Knox Presbyterian Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
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How do you know if you're growing in your faith?
Maybe you know more Scripture than you used to.
Maybe you pray more often.
Maybe you serve, give generously, attend church, or understand things about God that once seemed completely foreign.
Those are all good things.
But the Apostle Paul gives us a much more uncomfortable test.
Are you becoming more loving?
Not more sentimental.
Not simply nicer to people you already like.
More patient. More gracious. Less interested in keeping score. More willing to seek someone else's good—even when it's inconvenient, even when you disagree, and even when you don't particularly feel like it.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul reminds us that we can possess extraordinary gifts, remarkable faith, and incredible knowledge and still miss something absolutely essential.
Today, as we continue our Yes & Amen series, we'll explore God's promise to form us into people who love—and why the greatest evidence of a life being transformed by Christ might not be what we know or what we accomplish.
It might be how we love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Our world is full of rivers.
Not just the ones you can see on a map.
The rivers between neighbors.
Between generations.
Between political parties.
Between races.
Between families who no longer speak.
Between people convinced that the other side is the problem.
The book of Revelation offers a very different picture.
Not a river that separates people...
But a river flowing from the throne of God, bringing life, healing, and restoration to the nations.
Today, as we continue our Yes & Amen series, we'll discover that God's vision for the future isn't simply about where we're going someday. It's about who we're becoming right now as we learn to live as people of reconciliation, hope, and new creation.
Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7, 22:1-7
Guest Preacher: Rev. Eric Heinekamp
Have you ever wondered if God forgot his promises?
Maybe you wouldn't say it out loud.
But you've thought it.
You read that God has good plans for his people.
Then life takes a turn you never saw coming.
The prayer isn't answered.
The hurt doesn't go away.
The loss becomes permanent.
And suddenly you're left wondering whether God's plan and your reality belong in the same story.
The people who first heard Jeremiah's words asked those same questions.
They had lost their homes, their future, and nearly all hope that life would ever return to normal.
Yet it was to them—not before the exile, but in the middle of it—that God said, "I know the plans I have for you."
Today, as we continue our Yes & Amen series, we'll explore a promise that is far bigger than a comfortable life. We'll discover that God's plan isn't simply to rescue us from every hardship, but to redeem every part of our story as he makes all things new.
Think back to one of the hardest seasons of your life.
What carried you through it?
Was it your own strength?
Your determination?
Your circumstances finally improving?
Or was it something deeper?
One of the remarkable things about following Jesus is that Christians don't claim hardship is an illusion. We don't pretend pain isn't real. Scripture speaks honestly about loss, fear, sickness, uncertainty, and death.
But it also makes a remarkable promise:
That the hardest thing you face will never be the strongest thing in your life.
Because when the waters rise and the fire burns, God does not promise to watch from a distance.
He promises to be with his people.
Today, as we continue our Yes & Amen series, we're exploring a promise that has carried God's people for generations: whatever we walk through, we never walk through it alone.
Isaiah 43:1-7
If you ask a new parent what they're most afraid of, you'll probably hear a long list.
What if I miss something?
What if I make the wrong decision?
What if I fail them?
Those questions don't disappear when our children grow up.
In fact, they seem to follow us through every stage of life.
What if the diagnosis comes back?
What if I lose someone I love?
What if everything falls apart?
The Christian faith doesn't pretend those questions aren't real.
Instead, it answers them with a promise.
Not the promise that nothing bad will ever happen.
But the promise that whatever comes, we will not face it alone.
Today, as we continue our Yes & Amen series, we look at the night Jesus shared one final meal with his disciples—and the remarkable gift he left behind: a people who would continue to be his hands, his feet, and his presence in a hurting world.
Guest: Rev. Lara Musser-Gritter
What does it mean to be free?
For most of us, freedom means having choices.
No one holding us back. No one telling us what to do. The ability to shape our own lives, follow our own desires, and become whoever we want to be.
It’s a powerful promise.
But is it true?
Because sometimes the things we freely choose begin to control us.
The phone we pick up for a few minutes becomes an hour of scrolling.
The ambition that drives us forward becomes a schedule we can no longer escape.
The desire for comfort, success, approval, or control quietly begins making decisions for us.
And before long, what felt like freedom starts to look a lot like a cage.
In Romans chapter 6, the Apostle Paul makes a startling claim: there is no such thing as completely neutral freedom. Whatever we continually give ourselves to begins to shape us, command us, and ultimately master us.
So perhaps the real question isn’t whether we serve something.
It’s whether what we serve is giving us life.
Today, as we continue our series Yes & Amen, we’re exploring the promise that Christ sets us free—not into a life without boundaries, but into a life where sin no longer gets the final word.
Because true freedom may not be the absence of every restraint.
It may be finally belonging to the One who leads us into life.
Romans 6:15-23
When you hear the words safe place, what comes to mind?
Maybe it's a childhood home. A favorite chair. A person you trust. Somewhere you can finally let your guard down.
Most of us think of safety as the absence of trouble. If life is calm, we're safe. If life is difficult, something must be wrong.
But the Bible paints a different picture.
King David wrote one of his most beautiful psalms while hiding in a cave, running for his life. He wasn't safe because his circumstances had changed. He was safe because he knew where to take his fear.
Again and again throughout Scripture, God doesn't promise a life without storms.
He promises his presence in the middle of them.
Today, as we continue our series Yes & Amen, we're exploring one of God's most comforting promises: that no matter where life finds us—even in the darkest cave, even in our deepest loneliness—God remains our refuge, our shelter, and our safe place.
Psalm 142
Most of us like to see results.
We like finished projects. Completed goals. Problems solved. We like knowing that our efforts made a difference.
But some of the most important work we do in life doesn't work that way.
A teacher may never know how a lesson shaped a student's future.
A parent may not see the fruit of a conversation for years.
A simple act of kindness may ripple outward in ways we'll never fully understand.
The Apostle Paul understood that reality. Writing to the church in Corinth, he said, "The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose." Some people plant. Some people water. But ultimately, God is the one who gives the growth.
Today, as we continue our series Yes & Amen, we're exploring a promise that frees us from carrying burdens we were never meant to bear. We are called to be faithful. We are called to serve. We are called to plant and water.
But the growth belongs to God.
And that's very good news.
1 Corinthians 3:8-9
Every spring, graduates across the country receive the same gift.
A copy of Oh, the Places You'll Go.
It's become almost a cultural ritual. The message is simple: you've got what it takes. Trust yourself. Choose your direction. Go make your future happen.
It's a wonderful sentiment.
Until life gets complicated.
Until you're standing at a crossroads wondering whether to take the job, move to a new city, start a family, change careers, retire, stay, leave, risk, or wait.
Suddenly "trust yourself" doesn't feel quite so reassuring.
Because deep down, most of us know we don't always know what we're doing.
And that's why the Bible offers a different promise.
A better promise.
A promise that doesn't depend on having all the answers yourself.
Today, we're exploring Proverbs 3 and God's promise to guide those who trust Him—because sometimes the most important step in life isn't knowing exactly where you're going.
It's knowing who you're following.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Have you ever noticed how often we turn God's promises into assignments?
We read Scripture and immediately start making lists of things we need to do, ways we need to improve, responsibilities we need to shoulder. And before long, following Jesus can start to feel like carrying a backpack full of obligations.
But what if one of the most famous statements about Christian witness isn't actually a command at all?
In Acts chapter 1, Jesus looks at a group of flawed, fearful, unreliable disciples and says, "You will be my witnesses." Not you should be. Not you must be. Not you'd better become.
You will be.
Today we're beginning a brand-new series called Yes & Amen, exploring God's promises and how they find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. And we start with a promise that might change the way you think about evangelism, discipleship, and even your own faith journey.
Acts1:1-8
Have you ever noticed that worry is never satisfied?
No matter how many problems you solve...
worry always seems to find another one.
You finally get through one difficult season, and immediately something else takes its place.
The bills get paid, but now you're worried about retirement.
The kids get through one challenge, but now you're worried about the next one.
One test comes back clear, but now you're waiting for another result.
Worry has a way of convincing us that peace is always just one solved problem away.
But then we solve the problem...
and peace never seems to arrive.
Maybe that's because worry isn't really about our circumstances.
Maybe it's about control.
About wanting certainty in an uncertain world.
About wanting guarantees that nobody can give.
About carrying burdens we were never meant to carry.
This week, as we conclude our journey through Philippians and its invitation to find joy no matter what, Paul speaks directly into one of the most common struggles of human life:
Anxiety.
And what's remarkable is that he writes these words not from a place of comfort or security, but from a prison cell.
He doesn't say life is easy.
He doesn't say our problems aren't real.
Instead, he offers a different path.
A path that begins with remembering that God is near.
Because sometimes joy isn't found when all our worries disappear.
Sometimes joy begins when we realize we don't have to carry them alone.
Philippians 4:1-13
There are some moments in history that change everything.
Moments so important that once they happen, the world is never quite the same again.
And yet, sometimes the most important moments don’t look dramatic at first.
A group of ordinary people gathered in a room.
A rushing wind.
Flames of fire.
Voices speaking languages they never learned.
At first glance, Pentecost can feel strange. Confusing. Almost disconnected from the rest of the story.
But what if Pentecost is actually one of the most important moments in all of Scripture?
What if it’s the moment where all the threads of the Bible suddenly begin to come together?
The moment where God’s promise to dwell with His people becomes reality.
The moment where division begins to give way to reconciliation.
The moment where God starts forming not a kingdom built on power or conquest… but a Spirit-filled people sent into the world with love.
Because Pentecost is not just about what happened back then.
It’s about what God is still doing right now.
Still breathing life into weary hearts.
Still building a people from every language and culture.
Still remaking the world through ordinary people filled with His Spirit.
And maybe the most surprising part of all…
is that God wants us to be part of that story too.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Alex Massad
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to start something…
and how hard it is to keep going?
Starting is exciting.
The beginning of a new relationship.
A new goal.
A new habit.
A new year.
A fresh start.
At the beginning, motivation comes easy.
But eventually, every journey hits a wall.
You get tired.
You get distracted.
You start wondering if all the effort is really worth it.
And honestly? That’s true spiritually too.
There are moments in faith when following Jesus feels clear and joyful and life-giving.
And then there are moments when it feels uphill.
Moments when you feel discouraged.
Moments when you feel stuck.
Moments when you wonder whether you’re growing at all.
This week in Philippians, Paul gives us a picture of faith that feels incredibly honest:
Faith is a race.
Not a sprint.
Not a quick fix.
Not instant perfection.
A race.
And the goal isn’t pretending we’ve already arrived.
The goal is to keep pressing on.
To keep moving toward Jesus—even when the road feels steep, even when we stumble, even when we’re tired.
Because joy isn’t found in having a perfect race.
It’s found in refusing to quit.
Philippians 3:1-17
We live in a world that loves instant results.
One-click ordering.
Same-day delivery.
Quick fixes.
Life hacks.
And somewhere along the way, we started wanting faith to work that way too.
Just say the prayer.
Check the box.
Get forgiven.
Move on.
But deep down, most of us know that’s not how real relationships work.
You can’t build a friendship in five seconds.
You can’t build a marriage without commitment.
You can’t become the person you were created to be overnight.
Real transformation takes time.
And that’s why, in the New Testament, Jesus never just invited people to believe something.
He invited them to follow him.
This week in Philippians, we’re talking about something that’s become strangely rare in modern Christianity:
Discipleship.
Not just receiving grace…
but learning to live differently because of it.
Because the goal of the Gospel was never simply to get people into heaven someday.
It was to form people into the likeness of Jesus here and now.
And as strange as it sounds…
that journey of following Jesus—
of trusting him, obeying him, growing with him, pouring into others—
might actually be where joy is found.
Philippians 2:12-30
We’ve gotten really good at making life comfortable.
We’ve got apps that deliver food to our door.
We’ve got shows to stream anytime we want.
We’ve got mattresses designed for perfect sleep, routines for self-care, and a thousand little ways to make life just a bit easier.
And yet… for all our comfort…
a lot of us still feel restless.
Still feel unsatisfied.
Still feel like something’s missing.
Because deep down, we’re starting to realize something:
Comfort doesn’t always lead to joy.
In fact, sometimes the more comfortable life becomes…
the more disconnected we feel from anything that really matters.
This week, as we continue in Philippians, we run into a completely different picture.
A picture of a man who finds joy—not in comfort, not in ease—but in something else entirely.
And at the center of that picture is Jesus.
A Savior who didn’t move toward comfort…
but chose humility.
Chose sacrifice.
Chose obedience—even when it cost him everything.
And somehow, in that upside-down way of living…
we discover something surprising:
Maybe joy isn’t found in making life easier…
Maybe it’s found in answering a calling bigger than ourselves.
Philippians 2:1-11
Let me ask you something simple:
Are you okay?
And I don’t mean the quick, automatic answer we all give.
Not the “I’m fine” or “I’m good” that rolls off our tongue without thinking.
I mean really.
Are you okay?
Because if we’re honest… a lot of us aren’t.
Some of us are tired.
Some of us are carrying things no one else sees.
Some of us are grieving, or anxious, or just quietly overwhelmed.
And in a world that keeps telling us to smile, to push through, to pretend everything’s fine… it can start to feel like something’s wrong with us if we’re not okay.
But what if that’s not true?
What if part of faith isn’t pretending everything is fine…
but being honest when it’s not?
This week, as we continue in Philippians—the letter that talks more about joy than almost any other—we find something surprising.
Because the person writing about joy…
isn’t okay.
He’s in prison. His future is uncertain. His life is on the line.
And yet somehow, in the middle of all of that…
he finds joy.
Not because his circumstances change—
but because something deeper holds him steady.
Which raises a question for all of us:
What if joy isn’t about being okay…
but about knowing where to turn when you’re not?
Philippians 1:12-26
We all want joy.
Not the surface-level, everything’s-going-great kind of joy…
but the kind that actually lasts.
The kind that holds up when life gets complicated.
When plans change.
When things don’t go the way we thought they would.
Because if we’re honest, most of us have learned the hard way—
joy that depends on circumstances… doesn’t last very long.
So what does it look like to have joy no matter what?
That’s the question we’re stepping into as we begin a new series in the book of Philippians—a letter written by the apostle Paul, who, incredibly, talks about joy not when life is easy… but right in the middle of difficulty.
And today, as we celebrate Confirmation Sunday, that question becomes even more personal.
Because this moment—this step of faith—it’s not the end of anything.
It’s a beginning.
A beginning of a life rooted in something deeper than circumstances…
a life shaped by a community that walks together…
a life where joy isn’t something you chase—
it’s something that grows.
So maybe the question for all of us today is this:
What kind of joy are we building our lives on?
Philippians 1:1-11
Let’s just say it out loud:
Doubt is part of the deal.
No matter how long you’ve been around church…
no matter how strong your faith feels some days…
no matter how confident you try to sound…
There are moments when questions creep in.
Is this really true?
Can I trust this?
What if I’m wrong?
And when those questions show up, most of us do one of two things.
We either push them down and pretend they’re not there…
or we quietly wonder if something must be wrong with us for even having them.
But what if doubt isn’t the enemy of faith?
What if it’s actually part of the journey?
This week, we look at one of the most famous doubters in the Bible—a man who wasn’t afraid to say exactly what he was thinking:
“Unless I see it… I won’t believe it.”
And instead of pushing him away…
Jesus meets him right there.
Which might just mean…
He’s willing to meet us there too.
John 20:24-29
Every year around this time, the same question starts to surface:
Did it really happen?
Did Jesus actually rise from the dead?
Or is Easter just a beautiful story we tell ourselves—something symbolic, something hopeful, something… safe?
Because let’s be honest—Easter is easy to celebrate.
The music is uplifting.
The flowers are bright.
The message is hopeful.
But the claim at the center of it all?
That’s not easy.
Because if Easter really happened… it changes everything.
It means death doesn’t get the final word.
It means the worst thing is never the last thing.
It means Jesus isn’t just someone we remember—he’s someone we can encounter.
And that’s where the story gets personal.
Because the first person Easter happened to wasn’t powerful, or polished, or even particularly put-together.
It was someone grieving.
Someone confused.
Someone who wasn’t even looking for a risen Savior.
And maybe that’s the point.
Because Easter doesn’t just ask, “Did it happen?”
It asks something even more important:
What if it’s happening… right now?
John 20:1-18
There’s an old saying that goes like this:
People die the way they live.
In those final moments—when everything else falls away—what’s left tends to reveal what mattered most all along.
What we trusted.
What we held onto.
What we believed at the deepest level.
That’s part of what makes last words so powerful.
They’re not polished.
They’re not carefully edited.
They’re real.
This week, as we reach the final word Jesus speaks from the cross, we hear this:
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
It’s not a cry of despair.
It’s not a word of defeat.
It’s a statement of trust.
And when you hold that moment together with everything that came before—the crowds shouting on Palm Sunday, the suffering, the betrayal, the cross—you begin to see something remarkable:
Jesus didn’t just live a life of trust in God.
He died that way too.
And that raises a question for all of us:
When everything is on the line…
what are we trusting in?
We are all thirsty.
Not just physically—though we know that feeling too.
That dry, empty, can’t-think-about-anything-else kind of thirst.
But there’s another kind of thirst we carry every day.
A thirst to be loved.
A thirst to matter.
A thirst to feel like our lives have meaning and purpose.
And so we spend our lives trying to satisfy it.
We drink from relationships.
We drink from success.
We drink from approval, comfort, distraction, achievement.
And for a moment, it works.
But then the feeling comes back.
Because deep down, we know—it’s never enough.
This week, as we come once again to the cross, we hear Jesus say something surprising:
“I am thirsty.”
And somehow, in that moment—
in his weakness, in his suffering—
Jesus reveals not just his thirst…
but ours.
And more importantly…
where it can finally be satisfied.
A few weeks before Easter, I saw a sign in the window of a gift shop that made me stop in my tracks.
It said: “We make Easter easy.”
And in a way, that makes perfect sense. Easter is easy. Easter is flowers and bright music and full churches. Easter is joy and celebration and the promise that life wins.
Everybody loves Easter.
But there is nothing easy about the cross.
The cross is not tidy.
The cross is not comfortable.
The cross forces us to stand in the shadow of suffering and ask questions we would rather avoid.
That’s why, during this season of Lent, we’ve been slowing down and listening carefully to the final words Jesus spoke from the cross.
And today we come to perhaps the most haunting words of all:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
It’s a cry of anguish.
A cry of abandonment.
A cry that forces us to look honestly at suffering — Jesus’ suffering, and our own.
But if we stay there long enough…
if we dare to listen closely enough…
we may discover that even in this darkest moment, there is still hope.
For the last few weeks, the internet has been captivated by a tiny monkey.
A baby macaque named Punch at a zoo in Japan somehow captured millions of hearts. People watched video after video of him being pushed away by his mother… ignored by the others… wandering around the enclosure looking for somewhere to belong.
And then there was the stuffed animal.
Punch found a little stuffed orangutan and started carrying it everywhere. Whenever things got hard, he ran back to that toy. He clung to it, rested his head on it, dragged it around the zoo like it was the one place he felt safe.
And people all over the world watched and said the same thing:
“Poor little guy.”
But if we’re honest, the reason Punch captured our hearts is because we recognized something familiar.
Because deep down, most of us know that feeling.
The feeling of wanting to belong.
The feeling of wanting someone to notice us.
The feeling of not wanting to be alone.
Loneliness is one of the most common experiences in modern life… and one of the least talked about.
But today, as we continue listening to the final words Jesus spoke from the cross, we’re going to hear something surprising.
Even in the middle of his suffering…
even in the final moments of his life…
Jesus is still building a family.
And it turns out that might be the very thing our lonely hearts have been searching for.
Most of us don’t think of ourselves as the kind of people who would end up on a cross.
We’re not criminals.
We’re not the worst of the worst.
We’re not the people everyone else looks at and says, yeah… they deserve that.
So when we hear a story about two criminals hanging next to Jesus, it’s easy to keep our distance.
That’s them.
That’s not us.
But if you look a little closer… the difference between those two men isn’t what they’ve done.
It’s how they respond.
One spends his final moments deflecting, blaming, tearing someone else down.
The other tells the truth. About himself. About Jesus. About his need.
And suddenly, the story doesn’t feel so distant anymore.
Because maybe the most important question isn’t what kind of person you’ve been…
It’s this:
When you come face to face with Jesus—
will you respond with pride…
or with humility?
Nobody wakes up in the morning hoping they’ll need forgiveness. We don’t want to be the one who messed up. We don’t want to be the one who said too much… or didn’t say enough. We don’t want to be the one who hurt someone, failed someone, disappointed someone.
So instead, we do what comes naturally. We hide. We minimize. We explain it away. We tell ourselves, it wasn’t that bad… it wasn’t really my fault… they had it coming.
Because as much as we talk about forgiveness… most of us spend our lives trying not to need it. And yet—deep down—we all know the truth. There are things we can’t undo. There are words we can’t take back. There are moments we wish we could erase but can’t.
This week, we come to the cross and hear one of the most shocking things Jesus ever said: “Father, forgive them…”
Not after everything is fixed. Not after anyone apologizes. Not after the damage is undone. Right in the middle of it.
Because forgiveness may be the one thing nobody wants…but it’s the one thing everybody needs.
Scripture: Luke 23:32-34
Rev. Becca Bruner
There’s something honest about ashes.
Ashes don’t pretend.
Ashes don’t perform.
Ashes don’t polish themselves up and try to look impressive.
Ashes tell the truth.
They remind us that we are fragile. That we are finite. That no matter how carefully we curate our lives — our reputations, our accomplishments, our spiritual résumés — underneath it all, we are dust.
And yet we resist that truth. We spend so much energy avoiding it. We blame others for what’s broken in the world. We manage our image. We justify our motives. We tell ourselves that the real problem is out there somewhere.
But tonight, the ashes draw the circle smaller.
Tonight is not about someone else’s greed.
Not about someone else’s pride.
Not about someone else’s fear.
It’s about mine. It’s about yours.
Ash Wednesday invites us to stop deflecting and start confessing. To stop performing and start repenting. To look at the cross and realize it wasn’t just history — it was personal.
And yet — and this is the miracle — the cross is not only the place where our sin is exposed. It is the place where God’s love is revealed.
Tonight we come forward and hear the truth:
You are dust.
And you are loved.
Scripture: Isaiah 53
Most of us are rehearsing something.
Not literally, of course. You probably didn’t wake up this morning, grab a script, and start practicing lines in the mirror. But whether we realize it or not, every day we’re practicing a story about who we are and what our lives are about.
We rehearse the story that says success comes from working harder.
We rehearse the story that says happiness comes from having more.
We rehearse the story that says if we can just get everything under control, we’ll finally be okay.
And we practice those stories over and over again until they feel automatic.
But what if there’s another story we’re meant to rehearse?
What if the rhythm of Sabbath isn’t just about rest for today… but practice for something bigger?
This week we’re talking about “the big rest” — and how every moment of Sabbath is actually a rehearsal for the story God is inviting us into.
Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-11
Last week we talked about how Sabbath restores us spiritually — how it recenters us and reminds us who we are and whose we are. But if we’re honest, there’s another kind of exhaustion many of us carry that sleep doesn’t fix.
You can get a full night’s rest and still feel drained.
You can take a day off and still feel empty.
You can sit in a room full of people and still feel completely alone.
We live in the most connected era in human history… and yet loneliness is everywhere. We can message anyone instantly, stream anything we want, and order dinner without ever speaking to a person. Life has never been more convenient — but somehow relationships have never felt more complicated.
This week, we’re talking about a different kind of restoration: relational restoration. What if Sabbath isn’t just about stepping away from work… but stepping back toward people? What if rest includes rediscovering the connections we were created for?
Because the truth is, we were never meant to do life alone.
Restoration is a powerful thing. Watching something old, worn down, and corroded slowly brought back to life reminds us that damage doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With time, care, and intention, what looks beyond repair can be made whole again—sometimes even stronger and more beautiful than before. There’s something deeply hopeful about that process, because we recognize ourselves in it. We know what it’s like to carry the buildup of stress, exhaustion, anxiety, and noise from the week, and to wonder how much more we can hold.
That’s where Sabbath comes in. Sabbath is God’s invitation to stop—to step out of the grind and allow ourselves to be restored. In this series, we’ve been exploring how Sabbath restores us physically and emotionally, and in the weeks ahead we’ll look at how it restores us relationally and eternally. Today, we turn our focus to spiritual restoration: how Sabbath worship recenters us, reshapes us, and reminds us who we are and whose we are. Sabbath isn’t just about rest—it’s about renewal, about being made whole again in the presence of the One who restores.
Psalm 95
You were made for joy! Joy is part of what it means to live in Christ. Happiness is part of what it means to abide in Christ. You and I were made to be connected with Jesus, to be united the way a tree is connected to its branches. Amidst all the highs and lows of life, we were made for Christ’s joy and life to be present in us.
Some weeks leave us gasping. We carry too much—news that never lets up, responsibilities that don’t pause, worries that follow us into bed and greet us when we wake. We grip our schedules, our work, our obligations so tightly that we don’t notice what it’s costing us… until breathing itself feels hard. And still, we tell ourselves we can’t stop. Not now. Not yet. Somewhere deep down, we fear that if we loosen our grip, everything will fall apart.
Sabbath tells a different story. It whispers that we are not slaves to production or urgency—that we were never meant to live without rhythm, without rest, without breath. In the wilderness, God gave daily bread and a double portion before the day of rest, asking His people to trust that provision would be enough. The question lingers for us now: what if stopping isn’t failure, but faith? What if rest isn’t weakness, but remembrance—of who we are, and whose we are? Sabbath invites us to release what’s blocking our breath, to trust God’s abundance over our own striving, and to discover that when we finally stop… God is already at work.
The truth is hurry IS a sickness. Hurry hurts our health – our physical health, our emotional health, our relational health, and yes, our spiritual health.
As the modern psychologist Carl Jung once wrote, “Hurry is not of the devil, hurry is the devil.”
So what do we do about this devil in our midst? How do we heal ourselves of the hurry sickness that pervades our hearts and our minds and, indeed the entire developed world?
God have given us an answer, God has given us the antidote from the very beginning. To our hurry-sick souls, God has given us the gift of the Sabbath.
For the next six weeks, we are going to be preaching through the Biblical concept of Sabbath: where it comes from, what it is and how we do it. But the power of the Sabbath comes primarily not from simply understanding it but from doing it.
So we’re going to do both. We will grow in our understanding of Sabbath through our messages here in worship. And, hopefully, we will experience the power of Sabbath through our practice of it, using this weekly guide in our small groups or on our own.
The incarnation takes everything we think we know about God and stands it on its head. But it’s not just that. Beyond the miracle and the mystery of the incarnation itself, there’s another incredibly important thing we need to see here. It’s about that little word ‘with’: Emmanuel is God WITH us. The incarnation isn’t just about the mystery of God becoming human. It’s about God becoming human so that he can be WITH us.
Matthew 1:18-25
Isaiah 7:14
We all have our ways we like to think of God, don’t we? We all have our own preferred pictures of what we think God is like. We form those pictures from a lot of different places. From books and movies. From Sunday School Flannel Grams- do you remember those? From our parents, our friends, and our teachers.
We all have our ways we like to think of God, to picture God. Even people who say they don’t believe in God – if you get them talking about it, even they have a picture in their minds of what God would be like, if He in fact were to exist. Many people that you know who say they don't believe in God, they have a very clear picture in their minds of the God in whom they don't believe.
It’s been said… "In the beginning God made man in his image and man has been trying to repay the favor ever since."
We all do this, don’t we?
Individually and collectively, all of us paint a picture of a God that looks a whole lot more like US than anything we find in the pages of Scripture. Quite unintentionally, based on our sentimentality and our own speculation, we have created a god based much more on what we think and what we wish were true (or what we fear is true!) about God than on who God really is.
And this MATTERS a great deal. Because how we think about God has deep implications on how we think about ourselves and our world.
Luke 1:26-38
Isaiah 53
The word Advent means ‘arrival’ or ‘coming.’ One of the things we celebrate during Advent is Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem—that’s obviously central to the season. But even as we look backward to Christ’s birth, part of Advent is about looking forward—looking ahead to the transformation of all things. The Christian story ends with Isaiah’s vision of the peaceable kingdom. It ends with God victorious, with every knee bowing to Jesus, the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. It ends where the book of Revelation ends, with the New Jerusalem descending from heaven like a bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21.2). All that might sound strange to you, and certainly there’s been a lot of nonsense propagated over the centuries about them. But convictions about Christ’s return and final victory are woven very deeply into our Christian faith. Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, and say ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,’ we are praying for the peaceable kingdom to break into our world.
Advent is a season in which we look back to Christ’s birth, but also look forward to Christ’s return in glory, to a radical transformation of all things. One helpful way of thinking about it is the idea of the ‘already but not yet.’ On one hand, God’s kingdom is already here in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. His kingdom is ‘at hand,’ present. We can experience it. The peaceable kingdom can and does break into our lives, in big and small moments of beauty, justice, love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. God’s kingdom is already here.
Isaiah 11:1-9
Revelation 19:11-16
Advent gently beckons your gaze toward Bethlehem. Advent reminds us that the great event we long for at Christmas is not Santa’s drop down the chimney, but God’s coming down to us in the birth of Jesus Christ. In a season where everything around us is telling us to run, work, get-going and get-done, Advent offers us a time to wait. To hope. To make ready. To breathe.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The greatest gift God gives us is the opportunity to be part of his kingdom. The greatest gift God gives us is opportunity to be part of his kingdom. Here at Knox, the kingdom of God is important to us. Our mission statement at Knox echoes the words of Jesus we just heard: seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. Our mission at Knox is to love sacrificially, serve generously, and seek Jesus together, to see God’s kingdom come in the Naperville area and beyond. Our mission is to love, serve, and seek Jesus—why? Because when we do, we will have the privilege of seeing his kingdom come. Of seeing the gospel proclaimed and those without hope coming to know Christ and his love. Of seeing the poor fed and the lowly lifted up. Of seeing kids taught to follow Jesus and elders cared for. To be part of God’s work in moments like that is the greatest gift there is.
Matthew 6:19-21,33
In his teachings on ethics, the Greek philosopher Aristotle coined the phrase “the good life” – it’s a term that stands for the life one would like the live and the happiness one would derive from that life. So, what IS the good life, would you say? What is the kind of life that will make you HAPPY? That will lead us to feel CONTENT?
Seems to me, there are two very different ways of answering that question. Two different paths toward the good life, toward the happiness we seek. One way toward the good life, some would say, is to GET MORE. Get more money, get more stuff, get more happiness. This is the GET MORE plan. Find happiness, achieve contentedness by making as much as you can and keeping as much as you make. Don’t give any of it away, because the more you give, the less you have. The less you give, the more you have. And then you will be happy. You’ll be living the good life. That’s the message most of us are buying. That’s the life that most of us in America are living.
But there’s another way to get the good life. A more counterintuitive way toward contentment. One way is to GET more. But the other is to GIVE MORE.
2 Corinthians 8:1-9
- Smith, Christian The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose
We’re wrapping up a sermon series today called ‘Worth Sharing.’ It’s a series about evangelism, and one of the main ideas we’ve been emphasizing these last few weeks is that evangelism is good news. Evangelism is GOOD NEWS. Evangelism is ‘sharing the God you love with the people you love.’
- Evangelism is about sharing, not forcing. We all share things that we love in life all the time: movies and music, hobbies and friends. Evangelism is just sharing Jesus, the person who’s changed our life. It’s just as natural and normal as that.
- Evangelism is about sharing with friends, not strangers. Evangelism is all about relationships, and the primary audience for Christian evangelism is not strangers, but people you already know: friends, co-workers, neighbors.
- Evangelism is sharing good news, not bad news. To evangelize someone means ‘to good news them,’ and we call it that for a reason. Sharing Jesus with someone is sharing that the good news that Jesus is risen, love and mercy are victorious, and that God will get his way in the end. It’s a hopeful, joyful message.
For all those reasons, evangelism is good news. Today we want to add one more reason: when we share our faith with others, we discover more about the faith we thought we knew.
Luke 24:13-35
Evangelism is GOOD NEWS. To engage in evangelism is simply to share the faith we love, the Jesus we love, this church that we love with the people that we love and to invite them to love our faith, our Jesus, and our church too.
And as we’ve been talking about evangelism this month, we encouraged everyone to pick their “one” – one person in your life who is far from faith, who doesn’t know Jesus, who is not a part of a church. And for thirty days, we’ve been praying for our One, serving our One and seeking ways to share Jesus with our One.
But, of course, that begs the question – “how? If and when the opportunity arises to share my faith with someone, what do I say??
Acts 17:22-32
God has a story. The church has a story. And you have a story too. We were all born someplace, had a family, grew up, maybe got married or maybe didn’t, and so and so on. Even if we never sit down to write our autobiography, we all have a narrative we keep in our head about who we are and where we came from: a story about significant events, crucial decisions, values and commitments that shaped us.
And here’s the thing: God’s story has interesting ways of intersecting with our own story. Christians are people who can look at their own life story and trace God’s handiwork. Christians are people who look at their own life and speak not only of their own activity, but God’s. They don’t just look at their story and say ‘I decided to do this,’ but ‘God did that.’ They can say, ‘God taught me, God empowered me, God rescued me,’ or whatever it may be.
We have a story. And somewhere in that story, God is at work. Somewhere, your story intersects with God’s story about the redemption of the world. Now, what that looks like will be different for everyone. Some of you have a story that’s a u-turn like Paul’s. Some of you have a story that’s a straight line: you’ve been following Jesus for as long as you can recall. All our stories are different, but in each of our stories, God is at work somewhere. Part of sharing the gospel with others is being able to spell out the difference Jesus has made for you, in your life.
1 Corinthians 15:3-10
We are, by nature, evangelistic people. When we love something, we can’t help but want to share it. We’ve just kind of forgotten that Jesus is worth sharing too. So we want see if we can change our thinking around evangelism. Evangelism is not telling people that they’re going to hell, that they’re bad people or really anything bad at all. Evangelism, when it’s done right is simply…
Sharing the faith we love with people we love.
Sharing the Jesus we love with the people we love.
Sharing this church that we love with the people we love.
And, as the Holy Spirit empowers us, it’s inviting the people we love to love our faith, to love our Jesus, and to love our church too. Over the course of the next four weeks, we are going to talk about our faith that is WORTH SHARING! And we’re going to talk about who to share it with, what you might share, how you share and why.
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts 1:8
A teacher of the law wants to test Jesus. He asks him, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus turns the question back on him: well, you know the Torah. What does it say? The lawyer cites the Bible from memory: I need to love God and love your neighbor. That’s it, says Jesus!
Then the lawyer takes a second pass. ‘But who is my neighbor?’ Luke tells us that the lawyer ‘wanted to vindicate [or justify] himself’ by asking that question. He wants to show that he is in the right—and by extension that Jesus is in the wrong.
Jesus responds by telling a story. It’s the parable of the Good Samaritan, and may be familiar to some of us. A man on a long journey gets beaten up, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road. Two Jewish religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, come walking by. They see him and his dire need, but do not intervene. A third man approaches, a Samaritan, a member of a religious sect at odds with the Jewish mainstream. At great personal expense and inconvenience, the Samaritan takes care of the man. Jesus asks, who was that man’s neighbor? ‘The third guy,’ says the lawyer. Well, go and do likewise, says Jesus.
To hear this story in all its power, we need to see how stunning it would have been for Jesus’ audience, how much it reverses their expectations. To understand why, you have to learn something about Samaritans
Luke 10:25-37
We’re continuing our series on the Gospel of Luke, focusing on the Upside-Down nature of the Kingdom Jesus came to bring.
In Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, the poor are blessed; those who are low are lifted up; the blind see; the oppressed are set free. And as we will see in our story today, the untouchable are touched, are healed, by the gracious touch of Jesus’ hand.
Luke 8:40-56
Throughout the gospel of Luke, when Jesus proclaims and demonstrates the kingdom, he often does so an eye on women. He shows compassion to this sinful woman who would be rejected by the Pharisees. He heals a woman whose issue of blood had rendered her ritually unclean for years, restoring her body as well as her place in the community (Luke 8). He heals a women physically bent into a position of inferiority (Luke 13), and he praises the generosity of a poor widow (Luke 21). Most of all, in today's remarkable passage, Jesus includes women in his ministry. Joanna, Susanna, and Mary Magdalene not only believe in Jesus, but accompany the disciples as they go from town to town proclaiming the gospel.
And let’s not forget that the entire gospel of Luke is book-ended by the faithfulness of women. Jesus is brought into this world by the courageous obedience of his mother Mary, who says yes to God when she could have said no. And on Easter morning, the disciples who discover the empty tomb are ‘the women.’ It’s simply no accident that women play such an essential role in this gospel. Luke is telling us something about how the kingdom of God works.
Luke 7:36-50
Jesus’ blessings and woes are an illustration of life in his kingdom, where things are upside down, where they run quite counter to what we think is ordinary and usual. In Jesus’ day, people saw wealth as a sign of divine favor. In our day, people aren’t all that different: sure, they might not put it exactly that way, but we do tend to regard wealth as an unambiguously good thing. And we see poverty as unambiguously bad. What Jesus is trying to do is turn that upside down. In particular, he’s trying to draw our attention to the spiritual danger of wealth, and the spiritual openness of poverty.
Luke 6:20-26
Upside Down Kingdom: The Good News according to Luke
Jesus is for everybody.
Jesus is for the rich and the poor. Jesus is for men and for women. Jesus is for sinners and for saints.
Jesus is for insiders and outsiders.
Jesus is for everybody.
And the way that Luke lets us clearly know just how “for everybody” Jesus really is, is his emphasis
on how Jesus treats those who would otherwise think Jesus could never be for them. The lowly, the
marginalized, the broken, the picked on and the pushed around. Those who had always been told
that they’re a nobody, Luke makes clear that they are right in the center of everybody.
And Jesus is for everybody.
It’s important to me, that from the outset of this series, that you understand this. That Jesus is for
EVERYbody.
Because throughout this series, we are going to focus in on the ways that Luke really does emphasize
the upside-down nature of Jesus’ message and ministry. Those who were low are lifted up. Those
who were out are brought in.
But for those of us who are here, who are “in” (so to speak)- we’re here, in church, in the room,
doing the Jesus thing- sometimes we hear that and think, “Well, then is Jesus for me?”
Friends, if that’s you (even just a little bit), hear this word of comfort from our friend Luke: Jesus is
for everybody. That means that Jesus is for YOU.
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
Knox is thrilled to introduce our new Director of Youth Ministries, Evan Young! Listen in as he recaps his first weeks on the job diving into helping lead our Go & Serve trip as well as hear several testimonials from our students.
Matthew 5:14-16
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
Matthew 16:13-20
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 11:1-44; John 20:1-18
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 12:12-16; John 19:1-22
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 14:1-14; Proverbs 3:5-6
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 10:11-18; Luke 15:1-7; Ezekiel 34:11-16
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 8:12; John 9:1-7; Isaiah 60:1-3, 19
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 6:1-15, 25-35; Deuteronomy 8:1-3
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus. The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present. Jesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day. Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 4:1-26; Isaiah 55:1-3
Many people think of Jesus as a wise teacher, a radical leader who lived and died many years ago. But that’s not how the Bible talks about Jesus.
The Jesus we meet in the Scriptures isn’t a figure of the past, but Someone we meet in the present.
Tesus’ many “I AM” statements, found in John’s Gospel, let us know that the living, reigning Christ is present and powerful in our lives. Jesus is actively involved in all our joys and sorrows, successes and struggles each and every day.
Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”- the eternal and everlasting God- who can and will meet all of our deepest needs.
John 8:31-40, 48-59; Exodus 3:1-10, 13-15
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget what’s most important. In the chaos of our schedules, it’s not hard to neglect what is going to give us the most life. It’s simple to sense God’s presence on Sundays. But what about Monday through Saturday?
Exodus 20:8-11, Mark 2:23-28
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget what’s most important. In the chaos of our schedules, it’s not hard to neglect what is going to give us the most life. It’s simple to sense God’s presence on Sundays. But what about Monday through Saturday?
Psalm 37:4, John 10:1-10, Psalm 23
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget what’s most important. In the chaos of our schedules, it’s not hard to neglect what is going to give us the most life. It’s simple to sense God’s presence on Sundays. But what about Monday through Saturday?
Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:24-25
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget what’s most important. In the chaos of our schedules, it’s not hard to neglect what is going to give us the most life. It’s simple to sense God’s presence on Sundays. But what about Monday through Saturday?
Mark 10:33-45
Philippians 2:1-11
"...to the place where God was homeless, all of us are invited home." - G.K. Chesterton
Every year our worship volunteers and staff spend countless hours paying particular attention to Christmas Eve. If you were not able to join us for any of those services and are in need of some extra long-lasting Christmas spirit this year, head on over to our YouTube page and give one a viewing or a listen. These services are carefully curated to be a meaningful worship experience in their entirety, and with that in mind and all the hours put in by our teams, it has not been our tradition to do any additional posting of material beyond the services themselves. However, given how hard the beginning of this year has felt for many between illness, world events, and politics, we felt like sharing a quick little bit of warmth in the midst of a world in turmoil and a reminder of where our hearts can truly feel at home and at peace.
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget what’s most important. In the chaos of our schedules, it’s not hard to neglect what is going to give us the most life. It’s simple to sense God’s presence on Sundays. But what about Monday through Saturday?
Luke 11:1-13
Romans 8:26-27
When it comes to learning a new skill, it helps to have someone teach you how. That is what our winter sermon series is all about! We're calling it "HOW: Spiritual Practices for Ordinary People".
In the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget what’s most important. In the chaos of our schedules, it’s not hard to neglect what is going to give us the most life. It’s simple to sense God’s presence on Sundays. But what about Monday through Saturday? HOW do we live our faith and know God's love every day?
That's what this series is going to be all about. We are going to explore seven different practices- sometimes called Spiritual Disciplines- that Christians have engaged in for centuries that we know have the power to grow your relationship with Jesus.
Psalm 1
John 15:1-11
The greatest gift that God gave the world was the gift of love, given to us and given through us by God's son Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:7-12, 18-19
1 Corinthians 13
Romans 8:31-37
John 15:12-17
Romans 8:38-39
At Christmas, we're told that God has good news of great joy! But the circumstances of our lives may not be very joyful. Joy is not rooted in our circumstances. Our circumstances are rooted in joy.
John 15:11
James 1:2-3
Philippians 4:4
Nehemiah 8:1
The Christmas angels announced that the Savior was born to bring peace on earth. But that peace seems hard to come by. Our souls are troubled, our schedules are chaotic, our world is at war. At Christmas we remember that peace is not something that we feel. Peace is something that we do.
Isaiah 9:1-7
Philippians 4:6-9
John 14:27
Advent is a season of waiting. Advent is a season of hope. We receive God's gift of hope in the present when we remember God's faithfulness in the past.
Revelation 21:1-6
Romans 5:3-5
God is able to do abundantly far more in us and through us than we could ever ask or imagine. Through the missions that Knox supports, we are experiencing God doing abundantly more THROUGH us- providing warm meals to the unhoused, offering shelter to the displaced, giving counsel to the distressed- and so much more. As we consider our financial support of Knox Presbyterian Church, may we be encouraged that God is using us to make that possible!
Ephesians 3:14-21
1 John 3:16-18
God is able to do abundantly far more in us and through us than we could ever ask or imagine. Through the ministries of Knox, men, women, students and children are seeing God do abundantly more IN them - filling them with God's immeasurable love and changing them from the inside out. As we consider our financial support of Knox Presbyterian Church, may we be encouraged that God is using us to make that possible!
Ephesians 2:8-10
Ephesians 3:14-21
What should I hope for? What’s worth investing my life in? What does the worthiness of our shared humanity consist? How do I lean into what’s really worth investing in in life? What if our most fundamental place to build from is actually shared questions rather than shared answers?
Romans 12:9-15
Special Guest: Dr. Matt Croasmun
Matt Croasmun is an Associate Research Scholar and the Director of the Life Worth Living program at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School and a Lecturer of Divinity and Humanities at Yale University. He is also a staff pastor at the Elm City Vineyard Church, a dynamic, diverse, urban church.
The church can be a very frustrating institution of which to be a part. Sometimes it proclaims the kingdom and sometimes it holds it back! Nevertheless, Scripture teaches that God is irrevocably committed to the church, which is the body of Christ, his presence in the world. Church is a place where sinners learn to forgive one another, and work together for the sake of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Matthew 18:15-22
Grace is about God accepting us for the sake of Christ, not about us cleaning up our act to be good enough for him. ‘Grace means there’s nothing you can do to make God love you more, and nothing you can do to make God love you less.’ This can be difficult for our pride to accept, but it's close to the heart of the gospel.
Romans 5:1-10
John 3:14-17
Throughout his ministry Jesus claimed to be the messiah of Israel. These claims frequently made people angry, scandalized them, and played a role in his crucifixion. His claims are still scandalous today. The church proclaims a unique and particular message: one man, Jesus, was God in the flesh. We must all come to terms with the ‘scandal of particularity,’ for in and through Jesus, God is at work to bless the whole world.
Genesis 12.1-5
John 10.22-31
National polls reveal the perception that Christians reject modern science, a stumbling block to advancing the gospel message and building healthy communities of faith. Three relevant areas of concern involve evolution vs. creation, global climate change skepticism, and vaccine hesitancy. However, there are many historical examples of faith and science in partnership and contemporary models of constructive faith-science dialog. There need not be a wall or a war between science and faith.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Stephen Moshier, Wheaton College
Matthew 16:1-4
Job 38:1-7
Psalm 111:1-5
Pastors Becca and David reflect on the inspirations behind the fall sermon series Stumbling Blocks, recap their experiences with and congregational reactions from the sermons so far, and peek a little bit into the future on what the last half of the series holds.
The Church’s call to address racism is not a liberal or conservative issue, not a left-right issue, but a biblical issue, one central to our faith. It’s about (1) our hospitality to those unlike us, here in western suburbs that are increasingly nonwhite; (2) our own discipleship, and ability to recognize Christ at work in other cultures, ethnicities, languages, and socio-economic strata; and (3) our ability to model for the world the reconciled community Christ calls us to.
Ephesians 4:11-22
Galatians 3:28-29
The majority of world’s Christians still live in systems where decisions are made by men--in the US, Roman Catholics on one hand and Southern Baptists on the other. Our challenge: to live into a biblical vision of equality between men and women.
Genesis 1-3, Luke 24:1-11, Romans 16:1-7, Ephesians 5:21-33
In many quarters of the church there is still animus toward LGBTQ+ Christians and ignorance about their experience. This leads in turn to an unnecessary rejection of Jesus and the church. Affirming marriage between people of the same gender expands the discipline and gift of marriage without destroying it, and represents an opportunity to proclaim the gospel to gay and straight alike.
Acts 10 & 11
1 Chu, Jeff. Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America. HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
2 Johnson, William Stacy. A Time to Embrace: Same-Sex Relationships in Religion, Law, and Politics. 2012. W.B Eerdmans Publishing Co
Christian nationalism idealizes and advocates for a fusion between faith and politics—between belief in Jesus and particular candidates, parties, and platforms. It’s a theological error, and stumbling block to others, who assume that if they’re Christian, they must be a Christian nationalist. The good news is that God cares about our political order, but is never identified with it. God works through persuasion and sacrifice, not power and domination.
Mark 12.13-17
Philippians 2.1-11
Right now in our society there are a number of cultural factors that people experience in the church that turn people off—that push them away from church and so from Jesus. In what follows we’re going to talk about some of them and explain how and why they hinder people from knowing Jesus. The goal is to clear away the false stumbling blocks that obscure the gospel, so people can perceive the true stumbling blocks that clarify the gospel (particularity, grace, the church).
1 Corinthians 1.18-25
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
Isaiah 25
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
1 Samuel 1
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
Joshua 1:1-6, 3:4-17
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
1 Kings 19
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
Exodus 2 & 15
Numbers 12:1-2
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
John 15:13
1 Samuel 18:1-4
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
Esther
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
Genesis 6
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
Genesis 12:1-9
This summer, we’re turning to the OLD - the Old Testament - to learn something NEW! Examining history and applying it to the present. Seeing how your story connects to God’s story.
2 Kings 5:1-19
Many of us will spend thousands of hours of our lives at work. How can we relate our faith to what goes on in the workplace? As Christians, we are called to take our faith with us to work, to shine Christ's light, and glorify God in and through the work we do.
Matthew 5:13-16
Colossians 3:15-17
In our third installment of Faith & Politics, David and Becca break down the definition of Christendom and what its decline means for Christians and the church as well as its part in American politics.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Why bother with politics? Can't we just ignore it? Christians are called to engage in politics as a way of loving our neighbors, and even our enemies.
Matthew 5:43-48
Mark 12.28-34
Scripture text: Philippians 2:1-11
Questions to consider:
Martin Luther famously said ‘whatever you fear, love, or trust most is really your God.’ Do you think that’s true or false?
What does the passage in Philippians tell us about where our ultimate loyalty should lie as Christians?
What would be the theological name for a person who puts their love or trust in something more than in Jesus?
Do you think politics poses a temptation for Christians to love or trust something more than Jesus? If so, how?
Looking back through history, what are some ways Christians have placed their ultimate trust in nations, movements, or political parties? What have been the results?
What are some ways Christians are tempted to place politics above Jesus in America today?
How can Christians resist this temptation?
Scripture text: Jeremiah 29:1-8
Questions to consider:
Politics is a well-known source of frustration and stress. Why should we bother paying attention or engaging?
Do Christians have a special responsibility to engage in politics? Why or why not? What does the Scripture from Jeremiah have to say about this?
When we talk about ‘politics,’ what do we mean? Is our definition narrow or broad? What’s the relationship between ‘politics’ and ‘culture’ or ‘social life’?
Can the church be too political? Or political in the wrong way? Why is this dangerous or harmful? What are the dangers for the church or society?
What is the relationship between politics and Christ’s command to love our neighbors?
What if it's really true? It really is better to give than it is to receive. There's something about generosity that is inherently good for our souls. God made us this way! For we are made in God's image- and our God is a generous God!
2 Corinthians 8:7-9
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Jesus' humble sacrifice on the cross and triumphant resurrection reveal Him to be the one true Lord, whose kingdom, power and glory have no end
Matthew 28
Philippians 2:5-11
On his final night on earth, Jesus took the time to pray for his followers- for those who were in that room with him that night, those who had been following Him for the last 3 years. And for all those who would follow Him in the years to come. And it's a good thing He did, for Jesus' prayer for us is something we cannot achieve for ourselves. Jesus prayed that we might be protected, that we might be holy, and that we might be one.
John 17:1-26
In praying Jesus' Kingdom Prayer, we recognize that there is an unseen spiritual battle happening, waging war for our souls. We pray for protection from sin and the evil one as we seek to follow Jesus' faithfulness.
Ephesians 6:10-18
In a world still tainted by sin, we will turn away from and hurt our God; we will turn away from and hurt one another. Jesus' Kingdom Prayer teaches us to seek and offer forgiveness with God and one another.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Matthew 18:21-35
Jesus teaches us to pray with awareness of our dependency on God for our every need- physical, emotional, relational, spiritual. Everything we could possibly need comes from God's gracious hand. And having received from God's hand, we are freed to share with others with the same generosity and grace with with we have received.
Isaiah 58:6-10
Mark 6:30-44
When we pray Jesus' Kingdom Prayer, we find it centers in this petition for God's kingdom to come and God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. To see this prayer fulfilled is to see ALL prayer fulfilled.
Psalm 145:8-13
Matthew 6:25-33
In praying Jesus' Kingdom Prayer, we learn that prayer doesn't with our "I want, I need…" lists. Prayer doesn't start with us at all. Prayer starts with God- with beholding and believing in the God Jesus calls "Abba" - Father
Psalm 103:6-14
Romans 8:14-17
Join us for our final installment of this series where we discuss applying the last five episodes towards the spreading of the gospel.
Jesus told stories to help his followers understand what the Kingdom of God is like- what the culture of God's Kingdom looks like. In the Kingdom of God, Jesus said we have found treasure in heaven and the Kingdom of God has come near us!
Matthew 13:44-46
Mark 1:16-20
For our fifth installment in the Loving God Through Loving Neighbor series, Dr. Alexander Massad gives us a brief overview of the origins, beliefs, and practices of the Buddhist tradition and what it looks like to reflect back through a Christian lens.
Jesus told stories to help his followers understand what the Kingdom of God is like- what the culture of God's Kingdom looks like. In the Kingdom of God, Jesus said, we all have a part to play and gift to use to grow God's kingdom here on earth.
Ephesians 4:4-7,11-13
Matthew 25:14-30
For our fourth installment in the Loving God Through Loving Neighbor series, Dr. Alexander Massad gives us a brief overview of the origins, beliefs, and practices of the Hindu tradition and what it looks like to reflect back through a Christian lens.
Jesus told stories to help his followers understand what the Kingdom of God is like- what the culture of God's Kingdom looks like. The Kingdom of God, Jesus said, is something that all people are invited into, some people reject, but through the cross, God rejects our rejection and makes a way for us all.
Psalm 130
Matthew 22:1-14
For our third installment in the Loving God Through Loving Neighbor series, Dr. Alexander Massad focuses on a brief overview of the Muslim tradition and gives us four goals to consider with today's lesson: foster a better understanding of Muslims and Islam, expand our understanding of the gospel, reveal areas where we conflate religion, culture, politics, economics, etc., and learn how to build relationships through diversity and difference and not simply commonalities.
Jesus told stories to help his followers understand what the Kingdom of God is like- what the culture of God's Kingdom looks like. In God's Kingdom, the invitation to join in God's work is extended to anyone and everyone - and God is lavishly generous to us all.
Ephesians 2:4-9
Matthew 20:1-16
This week, Dr. Alexander Massad presents us with some useful tools and principles to interact with other faiths by focusing on the driving question: "How do we think about/engage with the persistence and flourishing of other religious traditions in light of the particularity of Jesus?"
Jesus told stories to help his followers understand what the Kingdom of God is like- what the culture of God's Kingdom looks like. The Kingdom of God, Jesus said, is like a mustard seed or a bit of yeast. The smallest things can sometimes make the biggest difference.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Matthew 13:31-33
This week, we kick off our special 6-part class "Loving God Through Loving Neighbor: The Gospel Amidst Religious Diversity" led by Dr. Alexander Massad, Assistant Professor of World Religions at Wheaton College. This week, he invites us to analyze why we should be engaging with other flavors of Christianity as well as other religions in general.
Long ago, being a king meant you had total authority over your people. Kings held the power of life and death, and they controlled their nation’s army. When Israel was under Roman domination, they longed for a king to free them from tyranny, a king with the power to make things happen. It was into that world that Jesus was born, the one we know as the King of hope, the King of Joy, the King of Shalom, the King of kings!
Luke 1:46-56
Long ago, being a king meant you had total authority over your people. Kings held the power of life and death, and they controlled their nation’s army. When Israel was under Roman domination, they longed for a king to free them from tyranny, a king with the power to make things happen. It was into that world that Jesus was born, the one we know as the King of hope, the King of Joy, the King of Shalom, the King of kings!
Luke 1:26-45
Long ago, being a king meant you had total authority over your people. Kings held the power of life and death, and they controlled their nation’s army. When Israel was under Roman domination, they longed for a king to free them from tyranny, a king with the power to make things happen. It was into that world that Jesus was born, the one we know as the King of hope, the King of Joy, the King of Shalom, the King of kings!
Luke 1:5-25
‘Doing church’ and ‘having a good time’ are not mutually exclusive! Laughter, joy, and good clean fun are an essential part of our life together. We take Jesus seriously, and ourselves less so.
Psalm 30:4-5
Philippians 4:4-9
We follow the living Christ, and our lives are different because we know him. In all we do, we want to put Jesus at the center, and share him with others.
Matthew 4:18-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
We are authentic and vulnerable with one another, showing up as our real imperfect selves. We celebrate in good times and show up in hard times with prayer, caring, and support.
1 Thessalonians 2:8
Colossians 3:1-4, 11-17
We believe that passing the Christian faith onto the next generation is crucial. We welcome and support families of all kinds to help kids of all ages build a faith that lasts.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Matthew 19:13-15
We recognize that following Jesus is a lifelong process of engaging with scripture and pursuing God in a community of faith.
Matthew 22:34-40
Philippians 3:4-16
We express our faith by serving others—rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty. When there is a need, we want to respond like Isaiah did: ‘here I am, send me!’
James 2:14-17
Matthew 20:20-28
We exist between the resurrection of Jesus, on one hand, and the resurrection of all the dead on the other. When Christ returns, evil will finally be permanently defeated, God's Kingdom will be fully present, and the saints will live with God forever.
Isaiah 25:6-9
Revelation 20:11-21:8
The Kingdom of God has come in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And yet it is not present yet in its fullness. God has given the Church the Holy Spirit as a pledge of its reality. The Church exists as a 'down payment' of God's Kingdom-- to be a sign, instrument, and foretaste of it.
John 20.19-21
Ephesians 1.3-14
The Old Testament tells the ongoing story of God, who alone is King. God creates humans to rule under God, but over and over again, humans usurp God's rule. Over and over again, God forgives the usurpers and starts over again and again.
Genesis 1:1-5, 1:26-2:1-3
Genesis 3
1 Samuel 8
Isaiah 11:1-9
Loving sacrificially, serving generously, and seeking Jesus together to see God’s kingdom come in the Naperville area and beyond.
Philippians 1:3-11
In this life, two things are certain. We will face trials. And, in those trials, God is with us.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 43:2
Entire reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
What does it mean to be courageous and how do we continue to do so when life comes our way?
Memory Verse: Joshua 1:9 Entire reading: Joshua 1: 6-9
Even though life may be filled with anxieties and troubles, we can learn to find peace in the presence of God.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Jesus' invitation to follow Him is an invitation to die to ourselves so we can live for Him.
Memory Verse: Luke 9:23-24
Believers have a sacred trust, a ministry of reconciliation, that only arrives when we walk in the newness of who Christ called us to be or become. Only as we die to ourselves are we able to receive the newness, purpose, and ultimately unique ministry that Christ has called for each one of us. Similar to the Apostle Paul’s amazing transformation, we all are undergoing a journey of becoming what God has created us to be, but this journey requires true identification with Christ – both in his death and resurrection.
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17
What does it mean to be faithful in the midst of suffering, as we follow one who was faithful unto death?
Memory Verse: Psalm 22:1-3
Entire reading: Psalm 22:1-8, 27-31
This weeks reflection is on finding hope in challenging times, and we can draw inspiration from the great Christian American, Dr. Martin Luther King.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 41.10
Entire reading: Isaiah 41.1-13
Jesus chose to go through our struggles WITH US – through all the ordinary problems and pain and struggles and suffering that all of us go through that with us – so that we would know that we never run alone.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2
The love of God is bigger, deeper, and broader than we could ever imagine.
Memory Verse: Ephesians 3.20-21
Entire reading: Ephesians 3.14-21
We all want a happy life. Jesus promises an abundant life.
Memory Verse: John 10:10
Entire reading: John 10:1-10
"When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence." Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called to continue filling Jesus' table, not with people who look, think, believe and behave just like us. Quite the opposite! When we take our place at Jesus' table, we can expect to be surprised by the people we're sitting next to.
Acts 10
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled Jesus followers and empowered them invite more and more people to join them at His Table.
Acts 2
Jesus notices who is missing from his table. He sees the empty chairs that ought to be filled. And He tells his guests to go out and invite them- the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… and while you’re at it, why not add some women and the Gentiles too. Jesus notices who is NOT at his table. And He wants us to see it too. Because I think Jesus knows- that when we see it- that’s when we’ll do something about it.
Psalm 145:1-7
Luke 14:1-24
As we learned last week, Jesus invites us – ALL of us – to sit down with Him. Jesus invites us to grace. And as soon as we say yes to Jesus’ grace, Jesus then throws us – ALL of us- into community.
Psalm 133
Luke 7:36-50
Jesus came eating and drinking. His goal: To seek and save the lost. Jesus' invited the worst of the worst to sit and dine with him at his table. And when they accepted, their lives were forever changed.
Luke 5:27-32
We made it! This will conclude our passage through the Bible with the Long Story Short series. Dr. David Bruner gives us a crash course in what makes the book of Revelation so unique, how the Beatle's can put us in the right perspective, and then walks us through some of the interesting metaphors that rededicate the importance of the Bible and Jesus.
The Bible's last book was written by John the Revelator around 75-100 AD. He writes a letter to Christian communities he knows but cannot visit in person, because he's been exiled by the Roman empire to the Island of Patmos. But even in the wake of exile and persecution, John writes about hope. A greater hope, the greatest hope- a hope that keeps you going when you’ve lost everything.
Revelation 1:1-2, 7-8
Revelation 21:1-6
Our second Ask Us Anything! Becca joins David to answer another round of questions, this time focusing on the New Testament as we start to draw to a close on the Long Story Short series.
No one follows Jesus on their own. There is no such thing as a solitary Christian. As soon as we say yes to Jesus, we are enfolded into a family, a community of faith that transcends blood, race, culture, nationality and time. Everyone who follows Jesus is made one in Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Romans 12:1-8
This week, we delve into the early disciples' mission to spread the message of Jesus. Dr. David Bruner first takes a look at the early martyrs and the transformation of Saul/Paul from the early Church's fiercest persecutor into it's most powerful messenger. We then analyze the importance of the New Testament's most heroic cameo appearance in Ananias.
God's pursuit of His people is relentless and neverending. And God's plan to reach all people is to empower us, bu His Holy Spirit, to proclaim the good news of God's love to all the earth.
John 20:19-21
Matthew 28:16-20
1st Corinthians is Dr. David Bruner's absolute favorite book of the bible. He uses Paul's letter to an early church to explain how belief in not one, but two crucial resurrections is at the very core of what it means to be a Christian.
On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Roman cross. It seemed as if evil and sin and death had won. But Jesus' resurrection from the dead shows us that life and hope and God's love prevails. Death has been defeated and sin no longer has power. Jesus is alive!
Ezekiel 37:1-28
Matthew 28:1-10
On to the New Testament! We begin this week by establishing the context to which Jesus is born into, as well as why at the turn to the New Testament, the original writings change from Hebrew to Greek. Dr. David Bruner then guides us through the introductions to each of the 4 gospels before diving head-first into one of the deepest and most challenging chapters of the whole bible, John 1.
God's pursuit of His people is relentless and neverending. To the end that God Himself become incarnate - God became one of us to reach all of us. Jesus knew in the depth of His soul who He was and what He came to do. The question He poses to us is, do we? Who do we say that Jesus is?
Matthew 3:13-17
Matthew 16:13-20
This week, we close on the Old Testament of the bible. Dr. David Bruner gives us a look at the events following the Babylonian exile. While the Hebrew people may have had high-hopes for the rebuilding of the temple and their home city, the prolonged anti-climax of the following years is really a setup for better things to come.
After the people of Israel continued to reject God's advances through the prophets, God allowed the people to be taken from the Promised Land and exiled to foreign countries. But God provided a way for their return, as God's pursuit of His people is relentless and neverending.
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
Ezra 1:1-4; 3:8-11; 6:22
For better or worse, prophets both false and God-chosen alike had a huge impact on the history of God's people. We begin this week by looking at the time between the split of the kingdoms all the way through the conquering of the southern kingdom as well as get a reminder that this area of the bible is not completely chronological and more about different perspectives. Then, using Jeremiah as an example, Dr. David Bruner shows us how God used prophets to both try and guide and advise the Hebrew people and kings alike, and how complacency may have been the ultimate unraveling of the line of kings in Jerusalem.
We usually think of a prophet as one who predicts future events – a foreteller. But a prophet's primary job was to hear the word of God and then proclaim it to His people. They're not so much foretellers as they are FORTH-tellers of God’s word. The prophets spoke in strange and shocking idioms in order to fulfill an almost impossible task. They were to proclaim the Word of the Lord to a people who had grown dull in their hearing. So the message of the prophets is intended to startle us, to wake us up, to help us to shrug off spiritual complacency and return again to God's will.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Jeremiah 25:1-7
Ezekiel 26:22-28
The history of God's people and kings is a tumultuous one. Dr. David Bruner kicks us off by walking us through the time between Joshua and the installation of Israel's first king, Saul. We then dive into detail on David and Jereboam and how these two early kings are used as a benchmark for all the rest of the kings to come.
Forgetting that God had set them apart to be distinct from all other nations, the people of Israel asked for a king so that they could be like all the other nations. Knowing that this would not turn out well, God still granted their request. Saul was appointed king, followed by David and then Solomon; all of whom sought to reign in faithfulness to God while making many, many errors, some of them life-or-death.
Mark 10:35-45
1 Samuel 8:1-22
Sometimes, passages of the Bible can be tough to understand and to accept. Dr. David Bruner focuses us in on Joshua 6, one of the more violent and controversial sections of the Old Testament and gives us different perspectives and contextual offerings that we can utilize when something we read in the Bible may make us uncomfortable.
After Moses' death, Joshua was the appointed leader of the people of Israel. Joshua's job was to lead the people to radically depend on God once more for their provision and protection.
Joshua 1:1-9
Joshua 3:7-17
While the Israelites were wandering in waiting for the promised land, the 10 Commandments and other laws were bestowed upon them. Dr. David Bruner begins this week by taking us through a summary of events between Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy. We then take a look at the context of "the Law's" creation and how looking at Old Testament law through the lens of Jesus as well as its original context can give us a better understanding of their original intention and application to the present day.
You'd think that being dramatically rescued from slavery and led safely through the parted waters of the Red Sea would be enough to inspire a people to trust God for eternity. Apparently not. The people of Israel failed to trust God time and time again. So to form them more fully, God led them through the wilderness for 40 years before allowing them into the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 8:2-6
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Hebrews 3:7-11
Lukas Boynton delivers a brief message to open our journey into Lent.
Genesis 2:4-9, 16-17
It's the Ask Us Anything episode! Becca and Dave cohost a special edition where they answer questions about the bible sent in by you, our listeners.
The people had been taken out of Egypt, but God still needed to get Egypt out of them. Having been surrounded by the culture of Egypt and its many gods, the people of Israel needed to be reformed as a people chosen by the one true God.
Exodus 19 & 20
For this weeks episode of the Long Story Short class, we will be examining Moses's life before the actual exodus out of Egypt. Dr. David Bruner will kick us off with a recap of the time between Abraham and Moses before discussing Moses's trepidations about accepting God's call and the significance of God's name.
Exodus 3-6
God chose Moses to lead the people of Israel out of the bondage of slavery to Egypt. All throughout the process, God would call on Moses and the people to deeply trust in Him when circumstances seemed impossible.
Exodus 2:1-10
Exodus 6:1-13
This week in the Long Story Short Class, Dr. David Bruner walks us through an in-depth look at the life of Abraham, the significance of God choosing him, and the promise God made.
Genesis 12-24
Even when humanity turned away from God, God never turned away from us. God began His relentless pursuit of humanity by choosing one man, Abraham, to be the focus and conduit of God's blessing of the entire earth.
Genesis 12:1-9
Genesis 15,17,22
Hebrews 11:8-22
This week in the Long Story Short Class we will be taking an in-depth look at Genesis 3. Guest speaker Alex Massad delivers a master class on how the fall of humanity relates to sin, death, and law. Alex also gives us an analysis on what did and didn't change because of the fall, and then invites us to look more broadly at creation as a whole and how other cultures different from one's own can provide valuable insight.
Editors note: Apologies! During the recording of this class, some unfortunate background noises occurred that made some of the audience questions and commentary unusable. Every effort has been made to preserve Alex's responses in as cohesive a manner as possible.
God created man and woman in God's image to live in perfect, unbroken relationship with God, one another and all creation. But humanity's choice to try and be their own master, separated them from that close relationship with God and one another and marred their connection to creation.
Genesis 3
Romans 5:6-8, 12-15; 6:23
This week, we explore our first real highlight of the bible in the Long Story Short series with a deep look at creation, focusing on Genesis 1 & 2. Dr. David Bruner walks us through what both of these creation narratives tell us about God and us, what makes the Hebrew/Christian creation narrative different from other cultures, and then invites us to take a closer look at some of the terminology as well as differences between both of these chapters.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. We often get caught up in the questions of "how"? But Scripture is much more interested in leading us to ask the question, "why?" Why did God create? What does the creation story tell us about God? What does it tell us about ourselves? And how does that knowledge lead us to live?
Genesis 1-2
John 1:1-5
Join us each week of the Long Story Short series as we take a deeper dive into each highlight of the bible. This week, Dr. David Bruner gives us a look at the bible as a whole with some of its history, its meaning, and why it's organized the way it is.
The Bible is a library of 66 books, made of different genres, written by at least 40 different authors,- men and women from all different walks of life, over the span of somewhere around 1500 years that tells one cohesive story of the redeeming love of God.
See the trailer of Long Story Short here: https://youtu.be/K94hm-Htk14
Psalm 119:97-105
2 Timothy 3:14-17
In a world filled with noise, it is still possible to hear God's still small voice. We are able to hear God speaking to us as we immerse ourselves in Scripture and surround ourselves with committed Christ-followers. Our challenge in 2023 will be to do those two things.
John 10:1-10
Psalm 23
Psalm 37:4
As the Magi brought their gifts to Jesus, we are invited to bring who we are and what we have to worship Him.
Matthew 2:1-12
In a world filled with chaos, during a holiday season filled with busyness, in experiences of real darkness, we need the peace, the stillness, the light of Christ. He is Savior. He is Lord. He is Son of God. He is love's pure light. For us. With us. We can rest in Him.
A portion of an advertising video was used in this evening's meditation. To view the video, please follow this link.
On that first Christmas Eve, when the shepherds were watching their flocks by night and an angel announced the holy birth, the multitude of the heavenly host filling the sky didn’t just say it. They sang it. They sang it like nothing has ever been sung before, and all the world rang with their voices: “Glory to God in the highest. Glory to the newborn King.”
Luke 2:1-14
If we truly want to understand who Jesus is and what he came to earth to accomplish, we would do well to go to Bethlehem. Bethlehem is found among the least, the last and the lost; among the lonely and the longing; the friendless and the forgotten; the hurting and the homeless. That's where Jesus was born and that is where Jesus still is.
Luke 2:1-7
The birth of Christ prompts many questions. "How will this be?" Mary asked. Looking at a child, lying in a lowly manger, heralded by angels, bestowed gifts by royalty, we are prompted to ask, "What child is this?" Who is this that has been born into the world? Why should that matter to me? When we truly come to realize who this child is, we are prompted to Mary in giving ourselves over to be servants of the Lord, used by Him however He sees fit.
Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the Israelites, and they came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place.
The world was longing for it's Messiah for centuries before the arrival of Jesus. What the world didn't know was that the Messiah would be Emmanual, God with us. The time of longing has been fulfilled in the coming of Christ and yet, in our broken, sinful world, we still pray "Come Lord Jesus".
Life is hard. Some days are great and some take all we've got to get through. We need a community of companions to cheer us on to keep us going strong.
2 Corinthians 9.6-8
6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
Luke 17:11-19
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Rev. Becca Bruner
Anyone who has lived in relationship with anyone for any period of time knows that there will come a time when you hurt one another. Forgiveness is what makes living in relationship with people possible.
Rev Becca Bruner
There is a lot in our world that threatens to divide us. It has always been this way. But the way of Jesus is to bring those who should be far apart close together.
In Christ, we are RECONCILED to one another. This is what holds our diverse church together and makes us one.
Our MISSION is to make sure that EVERY PERSON is invited into the party- no one gets left outside for any reason
Rev. Becca Bruner
There is a lot in our world that threatens to divide us. It has always been this way. But the way of Jesus is to bring those who should be far apart close together.
In Christ, we are RESTORED to relationship with God. This is what holds our diverse church together and makes us one.
Our MISSION is to offer this opportunity to restoration through Christ to every person