River's Edge Church: Recent Episodes
River's Edge Church
Weekly teachings from our church in the West Central neighborhood of Spokane, WA. For more information, please visit respokane.org.
This is our first joint Sunday as one church in one location with Soma Spokane. We share a bit of the story of how our churches came together, and what it looks like to be guided by the Spirit. Future teachings can be accessed at somaspokane.org
Join as we celebrate our last Sunday as "River's Edge" before officially merging with Soma. We retold the story of the church plant and posed the question "what has River's Edge meant to you?" These were some of the answers.
The original disciples appear to be the perfect witnesses. They have seen and experienced the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus first hand. But Jesus tells them to wait in the city until they receive the Holy Spirit.
The Hoy Spirit is speaking to all of us. But how we do discern that it’s God? And how do we share in a way that’s healthy?
Practicing the presence of God is not on trial. It is the secret of the saints. It is a way of life that nearly everybody knows about, and nearly everyone has ignored. But what does it mean to practice the presence of God? And how can we begin?
The Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) is the least understood and most controversial person of the Trinity. But what does Jesus say about the Holy Spirit? Join us as we begin exploring John 14, 15, and 16 together.
From cover to cover the Bible rings with God's desire that we would be His people, and be with Him, and He would be our God. This will ultimately be fulfilled at the end of the age, when God's Kingdom comes in full, but it was made possible when the virgin gave birth to son, Immanuel, "God with us."
The magnificent Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos is a person we have touched in Jesus. The question this week is, "If this is true, then what did God reveal about himself?" In looking at Philippians 2, we unpack that primarily, in the person of Jesus, God reveals his nature and his mission.
The anticipation of Christmas is the time to collectively and individually “Hark!” or “Listen Up!” for the God who created the universe was made flesh and revealed himself to us through the person of Jesus. Jesus is the “exact imprint of his nature”. In this teaching, we unpack that, in doing so, Jesus makes 3 claims: An Exclusive Claim, An Inclusive Claim, and an Intrusive Claim.
Before space and time, there was God. The universe was made through Him and for Him, but as creation rejected Him, the Creator stepped into creation, to do what only a human should do, and only God could.
We are excited to announce that Soma and River’s Edge will become one church in the months ahead. This is the story of how we feel the Lord brought us together.
Join us as we pray "your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it in Heaven." In Spokane, in the Philippines, and in Brazil.
We are always called to be rooted and grounded in God, but there is a unique call to abide in Him during seasons of change, uncertainty, and loss. "Stick close to me" God says "for you have not been this way before."
The global mission of God requires change. It always has, and always will. From Abraham, to the twelve tribes Israel, to the twelve disciples, God has constantly been calling people to leave the land they know for unknown lands. But how do we do that well? How do we become disciples who embrace and navigate change in a healthy way?
The Deisen's share their announcement about the Philippines and the year that lies ahead.
Join us as we interview Bryan Olson on his call to Nepal and what the Lord is doing there.
The global family of Christ has been shifting and changing since the resurrection, but it's shifting and changing again. What is the state of our global family? And what is the state of our global mission?
Join us as we interview Cameron Oliver about his call to the nations and the United States.
Being reborn in Christ is part of the process of being adopted into the family of God, and our identity as adopted children should change the way we live.
Perhaps Paul's favorite term for a follower of Jesus is simply one who is "in Christ." But what does it mean to be in Christ? And what's the alternative?
Whose stage am I on? Whose story am I living? Who am I? These are fundamental questions that every human being must wrestle with.
Perhaps the most difficult practice, and one of the most radical, is silence and solitude.
The Word of God represents his heart, mind and nature; his written Word (the Bible) tells us that God sends out his word in power, it upholds the Universe, and it is "alive and active" and full of truth. We humans fear being famished of water and food, but through Amos the Lord God declares of a far worse famine, one where people are famished "of hearing the words of the LORD." (v11). What is the result? Wandering, faintness, falling. In today's teaching, we are encouraged to leave deceptive idols, broken cisterns, and the patterns of the world and find satisfaction in the Word of Life.
One of the primary practices that Jesus taught to his apprentices was that of Prayer. In Jesus' life, it was a frequent and consistent rhythm and his constant conversation with the Father was so noticeable that his disciples came to him and said, "Teach us to pray!" This week, we unpack this core practice in the Way of Jesus and hope it encourages you.
In Job, we read of an exemplar of Faith - of a man who was afflicted by suffering, but remained as one who entrusted himself to the greatness and goodness of the LORD. Job, despite what was happening to him and all around him; despite questions that he had; and despite the accusations of his friends towards him, he maintained his integrity towards God. Looking at Job’s example, whether we are in need or have plenty, sick or healthy, can we proclaim with Job and the Saints who have gone before, “I know that my redeemer lives.”?
A key element of the Church, the community of Jesus’ Followers into his Way, is the habitual practice of forgiving and being forgiven. We follow Jesus’ example of living and walking in forgiveness. He demonstrated forgiveness perfectly - He entrusted himself to the Father and bore on himself the penalty meant for us. Forgiveness is foundational to the lavish grace of the Gospel. We love each other, bear with each other, and forgive each other because He first did so.
Central to the Way of Jesus is the practice of reading and meditating on the Scriptures - the Written Word of God. Jesus, as he brought a new covenant and a new Way, did not do away with this key element Jewish culture, but fully embodied it. He not only embraced the Jewish Scriptures, but fully internalized them, meditated on them, memorized them. In a world today where truth is relevant and circumstantial; where we long to know Yahweh, walk with him, and obey him; and where we recognize that what we give our attention to changes us, the invitation to consistently meditate on the Scriptures is as relevant now as it ever has been.
The context in which we live as apprentices of Jesus is in a new Family. In our world, we have torn and corrupted images of family, yet what is offered to us through Jesus is a new Family, with a perfect Father, and a Spirit that unifies and unites us. In this new, diverse, multi-ethnic Family, we learn more fully what Jesus is like, we get to more completely love him, and we learn more intimately what it means to love one another.
As we continue our study in the Practices of the Way of Jesus, we focus this week on a Practice that is seen tucked between the lines of scripture. We understandably become focused on the ‘what’ of Jesus’ life and ministry and we often overlook the ‘how’ - How did he go about his life? His ministry? Looking at his lifestyle, we see that Jesus lived with a pace or cadence of life that allowed him to love God and others perfectly, be attentive to the Father and the world around him, be interrupted, and be fully intentional in everything he did and said. This pace of life - very slow by our standards - is difficult yet refreshing for us in our cultural moment of speed and hurry.
In our current study on the Practices in the Way of Jesus, we come to Fasting. Jesus did it, his followers fasted, when speaking to the crowd, he assumed they did it. Why? What is it about fasting and why does it find itself in the Judea-Christian tradition? Why is fasting a key element in many other religions and world traditions? Even if we can answer these in theory, how does Jesus say we are supposed to fast? We explore these elements in this week's teaching.
We pause and reflect this week on the reality that we can get caught up in the Practices of Jesus and end up striving in them apart from Jesus. Bryan Olsen, sharing from Nepal, encourages us that in the practices we yield our hearts to the Lord, letting him have his way.
Jesus came declaring, “The Kingdom of the Heavens is in your midst!” This is the Good News: the abundant, never-ceasing, God-intended life is available and as Jesus’ followers, we get to share this Good News! As Paul described it, we are the “aroma” or “fragrance” of Christ in our World. Looking at the life of Jesus, how do we follow our Teacher and Master into sharing this Good News?
As we continue in our study on the practice of Sabbath, we want to take the time and get highly practical: How in our modern day do we lean into this discipline that has been practiced for millennia? In short, each of us does it differently. Today’s discussion surrounding Sabbath is a panel of Jesus’ followers giving their perspectives and what they have learned in regard to practicing the Sabbath.
As followers of Jesus, on this side of the resurrection, our question when it comes to the Sabbath is often, "Do we need or have to practice the Sabbath?" Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." Jesus' contemporaries needed to hear that man was not made for the Sabbath - could we argue that we need to hear the first part of Jesus' statement: that Sabbath was made for man? We explore what Sabbath is and why we Sabbath and how Sabbath is a gift to be enjoyed.
What we do does something to us. Intuitively, we know this. Whether we are intentional about it or not, each of us are being spiritually formed by our repeated rhythms, habits and practices. As followers of Jesus, our desire is to be transformed into his likeness, and thus, we exercise disciplines (or practices) for life in the Spirit. These practices (or habits) are components that make up a “Rule of Life” - a “trellis” or framework in which we practically follow Jesus in the day-to-day.
As apprentices of Jesus, we hold that our aim is to be with our Rabbi Jesus, to be like him, and to do what we see him doing. We must bring into focus, however, that before we move on to doing - the practices, the disciplines - we have to conceptualize the "why". And it is this: our first and ultimate aim is to be with Him.
Of all the practices we can adopt from the life of Jesus, one of the most important is silence and solitude, and time spent “in the desert.” This soft start to the series also functions as Matt Deisen’s farewell as they head into their time of sabbatical.
The Gospel of John doesn’t end the way we would expect, and instead of the ascension or another miracle, the final story is devoted to Jesus telling Peter what lies ahead on his journey of discipleship, and (if we live long enough) what lies ahead for us.
After the resurrection, Peter returns to fishing, likely carrying the weight of denying Jesus three times. But one day Jesus appears to them again, and restores Peter back to Himself. Join as we hear David Dailey’s story of being restored back to Jesus.
After Jesus breathes his last, two hidden disciples step boldly out of the shadows to give him a burial fit for a king. And this burial is important to dwell on because Scripture says that you were buried with him.
Before taking the body of Jesus down from the cross, a Roman soldier thrusts a spear through Jesus’ side and up into his heart. As the spear is removed, blood and water begin to flow out. But where does the water come from? And what is the significance of the blood and the water for our lives today?
As Jesus dies on the cross, he says to John and his mother (Mary), “mother, here is your son, and son, here is your mother.” Not only is Jesus very practically ensuring that his mother is cared for in his absence, he’s also highlighting the profound reality that a new family is being formed at the cross.
As Jesus breathes his last, he announces “it is finished.” But did Jesus mean? And what has he accomplished?
Having struggled through their own trail, the Jewish leaders now hand Jesus over to Pilate (the Roman governor). But in an ironic twist, the Roman occupier tries repeatedly to set Jesus free, while the Jewish leaders refuse to back down.
Peter acts as we expect - he operates in the Kingdom of the world, in fear, self-protecting and reacting. Jesus operates as we wouldn't expect; he is in a different reality, the Kingdom of Heaven. He is abiding in the perfect love of the Father, and it drives out all fear. Thus, he can give his life away. He can lay it down. Because of Jesus, we too can live this reality, this existence, rooted in the Kingdom of Heaven, and we too can give our lives away.
We conclude our discussion on "unity in the church" with the topic of racial unity. What's the state of racial unity in the church? What's holding us back? And where do we go from here? Join us for an interview with Rodney McAuley, director of the Bridge Project, followed by a time of Q&A
Recommended Resources:
- Reading While Black, Esau McCaulley- How to Fight Racism, Jemar Tisby- Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative (eji.org)- Anti-racism discipleship pathways
Politics has become as source of bitter division in our culture, and that division comes to bear on the church as well. But how are we to navigate the toxic world of politics as followers of Jesus? Can we experience what Jew and Gentile experienced in the first century?
Jesus prays that His disciples would be one, as He and the Father are one. Join us as we explore hurdles to (and possibilities for) unity in the church; socio-economic unity, political unity, and racial unity.
As Jesus ends his final discourse with his disciples, he prays to be glorified. But what is the glory of God, and how is it on display on the cross?
As Jesus finishes instructing his disciples, he tells them that their immediate future - and in a sense their lives - will be a mix of grief and joy, until they see him again face to face, and no one will be able to take their joy from them. But what happens when we reject this truth? What happens when we think life has no joy? Or that life should be only joy?
It can be easy to rush through communion as just “something we do” as part of a Sunday gathering. But in doing so we often miss an opportunity to receive real healing and provision from Jesus in the moment. Communion isn’t just a time to remember a historical act, it’s a moment to receive in real time from the “right now” God.
Jesus says that when the Holy Spirit comes to His disciples, the Spirit will guide them (and us) and into the truth, speak truth over us, and even speak about what is yet to come.
When the Holy Spirit comes into the life of the disciples, it strengthens, encourages, and empowers. Not so with the world. What happens when the Holy Spirit collides with a world set in opposition to Jesus?
What seems almost odd or illogical to us is obvious from Jesus' perspective - as you the carry the Gospel into the world, you are going to face resistance.
Jesus warns His disciples in advance that they need to expect persecution after He's gone. The world hated Him, it's going to hate us too.
The entire Gospel of John Jesus only gives His disciples a single command: “as I have loved you, so you must love one another."
This Sunday we took a break from our series through the Gospel of John to seek the Lord and practice lament.
Jesus tells his disciple to "abide in him" in order to bear fruit in the world. This is the foundation for everything else in the life of discipleship. But how do we abide in him? Join us for a panel discussion on this topic.
Jesus cracks open the Jewish concept of God and reveals something about God's nature that we would not have anticipated. But why does it matter? And what difference does it make in everyday life?
In response to Thomas’ confusion, Jesus lays out plainly that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. But what is the practical or even daily significance of Jesus being the truth? Or the way? Or the life? Join us for a panel discussion on this topic.
After Judas departs, Jesus tells gives his disciples a new command, to love one another, and he tells them that he will soon be separated from them. Peter protests but receives discouraging news: he's going to betray Jesus three times. What is the significance of this "new command" in the life of discipleship, and how did it play out in the life of Peter?
Judas is infamous for his shocking betrayal of Jesus. But what led up this moment and how should we respond to the life of Judas as disciples of Jesus?
Before sitting down to their final meal together, Jesus gets up, wraps a towel around his waist, and assumes the position of a slave - revealing the heart of the Father and inviting us to do the same.
Humans beings have always used technology as an aid in human culture, but more recently our relationship to technology has shifted and turned toxic. What does it look like to follow Jesus in the midst of our digital age? How can we survive and even thrive as disciples in the midst of a stunning spiritual and mental health crisis?
From the beginning Jesus told His disciples to wait until they were filled the Spirit before going into the world, He is that vital to life with God. But what does it look like for us to be an ordinary but Spirit-filled people in our city? What difference does the Spirit make?
Over the last 500 years, liberalism has slowly dissolved the bonds that hold society together, but the solution is local communities forming strong bonds under the Kingship of Jesus - in beautiful opposition to the acidic culture in which we live.
Most of us feel the cultural pressure to abandon or reinterpret Scripture. But how do we navigate that tension? What are pitfalls we need to avoid? And how do we relate to the Bible in a way that's accurate and helpful?
Join as we unpack some of the vision and values of the church, including passionate prayer, being Gospel centered, becoming a participatory body, and reaching the ends of the earth.
Despite all that Jesus has done up to this point, there are still many that don't believe in Him. Some don't believe because they don't want to believe, others believe but hide their faith in fear of others, and still others have their faith "choked out" by competing loves and the worries of this life.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem and people from diverse backgrounds flock to Him, He highlights a fate that no one is truly anticipating.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, crowds gather to welcome Him as the new King. But just days later those crowds become disillusioned and want Jesus dead. What fueled such a radical change? And what separates the disciples from the crowds?
In 2019 our global family of churches was given a prophetic word about "a new era" that was ahead, unlike anything we'd seen before. As we emerge from a global pandemic we believe it is time to embrace the "new era" that is upon us, and in part that means embracing the concept of a participatory church body, in which teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophetic voices and apostolic leaders all function in tandem to see the church flourish in the world.
As Jesus and His disciples enjoy a meal together, suddenly the moment is interrupted when Mary does the unthinkable...
After giving a final and climatic sign to the Jewish nation, it's time for the verdict. Will Israel and its leadership accept Jesus or reject Him? It's ultimately the high priest who drops the gavel, condemning Jesus for the same reason that millions of His followers have been condemned and persecuted all over the world, right up to this very day.
After mourning with the family and praying, Jesus prays and then calls Lazarus out of the tomb. But this was more than just a miracle, it was a sign, pointing forward to His resurrection... and our own.
As Lazarus falls ill and dies, we see Jesus in action, revealing the truth of who He is and the way that He relates to us in our suffering.
We all want to belong somewhere, but our sense of belonging actually guides a lot of what we choose to believe and not believe. We'd like to believe that we "rational autonomous selves" guided by truth, but often our desire to belong guides our sense of "truth."
We all struggle in the day to day to conceptualize what God is like. But when God comes on the scene in the person of Jesus, He invites us to picture Him in the form of a Good Shepherd, someone who is close, loving, and intimate in the midst of a dark and difficult world. But even more than that, Jesus claims that in a world full of competing voices, His sheep will recognize His voice among them...
Secular culture sees prayer as noting but wishful thinking, but we believe it is the foundation for any meaningful change. Join us as we pray for global gospel advance, and specifically for Zanzibar and Nepal. This podcast includes an update from Bryan Olson who left Rivers Edge for Nepal at the start of 2022.
After Jesus heals a man born blind, he is dragged before the religious elite, who refuse to believe what has happened. Unfortunately the verdict was decided before the trail, and the evidence of the healed beggar doesn't count. But the reason this story is so striking is that it captures the cultural moment that we're living in. In what ways are we the healed beggars of the 21st century, dragged before modern day pharisees who have put the verdict before the trial?
In a world full of people claiming to be Savior or Lord, Jesus stands apart as unique. But why do we believe Him over the other voices? And what does it look like to acknowledge the truth of who He is in all areas of life?
Our discipleship to Jesus can be framed as a journey into greater and greater truth, but along the way we face an enemy described as the "father of lies." These lies distract and enslave, from individual lives to entire world-views, ideologies, and nation states. How do we recognize these lies? And what does true freedom look like?
As the crowds listen to Jesus' words and watch Him do impossible things, many continue to doubt that He is the Messiah. We are quick to judge them for their lack of faith, but we live in an age of doubt and skepticism, where all of us will have moments where we doubt Jesus.
As great fires are being lit on the temple grounds, and the Israelites celebrate the Exodus and God's light, Jesus stands up and claims to be the light of the world. Whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness, but because He is the light, whoever rejects Him has no choice but to walk in darkness.
In a later inserted story, we see Jesus confronted by a mob who has caught a woman in the very act of adultery. They are ready to stone her according to the law of Moses, and they intend to trap Jesus in the process, but He comes at the situation from a very different angle. How did the religious leaders get things so wrong when they thought they were so right?
As Jesus stands up at the Festival of Tabernacles, on the last and greatest day of the festival, and as the priests are pouring out water on the Temple grounds, He proclaims to His followers that He offers living water, and that those who come and follow Him will have rivers of living water (God's Spirit and blessing and salvation) that flow out of them. Whether we are in a "desert season" or a place of abundance, Jesus' promise to His followers remains.
As the women went to the tomb that first Easter Sunday, one thing was clear: they believed Jesus was dead and they didn't expect that to change. But then a violent earthquake shook the ground, shaking them out of their sorrow and bringing them face to face with something they believed to be impossible.
As Jesus goes to the Festival of Tabernacles, his ministry seems to be in crisis. The religious leaders are plotting to kill him, the crowds can't decide if he is good or bad, most of his disciples have deserted him, and even his own brothers mock and tease. But it's important that we understand what Jesus is experiencing in this season, because it mirrors the cultural moment that we are living in. Millions of American Christians are walking away from their faith, and Jesus is once again turning to the remnant that is left and asking "will you leave also?"
After multiplying bread and walking on water, the crowds come to Jesus eager to engage again, but Jesus tells them they don't understand the deeper sign, they don't recognize who He is or the fact that He alone will satisfy their true hunger and thirst.
During the Passover celebration, the Jewish nation remembers the Exodus: its release from slavery, the conquering of the Red Sea, and miraculous provision in the wilderness. As the nation celebrates, Jesus feeds thousands of people in the wilderness, shows Himself enthroned over the Sea of Galilee, and invokes the divine name "I AM" (from the Exodus). But the crowds who were present misunderstood, and just like the Israelites of the Exodus, the most confusing part of our faith is our time in the desert.
After provoking the Jewish leaders by healing on the Sabbath, a confrontation erupts between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. Similar to the "temple clearing," Jesus responds by further provoking the national leaders. By rather than giving them a one a liner, He gives thirty verses worth of divine self-disclosure, unveiling who He is and what is relationship is like with the Father.
Some time after healing the official's son, Jesus is back in Jerusalem as the scene for another healing story. But this one isn't primarily about physical healing at all, it's actually about the Sabbath.
Jesus continues his journey from Jerusalem out to the fringes of Galilee, but the remarkable thing is, the further out he goes, the better response he receives. Those deemed "spiritually blind" on the fringes are actually the ones exercising the most faith, and therefore the ones who experience the most physical healing. But what is the relationship between faith and physical healing? Does Jesus still heal today? And if so what does it look like to partner with God in physical healing?
In chapter 4 we find Jesus at an unusual place, talking to an unusual person. But the most remarkable part of the conversation is the way Jesus talks to this Samaritan woman, activating her in the way that the church was always intended to activate people.
As Jesus sits with an unlikely person in an unlikely place, he tells her "if you knew who I was, you would ask, and I would give you living water." But what is this living water? And what are the lesser waters we run to that leave us thirsty again?
John the Baptist shows up a second time as a witness in John's Gospel, making himself less so that Jesus can become more. But how does this inform the way we handle the pain of ministry, church competition, and the Christian tendency to divide?
As Jesus wraps up his conversation with Nicodemus, John the author bursts out from behind the narrative, eager to interpret these events. And he starts with the words "For God so loved the world." To us, this verse is familiar enough to become cliche, but for the original audience it was provocative, if not shocking, and in some sense, it still provocative for us today.
Join us as we interview Bryan Olson, just days before his scheduled departure for Nepal. What does it look like to live by faith instead of fear, and to trust God radically with our lives?
The last century has been the bloodiest in all of human history. Yet the Enlightenment (and the secular culture its produced) has refused to change its tone, insisting that human beings are essentially good and that we just need the right external changes in order to flourish. Jesus has an entirely different take on the human condition, and what it truly needs to flourish.
Even as the Word is becoming flesh, and God comes to "tabernacle" among His people, it begs the question, what will happen when God comes to His temple? Early in his account, John tells the events that unfold when Jesus enters the Temple in Jerusalem, as tables are turned and people and animals flee into the crowded streets of the city. But what was behind this act? And how it should it shape the way we see ourselves today?
Chapter 2 starts with Jesus' first "sign" - turning water into wine at a wedding. But why does John call it a sign and not a miracle? And what is the deeper significance of this moment that John wants us to grasp?
In the opening chapter of John, we get to see the very first people begin to encounter Jesus and respond to Him in discipleship. What is involved in this encounter, and how are we to respond to the same Jesus today?
As an oppressed nation waits with bated breath for their Messiah, suddenly a mysterious figure arises in the wilderness, and thousands flock to the desert to be baptized by him and sit under his teaching. The people believe he is a prophet (the first in 400 years) and the nation is stirred from top to bottom. The nation's leaders come to interview this man, and they start with the million-dollar question: are you the Messiah? How does John the Baptist respond to this crucial moment? And what does it have to teach us today?
As John officially begins his narrative account, we get seven new titles for Jesus - only one of which appeared in the prologue. But the first is simply that Jesus is "the Lamb of God" come to take away the sins of the world. Why is this title significant? And why was it so difficult for John's original audience to receive?
John describes the Word becoming flesh as "the Light of the world" stepping into the darkness. The true Light anticipated by all other lights has arrived. But what are the implications of this Light? How does it affect our dying world? And what does it illuminate as it comes?
In John's opening verses, he challenges and overthrows the beating heart of Judaism, setting aside the Law and the Temple, and recalibrating Jewish faith and history around the person of Jesus. But in the process he does something equally provocative to their very concept of God.
The Word (or Logos) of God was coming into the world. Light shown out in the darkness. But this was a moment of both joy and confrontation, an event that separated light from darkness, forcing a decision among all those who encounter the Light.
Mark starts his Gospel account with the a full grown John the Baptist, making an announcement about Jesus. Luke starts with the birth of John the Baptist, and the birth of Jesus. Matthew starts even further back in time, with a human genealogy of Jesus dating all the back to Abraham. But John starts from a different place entirely, with the pre-existent and eternal "Word" or "Logos" of God, through whom all the universe was made.
We often throw around the word "revival," but what do we mean? What does it look like? Join as we examine three revivals from recent history which speak to the cultural moment that we're living in.
Jesus leaves His disciples with a directive to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the very ends of the earth. But how are they to accomplish this and what role do healthy local churches play in the great call to be His "witnesses" in every neighborhood and nation on earth?
What does Spirit-filled New Testament worship look like? What are we to bring as we gather to worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth?
When the truth of God is blurred and the Spirit is quenched, worship begins to die, and as worship dies, something in us dies as well. Jesus says the Father is seeking those who will worship "in the Spirit and in truth." But what does it mean to worship "in the Spirit"?
If you were born on a desert island, with a copy of Scripture to read, you would likely form a very different image of church in your mind than what we experience in the western world. How can we account for the difference? And what would it look like for us to become the fully functioning body that we read about the New Testament?
Restoration churches are full of the Holy Spirit and the "stuff the Spirit does," which Paul breaks into three categories: gifts, roles, and manifestations. Everyone in the body is meant to experience and operate in all three, but how should we understand the difference? And what does it look like for us to pursue gifts, roles, and manifestations in our own lives?
When you die, you will stand before God and give an account of your life. If you've trusted in Jesus, you will not face judgment as the rest of the world will. But you will be assessed, and Paul reminds us that our works will be tested with fire. How do we know which Kingdom activities are "living works" that will merit eternal reward and which are "dead works" which will be burned up?
People come to church for many reasons, but they stay for only one... relationship. What is involved in genuine friendship, and why is it so hard to come by in the moment that we're living in?
As progressive secularism takes the cultural hill, the church faces new pressure to conform, and with it a temptation to place ourselves in authority over Scripture as a form of cultural compromise.
As secular culture sweeps over the western world, we cry out for renewal and revival of both church and culture. But what does the renewed church look like? And how might we survive or even thrive in the midst of our secular storm?
Join as we start our series with three rounds of prayer: for the persecuted and displaced, for revival in our city, and for God to breath fresh life into His church.
As Paul closes his letter, he gives us a glimpse of what the church is supposed to look like; a community of Spirit-filled people who are connected even beyond the boundaries of their own church. A community in which people are raised up and sent out, and also receive others from afar. Join us as we practice living out the "global apostolic partnership" Paul witnesses to by hosting Cameron Oliver and allowing him to encourage us in the prophetic.
As Paul talks about living out our identity in Christ, he takes on one of the most important relationships within any culture - the relationship between husbands and wives.
The Gospel changes everything, and touches every square inch of our lives. Is it any surprise than the reality of the Kingdom should change the way that we work?
Within the redeemed and Spirit-filled family, the Bible talks instructs parents to love their children and for children to honor (or respect) their parents. What does it look like when both parties do this? And how do we break out of the "crazy cycle" that ensues when both parties don't?
As individuals, we are called to follow after Christ and become more like Him, setting aside the old and putting on the new along the way. But the real magic happens as individuals come together in Spirit filled community, to celebrate Jesus together through teaching, prophetic words, and "songs from the Spirit." Our Western vision of church can sometimes hold us back, but this is the church that God desires.
The Scriptures describe a world at war, in which the dominion of darkness has now been fatally injured by fights on anyhow. How should we recognize or conceptualize the powers that oppose us? And how do we navigate this world at war?
Whenever the Bible gives us a command, we are at risk of turning to legalism, and relating to God through the rules or commands that have been given. But Paul has a very different sort of life in mind, one in which we "put off" those things which belonged to our old nature and put on "new creation clothes" which line up with who we are today.
Too often we allow the enemy or circumstance to dictate our lives, waiting "helplessly" for God to do something. But God has designed creation in such a way that He shares His authority with us. What does it look like to step into our God given authority as we step into a new location in a hurting neighborhood?
As we reflect on recent decades, it seems there has not been a time when the American church was so vulnerable to deception and distraction. What it does it look like to avoid these pitfalls and stay connected to Christ?
What does it mean to have our hearts set on heavenly things? What does it mean that our lives are hidden away with Christ in God? And how do these impact our day to day life?
Sometimes our impulse as humans is to add something to Jesus and the Gospel. Rules. Regulations. Angelic revelations. Our own moral striving. But Paul reminds the early church that the fullness of God is in Jesus and the fullness of Jesus is now available to us. We have everything we need: an inner fullness and blessing in Him, power over the demonic, power over sin and the flesh, and hope beyond death.
Paul urges the Colossians not to be "taken captive" by hollow and empty philosophy - which in this case was internal threats from the religious culture of his day. But how are these original internal threats similar to the conspiracy theories of our day, and what do youtube prophets have to do with first century synagogues?
Paul shares openly with the Colossians that he suffers for the sake of the body, and that he contends with all the power and energy God has given him for their fullness and maturity. Paul longs for a local body where people are encouraged in heart, united in love, and encountering Jesus in a deep and meaningful way.
We all know that something is wrong in our world, but what's the solution? Paul says that we must be reborn, and that in Christ we have been made holy and blameless by the "Passover Lamb."
The most important thing about you is not your race, your ethnicity, your gender, your family of origin, the possessions you own, or the number in your bank account. The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God.
The story of humanity is a tragic but hopeful one. Caught on the wrong side of a war, the Kingdom of God comes to us as a liberating message, and those who respond to it move from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son He loves. From here forward, we face a real enemy, but he no longer has authority over us.
After giving thanks for what has already taken root in the life of the Colossians, Paul prays for what is yet to come: fullness in Christ. Join us as we explore four marks of fullness and what it looks like to grow in Jesus in the context of God's grace.
As Paul writes with gratitude for the Colossians, he reminds them for the reason they've been so fruitful: a true understanding of God's grace. But as Christians we often struggle with this very thing. Too often we enter the family of God by grace and then depart from that grace after we enter. Too often we live with a sense of inadequacy, legalism, and shame. Where do we start in grasping the true nature of God's grace?
As we see faith in Jesus explode across the non-Western world, we rejoice not just in the facts and figures, but in global brothers and sisters who we are in unique relationship with. Join us as we celebrate our friends in the Philippines and the incredible fruit that the Gospel is bearing among them.
It's so easy to blow past the intro, but the first two verses do more than introduce the writer and his audience, they set the stage for all that follows. Central to the life of discipleship are these simple concepts: grace and peace.
Of all the medical and historical evidence that we have unpacked in this series, there is one piece of evidence we have yet to examine: the evidence of a changed disciple. What did the original disciples encounter that so radically transformed them? And why was each of one of them wiling to die for it?
Over the last two weeks we've established by the weight of historical evidence that Jesus died on the cross, that he was buried in a specific well-secured tomb, and that that tomb was later found empty under unusual circumstances. But a real death and a real empty tomb don't necessarily get you a resurrection. What happened to Jesus on the third day? And how do we know he was resurrected?
There is an abundance of historical and medical evidence supporting the conclusion that Jesus was completely and utterly dead before he was taken down from the cross. But what happened next? Was Jesus actually buried? And was that same tomb later found empty?
As we approach Easter in the midst of a skeptical, post-Christian culture, what historical evidence do we have the Jesus actually died on the cross?
What does it look like to "arrive" at a lifestyle of simplicity? And how do we maintain that lifestyle moving forward?
Today personal finances have become the new taboo. But the Bible pulls no punches when it comes to wealth, and Paul urges the rich in this life not to trust in their wealth, but to be generous and trust in God, taking hold of life that is truly life.
Pursuing biblical simplicity is all well and good, but how do we do it with other? How to relate to our parents, room mates, spouses, or kids when it comes to pursuing minimalism?
The New Testament standard for giving is not the tithing of the old covenant. Instead, God is looking for "joyful and generous givers." But what's the connection between biblical simplicity and biblical generosity? How does simplicity and the death of materialism free us up to be joyful and generous?
Most of us live with a sense "time poverty." We rush from one activity to the next trying to work more, to buy more, to have more. But the Sabbath is the foundation for a glorious rebellion against the materialism of our day, and the center for a simpler with Jesus. It is an entire day set aside every week for rest and delight; to stop working, stop worrying, and stop wanting. If you haven't tried this practice, here's how to start...
Human beings have unlimited desire. But when we "aim" our unlimited desire at the limited material world, the result is disaster. We think more money and more stuff will make us more content, finally satisfying our desires. In reality it often makes things worse. But what do the Scriptures say about finding the ever illusive experience of contentment?
Most of us deal with an acute time shortage in our lives. We feel busy, rushed, and scattered. How we can bring simplicity to our schedules and live more intentional lives? How do we begin taking hold of "life that is truly life" instead of our rushed alternatives?
Recommended Resources: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (John Mark Comer), An Unhurried Life (Alan Fadling), Abundant Simplicity (Jan Johnson)
Throughout the series we've called out and challenged the ways in which consumer culture has shaped our relationship to material possessions, and we've unpacked the call of Jesus back to a more biblical framework. But in what ways have these mentalities infiltrated our views on love and marriage? And what are the simple biblical concepts that we can recenter on?
Recommended Resources: The Meaning of Marriage (Tim Keller), Breaking the Marriage Idol: Reconstructing Our Cultural and Spiritual Norms (Kutter Callaway)
Our worry over clothing drives us to buy too many clothes at too low a price and for all the wrong reasons. All of this inadvertently sustains an industry involving 1.5 billion underpaid workers and tens of millions of slaves. But how do we move forward as followers of Jesus? How do we buy clothes in today's complex world?
Positive Mentions: GORUCK, Redwing Shoes, Darn Tough Socks, Prana, Everlane, Patagonia, Adidas, Columbia, and a long list at: truecostmovie.com. (forgot to mention Levi’s, Calvin Klein, IKEA, and others!)
Negative Mentions: Walmart, American Eagle, Abercrombie, Macie’s, Aeropostale, Carter’s, Nike, Nordstrom’s, Gymboree, Costco, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Bed Bath & Beyond, and of course many others as well.
Learn more at: truecostmovie.com
In recent decades, our relationship to clothes (and the global impact of our clothing choices) have shifted massively in America and across the western world. Driven by the clothing industry, and our unending desire for "more," we now attempt to buy too many clothes, for too low a price, for all the wrong reasons. But Jesus us frees us from the clothing sickness that we find ourselves in, and offers us a better way forward.
Americans are some of the most anxious people in all of world history. And yet Jesus invites his disciples to live lives scandalously free from anxiety. How do we journey from anxiety to the peace and freedom of God? And what role does biblical minimalism play in getting us there?
No minimalism journey is complete without tackling the most intimidating areas of our homes: sentimental stuff, heirlooms, paperwork, books, technology, cars, and even our homes themselves.
We've been raised to believe that life consists in an abundance of possessions, and that we should store up for ourselves treasures on earth. But Jesus reveals these beliefs as objectively false, and he calls up to wake up to a grater reality.
Ready to minimize your possessions? You can go room by room and ask these questions....
As we peel back the layers and journey deeper into simplicity, it is only a matter of time before our flesh begins to fight back. We each find within ourselves "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2v16). How do we overcome these strongholds in our life, and enter into greater freedom in Christ? Fasting is one tool at our disposal.
The best place to start your minimalism journey is your closet. But how do you start and what questions should you be asking?
Billions are spent every year to make us believe that "more is more" and that "life consists in an abundance of possessions." But this stands in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus, and we have to decide which voice we are going to believe.
The mid-week episodes are designed to explore the practical application of simplicity in our lives. But as we begin our minimalism journey, we want to start by catching the big picture of WHY we're seeking minimalism and simplicity. It's not to save money, lessen our stress, or curate our homes. It's to open up our lives, our schedules, our hearts, and our attention to the presence of God with us.
As we embark on a new series, we have to start by answering the question: what is simplicity? Where do we see this in the life of Jesus and followers of Jesus throughout the millennia? And what might it look like in our lives today?
What would it look like to see revival in the western world? And what is the cost of ushering it in?
One of the primary fears that keeps us from witnessing to others is our fear of rejection. But in order to follow Jesus we must face and overcome this fear, for the sake of others.
The last of the of 5 Habits of Highly Missional People is to share their faith with others. But what attitude should we have toward this crucial step? How do we actually go about sharing?
In reality, most of us don't feel equipped to share our faith. But as we bless, listen, and eat with others, opportunities will arise for us share Jesus and the Gospel. This is ultimately what witnesses do. So how can we grow in our ability to speak Jesus "fluently" into the stuff of everyday life, in a way that's natural, conversational, and effective?
We want to end our series by examining “5 habits of highly missional people.” What does it look like for us to effectively reconnect others to God? How have past methods left us (and others) feeling alienated, and how can we engage in life-giving practices moving forward?
As we finish out our study of the cultural moment that we live, we have to ask; what is the future of the western world? Will it become a secular wasteland? Is Post-Christianity a one way street? Or do we have a hope for a better tomorrow in which renewal and revival sweep the western world?
One of the obstacles to witnessing in our culture is relativism, which says that your truth is your truth, and no one should challenge another in their worldview or religious beliefs. And yet that is exactly what the early church did, and what we're called to do as well.
As we dream about a move of God in our nation, we want to know and understand our time, place, and culture (as any missionary would). Join us as we unpack some of the date on "iGen" (those born 1995-2012) and begin dreaming and praying about what Jesus wants to do in the lives of the emerging generation.
We live in a culture of slaves that tell us they are free, and we exist as a community of freedom which the world thinks is slavery.
The apostle Paul writes to the church, warning them not to be taken captive by hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition rather than on Christ. But one of the great pitfalls of the cultural moment we're living in is that the church often is taken captive by political narratives, at the risk of compromising Kingdom vision.
The second movement of the series is all about studying the culture itself - seeking to understand the time and place we live, as any missionary would. And we want to start by asking a simple question: what is Post-Christian culture?
Life in the Spirit is central to effective witness, and so are the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit. Our dream is to be a church both grounded in the Word and flooded with the Spirit, for the glory of God in the world.
The odds of the disciples winning the ancient world were slim to none. All the odds were stacked against them. They were stifled by doubt and fear, but the risen Jesus told "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses." What's the relationship between the Holy Spirit and witnessing? And how should the Spirit factor into our witness today?
Our culture is entering a growing truth crisis. We aren't sure what is true and what is false, who to trust and who not to trust, and it's in this context that we are called to stand on the truth God has revealed to us, and speak truth to power. This is the very definition of a witness.
The early church was full of the Spirit and on fire for God, but they reached, touched, and transformed the Roman Empire through one of God's most radical ideas: community. In order to reach, touch, and transform our own culture, which is being powerfully shaped by individualism, we need to recapture the biblical vision for community.
There is a cultural myth that says that Christianity is in inevitable decline and has been for 500 years. In reality, history speaks of boom and bust cycles, or waves that rise and fall. As the tide rolls out on faith in the Western world, the remnant that's left is intended to cry God for another wave; nothing short of the revival and renewal of the Western world.
Jesus was a non-anxious presence in a world gone mad, and He calls us to do the same. In the midst of unprecedented anxiety and national angst, He calls us to be a people rooted in a deeper reality.
All of us have felt various forms of loss or grief in the last few months, but in the absence of biblical lament we tend to suppress these emotions, only to reach for unhealthy coping mechanisms instead. Our anxiety, our fits of anger and rage, and our rampant self-medication are all symptoms of our failure to lament: to take what is internal and make it external before God and others. The path to peace starts here.
As Paul concludes his letter his reminds the Galatians of this powerful truth: what matters isn't religious law or religious performance, what counts is the new creation, which is already bursting forth in redeemed human hearts.
The grace of God is so radical that we are often left wondering: why not live in sin? If we really have the righteousness of Christ then why not do whatever we want? One of Paul's many answers is this: God will not be mocked, a man reaps what he sows.
Some of Jesus final words to his disciples are known as the "Great Commission" - in which he directs every follower of Jesus to go into the world and make disciples who will go into the world and make more disciples. But what does this look like and how do we go about it?
A community that breathes in the grace of God is transformed by it, and one of the things that the Kingdom community experiences is freedom from comparison. What does it look like to "test our actions," to live free from comparison, and embrace a richer expression of Kingdom community?
Grace and the Spirit transform every aspect of our lives with God, including how we deal with sin in our lives and the lives of others. As Paul teaches about living under grace, he speaks into a difficult topic: dealing with sin in community.
Paul maintains that we are radically free in God's grace; free from sin, even free from the Law. But this makes many people nervous. If we really walk in such radical freedom, what's to keep us from sinning? How should we use the incredible freedom that Jesus has given us? Paul's answer is to walk in step with the Spirit.
As Paul continues to speak into grace and the Law, he tackles an important issue in the earliest worshipping communities: circumcision. "Don't be circumcised!" Paul says, "be on your guard!" A little legalism works its way through the whole batch of dough, and those who place themselves under some of the Law are obligated to follow the entire Law. They have fallen from grace, and become alienated from Christ. But it's for freedom that Christ has set us free!
The early church is being thrown into confusion about their relationship to the Law, but Paul makes it clear by analogy: we are like Isaac, children of divine promise given life by the power of the Spirit, while those who labor under the law are in slavery.
Cameron Oliver joins us for our first Sunday in the park as we continue in our series through the book of Galatians.
As we begin meeting face to face the mid-week podcasts will become less and less frequent. But one question that each of us should be contemplating is: how has COVID-19 affected the world? Economically? Socially? Spiritually? And what should we pray for and anticipate moving forward?
What role does the Law play in the grand story of God and humanity? How does it relate to Abraham and the promises given? And how did our relationship with the Law change in Christ?
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, we find ourselves at a unique and important crossroads in terms of how we structure our lives in discipleship to Jesus. Will we stay focused on what matters most? Or bury our relationship with Jesus under mountains of possessions, busyness, and distraction?
Paul insists that the Law is holy, righteous, and good. And yet somehow we find ourselves laboring under the "curse" of the Law. What accounts for this phenomenon and how has God rescued us from it?
Into the drama of COVID-19 comes another explosive layer of tension as George Floyd is murdered by police officers in Minneapolis. What happened was evil, but it still leaves us wondering, how do we navigate the tension and move forward as followers of Jesus?
Paul continues to call the Galatians back to the only true Gospel, reminding them that the law and its requirements add nothing to what Christ has done.
Over the last few months we've presented with all sorts of theories on who caused COVID-19 and what God is up to in all that we are experiencing. But how do we sort through it all? Did God bring this to call the world to repentance? Is it part of the end times? How should we navigate all the theories we are presented with?
Paul insists that the Law plays no role in our salvation or our standing before God, and that righteousness cannot come through the Law. But that leaves us wondering, what is our relationship to the Law?
As we reach two months of shelter in place, Paul reminds us that when we are weak, God's power brings about strength within us. God makes us adequate and gives us the endurance we need to run the race set before us.
The first century world was deeply divided between Jew and Gentile, and that tension shows up in the early church. Peter himself begins to separate himself from Gentile Christians. But Paul points to justification and grace as the basis for radical unity in the church.
COVID-19 has affected everything in our world, including the timeline for our church plant in Portland, Maine. Join us in praying for them as they prepare to journey east.
Exile was a time of resetting and recalibrating as a culture for the Israelites. As we journey through our own mini-Exodus, we are asking how God wants to recalibrate us, and we believe (among other things) that God wants to use this experience to cleanse us from dead works.
As Paul's letter unfolds, he takes time to defend both his message and his calling - and both of them are rooted in grace. The same grace that makes salvation possible is the grace that gives us calling, direction, and equipping.
As we continue under "shelter in place" we are each experiencing hints of exile. But we are also presented with one of the best chances of our lifetimes to practice real rest.
Paul carries into the world the best news it has ever heard, but he's met with fierce pressure to compromise and change his message in order to please people. His solution? Live to please God alone.
How is COVID-19 affecting our brothers and sisters around the world? And why is generosity so important in this moment of global turbulence?
Paul starts his letter to the Galatians by urging his friends to come back to the true Gospel, and not fall for a false Gospel that relies in any sense on the Law. But what is this true Gospel? And how should it shape the way we view the Law?
A few days ago we celebrated Easter and the resurrection hope that we carry. But how do we live out this hope? How do carry and express hope in a broken world? Should we be optimists? Pessimists? Realists? Or some combination of them all?
What does it look like to connect with others and successfully engage the lost in a COVID 19 world?
We all know that we're supposed to share the Gospel with others, but how did Jesus do it and how can we grow in this crucial practice?
The mid-week podcast is devoted to helping our community navigate and even flourish in this unique season of COVID-19. Join us this week as we take on the topic of fear.
Two of the practices that Jesus talked about most were prayer and fasting. But too often we view fasting as irrelevant and prayer as dull obligation. What is the role or purpose of these practices and how can we grow in them in the midst of this moment of global uncertainty?
As the corona virus situation continues to unfold, we are making a mid-week podcast available for the sole purpose of helping our community navigate this unprecedented moment.
Each one of us is becoming someone over time. Are we becoming more like Jesus or less like Jesus? Are we experiencing the life that Jesus intended? One the biggest difference makers is whether or not we are walking in God's grace. Those who misunderstand God's grace often stagnate in their discipleship, and those with an accurate understanding are often propelled into greater depths of discipleship and transformation than they ever thought possible.
When Jesus calls his disciples, he calls them to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow him. But why is this call so important and how do we engage in it as a discipline or practice?
Perhaps the most basic spiritual discipline of our tradition is reading the Bible. But what role did Scripture play in the life of Jesus? And why is it so important that we take time each day to read the words they contains?
"Suffering well" typically doesn't make the list of classically defined spiritual disciplines. But suffering is the great divider of discipleship, forcing us either deeper into the reality of God or running the other way. Jesus and the Scriptures make it clear that we will suffer in this life, but what does it mean to suffer well? What can we learn from Jesus, "the man of suffering"?
As Jesus begins his ministry, he calls disciples or apprentices to come form a community around him. By what's the significance of this community? Why should we seek it out? And what obstacles to we have to overcome along the way?
The Holy Spirit was central to the life of Jesus and his disciples. He is central to our discipleship as well. We cannot be with Jesus, become like Jesus, or do what he would do without the Holy Spirit. But what does this look like as a practice or discipline? How do we go about being filled with the Spirit?
25% of all Jesus' teachings are on wealth and material possessions. But odds are we don't believe most of them because we are soaked in a consumer economy that feeds off our infinite desire for more. We believe the lie that more stuff equals more happiness, but the practice of simplicity from the life of Jesus helps set us free.
When God finishes the 7 day work week in the opening chapters of Scripture, he ends with the 7th day, a day of rest. This seventh day comes to be known as the "Sabbath day" - an entire day set aside each week for rest and worship. But what role did this practice play in the life of Jesus? And how should we practice it today?
The greater the demands on Jesus' life, the more he practiced silence and solitude. It was the secret center to his life and ministry. As his disciples, we are also invited to meet with God in the "secret place" by practicing silence and solitude. But why is this so important? And what holds us back?
It was clear that Jesus walked around day in day out flooded with an awareness of the presence of God. He only spoke what he sensed the Father saying, and he only did what he sensed the Father doing. But is this level of intimacy possible for us? And how do we go about practicing the presence of God in the digital age?
God has recently led a small group from our church to start dreaming about planting a church in Portland, Maine. This is their story so far.
The end goal of God's redeeming work in creation is the New Heavens and New Earth. But those actually aren't the last words of Scripture. The Bible ends by emphasizing that Jesus is in fact coming "soon." But is Jesus actually coming soon? And how are we supposed to live in light of his return?
As the book of Revelation comes to an end, we get a glimpse of our eternal future: a new heavens and new earth. But how should this future shape the way we think about life in the present?
As we near the final chapters of the book of Revelation, the confusion of the middle chapters is quickly replaced by clarity. Chapter 20 tells us that Christ will return in judgment, to wipe evil off the face of the map and bring salvation to the earth. But what is the nature of this judgment and how should we live in light of it?
As we near the end of the book of Revelation we encounter an odd paragraph about a 1,000 year reign of Christ. Debate surrounding this single paragraph is as old as the text itself. But how should we interpret this paragraph, and why does it matter? Join us as we explore three options.
Few things confuse us more than Revelation chapters 6-19. Within them seven seals are broken, seven trumpets are blown, and seven bowls of wrath are poured out on the earth. But what is the point of all of these judgments are disasters? What did they communicate to their original audience? And how should they shape the way we live today.
As John's vision progresses we are introduced to another symbolic critique of the Roman Empire: Babylon the Prostitute. But how is this element of Roman rule different than the Beast of chapter 12? And how should it shape the way that we live day in and day out?
Ray Lowe shares from the heart on excelling the grace of giving. Money is one of the great idols of our culture, but the Scriptures have a ton to say about it, and the early church longed to excel in the grace of giving as they operated under God's blessing.
As John's vision progresses, he is given 7 separate messages for 7 real churches in Asia Minor. These messages are for them (and for the church universal) but one of the many things they reveal is that Jesus is alive and well, and He walks among His churches.
As the intense narrative of Revelation unfolds we are introduced to the "unholy trinity": the dragon and his two beasts. The beast, the mark of the beast, and the number of the beast (666) have been the subject of endless speculation in recent decades. But who was the beast in the eyes of its first century readers? And how should that shape how we live today?
After the centering vision of the Lamb on the Throne, John witnesses the Lamb open 7 seals. 7 trumpets, 7 signs, and 7 bowls of wrath follow in an intense narrative which spans from chapter 6 to chapter 20. But along the way there are several breaks in the narrative, in which "signs" help unlock the meaning behind all the happens in the book. Chapter 12 is one of the signs, in which all of creation is pictured in cosmic warfare.
After receiving 7 messages for the 7 churches, John is then ushered into a heavenly realm in which he witnesses the centering vision of the entire book of Revelation: the Lamb on the Throne.
Revelation is likely the most controversial and dangerous book in all of the Bible. But we want to start our series by asking a simple question: What is Revelation? And how should the genre completely shape our experience in this book?
As we set our sights on the year ahead, we believe that God is bringing us into a “new era” as a church, and one of the things that will mark this new era is that more "church" will happen outside of Sundays. One of the avenues we expect God to use powerfully in all this is the missional community.
As we set our sights on the year ahead, we believe that God is bringing us into a “new era” as a church, and one of the things that will mark this new era is that God will increasingly capture our hearts for unreached people both here and abroad.
As we set our sights on the year ahead, we believe that God is bringing us into a “new era” as a church, and one of the things that will mark this new era is that God is leading us to be a Kingdom people, not kings.
As we set our sights on the year ahead, we believe that God is bringing us into a "new era" as a church, and that one of the things that will mark this new era is greater reliance on the Holy Spirit.
As Paul ends his letter to the Ephesians, he asks them to keep on praying for all the Lord's people, and to pray that the Gospel would be proclaimed fearlessly, as it should. At River's Edge we believe God is calling us to rely on prayer as we never have before, and so took this Sunday to set our sights on some of the things God is calling us to pray for as we step into a new year together.
As Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians, he takes the topic of spiritual warfare head on - urging us to put on the full armor of God.
As Paul enters the second half of Ephesians, he unpacks how we live out the new identity that God has given us in Christ, and in chapter 5 he takes aim at the marriage and the home. His words have become controversial but they remain as relevant for us today as they have ever been.
As Paul moves into the second half of his letter, he reminds us that we are the body of Christ, and therefore we should strive to maintain the unity that Christ has already set in motion. Additionally, as the body, we each are gifted by God with something and we are called to participate.
After three full chapters of celebrating who God is and what He has done for us, Paul finally turns the corner and talks about how we should live and why. But his message is counterintuitive. In essence, Paul says, "become who you already are."
In the first century the world was divided into two categories: Jew, and Gentile. The division between them was a fierce one, but what effect did the Gospel have on their division? And how should it affect the "dividing walls of hostility" that we face today?
In Christ God has set out to solve the age old problem of sin, death, and the corruption of humanity. But what is the nature of our salvation and how does it reflect God's character?
Israel (and humanity) have a problem - we are prone toward idolatry. But what did idolatry look like in Israel and why is it significant for us today?
As Paul's letter to the Ephesians unfolds, he breaks into prayer on multiple occasions, writing some of the richest words in his letter. But why do Paul's prayers looks so different from our own?
After the resurrection, the Jesus movement begins to explode around the world, and the apostle Paul begins writing letters to the churches he helped plant. Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians by highlighting how one sided God has been in blessing us of his own heart and initiative.
Jesus is the most influential person in all of human history, and most of what we know about him comes from the four Gospel accounts found at the start of the New Testament. But what story are they telling? How can you sum up the Gospels and their contribution to the big picture story of the Bible?
The prophets did more than prophesy judgment, they also spoke of a future hope, and the ultimate future hope was both simple and shocking: a new heavens and a new earth.
The prophets spoke not only of judgment on Israel, but also of future hope, and this future hope included God's promise to one day form a new covenant in which the Holy Spirit would be poured out and hearts would be transformed and made new.
The prophets didn't just bring a message of judgment on Israel, they also brought a message of hope: hope of a coming Messiah, hope of a New Covenant, and hope of a New Heavens and a New Earth. But who was this Messiah or "anointed one" who was to come? And why was it so hard for the people to receive all that the prophets spoke about Him?
Matt Karsh was the first to carry the dream of planting a church in Spokane. Now he and his Jenna are moving to Equator to work at an international school. These are his finals words to Rivers Edge.
The prophets consistently warned Israel that their idolatry and injustice would lead to one climactic event: exile. But as we study the Scriptures exile becomes not just an event in Israel's history, but actually the lens through which we can view all of Scripture. In fact, as we study the Scriptures we come to realize that we are counted among the exiles.
The call of the prophets was always to response. "Repent!" they said, and the people rarely did. But what if they had? What lies on the other side of repentance?
The prophets came with a message of judgment and hope. But the judgment they announced was rarely final. Their message was loaded with a call to response. "Repent!" they cried, and it has been the call of God on his people ever since. But what is repentance and why is still important today?
Most of the books in the Old Testament are devoted to the prophets and their message. But who were the prophets? What does it mean to prophesy? And how do the prophets and prophecy of the Old Testament relate to the prophets and prophecy of the New Testament church?
Before Jesus is crucified, he rides into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, on a day which we have come to celebrate as "Palm Sunday." But what is the significance of this act? And why did these same crowds turn on him so quickly?
Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes make up the "wisdom literature" of the Old Testament. But Job stands unique as a narrative about the problem of evil in the world. Join us as we examine this book and what it teaches us about suffering.
Israel's purpose was to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" - with God himself acting as their King. But how does this understanding of Israel's purpose change the way we view the biblical storyline? And how does it affect our daily discipleship to Jesus?
As part of the covenant made at Mt. Sinai, God gives his people laws to follow. But what is the significance of these laws? Why are there so many? How should we approach these laws and how do they help inform us of God's character?
After freeing the Israelites from slavery, God leads them to Mt. Sinai where He forms a covenant with Israel. But what is a covenant? Why is it important? And how does the notion of covenant color and inform our personal relationship with God today?
As the 10th and final act of judgment on Egypt, God gives the Israelites rather strange instructions about slaughtering a lamb and trusting in its blood. This event was not only central to Israel's birth, but it pointed powerfully forward to the ultimate Lamb whose blood would be spilled.
After Jesus' resurrection, he explains to his disciples that all of Scripture speaks of him. But where do we find Jesus in the book of Genesis?
After 400 years of slavery, God acts decisively to free Israel and make them his own nation. God brings them into the desert, forms a covenant with them, and leads them toward the promised land. This historical event is key to understanding Israel's past, but it's also a powerful lens through which we view the present.
In Genesis 12 God calls Abraham and makes a covenant with him, promising to bless the world through his descendants. The rest of Genesis traces this family line in all of their dysfunction, and displays God's faithfulness in the midst of human failure.
After providing a miracle in the birth of Isaac, God asks the unthinkable of Abraham: sacrifice your one and only son. Abraham's response not only tells us something about the life of faith, it also spoke volumes about the future sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
When God calls Abraham, he calls him out of the familiar and into a covenant of love and trust with God. But what does the call of Abraham have to do with you and me? And how is Abraham's call to righteousness and justice applicable to followers of Jesus?
As we reach chapter 12 of the Bible, we enter the third act of the biblical narrative. Having outlined creation and the fall, the Scriptures are now going to focus in on God's redemptive plan, which centers curiously around a single man who is willing to respond.
In the aftermath of Adam and Eve's rebellion, we get a dismal picture of humanity as it descends into darkness. But what do chapters 3-11 tell us about the nature of the human problem?
Chapter 2 ends with God, humanity, and creation all flourishing and in harmony. But as we enter chapter 3, the drama begins and tragedy strikes. What is the biblical significance of the chapter 3? Why should we care about a talking snake and his poisonous lie? And how does chapter 3 help us understand the nature of the human struggle and the enemy we still face?
Today we heard stories from our global partners from around the world and lifted them up in prayer. For security purposes, the South Africa segment is the only one included in this podcast.
When God creates Adam and Eve, he places them in the Garden of Eden to "work it and care for it." But what was the Garden of Eden? Why are "working it" and "caring for it" significant? And how are those things being balanced today?
The very first command given to humanity is to "be fruitful and multiply" - have sex, make babies, spread out and the fill the earth. But is this a standing command for all people for all time? And is multiplication the only biblical reason for sex? What do the Scriptures have to say about sex and how have we gotten it wrong in the secular age?
When it comes to gender, there is tension and controversy inside and outside of the church. While the culture seems to make too little of gender, sometimes it feels as if the church has made too much of it. But what does Genesis say and how should it shape our thinking when it comes to gender?
Oops! We needed a 5th episode! This one is one human origins. Some recommended resources to go with this mini-series include: Genesis Unbound by John Sailhamer (Historical Creationism), The Lost World of Genesis One (and Two) by John Walton, Reasons to Believe (Old Earth Creationism), Biologos (Theistic Evolution).
Evolution sits at the epicenter of the tension between faith and science. But what do we mean by "evolution"? And what do we mean by "intelligent design"? How do we navigate the tension surrounding the origins of life in the universe?
As human beings, we were made by God to represent him to the world and continue his creative work within it. But if we stop there we end up a stunted view of humanity. In all reality, not only were we made to work, but we were made to rest as well.
Part 3 of a 4 part series exploring science and faith. When we contemplate the age of the earth, science seems to say one thing while Scripture seems to say something very different. Are the scientific and scriptural accounts at odds with one another? If so, how do we navigate that tension?
Work makes up the majority of our waking hours, and most of us dream of escaping work or retiring early. But what does Genesis have to say about work? Is it a blessing or a curse? Is it sacred or secular? How should we approach work as followers of Jesus?
Part 2 of a 4 part series exploring science and faith. What is the history of the science / faith relationship? Was there tension in centuries past? Why do we sense tension today?
In the beginning, God created human beings in his image, in his likeness, so that they might rule over the world he had created. But what did God intend rulership to look like? How have we lost the plot line? And what does Jesus have to say about exercising rulership in our own spheres of influence?
Part 1 of a 4 part series exploring science and faith. Personal stories from those who live in the tension.
The first chapter of Genesis tells us that human beings are made "in the image of God." But what does that actually mean and how should it shape the way we live?
As we turn our attention from creation to humanity, we have no shortage of questions raised by the text and the broader culture of our day, but what is the biblical significance of Adam and Eve? And how can our understanding of Adam and Eve enhance our understanding of Jesus?
The first chapter in the Bible describes a 7 day series of events in which God is creating and ordering life for humanity. It has been teh source of incredible controversy inside and outsdie the church. But what are these 7 days desribing? Join us as we explore three interpretations of Genesis chapter 1.
As we step into Genesis 1 we can't help but note the tension it's created between faith and science. But is there inherent tension between these viewpoints? Should one be afraid of the other? Can we embrace both? If so, how do they relate to one another?
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth." Few verses are as foundational (or as controversial) as this one. But what does the first verse mean? What information does it convey? And would scientific findings support its conclusion?
Jesus leaves his disciples with the “Great Commission”: Be my disciples, and make more disciples. But what does it mean to be a disciple? And what are the key practices that we are to engage in as disciples of Jesus?
In week three of our vision series, Ray Lowe shares about walking in step with the Spirit as a crucial piece of our discipleship to Jesus.
Jesus leaves his disciples with the “Great Commission”: Be my disciples, and make more disciples. But what does it mean to be a disciple? And what are the key practices that we are to engage in as disciples of Jesus?
Jesus leaves his disciples with the "Great Commission": Be my disciples, and make more disciples. But what does it mean to be a disciple? And what are the key practices that we are to engage in as disciples of Jesus?
After lying dead in a tomb for several days, the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive again.
After being falsly condemend by the religous elite, the Romans agree to put Jesus to death. But what looks like failure is actually the great victory of God.
After the last supper, Jesus begins the process of taking on sin and death for the sake of humanity. But with sin on his shoulders and the cross looming large on the horizon, Jesus takes his disciples out to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he does something we often miss completely - in the midst of his suffering, he wrestles with God. Join us as we explore what it looks like for us to do the same.
As tension rises between Jesus and the religious rulers, Jesus is arrested and brought before Pilate. In the process both Peter and Judas deny or betray Jesus. In church culture we usually demonize Judas and elevate Peter, but their paths are remarkable similar. In fact, only one thing separates them.
As Jesus nears the cross, he explains to his disciples what is to come, and a woman annoints him expensive perfume. But why does Jesus say that this woman's act is to be remembered throughout the world?
As Jesus leaves the Temple, his disciples point out how impressive it's structures are, and Jesus responds by telling his disciples that the Temple will be destroyed. In response the disciples ask Jesus a two part question: when will the Temple be destroyed? And what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? Jesus' answer, given in the tradition of apocalyptic literature, has been a source of debate for millennia. But how did he expect his disciples to respond?
After successfully defending against the verbal traps set by the Pharisees, Jesus goes on the offensive and gives a scathing critique of the religious leadership. His critique should serve as a wake up call to a modern church apt to repeat the same mistakes.
After entering Jerusalem as King, the crowds are most likely expecting him to begin the process of overthrowing Rome and liberating the Jewish people. But instead Jesus takes aim at the Jewish religious elite and the religious system which has become fruitless under their care. This sets Jesus on a collision course which will eventually result in his execution, as the Jewish religious leaders come to test Jesus' Kingship and authority with a series of difficult questions.
As Jesus heads into his final days, he starts by entering Jerusalem on a donkey - a provocative act loaded with meaning. He then heads to the Temple, not to cleanse it from Roman influence, but to cleanse it form the Jewish corruption which had taken hold.
As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he once again warns his disciples of the cross which is to come. But the disciples seem to gloss right over it in anticipation of the glory which is to come, and James and John approach Jesus to ask for positions of power and authority in the coming Kingdom. Jesus' response once again points them to the cross, and challenges everything we think we know about power and authority.
As a community of flawed human beings, we will inevitably sin against one another. As sin enters the pictures and begins to fracture relationship, the impulse will be to part ways or allow for disunity, but Jesus gives us another way of dealing with sin in community, one that is necessary if we are to progress in our discipleship and enjoy unity in Him.
As Jesus continues in his ministry, he's approached by a "rich young ruler" who comes to ask about eternal life. In the end the young man leaves sad because of his wealth, and as a nation full of "rich young rulers" we should pay careful attention to what this tells us about discipleship to Jesus, and the great idols of modern American culture.
As Jesus' ministry continues we get three short accounts which seem unrelated. The disciples fail to cast out a demon, they grieve over the impending cross, and Jesus instructs Peter to pay their taxes from the mouth of a fish. While clearly highlighting the beauty and mystery of Jesus, these stories also have something to teach us about faith, fear, and the choices which color all of life's events.
The disciples are beginning to figure out Jesus nature and identity, but they have yet to see that nature, until now. Peter, James, and John join Jesus on the mountaintop, where is transfigured before them and they get to see his glory. This has profound implications involving Jesus' identity and God's veiled glory, but it has important implications for our discipleship as well.
As the debate rages on about who Jesus is what he's come to do, Peter finally gets it right - Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. As Peter discovers Jesus' true identity, Jesus reveals Peter's true identity in return. But just as significantly, Jesus sets out to explain to his disciples what type of Messiah he will be, and who they are to be in response.
As Jesus continues in his ministry, he is again confronted by the Pharisees and the Saducees, who are working in concert to take him down. In response Jesus denies their request for a miraculous sign and then leaves the regoin. As they depart, Jesus teaches his disciples a profound point regarding cultural influence that is as releveant for our discipleship today as it has ever been.
As Jesus continues into Gentile territory, a local woman comes to him in need. Jesus' first response is to reject her request and ignore her completely, and when she persists he explains that it's not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs. But what does Jesus mean by these actions and how do they help clarify his mission? And just as puzzling: why, ultimately, does he agree to her request? What does this act (and the miraculous feeding that follows) indicate about the future of the Jesus movement?
As Jesus continues in his ministry, he is approached by Pharisees who challenge the practices of his disciples. His disciples don't ritually wash themselves before eating, this breaks the tradition of the elders, and they want answers. But Jesus' response reveals not only the error of their thinking, but speaks volumes about true defilement and true cleansing.
After feeding the 5,000, the crowds want to make Jesus king by force, but instead he dismisses them and goes up to a mountain to pray. The disciples are sent across the Sea of Galilee by boat, but what they encounter there in the pre-dawn darkness is beyond anything the crowds will experience.
As Jesus continues his ministry in the midst of tension, he receives devastating news: his cousin John the Baptist has been executed. Jesus is forced to flee the region, and withdraws to a lonely place of safety and mourning. Join as we hear from Come Nziberaga of Burundi on how God meets us in these desert places and develops us in seasons of difficulty.
On the Friday of the Passover Festival, Jesus was crucified in public. He died for the sins of the world, but this wasn't obvious to the original audience. They went home to mourn the death of their leader and friend. The next day was the Sabbath Day, and no work was to be done, but on the third day the women went to dress the body of Jesus, and what they found shocked the world.
We've talked about how the resurrection of Jesus shapes our future hope for the age to come, and how it should shape our life as a community of justice and beauty, but what difference does the resurrection make in the life of an individual disciple? If God has started his renewal project in advance of the end of the age, where does my life fit into the picture?
Many of us are surprised to find that the future Christian hope is actually not of a disembodied heaven, but rather of a very physical place called the "new heavens and the new earth." The resurrection of Jesus points powerfully toward this future reality, but what difference does it make for the hear and now? How should our life as a community be different in light of the resurrection of Jesus and the future that is to come?
The Christian movement has one of the strangest beginnings of any world religion. Its first adherents were certain that something earth-shattering had happened in and through the death of Jesus on a Roman cross, and they further claimed that he didn't stay dead, but was raised to life again. But what was the significance of resurrection, and how does it shape our future hope?
As tension with the Pharisees continues to rise, they approach Jesus to ask him for a miraculous sign that he is the Messiah (a curious request from those plotting his death). But why would anyone ask Jesus for a sign? And why would Jesus, who was constantly performing miracles, deny their request?
As the Pharisees continue to challenge Jesus, he teaches them about the power of words, and the power words have to reveal what's going on deep in our hearts. Within this lesson, he tells them something odd - those who speak against the "Son of Man" (or Jesus himself) will be forgiven, but those who speak against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. In fact, we are told that this is the "unforgivable sin." By why are words important and what is the significant of speaking against the Holy Spirit?
As the religious elite continue to look for ways to trap Jesus, they come up with a new accusation. "It is only by Beezlebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." But Jesus' response to them both reveals something about the dominon of darkness, and works to clarify the very reason that He came into the world.
As Jesus continues in his work, he becomes increasingly challenged by opposition from the Pharisees (the Bible teachers of his day), and they attempt to trap him with their interpretations of what should and shouldn't be done on the Sabbath. In response Jesus tells them that he is "Lord of the Sabbath." But what does this response tell us and how should it inform our discipleship?
As Jesus continues his ministry, he denounces the towns on the north shore of the sea of Galilee in which most of his miracles were performed. But what do these remarks reveal to us about revelation and response? How is the call to faith related to what God has revealed to us? And how do we go about finding the God who has hidden himself in plain sight?
As Jesus ministry is in full swing, his cousin John the Baptist finds himself stuck in prison. This does not seem to resonate with John's expectations of the Messiah, and the new era of justice and judgment against evil which he assumed was coming, and so he sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus in person "are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" But what does this question tell us about doubt, confusion, faith, and following Jesus?
As Jesus equips his disicples and sends them out, he does so with a warning. The message they are carrying will cause social upheaval on an unprecedented level, and a man's enemies will be members of his own household. But why was this the case and how should it inform our discipleship?
Up to this point in the book of Matthew, Jesus has been telling (and showing) people what the Kingdom of God is like. Now he turns to his disciples and (12 ordinary men) and asks them to do the same.
Jesus looks out on the crowds with love and compassion, before sending his disciples into "the harvest field" -- which he assures them is plentiful. But what is the state our today's "harvest field" (locally and globally), and what does it look like to follow Jesus into the harvest field?
Jesus was building a new type of community centered around Him and the fresh in-breaking expression of the Kingdom of God, and it was in this context that he urged his disciple to prepare themselves for a new movement with new rhythms and a new center. No longer would the traditional boundaries and religious laws define someone's standing in the Kingdom.
Every year we take time to celebrete the birth that occured on the first Christmas. But what did this birht mean to the original audience, and what does it mean for us?
As Jesus moves from place to place, great crowds follow him, and the disciples are often the only line of defense between him and the crowds. But Jesus makes a point to stop for a number of unexpected people that the disciples had no interest in, and in doing so he makes it crystal clear what the Kingdom of God is all about.
As Jesus' ministry begins to gain momentum he begins calling disciples to follow after him. Matthew is a tax collector who leaves everything to follow Jesus, and his journey starts with Jesus inviting a group of "tax collectors and sinners" to his table to share a meal, as Jesus explains that he didn't come for the healthy, but for the sick.
As Jesus continues healing the masses, a paralyzed man is brough to Jesus on a mat. Jesus responds by telling the man that "his sins are forgiven" and then he moves forward in healing the man physically. But what do moments like these teach us about the importance of "inner healing"? And what (if any) is the connection between the two?
Jesus didn't just talk about the in-breaking Kingdom of Heaven, he also operated in it by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, countless people experienced physical healing, and many were told that "their faith had healed them." But what is the relationship between faith and healing, and is healing a guarantee for those who have enough faith?
Last week we unpacked what the Scriptures have to say about the nature of our reality, and the fact that we live in a world at war. This week we'll discuss what to do about it. When and where should we expect to encounter resistance from our adversary, and how do we walk in the victory of Jesus day in and day out?
As we seek to engage in life with God, we cannot help but be challenged by what the Scriptures have to say about the other parties involved, and the spiritual battle which they describe. But what do the Scriptures have to say about this war and how should it shape our worldview and our prayers?
As Paul instructs the early church on the gifts of the Spirit, he urges them to "eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially prohecy" -- but what is prophecy? Why is Paul so keen on this gift? And what does it look like for us to exercise this gift as a community?
When the Holy Spirit finally comes at Pentacost, the disciples start speaking in tongues, which Paul later descries as a “gift of the Spirit,” -- but what are tongues, why are they so controversial, and what role should they play in our lives as followers of Jesus?
A conversation about engaging in life with God has to include an understanding of the Holy Spirit. But who is the Holy Spirit, and what role does he have in the biblical storyline in our lives today?
As Jesus sets out to teach his disciples about life in the in-breaking Kingdom of God, he teaches them how to pray - in what has come to be known as "the Lord's Prayer." But what was so profound about this prayer and how should it effect the way that we pray?
As we start our series on prayer and engaging in life with God, we begin in a odd place. We are starting our series in the Psalms. But why are the psalms important, and how should their raw and unfiltered language effect the way that we pray?
As Jesus embarks on his earth shaping ministry, he brings with him 12 apprentices, or 12 "disciples" who are to learn from him and ultimately carry on his work in the world. But then Jesus introduces a concept into the center of their discipleship which would have been shocking and difficult to grasp, "deny yourself" Jesus says, "pick up your cross, and follow me." But what did Jesus mean by these words and what does it look to follow in Jesus in the post-modern West?
We are a family of missionary disciples who live to see God's will done and His kingdom come, in Spokane as it is in heaven. But what does it mean to be "on the mission of God" and how should our identity as "missionaries" shape our joint lives together as a community?
We are a family of missionary disciples who live to see God's will be done and His kingdom come, in Spokane as it is in Heaven. But how does Jesus inform our understanding of what it means to be brothers and sisters, and what does it look like to be the family of God in Spokane in 2017?
We start and end each gathering in musical worship. By why do we worship in song and how do we expect to encounter God in the midst of it?
Prayer is a central feature of the Sunday gathering, weaving its way through all that we do. But if we're honest, many of us find prayer frightening, boring, or even pointless. But what is prayer, why do we pray, and what do we expect to happen as a result?
Every week we spend roughly half of our Sunday gathering studying the Scriptures together. But what is the Bible? Where did it come from? And what do we mean when we say that the Bible is the authoratative word of God?
As Paul planted churches in Ephesus that would change their city and the world, he emphasized the importance and power of the Holy Spirit. But what's the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of a community that gathers and scatters, and why does God give the Holy Spirit to begin with?
Every week we gather around the "bread and the cup" celebrating communion together. But what is communion, why is it the "center" of our gathering, and how should expect to meet with God in that moment?
Over the next five weeks, we'll take a break from our journey through the book of Matthew to talk about why we gather as a church, why we do what we do, and how we expect to encounter God in the midst of it. In week 1 we unpack the mystery of the body of Christ, and what it means to be a fully functioning church body.
As Jesus nears the end of his life, he speaks of the end of the age, and the judgment that will occur, as some are ushered into the Kingdom of Heaven and others are turned away. The sheep will be seperated from the goats, Jesus says, and many will be surprised to find that they had been serving (or denying) Jesus without knowing it.
As Jesus nears the end of his life, he speaks increasingly of his death and resurrection, and also of the age to come. His disciples have questions about when Jesus will return to usher in a new age, and so Jesus answers their questions with a series of parables, highlighting how we are to live in light of his imminent return.
As Jesus teaches his disciples about life in the Kingdom, they struggle with issues of power, greatness, and reward. So Jesus tells them a parable about a landowner who hires workers throughout the day, and pays all of them the same wages, causing outrage among many of them. But how do we interpret this parable and what are the implications for our daily pursuit of Jesus?
As Jesus teaches his disciples about their joint lives together in the new community that is being formed through him, Peter raises a pressing question: How many times should we forgive a brother or sister who sins against us? Jesus answers Peter with a parable about accounting, and in doing so reveals something profound about the importance of forgiveness and the human vocation as God's image bearers.
As Jesus teaches his disciples about the Kingdom of God, there is one aspect of Kingdom life that is particularly difficult for the disciples to grasp. So Jesus uses parables and vivid imagery to explain to the disciples what power and greatness look like in his upside down Kingdom. But what do children, sheep, and millstones have to do with power and greatness?
Parables Series - As Jesus continues to teach his discioples about the Kingdom of Heaven, he compares it to treasure found in a field, or a precious pearl, but he also warns his disciples that the Kingdom movement will catch up both good and bad fish. How are these parables connected and what do they teach us about the Kingdom of God?
Many of the parables of Jesus were powerful tools used to illustrate an aspect of the Kingdom of Heaven. But these tools did more than illustrate. They were also provocative, divisive, and even offensive, forcing the crowds to take a step forward or a step back. But how is the Kingdom of Heaven similar to wheat in a field, yeast mixed in dough, or a mustard seed planted in the ground? And why would the crowds have been offended by these parables?
As Jesus sets out to teach the crowds about the nature of the Kingdom of God, he speaks of the primary importance of the receptivity of the heart. How does out heart posture relate to the Kingdom of God, and what can we learn from the parable of the Sower?
As Jesus ends his sermon, he gives one final exhortation about the importance of the words he has just spoken. How do we respond wisely to his words and in what ways do we commonly err?
As Jesus nears the end of his sermon, he issues a warning to his disciples about where reality is headed and the fact that there will be judgment for those in rebellion against God. But what is the nature of the reality Jesus speaks of? Join us as we discuss two different theological positions regarding the nature of hell and judgment.
As Jesus teaches his disciples about life in the in-breaking Kingdom of Heaven, he warns them to avoid the empty righteousness of "the Scribe and Pharisee" - where good deeds are done for the purpose of being seen by others. This Jesus says, is hypocrisy. But what does Jesus mean by hypocrisy, how does it show up in modern day America, and what solution is Jesus proposing?
As Jesus reaches the end of his sermon, he wants his disciples about several traps which threaten to smother the work of the Kingdom in their lives. This week we examine the call of Jesus to refrain from judging others. But what exactly is Jesus asking us to do and how do we move forward in a culture of relativism while holding deep convictions of universal truth?
As Jesus draws near the end of his sermon, he gives his disciples a profound and simple directive for Kingdom living: "do not worry." In doing so Jesus sums up in a sentence what might take us a lifetime to master. In our anxiety-ridden culture, how do understand and enter into the invitation of Jesus to live a life without worry?
As Jesus sets out to teach his disciples about life in the in-breaking Kingdom, he alerts them to several idols that will threaten to derail them along the way. Love of money is cheif among them. He sums up his views on the subject with crystal clarity: "you cannot serve both God and money," but what are the implications for everyday living?
As Jesus announces the new availability of the Kingdom of God, he sets out to teach his disciples how to operate in it. When it comes to personal injury and insult he tells his followers simply to "turn the other cheek" rather than taking up violent resistence. But how does this play out in everyday life? And should we really expect it to be effective in overcoming evil?
In Jesus day it was common for people to swear oaths to one another, and common to invoke high and holy things in order to demonstrate the gravity of your oath. But Jesus tells his followers to throw out the entire practice altogether, forcing us to ask, what lies at the heart of swearing by God, and why is it antithetical to the Kingdom?
Jesus makes striking comments on marraige and divorce, but not in a vacuum. His teachings sit within the context of God's original design for marraige, and the debate that was taking place in first century Israel. But what is God's heart for marriage and divorce, and how does the grace of God both confront our culture and comfort us in our circumstances?
In Matthew 28 Jesus calls his disciples to go into the world and make more diciples. This call, known as the Great Commission, is lived out both here and abroad. Join us as we share opportunities to go abroad for the sake of the Gospel with River's Edge in 2017.
As Jesus announces the arrival of the Kingdom of God, his audience is understably curious as to how this new Kingdom and new way of life relates to the revelation of God throughout history, and the national and religious life that has already been established in Isreal. Jesus statements on this topic both affirm and confront their current understanding of righteousness and God's revelation in history.
As Jesus teaches his disciples about life in the in-breaking Kingdom of God, he unveils two powerful metaphors that demonstrate who they are and how they are to function in the world. But what do salt and light tell us about our role in God's comsmic avitivity, and how should they shape the way we view discipleship to Jesus?
The Sermon on the Mount may be the most influential teaching in the history of the world, and it begins with a simple and provocative statement about who is blessed as the Kingdom of Heaven invades this world. But what did Jesus mean by these words and how are we to live in light of them?
In Pray, Give, Go we look back on 2016 and dream about 2017 as a church, through the lens of three simple actions we called to take as followers of Jesus. In GIVE take a brief look at what giving looked like in the Old and New Testaments, and then we examine what giving looked like in 2016 at River's Edge, as well as our dream for the giving of time, talent, and resources in 2017.
In Pray, Give, Go, we look back on 2016 and dream about what God wants to do in and through our community in 2017. Join as we pray for the global Church, the church of Spokane, and one another. This podcast also includes the full-length announcement regarding our change in time and location.
As Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan, God speaks words of identity, love, and affirmation over his ilfe as he is annointed with the Holy Spirit. But then the Spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tested by the enemy. What is this testing all about and why did Jesus pass on this story?
After a year of relative obscurity, Jesus emerges preaching a simple message "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." This was the central messge of Jesus. But what did his original audience think when they heard this? What is exactly is the Kingdom of Heaven? And how are we to respond and enage with Jesus' words today?
John the Baptist was an odd and eccentric figure, and thousands came to him to be baptized in the Jordan in preparation for Jesus. But what are we supposed to learn from the life of John the Baptist, in what ways are our lives meant to parellel his?
As a child, Jesus and his family were forced to flee to Egypt as refugees, and return to the obscure town of Nazareth out of fear for their safety. This process involved the fulfillment of prophecy, but also the obedience of multiple parties.
Most of our time this Sunday was spend sharing a meal together and discussing God's call on our individual lives.
Every nativity scene includes the Magi who came to Bethlehem, but who were the Magi and in what ways are we called to mimic their actions?
We’ve all heard sermons taught on the virgin birth, but why does it matter that Jesus was born of a virgin, and how should it change the way we live?
Matthew begins his account of Jesus life with a genealogy. But why include a genealogy? And why mention the names that he mentions? What does the genealogy of Jesus tell us about the nature of God and the radical grace of the kingdom?
Matthew starts his Gospel account by highlighting that Jesus is the "son of David," and he uses this term more than all the other Gospel writers combined. By what does it mean to be the son of David, and how does Jesus fulfill the Davidic covenant?
Matthew begins his Gospel account with a genealogy. But why start with Abraham? And how does Jesus fulfill the Abrahamic covenant and the method in which it was made?
What do the Scriptures say about justice and righteousness? Where do they fit into God's heart for humanity, and where do they fit into the life of the church?
The role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church has become a controversial topic in recent years, specifically when it comes to "gifts of the Spirit." But what role was the Holy Spirit intended to play in our lives as followers as Jesus, and how does that play out in the gathering and scattering of River's Edge?
Now that we understand our new identity as a family of missionary disciples, our dream is to live out these identities in smaller communities of people all throughout the week. But why do we call them missional communities, and how do they actually work?
We are a family of missionary disciples. But what does it mean to be a "disciple"? What was the meaning of discipleship in the first century, and what should it mean to us today?
We are a family of missionary disciples who live to see God's will done in Spokane as it is in heaven. But what does it mean to missionaries, and where does missional living fit into the narrative arc of Scripture?
The Vision Series is all about who we are and where God is calling us, and it centers around our identity as "a family of missionary disciples." In week one we attempt to answer a simple question: What does it mean to be the family of God in a culture of individualism?