Grassroots Messages: Recent Episodes
Grassroots Church | Rockford
We exist to make disciples of Christ who advance the Kingdom of God in Rockford. _______________
Grassroots was started in 2009 by seven people in a living room who felt God calling them to plant a church in the heart of downtown Rockford. Since then, we’ve been growing steadily by connecting with people of all backgrounds and are now a church of 50-75. Our name came out of Jesus’ teaching that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It starts really small and grows into something significant, kind of like a grassroots movement.
Evan begins a new series on the Holy Spirit by exploring how we can gauge whether we are living in the spirit or in the "flesh".
Why do we eat small pieces of bread and drink little sips of grape juice every single week? What is communion, why does it matter, and why do we continue to practice this ancient ritual? Evan gives us the history and the continued importance of the Church's participation in what we call Communion.
The Church doesn't have a mission, the mission has a church. This week Evan wraps up our series "What is the Church" by discussing 4 things that will help the Church be focused more fully on participating in God's mission of redeeming all creation back to him.
What is Baptism? Why do churches dunk or sprinkle human beings with or in water? Is there a point to it? Is it necessary in order to get to Heaven? Evan digs into our practice of Baptism, why we do it, and the importance of making yourself vulnerable by getting soaking wet in front of your friends.
Why do we gather together and worship every Sunday? Does it not seem redundant? Songs, prayer, sermon, communion, more songs. Every. Single. Week. So what's the point? Why do we do this? Evan goes into the great importance that gathering together holds. Join us as we discuss the reason for Worship.
This week Evan wraps up our series "What is Scripture?". While we're wrapping up this series, for now, we know there is so much more to this topic. Our hope is that what we've discussed the past few weeks will spark a conversation and the desire to learn more about the topic of scripture in all of us.
Today we begin a new series, looking at the question, "What is the Church?". This week we go through a few misunderstandings of how we treat the church, as well as think about some possible new mentalities regarding the church.
Today Evan addresses some of the issues surrounding the current cultural climate in the wake of George Floyd's death.
How did we get the texts that are included in the Bible? Where did they come from? Who chose what should be included? Join us as we take a look at the creation and history of one of the most influential books in the world.
Why does the institution of the church matter? Why is it a good thing? Today we look at the institution of the church and how it connects to our faith today.
The Bible is central to our understanding of our faith and our understanding of who God is. Biblical reading is a skill that is developed over time. Often exploring the scriptures can bring a lot of anxiety and even more questions.
Can your upbringing change the way you read the Bible? Is there a “right” way to read the Bible? Is there a right or wrong translation? What’s the closest to the original text? What should be my “go-to” translation? Can’t I just sit and read? Why does context matter?
Pastor Evan Savage unmasks some of the mystery of how to read the Bible.
What is scripture? Evan kicks off this series with a background on the bible, and how it applies to our lives so many years after it was written.
Join us for Easter Sunday at Grassroots! Evan speaks this morning about the foundation of our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And how, as Christians, we are called to live a life of faith based in that foundation.
Was it really necessary for Jesus to become human? What was the purpose? The point? Join us as Evan discusses the importance of Jesus becoming human during the second week of our series "Who is Christ?".
"Jesus is God" is one of the hardest things to believe in all of Christian thought. How can a human be divine? Evan explores this doctrine as we open up our series "Who is Christ?".
Human beings have been on a redemption journey with God since day one. God's goal is to bring us back and that came to an ultimate climax in Christ.
With all of this talk on what God does in the world, it begs the question, "what does this mean for the Church?" God loves to do what God does. But God also urges, nay calls us to join with him. God's plan, ultimately, is our plan. Join us as we discuss our role in God's mission in the world.
We are created, all of us, regardless of race, creed, faith, or lifestyle in the image of God. When we recognize that image in our lives we recognize the necessity of loving one another with the Love that God has created within us.
Evil. What's the deal? Did God create Evil? Why does God allow evil to continue to exist? In this message, we will take a dive into the "problem of evil" and quite possibly, begin to transform our perspectives on the issue at hand.
God continues the process of extending his goodness in his continued work, or providence. Join us as we discuss how God continues to operate in the world today.
Why study the creation story? Does it even matter? Is the point of the creation story the timeline as detailed in Genesis 1 or is there something greater the account is trying to teach us? In our first week on What Is God's Plan, Grassroots Lead Pastor, Evan Savage, dives into God's first work: Creation
What is the Trinity? How does it affect our faith and the way we worship? This week, Evan Savage answers those questions during the final week of the WHO IS GOD series.
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God is here and he is far. He is big and he is small. This means that we must expand our understanding of god beyond what we think we should.
Foundations are important, especially in the guise of faith. Without an understanding of the foundation of your beliefs, what is there to build off of? Today we dive into the greatness of God.
Foundations are important, especially in the guise of faith. Without an understanding of the foundation of your beliefs, what is there to build off of? Today we dive into the foundation of who God is beginning with His goodness.
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- Often, our idea of what God is remains infantile. We were never asked to believe something greater...
2019 was a year of transition for Grassroots. New pastor, new vision, mission, and values statements, new teams...etc. And while that seems to be a lot to accomplish in 1 year, we did it. Now, we enter into 2020 and we are prepared for this new decade. Join us as we enter into the '20's' full steam ahead and ready to see what God does in our community and in our city.
During the final week of Advent, we discuss the gift of hope. Evan Savage teaches on what it means to have hope as Christians, especially at Christmas.
During the third week of Advent, we discuss the gift of peace. Specifically, the need for us to embrace and accept the gift of peace in a chaotic world.
Do you remember the best Christmas Gift you ever received? Remember that feeling when you opened that gift? How great the feeling was? Now imagine that feeling when we come into the greatest gift God has given us...his perfect love. Listen with us as we learn about this love and how It is God's love that caused Christmas.
We sing songs like "Joy to the World" every year around this time, yet joy is one of the most misunderstood things in our world today. What is Joy? Is it mere happiness? Or is something greater?
It's easy to get caught up in the need for self-preservation, but God calls us to be generous people. The Motive behind our generosity should be about understanding that the grace of God is so great that everything we have is His. In this sermon, pastor Evan Savage wraps up our series "Thankful" by talking about the "Three M’s" of Generosity: Motive, Measure, and Method.
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Have you ever heard the saying, "Patience is a virtue?" What on Earth does that mean? Is it that we should strive to be patient people? Is it patience that makes us virtuous people? This message from Evan Savage will continue on in our series "thankful" and look at how a patient heart leads to a thankful heart.
Forgiveness can be one of the hardest things to do especially when someone has wronged you well beyond the point of deserving forgiveness.
In Matthew 18:21-35 (the parable of the unforgiving debtor), forgiving doesn't mean ignoring people's mistakes and failures and pretending they don't exist. Forgiving is choosing to see the need for God's grace in others' hearts and as an expression of God's grace. It is not just a moment of pain, it is a moment of grace.
If we are going to be thankful it must come from our heart, not our circumstances. American consumerism says that it ought to work the other way. If we can just get one more, something nicer, a little bigger only then we will be satisfied and thankful. If things are right on the outside, then it will bring peace inside. Scripture says the opposite.This week we discuss becoming content in what we have, based around Psalm 23 - "Because the Lord is my shepherd I lack nothing."How would living with a heart of contentment change in our day to day life?
It's a lullaby we've been coaxed into believing without realizing it: self-preservation. It has become the point of so many of our lives. The pursuit of comfort and success has taken over for the calling of the gospel. Maybe it's time to reprioritize...
Being a good neighbor might seem insignificant. Especially in a world with so much violence, hatred, sickness, death...etc. But God works through the moments far more than he works through the events. Each of those moments causes a ripple effect that can move through our churches, neighborhoods, and even our city in ways bigger than we can imagine.
Fear, in the most practical of terms, is the emotional response to a thing that keeps us from experiencing that "thing." There are many things that we fear and a lot of times fear keeps us from doing what God calls us to do. This sermon will help us navigate that fear.
Time. Some would say that it's a commodity that is worth more than anything. You can't get lost time back, yet so many of us jam-pack our days to be as full with "stuff" as possible. Maybe that's the reason time is often the biggest excuse of why we don't make room in our schedules for the much-needed community time.
Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves, what if we took it as literally as possible and we started to love our PHYSICAL neighbors as ourselves. Join us as we begin our series on learning to neighbor well.
Often in the "Christian walk" people get worried about parting. Oddly enough, Jesus partied... and he partied well. This week we are talking about what it looks like to through more and better parties with our neighbors.
God commands us to LOVE Him, but do we truly understand what that means? It's easy to just associate love with a feeling, like when you first start dating. Puppy love is fine and good, but it's far from understanding what love is. What does it look like to love with ALL of your heart, soul, strength, and mind? This week Evan Savage talks about what it means to love with ALL of your mind.
God commands us to LOVE Him, but do we truly understand what that means? It's easy to just associate love with a feeling, like when you first start dating. Puppy love is fine and good, but it's far from understanding what love is. What does it look like to love with ALL of your heart, soul, strength, and mind? This week Evan Savage talks about what it means to love with ALL of your strength.
God commands us to LOVE Him, but do we truly understand what that means? It's easy to just associate love with a feeling, like when you first start dating. Puppy love is fine and good, but it's far from understanding what love is. What does it look like to love with ALL of your heart, soul, strength, and mind? This week Evan Savage talks about what it means to love with ALL of your soul.
God commands us to LOVE Him, but do we truly understand what that means? It's easy to just associate love with a feeling, like when you first start dating. Puppy love is fine and good, but it's far from understanding what love is. What does it look like to love with ALL of your heart, soul, strength, and mind? This week Evan Savage talks about what it means to love with ALL of your heart.
Tithe. It's the dreaded "five letter word" that makes people's skin crawl. It seems that many churches are ALWAYS asking for money and time. Passing baskets, online giving, fundraising, volunteering... it's very easy to see why this topic has become taboo to so many people over the years. In this series Evan explains on why the habit of tithing is so important in the Christian faith.
Tithe. It's the dreaded "five letter word" that makes people's skin crawl. It seems that many churches are ALWAYS asking for money and time. Passing baskets, online giving, fundraising, volunteering... it's very easy to see why this topic has become taboo to so many people over the years. In this series Evan explains on why the habit of tithing is so important in the Christian faith.
How do we, as Christians live in an ever-growing secular world? Do we get on our own personal soapboxes and shout a fire and brimstone sermon into the air? Do we just accept everyone and everything for what and who they are and hope it all turns out"okay"? Matt Nyberg talks about finding and living in the "gray" areas and how maybe that's a better place to be sometimes.
We all have that one relative... you know... the one who can't help bring up politics, troll you about politics on social media, the one that slams every person on the opposing side of THEIR politics. Or maybe that's you? In any case, where does this all fit into the Christian faith?
We've been going through our series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" trying to dig into questions submitted by our congregation. This week Evan addresses the question "Why did I grow up learning that I couldn't wear flip flops in church?". Do I you need to kneel while praying? Do you NEED to dress up? What's the point? Many of us grew up in the legalistic version of church. Is that all REALLY necessary?
We've been going through our series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" trying to dig into questions submitted by our congregation. This week Evan addresses the question "what is sin?".
We've been going through our series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" trying to dig into questions submitted by our congregation. This week Matt addresses the question "What is my purpose?".
We've been going through our series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" trying to dig into questions submitted by our congregation. Perhaps the biggest questions that stifle people from being Christian is the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" or "If God is really a loving God, then why does He allow so much evil to happen in the world?". Listen as Evan Savage trying to wade through these difficult, but important questions.
We've been going through our series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" trying to dig into questions submitted by our congregation. This week Evan addresses the question "How do we know that we will go to Heaven?".
We've been going through our series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" trying to dig into questions submitted by our congregation. This week the question(s) that we land on have to do with Eden, the Old Testament, Jesus, Heaven, and how they are all connected. Yikes, that's huge. Matt Nyberg got the pleasure of trying to cram in a brief synopsis of all of that in about 45. Enjoy!
What's keeping you from growing in your faith? For many of us, it's struggling with questions that we don't have the answers to. It happens all too often that people are too afraid to ask the questions that really matter, for fear of getting looked down on. In reality, we need to ask questions to grow. Questions are the foundation of building a faith that is unshakeable.
Evan Savage talks about just that as he kicks off the new series "ASK (Because Questions Matter)" by giving a brief synopsis of the bible.
We believe that there is a need to slow down and to worship simply; therefore, we value that when we come to worship with an open heart and are made aware of the presence of God, very little extra "stuff" is needed to urge us toward this awareness.
We believe in the call of Christ to “Go and Make,” Therefore we Value that we are called to take the Gospel to Rockford, Illinois. Because of this, we are not comfortable waiting for people to “come and see” and instead strive to go and say “come and follow.”
We believe that Christianity is, by design, a communal faith. Therefore, we value living in community with one another and are committed to meeting together in and outside of a Sunday gathering.
Thomas, the Disciple of Christ asks Jesus this question: "If we do not know where we are going, how can we know the way?" Christ simply answers by saying "I Am the Way." This week Evan will be diving into the idea of Christ as The Way and what that means for us as followers of Christ.
One Event. One day. One Grave. One man. That’s all that was needed. That’s all that was required. And the world as was known 2000 years ago, would never be the same again.
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener". Today, we get a flashback to 8th grade with Professor Matt. While learning about phloem and xylem might not tick everyone's fancy, there are deep truth's to take away from the science of the growth of vines.
Evan continues in our series "I AM" with John 10:11-18 where Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd: a willing sacrifice that leads to true life and freedom.
Boundaries. They offer an opportunity to experience freedom in our lives. While those two things may seem to contradict one another, Jesus teaches us in the book of John (chapter 10) that boundaries exist to keep us safe, and when living life within those boundaries we experience freedom.
Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World". There are many meanings and implications to this statement. The one we focus on this morning is the truth that where there is light, there cannot be darkness.
Jesus called himself the "Bread of Life". He asked them to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Obviously, to many around him, this was a confusing statement. As they soon learned, Christ had a much deeper meaning to that statement...
The Gospel according to John is unique among the four Gospels found in the New Testament. Rather than stating facts of Jesus' life, John focuses on showing the reader who Jesus is and, more importantly, who Jesus said He was. We are beginning a new series this week that focuses on the seven statements that Jesus made about himself in this Gospel. Join us as we start moving toward Easter by taking a look at what Jesus taught us about himself in this series titled "I Am".
Do we, like Jonah, see what God has blessed us with as something to be hoarded or do we see our blessings as a means for ministering to those around us?
God has placed a unique call for those who follow Him: go and make disciples. Many times we seek God's forgiveness and make promises to God, and what God truly wants from His followers is Obedience. He loves that we seek forgiveness, but ultimately it is our obedience to His call that he truly wants from us.
Do you ever feel like you are falling into the same rut of mistakes over and over again, never truly making a firm change? Confession is about naming our sin and is an important step in our journey as Christ followers, but repentance is the step that actually initiates change.
Jonah, terrible prophet, great life lesson. This week we begin a 4-week sermon series on the Book of Jonah. Who was Jonah, what is the book of Jonah, and what can this book teach us about God's grace and mercy? These are some of the questions we will be working to answer in the next 4 weeks.
Scripture begins with a lengthy introduction to Humanity. 11 chapters to be exact. We see destruction, corruption, and significant amounts of evil in this introduction. After God creates a perfect and beautiful creation, humanity chooses their will over Gods. And right when it seems that God has about had it with humanity, along comes a man named Abraham. And the story of redemption, love, and salvation begins.
We are all called by Christ to advance the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. Yet often we don't realize what that call truly means for our lives. We know we are called, but we don't know how to respond, or we think we are called to one thing when Christ has something even greater in store for our lives. This week new lead pastor, Evan Savage, tells his story and how he responded to God's call on his life.
As we enter into a new chapter in Grassroots' history, we take a look at our responsibilities as a church and an eclectic community of believers. With a new pastor in place (Evan Savage), Matt explains that the job of pouring into our community is not Evan's alone. It takes each and every one of us to join hand and make an impact on our mission field.
Jesus’ birth interrupted peoples’ lives. But how people responded to that interruption varied greatly. We will look at how God is constantly trying to interrupt our lives and how we respond.
How do we make room for others in our thoughts, conversations, families, home, and church? How do we make room for God? Understanding the significance of creating margin is often far more important than we tend to realize.
Tiffany Staman teaches about gratitude, and how making room to pause and reflect changes the way we view our lives.
What does radical hospitality truly mean? What does it look like to believe in others when no one else will (including themselves)?
Radical Hospitality means welcoming others, being kind and generous toward them, investing in and encouraging them while shifting our focus away from our own self-centeredness and toward the needs and lives of other people.
This week we learn about believing in others as an expression of radical hospitality. Believing in people when no one else will (including themselves), or when they’re different/marginalized/etc. Believing in people under these circumstances because God believes in us and because of the goodness He has inherently created in all of us.
Do you REALLY have faith? Not just "belief" in something, but faith that causes true life change. Guest speaker, Evan Savage, explores some of the common misconceptions of faith. As we dig deeper into this Evan's reflection on a few personal situations in the past few months.
Pain at times is unavoidable. We struggle through it, blame and question God, beg for answers so we can fix it. No matter why it happens, we need to keep in mind that the way we approach God in our pain matters. This week Matt Nyberg teaches about faith within pain and how pain can, more times than not, be the catalyst of movement to something greater than us.
In this message, Tiffany Staman unpacks the story of Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in John 4. Similar to his encounter with the rich young ruler, Jesus encountered her in the middle of her mess and invited her into a kingdom way of living.
Dan Hinz teaches out of Luke 18:18-30, discussing missed opportunities and how even though God has a plan we still have to make a decision to be a part of that plan. Because when we fail to surrender to Jesus, we miss out on God's plan for our lives.
God calls us to multi-dimensional work. We are doing tasks to the best of our ability, but we are called as we do that to be salt and life. We get paid for products and services and hours, but as we do that we are doing something that transcends all of that. We are bringing the message of the gospel through our conduct, our relationships, and our words.
God calls us to work towards something more than temporal. The products and the services we do right now might be temporary and seasonal, but the "why" we go to work is bigger than our paycheck. Through our work and through our person we are representing Christ. Rather we are working as for God and not for man. No matter what our hands are doing in our work we are bringing the kingdom of God into our space.
God made us for work. There is a difference between work and toil. However, we were designed to be contributing and caretakers and involved. The American image is different- we work so that someday we don't have to anymore. Rather as a Christian, we work to care and steward our gifts and this place and each other. Someday we might reach a point where we don't need the money anymore, but our theology would dictate that we are still called to be "working". Nowhere in scripture is sitting back and doing nothing praised. Christians with a good theology of work don't complain about it.
The overarching theme of David’s life is despite who he was in the eyes of others or how good or bad he behaved, God remained at work. When he was nothing, God moved forward with his promise. When he had to wait and hide, God’s was moving. When he experienced success and favor, God used him to accomplish his purposes. When he was arrogant and sinful, God still moved his plan and his promise forward. Even in his brokenness, he still gave David hope of a Messianic King. So David’s story is still a story about God, and that’s why we can find hope that our story is truly about God, not about us. Thank goodness.
In the fourth and final week of this series, Matt Nyberg teaches about leaving a broken legacy and God’s redemptive plan.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
The overarching theme of David’s life is despite who he was in the eyes of others or how good or bad he behaved, God remained at work. When he was nothing, God moved forward with his promise. When he had to wait and hide, God’s was moving. When he experienced success and favor, God used him to accomplish his purposes. When he was arrogant and sinful, God still moved his plan and his promise forward. Even in his brokenness, he still gave David hope of a Messianic King. So David’s story is still a story about God, and that’s why we can find hope that our story is truly about God, not about us. Thank goodness.
In the third week of this series, Tiffany Staman teaches about success and blessings in our life, and the important role making exceptions in our lives has when it comes to sin.
The overarching theme of David’s life is despite who he was in the eyes of others or how good or bad he behaved, God remained at work. When he was nothing, God moved forward with his promise. When he had to wait and hide, God’s was moving. When he experienced success and favor, God used him to accomplish his purposes. When he was arrogant and sinful, God still moved his plan and his promise forward. Even in his brokenness, he still gave David hope of a Messianic King. So David’s story is still a story about God, and that’s why we can find hope that our story is truly about God, not about us. Thank goodness.
In the second week of this series, Jason Mach teaches about having patience in the wilderness and giving God the reigns while letting go of our own agendas.
The overarching theme of David’s life is despite who he was in the eyes of others or how good or bad he behaved, God remained at work. When he was nothing, God moved forward with his promise. When he had to wait and hide, God’s was moving. When he experienced success and favor, God used him to accomplish his purposes. When he was arrogant and sinful, God still moved his plan and his promise forward. Even in his brokenness, he still gave David hope of a Messianic King. So David’s story is still a story about God, and that’s why we can find hope that our story is truly about God, not about us. Thank goodness.
In the first week of this series, Matt Nyberg teaches about David's humble beginning and how even though all odds were against him, God's plans far outweighed how people perceived David.
Do you ever stop and wonder why you are the way you are or what drives you to respond to things the way you do?
Tiffany Staman examines the "Head Triad" of the Enneagram. The Enneagram is widely viewed as one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others.
Do you ever stop and wonder why you are the way you are or what drives you to respond to things the way you do?
Matt Nyberg examines the "Heart Triad" of the Enneagram. The Enneagram is widely viewed as one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others.
Do you ever stop and wonder why you are the way you are or what drives you to respond to things the way you do?
Tiffany Staman examines the "Gut Triad" of the Enneagram. The Enneagram is widely viewed as one of the most powerful and insightful tools for understanding ourselves and others.
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It's very easy to feel as though God is a distant entity just looking down at us from above, but God desires to be in a relationship and live life with us. The power of that relationship stems from our openness to listen for the whisper of God's voice.
This week Matt Nyberg teaches on the importance of being in a relationship with God and how that often takes setting aside intentional time to hear His voice.
How do you respond to that still, small voice inside? We expect God to speak in a thundering voice and give us direction, but more often than not it's in little moments that we need to stop, rest, and respond to how God is leading us.
This week Tiffany Staman explores the story of Elijah and how he responds to the still, small voice of God.
SCRIPTURE | 1 Kings 19:1-18
So often we long for God to stop us in our tracks and shine an unmistakable light on the direction we should go with our lives. Sometimes, however, the small moments are actually a little more prevalent than we first might think.
This week Matt Nyberg teaches about learning to hear the Holy Spirit's voice in both big and small moments.
SCRIPTURE | Acts 9:1-22
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God acts in amazing ways. Sometimes it's something HUGE and sometimes it's something small. Even so, it's so easy to get sucked into everyday life that we often forget those moments when God really shows up.
Matt Nyberg discusses the importance of telling those stories and being verbal about God's movement in our lives.
SCRIPTURE | Joshua 3:14-4:24
Romans 12:9-10
Romans 12:11
Patrick Lencioni - The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable About Restoring Sanity
Video presentation from John Ortberg and Henry Cloud.
https://vimeo.com/215108326
Original performance by Jack and Eddie Hill.
“To be married is to give oneself to another person in the most intimate and inclusive of human relationships, to support him or her for good in every way possible – physically, emotionally, and spiritually, of course, but in every conceivable dimension of his or her being with the goal of being a constant blessing to one another and the world.
(Dallas Willard)
We will always have opportunities to take exit ramps.
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Small exits eventually lead to big exits.
Proverbs 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Our goal is to invest and enjoy the journey so much we don’t consider taking the exits.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
“To be married is to give oneself to another person in the most intimate and inclusive of human relationships, to support him or her for good in every way possible – physically, emotionally, and spiritually, of course, but in every conceivable dimension of his or her being with the goal of being a constant blessing to one another and the world.
- Dallas Willard
- Conflict is a normal part of life that happens when you are at odds with another person over what you think, want, or do.
- Our natural human responses to conflict are “assault or “withdrawal.
- God’s response and invitation for us to respond is always reconciliation.
Colossians 3:12-15
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against each other. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace.
• Express your commitment even when the conflict is not yet resolved.
• Get some space and invite God into the situation.
• Carve out intentional time to talk through the issue.
• If you get stuck, get help.
Genesis 2:21-25
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
“To be married is to give oneself to another person in the most intimate and inclusive of human relationships, to support him or her for good in every way possible – physically, emotionally, and spiritually, of course, but in every conceivable dimension of his or her being with the goal of being a constant blessing to one another and the world. (Dallas Willard)
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In order to experience oneness and trust with someone we love, we have to first enter into oneness with God through trusting Him.
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Trust grows through vulnerability.
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Brene Brown
- A relationship of trust, rooted in God, has the power to heal our souls and bless the world.
James 5:7-167 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes or “No. Otherwise you will be condemned.
13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
-Our tests of patience involve factors largely outside of our control
-“The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (v.11)
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“The Lord’s coming is near (v.8)
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Prayer is important in all circumstances
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James encourages us to have patience for what is outside of our control
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James encourages us to pray in all circumstances as an active way to engage our situations, yet still leave them in God’s hands
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Patience and prayer … trust in God
Matthew 17:20Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
James 3
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Our words flow out of our heart.
Luke 6:45 (NLT)A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Proverbs 4:23Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Our words hold the power to bring blessings or curses.
“Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.
- Mother Teresa Our words reveal which wisdom we are seeking.
James 3 (cont.)13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 4:1-10
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your
desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You
covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not
have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask
with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You
adulterous people,don’t you know that friendship with the
world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a
friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he
jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more
grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.
7 Submit
yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. 8 Come
near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail.
Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before
the Lord, and he will lift you up.
“The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild. -G.K. Chesterton
James 1:22-24
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
James 1:2727 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 2:1-4
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, “You stand there or “Sit on the floor by my feet, 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
James 2:14-19
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
The living stones are about the gift of vulnerability and insight into someone’s soul and how God is participating there.
The truth that regardless of how much you have remembered God, that He is always remembering you, and that He is always at work in your life even when you aren’t aware or don’t remember. And he is telling you every time you touch the rock that He is at work and that He is very pleased to have you as his child.
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Are you truly shining God's light into the world or are you shining your own? Is your light contagious?
Tiffany Staman talks about a close friend who lived a full life, bursting with unmistakable light from God. Dave left behind a contagious light that will burn brighter and longer than he ever imagined.
John 20: 24-29
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord! But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you! 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. 28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God! 29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Personal pain often precedes seasons of doubt.
Doubts and questions thrive in isolation.
Be open to the evidence.
Sometimes our questions are never answered.
Sometimes our perspective is changed.
Mark 11:1-10
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt? 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!
A procession, a donkey, a crowd
The procession is about POWER
The detail is the donkey.
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Why was the crowd of Palm Sunday so big, and the crowd on Good Friday so small?
When people thought Jesus was coming to fulfill their agenda, he gathered huge crowds.
When people realized Jesus had a different agenda, the crowds disappeared. Positional authority needs to be defended, often through violence.
Spiritual authority needs to be shared, always through love.
Are you a FAN or a FOLLOWER?
Luke 18:31-33
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.
Jesus wants people to understand Easter
Luke 18:34
34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
John 20: 11-15
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? “They have taken my Lord away, she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him. 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.
Matthew 17:1-10
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he ?was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up, he said. “Don’t be afraid. 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must ?come first?
We want to turn Mountaintops into Motels.
Matthew 16:21-23
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord! he said. “This shall never happen to you! 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpRhcD8r6tA
Matthew 2:1-6
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’
Assumption: God was going to move through political power
Kinds of Authority
• Positional
• Expertise
• Relational
• Moral
• Spiritual
Positional authority needs to be defended, often through violence. Spiritual authority needs to be shared, always through love.
Jesus did not come to transform the kingdom of Rome; he came to invite people into the kingdom of God.