
Pastor Josh Siders talks about speaking prophetically to believers and to the broader culture.
Ben Deaver, Josh Siders, Justin Kastner, Mike Salsbury, and Edward Tuttle sit down for a Father's Day chat.
"Us and Them" thinking has been around since the dawn of human civilization. And history bears out the theme over and over again that people tend to think and act tribally. But in Christ, God is doing something new: breaking down the barriers between people and creating a new unified humanity in his Body, the Church. And that changes everything from how we think about our relationships, the church, and ourselves. How might you be actively involved in removing barriers with the love and compassion of Jesus?
Do you feel like God loves you? Like you're completely forgiven through Christ? Do you feel like you're united with God through his Spirit? Do you feel like you're IN CHRIST? In this teaching we dive into the reality that things can be true and influencing us significantly whether or not we feel it. Ephesians teaches us that when we trust in Jesus, we're mystically and actually united with God in Christ and this has profound implications for our lives. Our identity, confidence, and relation to work and rest are upended in this glorious Gospel truth. How will you sit in the reality of who you are and what you have in Christ?
It's so easy for life to become boring -- even for those who believe in God and trust in Jesus! And while this experience is fairly common and natural, it's not God's desire for us. In Ephesians we discover how God longs for our lives and hearts to be filled with a regular awareness of his power and the great hope to which he's calling us. In this teaching we consider this dissonance and ask ourselves, "What is my mission? Where is my community. And Who am I influencing?" How might your misunderstandings surrounding these questions contribute to your spiritual boredom?
Sure you can just drive up to the edge of the Grand Canyon. The view is incredible. But in order to truly experience it, you have to get down into it -- put in the time and effort to get all the way in there. It's a lot like that with God. In this teaching we look at God's desire for us to fully experience and delight in Him. And we consider three main blockages to our delight in God: theology, anxiety, and doubt. What might be blocking your delight in God?
Jesus had a chance to bypass his sufferings and just become king of the world without going through the process set before him by the Father. Why didn't he take Satan up on that offer? In this teaching we dig more deeply into our temptation to take shortcuts and how the great victory of Easter hinged on Jesus' willingness to resist this urge. Thanks be to God for our victory over death and sin through the patient obedience of Christ on the Cross! Where are you tempted to take shortcuts in your life right now? And how might God be calling to you in the midst of that temptation?
Jesus was tempted to reveal himself publicly in a grand spectacle of awesome power. And the Devil himself did his best to get Jesus to choose this quick and easy path to fame instead of the way of suffering and sacrifice. His message was essentially, "You can have the Crown without the Cross!" Wouldn't that be nice? In this teaching we see that because Jesus endured and prevailed through temptation, he invites us to approach him with confidence, rather than fear. He knows what it's like to be tempted just as we do, and he longs to help us and give us grace.
If you had all the powers of God, what would you do? How long would it take for things to go sideways? The reality is all of us have hearts and motives that are deformed and stunted by sin. Even the best of our motives and intentions end up a mixed bag. In this teaching, we look at the reality of temptation and spiritual warfare. And we consider how Jesus Himself engaged with and responded to the same temptations we all face today. Where do you feel the strongest pull to prove yourself to others? And how might Jesus want to meet you there?
It's hard to rest if you don't know where you are. But there's a deep peace that can come from understanding where you are, where you're going, and what the next step is. In this teaching, we consider this approach toward our spiritual lives and see how we can discern our stages and next steps of spiritual growth with some helpful categories. What's your stage of apprenticeship to Jesus and where is he calling you to take a next step?
Most of us don't like limits placed on us. We instinctually believe that the Good Life is actually beyond our limits, out another step or two. And we bring this suspicion into our relationship with God. In fact, pushing past our limits and trying to be like God is our original sin all the way back in the Garden of Eden. In this teaching we explore our natural revulsion against our God-given limits and the crushing consequences of trying to hold the world up on our own. We also hear again the gentle call of Jesus to come back to him, lay it down, discover the surprising gift of limits, and rest.
For those with ears to hear, Jesus' command to "Love your neighbor as yourself" has first a cynical insight, followed by a profoundly kind invitation. Because, the problem is, most of us don't really love ourselves well. And that affects our ability to love others. In this teaching, we take a look at this difficult insight and also discover the wonderful kindness of God as he teaches us to love ourselves as he does. We look at practical ways we can takes steps to love and care for ourselves well and how that can spur us toward greater love for our neighbors.
What if the greatest threat to your spiritual life is actually hurry? How might that cause you to reevaluate the pace of your life - both internal and external? In this teaching we consider the state of our busy, distracted lives and how our tendency toward hurry impacts our spiritual wellbeing and ability to grow in Christlikeness. In Christ we see one who lived with purpose and urgency, but never haste. How might your relationships, recreation, and habits change and grow if you slowed down?
Who has time to practice a Sabbath day of rest? In today's world, it often seems like if we slow down and take a break, the world will come crashing down from our shoulders. But what if the practice of Sabbath isn't only possible today, but it's a life saving gift from our loving Heavenly Father. In this teaching we look at the ancient practice of Sabbath and see how we can recover a deeply restful inner life through its practice in our lives today. We also get practical talking about how this could look as we implement it in our weeks. How might Sabbath help you literally recover your life?
Quick, list off the foundational practices of the Christian life. Did resting make the list? For many today, the spiritual practice of deep resting in Christ has been painted over with distraction and busyness. This teaching begins a new series on resting by rediscovering an ancient tool for orienting your life around the way of Jesus: A Rule of Life. What might your Rule of Life look like? And how might it help you really rest?
I know where we've been. But....what's next? Mosaic Church is excited to share our vision with you! In this special teaching, we shared what God has done, what he's up to now, and where we're headed together as we seek to follow Him in Manhattan, KS in 2023. We also got to hear testimonies from two who have joined with us during the merger season, Brian Peterson and Tracy Emery. No matter where you're at in your journey of faith, we've got a place for you. Come and see.
You don't actually have to tithe. A significant foundation of the Good News is that grace takes you further than law. This applies not only to our spiritual state in relation to God through Christ, but also to how we're called to give our money. In this teaching we look at misunderstandings about giving in our discipleship to Christ and how a motivation based on grace frees up more resources for Kingdom work through radical sacrificial generosity. And it blesses others far more in the process. How might grace take you further in your approach toward giving?
Are you being wise with your finances? Are you investing with 30 years in view? What about the next 30 million years? For those who believe they will be resurrected to eternal life by Jesus, this is actually not a crazy question. But it's rarely how we think when we consider our investment strategies, even in the church. In this teaching, we look at how we can follow and emulate Christ in the midst of our modern, Western, wealthy, consumeristic culture. And we discover the call of Christ to not only give generously to bless others, but also to secure the truly good life for ourselves beginning right now.
If we want to have any hope of using our technology as a beneficial tool rather than becoming used ourselves, we must engage with intentionally. We need to consider how we want to shape our spaces in light of our values. The Bible teaches us to value real people, great conversations, embodied living, and glorifying God in the real world. In this teaching we look at Romans 12 to consider practical steps to help us value these things in the midst of our digital age. What is one sustainable rhythm you can implement in pursuit of digital equilibrium?
Things really are different now. The advent and cultural ubiquity of digital technology and personal devices has fundamentally changed the way we think, interact, and mature. In this teaching we look at the reality of our brave new digital world and consider its effects on our discipleship to Jesus. How are the devices you look at constantly forming you? And how can you submit yourself to Christ in light of that?
Happy New Year! We're not meeting in-person today and instead invite you to engage with this pre-recorded teaching about two practical tools you can use to lean into growth and connection in 2023. In fact, we'll be leaning into these tools together as a church family!
Christmas is full of paradoxes. And not the least of which is the God of the Universe coming to save us all ... as a little, vulnerable baby. And yet in the mind-bending, paradigm shattering Incarnation, God comes undeniably close. In this teaching we see how Christmas reminds us that God has time for us. He is present in the nitty gritty details of our life. He cares and he's not staying distant from our pain. But he enters in, rolls up his sleeves, and displays his power and love in some of the most unexpected ways imaginable. Where are you waiting for him in your life today? And how might he want to open your eyes to see his salvation at work?
Christmas can really be enchanting! With all the lights and lattes, we can easily get swept into the Christmas spirit of warm feels and nostalgia. Yet on a deeper and more profound level, we tend to struggle with disenchantment. For most of us, awe and wonder and mystery have been mostly banished from our lives. But the Bible teaches us about an incredible mystery at the heart of Christmas: the incarnation of God Almighty into human flesh! And it invites us to ponder the great mystery and come to the manger with awe and wonder. What might it look like to become reenchanted with Christmas this year?
The Bible stands utterly alone as an ancient or religious text when it comes to predictive prophecy. There are hundreds! And over 100 prophecies from hundreds of years beforehand have been fulfilled in the life of Jesus. A life of deep joy, not just happiness, must be built on the promises of God - especially when life is hard, and God seems distant. It's seeing fulfilled prophecies in the Bible that gives us confidence that God will also fulfill his promises to us. And that's what a life of joy is built upon.
When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed "peace on earth." Hundreds of years beforehand, prophets said the messiah would come bring peace. But after 2000 years, the earth has no peace. Wars, strife, division, and sufferings characterize our world, just as they always have. And in some ways, the stats show it's getting worse, rather than better! So what are we to make of this stark contrast between the promise of peace and the reality we live in? In this teaching, we dive headlong into this critical question. We look at ancient prophecies and see how they are and will be fully fulfilled in the two Advents of the Messiah. We also see our part in mediating that peace to our neighbors while we await Jesus' return.
Who are you? Can you determine your identity by your choices and actions? How much of you identity comes from your family? These fundamental questions are rarely consciously considered, but nevertheless powerfully drive our lives and experience. In this first Advent teaching we look at ancient prophesies about the Messiah and see how our ultimate questions of origin and identity were answered and fulfilled in Jesus. We also see that our place in our families have meaning and purpose today.
Christians are supposed to love their enemies and to prove their devotion to Christ by their gentle and respectful behavior. How tragic then, that many refuse to darken the doors of churches precisely because of Christians' bad behavior! In this final teaching through the Beatitudes, we remember who the real enemy is (hint: it's not actually humans) and hear again Christ's call to live the upside-down, counter-cultural beatitudes in every area of our lives - including when others persecute and ridicule us for our faith. We also hear testimonies from two (Bea Dennis and Justin Kastner) who have been wrestling with the implications of this teaching on their lives. What might God do if we walked with him like this today?
We need to talk about this a little more. How exactly are followers of Jesus supposed to engage with culture and people who are antagonistic towards them because of their faith? In this teaching, we revisit the conversation we began last Sunday over the final verses in the Beatitudes concerning the blessing of those who are persecuted and mistreated. We consider the extremes of response and seek to discover the third way of Jesus between the ditches of retreat and attack. How might Jesus be inviting you to become a Spirit-empowered non-anxious presence in your world and relationships?
Jesus says happy are those who are mistreated for doing good. But that's really rough. How can we even say that, or get to that experience in our lives when we'd actually express that we're deeply satisfied and joyful when we're wrongfully mistreated? In this teaching we look into this difficult question and the reality of Christian persecution. And we begin to discover how we might tap into this counterintuitive blessed life that Jesus has been teaching his followers for thousands of years.
Video will post tomorrow.
Too many of us are peacekeepers, far too few are peacemakers. As Jesus defines it, peace isn't just the absence of conflict of discomfort or chaos. It's actually into those places of tension and discomfort that he calls his children to be peacemakers, bringing the healing and comfort of Christ where it's desperately needed. In this teaching we look into the distinction between peacekeeping and peacemaking and consider how this could play out in our lives. We hear the call of Jesus into the blessed life.
When I ask, "Are you still pure?", what are you thinking about? For many, especially those who grew up in the church, the concept of purity is strongly tied to sexual behavior. The Purity Culture movement of the 90s and 2000s strongly called young people to abstain from sex until they were married in order to remain pure. But is this what Jesus is envisioning when he blesses those who are pure in heart in the Beatitudes? In this teaching we discuss the dark side of Purity Culture and discover a God who both raises the bar on purity and graciously provides a way for us to become pure apart from our behavior! No matter what you've done or what's been done to you, Jesus cares for you and invites you to come to him for healing and hope.
Jesus says the good life is found when you're giving and receiving mercy as a settled lifestyle. Receiving mercy feels great! But giving it is usually quite costly and difficult. Is that really where the good life is found? In this teaching we look into the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 18 as we consider the practicality of a life of mercy. And we see Christ himself as the Greatest Samaritan by also becoming the dying man beside the road for us. By his wounds we are healed. Lord have mercy! So, out of the overflow of the mercy you receive in Christ, who's someone you could show overwhelming mercy to this week?
When Jesus taught us, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness", he wasn't only referring to our own personal right standings before God. He is also commending those who groan inwardly for things to be right in our world -- justice! And yet it can be easy for us to long for one more than the other. In this teaching we study the biblical connection between righteousness and justice and consider how we can cultivate a healthy posture toward injustice. How is God inviting you to engage in works of justice? Where do you need to turn away from apathy and inactivity to more fully follow the way of Jesus?
Have we gotten Jesus' teaching all wrong? When he taught us "blessed are the meek", did he intend his followers to become powerless doormats? How then could we inherit the earth? Wouldn't it be better to stand up for ourselves and overcome evil through might? That's the way many Western Christians are leaning these days. In this teaching we look more carefully into Christ's teaching on meekness and discover our call to a lifestyle of power under control. What might it look like if you lived and engaged in this way this week?
Happy are the sad? That's what it sounds like Jesus says in the the beginning of his famous sermon on the mount. That just sounds wrong on the face of it! But what if Jesus was trying to teach us something profound about the truly good life he's inviting us into? In this teaching we look into Matthew 5:4 and consider how those who mourn can truly be considered blessed in light of the comfort we can receive from Christ and his body, the church. What do you need to mourn this week? And how can you open yourself up more fully to being comforted from God himself?
"Yah but, you can only turn the other cheek so many times; in this world you have to start punching back!" Variations on this sentiment are common in our culture today, including in many Christian circles. The idea is that if you want to win the culture wars, you have to fight power with power. And yet this is the polar opposite of what Jesus taught! In this teaching we kick off a new series on the beatitudes and consider the radically countercultural way of Jesus. The "blessed" life is actually the one of self giving love - the poor in spirit who give up their own lives for the good of others. What if we learned to fight like that?
It's not enough to attend church. It's not even enough to read the Bible. For real healing and growth we have to be intimately connected in a small Christian community. We're wounded in relationships and so God knows we have to be healed in relationships. In this teaching we consider Paul's call for us to put off our old, false self and to put on our new identity in Christ -- all with the help of our community. Each and every follower of Jesus is called into the ministry of lovingly holding up the mirror to one another so we can see who we really are in Christ. What's your next step to finding yourself more fully in community?
What does a good church look like? Does it have stellar preaching? A polished kid's program? Community outreach? Maybe. But the key biblical descriptor for a great church is the people of God growing together at a deeper level. In other words: community! In this teaching, we look at the early church as an example of an awesome church and consider how we could do church that way today. And we consider the call from the Apostle Peter for Christians to be radically hospitable communities of truth where every member is a minister, offering up their gifts for the blessing of one another.
We live in a time of unprecedented connection through technology. The internet, social media, and the smartphone have revolutionized our understanding and experience of connection. And yet we're also more profoundly divided and lonely than ever before. How can this be? In this teaching we look at the foundational difference between connection and community and see how Jesus calls his followers to do life together. The call to Christian community is the call to intimate relationship with people who are often quite different from you.
When most people think about God, they see their father. Not their Heavenly Father, but their actual earthly father, father figure, or major caregiver. It all happens subconsciously of course, but this mask we put on God has tremendous impact on how we think about and relate to him. In this teaching we look at the parable of the grouchy neighbor and discover a God that's similar and yet profoundly different than we expect. We also look deeply into the specific ways the homes we grew up in can skew our views of him as our good and loving Father. What kind of mask do you tend to put on God? And what your next step toward bringing the real you to the real him?
Sometimes Jesus disrupts us with a hard teaching. But he always disrupts so that he can entice us with something better. And in his parable of the missing bridesmaids, we're challenged with our own need to respond to Christ's invitation to intimacy and prioritize its pursuit in our daily lives. The good life is not devoid of effort, but rather of earning. How much intimacy with Jesus are you currently experiencing? And what practice or commitment do you need to make to gain more?
Some of the most graceless people you'll ever meet are also the most religious. For many, the religious life is essentially about keeping the right rules to try to justify yourself before God -- in other words, law-keeping. But what Jesus brought was an entirely different paradigm: grace! Grace says, "I'm not justified by how good I am, but by how good God is toward me, completely apart from my own profound unrighteousness." In this teaching, we look at the fruit of lives lived out of law and grace paradigms and see how Jesus's words still ring true for you and I today: those who are forgiven much love much. And those who aren't don't. How can you respond to Jesus' invitation to walk more fully in the way of his grace today?
What do you do when the people you invite to your party ghost you? Jesus' answer is to go and invite anyone and everyone he can find. In this teaching we look at the parable of the banquet to see how God has thrown his doors wide open and invited each of us to come in to his party, his kingdom. We also see how the way we consider children has significant connection to how we think about ourselves and how God sees us.
Jesus was not a great marketer. At the height of his ministry, when the numbers were looking great, he turned around to the crowds and told them following him would cost them everything. He said only those willing to give up their entire lives would be worthy of following him. They left in droves. In this teaching we look at the twin parables of the tower and the army and consider both the cost of following Jesus and also the benefits of discipleship to him. In what ways do you need to (re)count the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
It's the American Dream: work hard, save up, retire early, and enjoy your life. We're driven by a desire for more and better. So when Jesus tells a story about a hardworking farmer who has a bumper crop, he's talking about us. But Jesus flips everything on its head by calling the man a fool for saving up for the good life, since that very night he was going to die. Not an evil man, but a fool. In this teaching we look at the counterintuitive wisdom of God that puts relationships over stuff and calls us to a recklessly generous life in light of eternity. He's inviting us into the truly good life. How might you step more deeply into Jesus' wisdom today with your money and possessions?
One of the most misunderstood parables of Jesus is that of the ten minas. It has caused generations of Christ followers, particularly here in the West, to think Jesus is primarily wanting us to be productive. Efficient. A spiritual version of "Show me the money." Instead this parable actually shows how he's looking for faithfulness and loyalty while we await his return. What difference would it make in your life if you were aiming for faithfulness to Christ rather than production for Him?
During the storms that batter us from side to side, where is your house built? Is your life built on the shifting sand of preference, social media, and newsfeeds? Or are you working hard to found your life on the sure bedrock of Jesus Christ? In this teaching we look at the parable of the houses and consider how to audit the foundations of our lives today. How might you build more intentionally this week on the truth God offers us through his word?
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed - but what exactly does that mean? In this teaching we see how this short parable of Jesus is jam packed with meaning relevant for our lives today. There's a surprise warning to us as we so easily slip into our culture's idea that bigger is better and quick results win the market. And there's hope for orienting your life around God's upside down Kingdom that doesn't always seem successful. Finally, we discover how God's Kingdom is a lot like a skunk.
It's pretty common for people to think God is angry with them. Disappointed. Distant. But even though some of our earthly fathers have related to us that way, our Heavenly Father is quite different. In this teaching we look at God through the parable of the prodigal son. And we discover the heart of our Father who runs to his children and receives them with overwhelming grace and joy. That's what our God is like. And so we truly can celebrate a happy Father's Day! How are you responding to his grace these days? And how might you move more deeply into relationship with Him?
Just how are we supposed to engage in the midst of tragedies? Is firing off a tweet about "thoughts and prayers" enough? Should we instead throw our energy into activism? In this teaching, we look at two stories Jesus told about the relationship between prayer and action, humility and persistence: the parables of the persistent widow and the Pharisee and the tax collector. What might Jesus be calling you into as you engage with tragedies in our world from here on?
Did you hear? It's been a full year since Tallgrass Church and The Well began meeting together! Happy Birthday, Tallgrass at The Well! So we took this special opportunity to hear stories of what God has been up in our midst. Pastors Ben Deaver and Josh Siders shared more about the histories of both Tallgrass Church and The Well and how we become better together. We heard encouraging testimonies from Wendy Burr and Chuck Cuchy about how they came to connect with our community and how God's been at work. And Josh shared a brief church family update and vision for what's coming up.
Air is easy to forget. You don't think about it, see right through it. And you rarely feel it, unless it's moving fast. But air is extremely important, powerful, even destructive. And we can't live a moment without breathing it in. Many of us experience God's Spirit like the air. It's easy to forget it's there, unless something big happens. In fact, the Bible uses the same word for wind, breath, and spirit. In this teaching we explore the connections between God's Spirit, the wind, and our breath. And we sit in the mystery of the presence and power of God's Spirit in our lives.
What does God think about our feelings? And what place should human emotions have in our spiritual lives? Some say emotions aren't to be trusted, so we should engage with God through faith rather than our fickle feelings. Others say our emotional lives are the most important aspect of our being, so we should see emotional experiences with God over rational, heady engagement. Who's right? In this teaching we look into God's Word for answers and discover a God who both thinks and feels deeply.
Slowing down is hard. When life is full, demanding, taxing, most of us default to soldering on and living in emergency mode. It's also quite common for times of prayer and retreat with God to be one of the first things to go. But it's actually in the midst of our stress and despair and exhaustion that we most need to be with and hear from our Heavenly Father. We must retreat to advance. In this teaching we look at the life of Moses to discover how rhythms of retreat enable and empower a victorious life. What are you facing right now that seems over your head?
Mothers Day is a gloriously hot mess. In it we honor and celebrate our mothers and the mothers in our midst. And we also recognize and grieve with those for whom Mother's Day is a struggle due to the sorrow of infertility, abortion, and other loss and estrangement. We're all in this together. So this Mother's Day we sat down with women in different stages of motherhood to hear their stories and sit in the tension together.
Has this ever happened to you: you're waiting at a stop light and within a second or two instinctively pull out your phone and begin checking things? And then it's not until you get honked at that you realize the light turned green a while ago. Even seconds of boredom now feel like a threat to our wellbeing. So we're both more distracted and less aware than ever! And we bring this conditioning into our experience of God. In this teaching, we consider how we can increase our awareness of God and His presence in our daily lives and discover how near He is to us, even when we don't feel it.
Are humans just advanced animals -- ultimately tied to our biology and base drives? Or are we more? If we're merely animals, then satisfying our primal urges should fulfill us. But as we all intuitively and experientially know, it doesn't. The Bible teaches us that we're not merely animals, but creatures uniquely created in God's image for intimate connection with Him. In this teaching, we discover how we were made for Presence. And only His presence brings us true fullness. We also consider what it might look like to experience God's presence in our lives. How could you take a step this week to pause and welcome the presence of God's Spirit?
If Jesus wasn't actually, physically resurrected from the dead, Christianity is worthless. It's not enough for Jesus to just have risen metaphorically in the hearts of his followers, his physical body had to begin breathing again and rise from the grave by the power of God. But how can we reasonably conclude that this miraculous event occurred in history?
What happens when God doesn't work? What do you do when you pray for healing, that new job, or the restoration of your marriage, and nothing seems to happen? Most all of us have been there. In this teaching, we lean into this difficult and critical question through the eyes of the crowds in the sixth chapter of John. And we discover a Jesus that doesn't always say yes. And yet He is inviting you and I into a deeper experience of his goodness and our satisfaction through his no's. Where are you experiencing frustration and disappointment with God right now?
What are you looking for? We're all searching for something. Comfort, pleasure, meaning, acceptance, hope -- all of these can be sought directly, but often our expectations don't match up exactly with our experience. This is also true when we come to Jesus. What we think we're looking for is most often disrupted by what He has in mind. And this is a profoundly good thing! In this teaching, we look at how our stories play into our expectations and understandings of Jesus and what he came to do. We look at his atoning work from multiple different angles to discover the greater mosaic he's trying to get us to see and experience. What new questions about the person and work of Jesus do you need to allow yourself to ask?
This just in: Spending money on others makes you happier! Scientific studies confirm what Jesus has been trying to teach us for over two thousand years: it's actually statistically more blessed (happy / fulfilling / joyful) to give than to receive. In this teaching we wrap up our March Gladness series by looking at God's heart for our own good and his invitation to step into his joy as we give back to him and use our wealth for good works. We end by hearing three very normal stories from members of our church who have experienced some of the truth of Jesus' call to the gladness of giving. What's your normal story of giving and receiving gladness?
What really motivates people to be more generous givers? Is it rules and commands? Or is it grace? In this teaching, we continue to talk about money, giving, and what Jesus thinks. And we discover the surprising truth that it's actually grace that takes you much further than law. Jesus is discipling his followers to respond to his grace with hearts that actually want to give! Imagine what a church could be and do when its people are overly eager to give to meet the needs of the hurting world around them...not because they have to, but because they get to!
Do Christians really have to tithe? Most American churchgoers answer with a resounding "no." The question seems to fly in the face of the American Dream that if we work hard and pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, we'll be able to achieve happiness by spending our money on ourselves. But what if Jesus is inviting his followers on a different path to true riches and happiness? And what if our basic cultural assumptions and goals are actually blinding us to the life we've always wanted? In this teaching, we dive headfirst into the topic of giving as the true (and counter-intuitive) pathway to a fulfilled life. What's your next step in living generously?
It's hard to talk about prosperity without talking about money. About zeroes in our bank account. About the newest gadget, toy, or top that's on the way from Amazon to make us happy. And our anxiety spikes so quickly when money and possessions seem scarce -- or even potentially scarce. But what if there's a way to live a deeply prosperous and happy life that's centered around giving, rather than receiving?
Submission is a very difficult spiritual practice in our culture today. Even the word itself brings up power dynamics, win-lose imagery, and and a type of revolt-based pride for Americans who forged our national identity by refusing to submit to a foreign king. Against this backdrop, submission feels demeaning, oppressive, and dangerous. And yet Jesus says it is the core of the Christian life. So what are we to do with this disconnect? In this teaching we look into the common misunderstandings surrounding the essence of Christ-centered submission, both in the church and in the home. And we discover the invitation into something profoundly beautiful and compelling: mutual submission -- the Way of Jesus!
What exactly does God want from you? When you come to worship Him, what are the expectations?, the steps?, the formula for worshiping well? Are we just supposed to sing loudly out each Sunday morning, no matter how we feel? In this teaching we look at the formula for worship that Jesus lived and taught. And we discover that worship is far more than singing, but can be the spiritual rhythm of our whole lives - including the mundane moments many of us don't think count. Maturing worshipers get creative! How might God be inviting you to worship him with your whole self in spirit and truth today?
How do you ruin church in three words? Everything's going fine on Sunday until someone asks you the three killer words: "Can you help?" For many this is where they cut bait and move on. The excuses are as easy to come by as the next church down the block. But what if these three words weren't actually a threat to you from another organization trying to pad its roster and bottom line? What if these were actually the secret words of invitation into real life and joy? That would be surprising! And if you believe Jesus, it's what he's been trying to teach us all along. In this teaching we dive into the much-misunderstood spiritual rhythm of serving and discover the surprising path to the life you've always wanted.
Sharing the Good News of the Gospel can be hard! We can easily feel pressure to get it right and not offend our friends and neighbors. But what if it doesn't have to be quite so hard? In this teaching, we look at some of the subtly false gospels that can easily creep into our understanding of the true Gospel of Jesus. And we look at a very practical method to share the Good News...one that Jesus Himself used: eating and drinking! What's your next step to share what you know with who you know...over dinner?
Are you hungry? What sounds good? Chances are, right now, your mouth is already salivating at the thought! But what if you answered this question for your soul, rather than your body? In this teaching, we look at the reality of spiritual famine in our world and the great hunger of our souls for the Word of God. We hear the invitation to let Jesus Himself feed us the bread of life through the Scriptures. And we discuss some practical steps we can each take to engage more deeply with the Bible. Why not let Him satisfy your deepest needs today? Taste and see that the Lord is good...
What's it been like for you to practice the spiritual rhythms of prayer and fasting? In this online-only Zoom gathering*, we had a chance to slow down and check in with one another and hear testimonies of successes and struggles surrounding spiritual practices. The tone of the time was encouraging and rich, so if you missed it, check it out now!
*Due to an increase of Covid cases in our staff and volunteer teams this week, we pivoted to an online-only Sunday gathering.
One of the most ancient spiritual practices is also one of the most misunderstood and avoided by modern believes: fasting. In an age of instant gratification and access to myriad creature comforts, intentionally depriving oneself seems at least odd, and at worst dangerous. But Jesus Himself affirmed and practiced the spiritual rhythm of fasting. And believers through the centuries have discovered its spiritual and physical benefits. In this teaching we look into this ancient practice and get really practical about what this can look like in our 21st century lives.
Did you know Jesus Himself practiced spiritual rhythms and disciplines? God Incarnate built His life around practices that helped Him stay connected with The Father and centered His heart on sustaining truth. How much more must we need these rhythms so we can walk in His Way today! In this teaching, we look at the Gospel of Mark to see how Jesus practiced spiritual rhythms of prayer and solitude. And we consider what this practice might look like in our lives. What's your next step in leaning more into silence and solitude in today's noisy, distracted, and fast-paced world?
How long until you quit your 2022 resolutions? Because, of course, it's the new year, and for most of us, that means some sort of personal reflection and resolution to do better. But few of us make it out of January before we crash and burn, give up and give in, and let our internal critics have a hay day. What if there was a different way? In this teaching, we introduce the spiritual growth Word of the Year (WOTY) tool and flesh it out through the life of Moses. We discover God's invitation to us to relax into Him as we bring our curiosity about what He might be wanting to grow and change in our lives. It's built on compassion and cooperation, rather than our own ability to execute resolutions flawlessly. And it's all within the context of community. So, what WOTY is God inviting you into this year?
We have a (slightly late) Christmas gift for each of you! It's rest. Not just a nap or a break, but true, deep rest -- sabbath. This Sunday we are encouraging each of you to rest at home and lean into sabbath with us. In this teaching, we look at our great need for rest and God's gift of sabbath to us for our delight. We also discuss how sabbath could look in our lives today. How is God inviting you to rest and delight in this season?
Have you ever been in pitch blackness? It's unnerving, even for short amounts of time. Then, when the light finally does come on, there's a profound and even existential relief. That's actually what Christmas is all about. We live in a dark world. And Jesus, the Light of the World, has come near to dispel the darkness and lift us into the bright glory of God's love and presence. This short Christmas Eve teaching is for anyone who feels the longing for hope and light, no matter the season!
What's the story behind your name? There's something intimate about knowing someone's name and story. In this teaching, we discover a God who not only shares his name with us, but also knows us better than we know ourselves. He moved into our neighborhood and loved us intimately and personally. And he calls us to do the same, to get to know our neighbors, learn their names, their stories, and share ours with them. This Christmas, how is God wanting to love you well? And who is he leading you to be a good neighbor to?
Are you feeling joyful this Christmas? While some find it easy to rejoice during this season, many others are dealing with a thousand variations on pain, sorrow, and suffering. Where is God in the midst of our pain? And how can we have joy in the midst of suffering? In this non-traditional take on Christmas, we look at Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, who came near and bore our pain -- for the joy set before him. And he invites us to follow him into that same kind of deep, abiding joy. So whether you're rejoicing or your heart is overwhelmed with grief, this teaching is for you.
Our world is in desperate need of peace! When the scriptures talk about peace, they mean more than we do by the word. We tend of think of peace in terms of an absence of conflict. But biblical peace encompasses far more: a fullness of God's presence and favor in our lives. Shalom. The long-awaited messiah was prophesied to be the Prince of Peace. And then Jesus's birth was announced by angels heralding peace on earth. Shalom. In this teaching, we look at the peace of God available to us through Jesus and consider its upward, inward, and outward dimensions in our lives. How can you welcome God's shalom and express it to those around you during Advent?
Hope is easy to hold on to when things are going well. When you've only waited a little bit. But hope gets much slippier when days turn into months, and years. And nothing seems to change. We all struggle with hope. In this first Advent teaching we consider Zechariah and Mary and how they both responded differently to hope. We also discover a God who moves heaven and earth to bring us hope and a future. Where do you need hope restored in your life? Merry Christmas!
What does a real disciple of Jesus Christ look like as they walk through their days? Does she stand up for Jesus with strongly worded Facebook posts? Does he insist his perspective dominate others in conversations (read: arguments!)? Does she withdraw from neighbors to avoid any sort of cultural pollution? In this final teaching of our Radical Jesus series, we look at the marks of a disciple of Jesus through the lens of Romans chapter 12 and discover a call that is vastly unpopular in our modern world, especially surrounding hot topics. The Way of Jesus is the way of self-giving love.
Is climate change real? How are Christians supposed to think about global warming and the environment? This topic is particularly disorienting for most people. And the church has seemed reluctant to engage it biblically and clearly. But in a world of increasing division and change, Christfollowers need to be able to discuss and move forward in a way that is faithful to God's revelation and winsome to the watching world. In this teaching, we looked at the data and the Scriptures to discover the Way of Jesus with climate change.
Few topics are as divisive from the outset as racism. The mere mention of the topic itself already draws varied and visceral reactions. Sadly, this is also true in the church in America. Yet God's heart for unity and diversity among all kinds of people within the family of God is clear from Genesis to Revelation! It's not anywhere close to vague or controversial. There's a disconnect here.
What does the Bible say about mental health? Is it all spiritual warfare? Is it right or wrong to go to counseling? In this teaching, we lean into these important questions by focusing in on the tragedy of suicide in America. We discover that the Way of Jesus acknowledges the reality of spiritual opposition without necessarily skirting the counseling office. In fact, in many cases, it leads us straight to it and calls its followers to wisely embrace holistic health and extrabiblical avenues of care. What's your next step of faith in pursuing mental and emotional health this week?
The history of humanity is littered with abuse. With the practiced belief that "might makes right." And tragically, the abuse of power has also racked the history of the church! Even today, it seems almost monthly some new scandal hits the news surrounding Christian leaders taking advantage of others. But Jesus wasn't this way. He showed us the way to use power to bless and protect others, even at extreme cost to self! His is the way of humility and compassion and sacrifice. The way of the cross.
Religion and politics are the two biggest taboo topics in "polite" conversation! So how do we think Christianly about them? In this teaching we seek to lean into to the topic of politics and public engagement from a biblical perspective and see how religion and politics can so easily become conflated. We discover that the way of Jesus is neither liberal or conservative, and yet also contains important elements of both! Which of the five "intentions" submitted in this teaching do you need to take a next step in to follow more closely the way of Jesus?
Jesus said that it's happier to give than to receive. But is that really the case? Many of us could list things we can buy that make us happy. Against the American Dream of working hard, saving up, so you can retire early and enjoy life, Jesus' words seem out of touch and even dangerous. What do we do with that? In this teaching, we look more deeply into Jesus' words about money and possessions and wrestle with the question of our own richness. And we discover the counterintuitive secret to happiness and peace that Jesus is inviting each of us into today.
What does the Bible actually teach about women, leadership, and the church? Are there certain roles or positions that women are not permitted to hold? And where does Tallgrass at The Well stand on these issues? In this teaching, we dive headlong into these sensitive and critical questions and seek to show how the most faithful interpretation of scripture elevates and honors women. Furthermore, we build a foundation for Tallgrass Church and The Well's position of egalitarianism in the church, including at all levels of leadership.
Do you want a plane full of Afghan refugees landing in your town? How should Christfollowers think about immigration and refugees? Does God have anything to say on this topic to lead us? In this teaching we lean into this timely and difficult issue through God's Word and discover clear teaching about God's call for his people to welcome and love the foreigners in their midst. In fact, how we treat refugees is intimately connected to our own stories! Check it out to see how.
Should Christians get the vaccine? How should we interact with others we disagree with about Covid-19? And what does it practically look like to love our neighbor during pandemic? These are difficult and charged questions these days! In this teaching, we dive headlong into this "high heat" topic and discover how we can follow the way of Jesus through it all. What's a next step you can take to follow Jesus more closely with those you disagree with?
What does Jesus have to do with the challenges we face today? Why does our world feel so divided? How do we talk to others who seem so sure of themselves? In a world that pushes us to extremes…we must decide what is worth fighting for…and ask ourselves how…Jesus is calling us to fo
Are you a hospitable person? How would you know? And is there any difference between hospitality and entertaining? In this teaching, we look at Jesus' teaching and call to radically ordinary hospitality as part of the foundation for healthy churches. We looked at a number of practical, simple next steps for us to take individually in experimenting with biblical hospitality. What's your next step of radical, ordinary hospitality?
The early church was a truly awesome church! They were vibrant, growing, transformative. And undergirding their life together was a radical value of gracious generosity. People gave to help each other. Their money, their time, their attention. And that community overflowed in gratitude toward God for all he was doing in their midst. Wouldn't you like to be a part of a church like that? In this teaching we lean into this ethos of generosity and consider how we can live that out today in our church. What's your next step?
What are you devoted to? What is your life filled with besides eating and sleeping? Is it work? Gaming? Netflix? Your kids' activities? What if we devoted our lives to doing life together with Body of Christ? It would be pretty radical. That's what the early church did. And the Gospel exploded across the world. In this teaching, we not only see what happened to the early church, back then and there, but also how we can commit ourselves to the same things they did... and experience the same kind of radically transformational life together.
What's a truly victorious life look like? Is it a push to the top of the corporate ladder? Other people liking you? Some dollar figure in your bank account? Or perhaps a freedom from all difficulties? While these are common manifestations of success from our world's perspective, God's perspective is somewhat different. The way of victory according to Jesus is the way of love -- not power or praise. This is difficult! In this teaching, we wrap up our study of First John with a look into this backward wisdom of God that makes love the measure of victory.
Regardless of what you've thought or been told, the goal of life isn't in achieving success at work, or getting lots of money, getting the perfect body, or having people like you. Actually, at our core, we were all made to receive God's love, and let it flow through us to others. To be a hose, a conduit of Jesus' living water loving and transforming us from the inside out and blessing everyone around you. But the universal problem is, hoses get kinks that restrict the flow. In this teaching, we look at common kinks we all get that keep us from receiving and letting God's unique brand of love flow through our lives to others. What kink is Jesus inviting you to work on in this next season?
Who are you listening to these days? Lots of people claim to speak for God. To speak an authoritative word of truth. But how can we really know who is speaking for and from God, and who is the modern equivalent of a false prophet? In this teaching, we lean into this critical question of discernment and learn how to sort out the pure gold from the fools gold. And we discover the vast riches that are ours in Christ.
Fear can get toxic. We get stuck in neurological feedback loops that cause us to pull inward and react in increasingly illogical ways, especially in the context of relationships. So what is the antidote to this kind of pseudo-self-protective fear? According to the Bible, it's self-giving love - the kind that God showed us through Christ. It's far more than a feeling, it's an action that pushes us out into our neighborhoods to seek the good of others, both at individual and systemic levels. In this teaching we consider the radical call to love for followers of Christ and what practical steps we could take in our neighborhoods. What's your next step to love like this?
What are you afraid of? Fear is a powerful emotion and demands our attention. In this teaching we look at a problem Biblical passage that has caused many Christians to be afraid -- afraid that their struggle with sin as a Christian disqualifies them as genuine and beloved children of God. And afraid that they'll be ashamed in front of Jesus when he returns. We dive deeply into this passage to discover not only how to correctly study and interpret the Bible, but also find our loving Heavenly Father eager to calm our fears and give us full assurance that we are indeed his sons and daughters in Christ. If you've ever struggled with fear or longed for encouragement from God, this teaching is for you!
Who are you? No, really. Who are you? Are you what you do? Who you know? What you've experienced? Or does your identity come from somewhere else? In this teaching we look at the second chapter of First John to see what God thinks about our identity and where it comes from. We learn about the secret of life: to really know that we are first and foremost children of our Heavenly Father. And all we have to "do" is to remain in his love. But this is constantly under attack by temptations to build our lives and identity on other things. If you can relate to any of this, especially that last sentence, this teaching is for you!
How can you know what true spirituality really looks like? Look around our culture and you'll get a plethora of perspectives! But in an age of pervasive preferences, how do you know what's actually, objectively true? This teaching looks at the second chapter of First John to hear God's answer to this all-important question. We discover the unique Way of Jesus that's expressed through our beliefs, social interactions, and ethics -- three tests of true spirituality. What's your next step in following the Way of Jesus?
Who is Jesus, really? And is he worth all this trouble? If you've ever wondered these questions, journey with us through this new teaching series over First John, looking at the tests of true spirituality. We'll also discover how to handle conflict in the church, how to correct wrong teachings that seem to be spiritual, how to determine what is essential for Christian faith, and how we should approach someone whose conduct doesn't match their stated beliefs.
To celebrate Father's Day this year, we leaned into "Better Together" with a joint panel of dads from both church's elder teams. While Ben, Mike, Ron, Dave, and Josh munched on bacon, we chatted about funny moments, things they'd like to do over, and ways their journeys as fathers has helped them connect more deeply to their Heavenly Father. Tune in for laughs, dad-joke groans, and some profound gold nuggets of wisdom from these men!
Humans tend to form tribes. We're great at it -- connecting with folks like us. And there's lots of benefits! But this natural instinct can easily morph into an us-versus-them mentality (tribal-ISM). Tribalism tears down. Turns inward. Rejects the "other". But Jesus calls his church to something different. We're called to love the other. To sacrifice for our neighbor. In this final "Better Together" series teaching, we see how partnership among believers and churches can better advance the mission of the Gospel. And how each of us can focus on blessing at least one neighbor with the love of Christ. So, who's your "one"?
Which is harder: loving your enemies or loving those closest to you? Though Jesus' command that his followers are to love their enemies is revolutionary, it is perhaps even more difficult to love those closest to us, in our families and churches! It's actually those closest to us that we tend to get most hurt by, annoyed by, offended by. So as Tallgrass and The Well continue to explore Kingdom possibilities around working more closely together, we consider Christ's great call to love one another in light of his great love for us first, a love that initiated and sacrificed for our good. What might it look like if we really loved one another in THIS way? The watching world might just take notice.
Churches are good at splitting. But what if we actually worked together? Wouldn't the kingdom of Jesus whose entire mission was to reconnect us to God and one another be best advanced in this kind of radical partnership? We think so! In this teaching, Tallgrass Church and The Well gather together to consider that very question: could we truly be better together? And what does God say? The gathering concluded with a dialogue between the lead pastors of both churches, Josh Siders and Ben Deaver, about the stories God has been writing in our church families and what could be in the future.
How can I be happy when life is so hard? Does God really expect me to rejoice when I'm suffering? We all long to be able to flourish during difficulties, rather than fall victim to the endless spiral down into despair, anger, and sorrow. But how can we get there? In this teaching we look at this topic through the lens of the Scriptures and find an invitation into peace and joy where we typically expect anxiety and bitterness. We also find that God is able to make our sufferings work for our good, to grow and shape us. Lean in with us as we wrap up our series on New Growth and consider what is your next step toward flourishing in the midst of adversity?
Are you tired? Burned out? Do you need to rest deeply? Down in your soul? You're not alone. It's the American Way to work, work, work -- to think we need to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. And we bring this mentality into our spiritual lives. But Jesus wants to invite you into a different way, an invitation to cease your striving and to abide in Him like a branch abides in its connection to the main grapevine. It's not always easy: there's pruning, cutting, lifting by the Vinedresser. But in the end, it produces far more fruit for the blessing of others! In this teaching, we looked at how this applies to us individually and together as a church, including a special opportunity for our church to consider in the next season!
Happy Mothers Day? Honestly, we're not sure; it's a mixed bag. There's great need to rejoice and mourn with one another, especially in the church! But that's a hard harmony to sing together. In this teaching we look at a bouquet of scriptures that help us sing songs of God's goodness and blessing to one another as we remember who we truly are: daughters and sons of God. We also spent time reflecting and journaling together over key passages, so if you're watching this later: grab a pen and paper and get ready to listen for God's voice to you through His Word.
What are you looking for in a church? Polished, organized, clean, comfortable? While these are common responses, they fly in the face of the wisdom of the Proverbs that teach us that it's only the unused stable that stays clean. But for real work to get done, we need strong oxen around ... and that brings mess! Healthy, successful churches are actually the ones where the real, messy work of ministry is happening by all the members. How mess-averse are you to church? What unhealthy expectations do you need to let go of? And how can you yoke up more closely to Christ to carry forward the work of His Kingdom? This radical understanding of church could change everything!
Who's more important: children or adults? What about in the church? And what does God think? In this teaching we look at how Jesus surprised his disciples with a revolutionary valuing of young children in the Kingdom of God. We also look honestly at the ways adults can struggle to follow Jesus' teaching and example in this area and ways we can take steps forward together. As we lean into New Growth this season, we may discover that the most strategic ministry of our church might just be our care for Sprouts!
Have you ever planted potatoes and harvested onions? Or sowed strawberries but reaped peaches? That'd be really weird! Because it's a solid foundational truth of our world: what you sow, you will reap. This applies in our inner lives just as much as in our gardens! In this teaching we look at God's perspective on our spiritual growth in this vein, and see how patient planting will certainly reap us a harvest of deep goodness if we don't give up. Many of us are tired and disheartened after a long pandemic season. We need to hear afresh God's word to us, encouraging us to plant with patience now for the harvest we want in our lives. And the good news is, it's never too late! It's always planting season in the Kingdom of God!
We've all come through a hard winter -- both literally and figuratively! And now we're eager to feel the sun on our faces and lean into the new growth of spring. But like any good garden, growth takes careful cultivation. How are you going to cultivate new growth in the soil of your life and neighborhood this spring?
This Sunday, Tallgrass was excited to meet outside in the park to celebrate making it to three years and getting through this last pandemic year together. Happy birthday, Tallgrass Church!
The great message of Easter is that the long prophesied Man of Sorrows is also the God of Hope! Jesus, the Risen King, is able to sympathize with us in our sorrows so that we might also share in His resurrection (the greatest hope of all!). If that's true, what might that mean for your life? This year, as much as ever, we need hope -- real, weighty, solid stuff that we can sink our teeth into, collapse upon in exhaustion, and build our lives on. Hope that does not disappoint but makes all the difference. So this Easter season, what are you hoping for? And what is God calling you into? He is risen. He is risen indeed!
What sorrow are you carrying today? It's been a hard winter. A very difficult last pandemic year. All of us have been affected in some way by grief. As we lean into Holy Week together this week, we consider Jesus, the long prophesied Man of Sorrows who was well acquainted with grief so that he could become our great High Priest who is able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses and sorrows. Jesus himself wants to grieve with you and help you move through lament into hope.
Where were you when you first realized Covid was going to be a "thing?" Tallgrass looks back exactly one year later at this difficult pandemic season and uses the analogy of springtime and gardens to talk about both where we've been and what we're hoping for. How can you relate to the Curious Garden? This online gathering began with this public portion and then concluded with an unpublished Zoom-Only portion (not included in this recording).
Neuroplasticity: one of the most hopeful words in the English language! We used to think that our brains were largely fixed, but now science is telling us what God's been saying in the Bible for thousands of years: you really can change your mind. In this teaching we explore the exciting intersections between modern science and the Gospel. And we'll learn from Philippians 4 about how we can rewire our brains by simply choosing to think about what is truly good. How are you going to make a choice to think differently this week?
"How's your prayer life?" There is perhaps no more shame triggering question for many Christians! We struggle to pray. It can feel like a discipline, even a burden. We don't want to, yet we're also anxious people. There's a disconnect, especially for the Christian who believes God's word and his invitation to find joy and peace through prayer. In this teaching we lean into that disconnect and talk about moving forward together. We also get to hear a testimony by Kassi Chapman about how her experience of prayer has been different than she expected.
If your inner world was a landscape, what would it look like these days? Would it be a lush and cultivated garden, filled with flowers and birds and peace? Or would it be an overgrown field, marked with neglect and filled with the weeds of worry and bitterness? God knows that the default for both our external world and our internal one is toward thorns and thistles. But he longs for us to live in his peace and he shows us in his Word how to cultivate it -- little Gardens of Eden in our minds in the midst of a world that doesn't work right. What's a next step you can take to cultivate a mindscape filled with God's peace?
Anxiety seems to be the only reasonable response to the uncertain and unsafe world we find ourselves in. But is this reality? In our passage today, we hear the Apostle Paul teach us that actually gratitude is the only reasonable response to a life lived in the reality of Christ and the Gospel! When we give thanks, when we cultivate grateful hearts, we are are seeing and reacting most in line with reality. What's your next step to push against anxiety and cultivate a reasonable life of gratitude?
The teaching begins around the 27:30 mark.
What kind of people do you really struggle with? Someone who is unlike you in some way or another. Someone you strongly disagree with. Or are offended by. Maybe you're thinking of a specific face. Maybe a faceless group. The fact is, we're surrounded by "others!" In our Facebook feeds, workplaces, neighborhoods, and in our churches. No matter who "they" are, the call of Jesus is for his true followers to move toward "them" -- with His brand of self-giving love! Christians must love the "other." Now, more than ever this is needed. Check out this teaching for some practical steps for moving toward your "other".
What's two words you think of when you think about church? Do you think: Relational Harmony? Chances are these weren't the first two wards that popped into your mind. Many people have been hurt in connection with people who claim the name of Christ. But as we look at Philippians 4, we see Paul calling two believers who are currently in disagreement toward relational harmony. In fact, it's the harmony, hard fought for through the dissonance, that brings the sweetest resolution. Step with us into the dissonance of this topic as we study God's Word.
What does it look like to fight for joy in the midst of suffering? Where can we run to to find refuge? In this teaching, an online-only digital gathering, we look at Psalm 5 and consider how to take refuge in Christ the King, even when you find yourself opposed to Him! This gathering also includes testimonies from AJ Baladad, Hanna Hertzig, and Dave Geldart.
Did Jesus really exist? And if so, did he really die on the cross and rise from the dead? And how can we know? These questions are at the heart of the Christian faith which is based not on blind leaps in spite of evidence, but a is a reasoned response based on evidence! In this teaching, we look at the data and see how you don't have to believe the Bible is divinely inspired or even reliable to firmly establish, based on historical methods, that Jesus did indeed live, die, and rise from the dead. Have you considered this evidence? What will be your reasonable response?
Would you rather have imitation leather or genuine leather? How about imitation crab or real crab meat? Most of us would rather have the genuine article over the imitation. But what if the only way to become the genuine article is through imitation? That's how it is with Christians. The only way to become the real deal, is to imitate -- Godly examples and ultimately Christ Himself. In this teaching we look at the call for all of us to learn to imitate Christ rather than the world around us, including in our political engagement! Lean in for this timely teaching about imitation, citizenship, and the great hope of resurrection.
What do you really put your confidence in? We all put our confidence, our source of stability, strength, meaning, and identity in something external to us. It could be your job, your niceness, or the number of likes on your social media posts. The Apostle Paul put his confidence in his high-credentialed religiosity, until he met Christ. Then he considered everything else rubbish -- crap, compared to what he found in Christ Jesus. As 2021 starts in an increasingly uncertain world, lean in with us into learn new ways to put your trust deeper into the rock-solid certainty of Christ.
What healthy habits do you want to lean into in 2021 to establish a new normal? During this special Zoom PJ Party Digital Gathering, we consider three potential keystone habits to step into together this next year: Word of the Year, Gratitude Journal, and Bible Reading Plan! We also enjoyed some time together sharing and singing. If you missed out (or your stream dropped on your travels) check it out! Who knows that God might have for you in 2021!?
Everybody knows it: Christmas is all about singing. The only right response to the revelation of God's incredible and incarnational goodness is to sing in worship! But what if we're not the ones doing the most important singing this season? What if, in fact, the most profound and important singing isn't coming from us to God, but from God to us? God Himself is singing over you! In this teaching, we discover that it's only once we hear the song of God over us that we can respond fully in singing to Him. What is God singing over you this week?
We all long to hear words of blessing and encouragement from others, especially those we love and admire. Words have incredible power -- both for harming and for healing! This advent teaching looks at our ability and call to speak God's life and healing into our broken world in which we can shine like stars. For many of us, the first place we need to exercise that power is within our own hearts. So lean in with us and learn to hear and speak the very words of life this Christmas!
How brightly are you shining right now? Perhaps the most effective and also counterintuitive way to shine brightly in our world is to serve. As we dive into Philippians 2, we see how Jesus Himself came not to be served, but to serve. And, as it turns out, the pathway of serving is not only the pathway to blessing for others, but also for greatest blessing for you!
The Christmas season is filled with lights shining against a dark background: whether on the tree, around your roof, or in the crisp night sky! Each bulb, each pinprick of stellar light calls out each of us to shine with them against the dark backdrop of our surroundings. That is the call to you this Advent season, the call repeated in Philippians 2 for us to take that next step in following Christ, by becoming more like Him in mindset and overflowing actions of sacrificial love. Why not lean in to this Christmas season like never before!
Contrary to what you've been told: Thanksgiving is NOT Canceled! The call and practice of thanks giving is deeply rooted in all who follow Christ... indeed it's the original orientation of every human heart. But ever since Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden, our hearts are bent on canceled thanksgiving. The good news this holiday season is that God through Christ has moved heaven and earth to reconnect and regenerate your heart so that you can live again as you were meant: under the joyful and thankful overflow of His goodness toward you. So this Thanksgiving, check out this teaching, lean in, and practice the ancient art of giving thanks as you lay again the foundation for real joy.
For many, the fear of death effectively chokes out our ability to live with joy and peace. But the Apostle Paul writes about something very different: an eternal perspective that enabled him to live with purpose and hope and to eagerly anticipate being present with Jesus when his work in this life is finished. His clarion call rings down through the centuries to you and I today: calling us to real joy no matter what! The teaching includes a testimony from Barb Goodman about her journey with the fear of death through her lung transplant. If you'd like greater peace and joy in the midst of uncertain times, check out this teaching.
When you're squeezed, what's inside comes out. For most of us, that includes an all-too-human mix of panic, anger, fear, bitterness, anxiety, despair, and self-preservation. All of us experience pain and trouble. But not all of us experience joy. Yet not only is joy possible, but it's God's desire for each of us. In Paul's letter to the Philippians we discover the secret to living with true joy even when life's not great.
What does it really mean to love one another from the heart? In this teaching we see how the Apostle Paul loved the Philippian believers genuinely and sacrificially and called them to the same kind of practical love for one another. We also get a modern day example of this kind of excellent love in a recent account from an aid worker in Central America during this Covid-19 crisis as he ministers to incarcerated youth. How is God calling you forward to love others with excellence?
What would it take for you to really live in joy? A beach? The mountains? More money? That car? Fame? Quiet kids? It turns out that God has been right all along: as a famous Harvard study shows, only deep relationships can give and sustain a life of true joy. In this teaching, we dive into Philippians to see how the normative call for all believers to a lifestyle of discipleship is also the call to joy. What's your next step to rejoice?
What does it look like to fight for joy in the midst of our busy lives? In this first teaching in a study of Philippians and in our new meeting location at the Boys & Girls Club, we dive into the reality of discipleship as a normative call for all believers. And we share a brand new initiative at Tallgrass Church called Discipleship 101 that will help us each take a next step of ministry and joy.
Tears mixed with dancing. Joy and pain. We live right in the middle of that tension -- especially in the church! In this final teaching of our Lifting Burdens series, we dove into a little-known story in the book of Ezra to see how the people of God lived in that tension. God is calling us to continue to build His temple today, though not one built with stones or wood, but made of people united with Jesus: the Body of Christ that builds itself up in love in the midst of opposition. Check out this teaching to get a clearer vision of the great task God Himself is calling us to together!
Are you exhausted -- burned out from the daily grind? Is it hard to see past the day to day survival mode life? Does something inside you scream "There's got to be something more than this!"? You're not alone. And you're right. What if God has far more for you than you're experiencing these days? We were made for more than just surviving -- we were made to thrive with purpose, meaning, and vision. In this teaching we look at our basic need for vision in light of the reality that vision leaks like a sieve. Within that disconnect, we consider an invitation to lift our eyes and let Christ and his Kingdom fill our vision in the midst of our daily grind.
Uncertainty can be a heavy burden. Especially when so much is up in the air during this pandemic season. With few sure places to plant our feet, it's easy to get exhausted! In this teaching we look at how Jesus invites us to move through uncertainty with hope by considering object lessons around us.
One of the heaviest burdens we bear is isolation -- as this pandemic seasons has certainly highlighted. But we were made for connection: real, intimate connection with God and one another. As a church, this is one of the main resources we have to offer each other and our neighbors: the currency of connection! Something that truly lift the burden of isolation in our day. Lean in with us as we consider how each of us can gain and offer deeper connection this fall.
The nationwide average recidivism rate is 68% over 3 years -- more than two thirds of offenders go back to criminal behavior within three years of their release. That's very high! We're excited to highlight a local organization neighboring well by helping men transition from prison to healthy living through the love of Christ. And it's working! Working Men of Christ's recidivism rate is only 5%! Check out this video to hear more from Chad Wormstadt about his story of being in and out of prison and the difference caring people can make. We also get to hear about the opportunities to get involved in these young men's lives. What's your next step to help?
When's the last time the Gospel moved you emotionally? Maybe it's been a long time. Maybe slowly, imperceptibly, over time, the joy and gratitude has faded and been replaced with heaviness and discouragement. Distance. It's so easy to move on from the Gospel, as if it were something we did back then and there. We need to be restored to the joy of our salvation. And let God lift off the heavy burdens of our sin and shame we needlessly carry.
What if the great forgotten secret to the good life was embracing restrictions? What if the doorway to feasting is fasting? We think that it is. And that it's what God's been telling us all along. Tallgrass is excited to dive more deeply into the historical practice of fasting and prayer over the next 21 days. Check out this teaching to hear more about God's heart for us to delight ourselves in the riches of feasts, and his unexpected call to fast and pray.
The toughest race in the world is the one you haven't trained for. For many of us, our lives are a rat race of hurry, anxiety, and the heavy weight of exhaustion. We're in a race we haven't trained for. And it's showing. But the Bible teaches us that it doesn't have to be that way. God wants to lift the weight by helping us gain strength and vision so that we can do what we were made for: run free! So, how about you? How will you prepare to run? Who will run with you? And who is cheering you on?
I-70 and I-35 are well-known transport highways for human sex trafficking, making Manhattan, Wichita, and Kansas City hotspots. That means this is happening in our city. Right in our own backyard. But God has not forgotten those who are enslaved. And he is mobilizing his people help set them free. Check out two women's stories of rescue and redemption through the Homestead Ministry. And hear from Homestead founder Deb Kluttz about God's great heart for those who are lost.
Most of us are burdened with anxiety, especially during this pandemic season. What's more, many Christians suffer under the double-whammy of anxiety: not only are they burdened with the anxiety, but they also feel guilty about it. God must be frustrated with me because I know I'm not supposed to be anxious. And so we back away, hide it, smile, and say "I'm fine! How are you?" Perhaps you can relate!
Some people think God is just a cosmic killjoy, up there frowning at us and loading us down with heavy religious requirements. But in reality, God wants to ease our burdens. That's why Jesus came! And Tallgrass wants to help ease burdens too...especially during this prolonged pandemic season. This teaching kicks off a new series about lifting burdens -- about the burdens we're all trying to lift, and the burdens God wants to lift off your back. What burdens are you carrying?
We need something beautiful during this Covid season! Something we can lift our gaze to and anchor us in the midst of the fear and uncertainty and tragedy. This week we studied one of the most beautiful visions in the Bible: humanity. Not as we are now, but as we're becoming -- before the throne of God above. Humanity in our exquisite diversity united in Christ glorifying God together. So peak into heaven with us and catch God's beautiful vision for you, me, and humanity.
How are we supposed to live in the midst of uncertain times? How can I trust God when there seems to be no way forward? These questions dominate our minds in the midst of pandemic -- and demand an answer! In this teaching, we look to the scriptures for answers and discover the Great Way-Maker who invites us to remember, anticipate, step, works, and repeat. We also get to hear testimonies from Tallgrassians about times when God has made a way where there seemed no way, including some insanely cute (and sometimes profound) stories from our kids!
What does it look like to walk in wisdom during this pandemic season? With so much uncertainty, we need God's wisdom -- the ability to live well -- more than ever. In this teaching in the park, we look at Jesus' parable that asks us still: is your life built on the rock or on sand? We also have a very special gift for those who watch this teaching -- seriously!
In this first in-person Tallgrass Central Gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we enjoyed being together outside at the park! We engaged with some group reflection activities, with the scriptures about the original pandemic of human sin and our great longing for someone to close the gap, and also with worshiping together through song. If you missed it, check it out now!
What would a stronger church look like? Galatians 6 teaches us that it includes bearing one another's burdens AND carrying our own load. Check out this teaching and discover how you might increase your own strength so we can all bear more fruit for the blessing of others! The time concludes by walking through a very practical and powerful tool to help us act experimentally to increase our personal bandwidth from the Kansas Leadership Center.
What does it mean to be truly happy? Just who is the blessed one that the Bible speaks of? And how does one become truly blessed? Join us as special guest speaker Pastor Faisal John of Grace Bible Church Pakistan as we dive into a study of this central human question. Are you blessed?
Trying harder just doesn't work. Promising yourself and God you'll never do that thing again. And then you do. No matter how much you struggle against it. In fact, trying harder only tightens the noose. Welcome to the reality of sexual bondage and addiction. And chances are extremely high that this is your story or your neighbor's. Tune in with us as we talk frankly about sex, renewal, and what God really thinks about sexually broken and messy people. The answer may surprise you.
There's been a pandemic of human injustice throughout history. It's very much still around; it shows itself in many ways today. This teaching looks at historic and present-day injustice related to race, the unborn, and human trafficking -- focusing especially on the issue of race. We look at God's Word to answer three critical questions: What does God say? What would Jesus do? and What can we do?
What's missing? How can we have hundreds of "connections" but still long for real friends? Why does significant renewal and revival seem so far fetched? What loving rebuke might our Heavenly Father be speaking to us about our struggle to love one another like He does? Check out this teaching as we wrestle with these timely and critical questions. We complete our focus on Kingdom friendships and see how the Lord is calling us into something new when it comes to our relationships with others in our church: moving beyond self-centered living into truly giving friendships.
So, I know God wants us to be loving friends to one another. But what does that look like practically? How do I take a step forward toward that? This second teaching on Kingdom friendships focuses in on four practical components in real, Kingdom friendships: 1) conversations that linger, 2) technology that deepens, 3) proactive planning, and 4) identifying the enemies of friendship. We also hear testimonies from a number of Tallgrassians about their journeys with friendships. What's your next step?
Friendship. It's what we're made for, long for. But good friendships seem harder and harder to come by, especially as time goes on and life builds up. Perhaps you can relate. In this teaching we look at both the difficulty of friendships and the call for followers of Jesus to reach out and love others with God's self-giving brand of friendship. We also look at some key elements of this kind of Kingdom-centered relationships and begin to see why renewal in our church must include renewal of our perspective and practice of friendship.
Happy Mother's Day! We enjoyed celebrating and honoring the mothers in our family through special videos and encouragements (tearjerker warning!). The Bible is filled with all kinds of mothers: biological, adoptive, and spiritual. No matter what kind, there's an inherent sacrificial nature to motherhood as a call to care for the vulnerable. So we also talked about caring for the most vulnerable as a church: the unborn. We heard a special word from Barb Sanderson with Life Choice Ministries and celebrated the birth of Doris with Josh & Pyungwha Millard! What's your next step into caring more deeply for the vulnerable around you?
What if real, historical revival broke out in our day? In our land? What if millions and millions of people across the Earth came to Christ? And what if it all started with a few people praying? Why not you? Why not me? This great movement of God is almost too much to hope for. But rebellions are built on hope! And revivals are built on prayer. In fact, that's been God's given pattern all along. Lean in to this teaching and then join us in prayer for God to move!
We're all busy. Crazy busy. Even during pandemic, our lives are lived at a basic, hectic pace. This week, we continue with our study of leaning into spiritual disciplines during this unique season by focusing in on the unnatural, unAmerican, and desperately vital spiritual discipline of unbusyness--slowing, solitude, and silence. We heard powerful testimonies from two Tallgrassians who have been experiencing personal renewal through these spiritual habits: Ashley Smith and David Renebrg. And we also introduced a special application and experiment for our church family over this next week. Tune in and lean in with us!
Tallgrass Church just turned two! This special celebration gathering included a host of stories from Tallgrassians about what God's been up to these last couple years and where we're headed now as a church family. Stories include people's roots going deeper, needs being met in our midst and around the world, elders falling into baptisteries, kids choosing to follow Jesus, life changing friendships, and visitors being mistakenly called out for weed smoking. It's all here folks! Tune in here and celebrate with us. Wonder what year three will hold?...
You know you were meant for real connection. Pandemic and social distancing can sharpen our longing to be physically present with God and one another -- the life we were meant to live. The message of Easter is that Jesus' physical death and resurrection offers us the free gift and promise of our own physical resurrection and the redemption of our souls from the pandemic of sin and death. Good News doesn't even begin to express it! Lean in with us as we look forward with eager anticipation to the New Normal of Resurrection Life that is coming with Christ returns.
There's a famine in our land--the true pandemic! But it's silent and hidden, because it's not a lack of bread, it's a starvation of our souls for the Word of God. Just like our bodies need nourishing food each day, so also our souls need to feed daily on God's Word. In this teaching, we continue the conversation about personal renewal through this pandemic season and see how fasting and hunger lead us to the Bible. What might it look like to take a step forward and become a mature, self-feeder on the word of God? And what might God do in our church and in our land as we get personally renewed?!
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and neglected spiritual habits is fasting. Here in the West especially, fasting is typically seen as antiquated, unnecessary, and even unhealthy. But God doesn't seem to agree, according to His Word. In this teaching, we look together at the forgotten spiritual practice of fasting and see how it might very well be a key component in our spiritual health and longing for renewal. We also look practically at what this discipline could look like in our lives today in the midst of pandemic. What's a next step you could take to pursue personal renewal through fasting?
Due to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, we're pressing pause on our Acts teaching series and focusing in on a new series called New Normal: Personal Renewal in Pandemic. We're convinced that God is inviting us into something new and profound through this unique season: personal renewal! We don't want to just get through this pandemic so we can get back to business as usual. No, we want to be fundamentally and divinely changed such that we never go back to where we were, but move forward into something new and better together. Somewhere that none of us have ever been before. Somewhere wild and real where God is at work in power making everything new in our city and nation. We want nothing short of a revival in our land! But history teaches us that, invariably, corporate renewal begins with personal renewal. And this current season of disruption could be just that divine invitation for each of us into real personal renewal. We believe it is!